Hamsters can lose fur for many different reasons. Normally when a hamster is old, their fur starts thinning. Prior to this, fur loss can be due to mites/mange, but the hamster tends to scratch a lot. This can easily be treated by your vet. They use a drug called Ivermec, a drop of which is applied to the hamsters neck, and this is repeated a few weeks later. This normally helps stop the problem.
Another reason for fur loss is hormonal - hormonal fur loss is a bit more difficult to treat - but I have recently discovered that a drop of the oral ivermec seems to do the trick.
Hamsters have scent glands which are situated on their hips - there is one each side. Some hamsters go really bald around these and if this is the case for your hamster... Are these bald patches symmetrical? Is there a dark spot in the center of the patch? Sometimes hamsters clean these scent glands so much that they create a bald spot, and this is perfectly normal. With other hamsters, you hardly notice they have these scent glands.
The most common signs of hamster's fur problems are: loss of fur, sores, dry, itchy skin, and reddened skin. These problems may be caused by tiny skin parasites, allergies, hormonal imbalance or improper diet. Mother hamsters shed fur around their teats when they are nursing their young baby hamsters. Old hamsters have less fur due to a drop in certain hormone levels as the hamster gets older.
Hamster having an allergy can be one of the most common reasons for fur loss. Cedar and pine shavings can cause allergic reactions. Softwood shavings are preferable to cedar but paper based shavings are the best. A hamster can become allergic to certain foods. It is important to consider if anything was changed to the hamster's diet, location, or routine which could have caused the hamster the allergic reaction.
Feeding the hamster a plain diet for a few days may establish if the hamster is suffering from a food allergy. When you establish what is the source of allergy that is making the hamster losing fur, the source should be removed immediately.
Another reason for fur loss is hormonal - hormonal fur loss is a bit more difficult to treat - but I have recently discovered that a drop of the oral ivermec seems to do the trick.
Hamsters have scent glands which are situated on their hips - there is one each side. Some hamsters go really bald around these and if this is the case for your hamster... Are these bald patches symmetrical? Is there a dark spot in the center of the patch? Sometimes hamsters clean these scent glands so much that they create a bald spot, and this is perfectly normal. With other hamsters, you hardly notice they have these scent glands.
The most common signs of hamster's fur problems are: loss of fur, sores, dry, itchy skin, and reddened skin. These problems may be caused by tiny skin parasites, allergies, hormonal imbalance or improper diet. Mother hamsters shed fur around their teats when they are nursing their young baby hamsters. Old hamsters have less fur due to a drop in certain hormone levels as the hamster gets older.
Hamster having an allergy can be one of the most common reasons for fur loss. Cedar and pine shavings can cause allergic reactions. Softwood shavings are preferable to cedar but paper based shavings are the best. A hamster can become allergic to certain foods. It is important to consider if anything was changed to the hamster's diet, location, or routine which could have caused the hamster the allergic reaction.
Feeding the hamster a plain diet for a few days may establish if the hamster is suffering from a food allergy. When you establish what is the source of allergy that is making the hamster losing fur, the source should be removed immediately.