Syrian Hamsters

[Emma-J]

Does anyone know if its normal for a hamster to start losing its fur?

Mine has lost some fur on his back end and I wondered if this was normal or if he has mites or something. (Just wanted to check before spending a fortune at the vets or on some mite powder that is no good coz its totally normal for him to lose his hair.)

Thanks
EJ

[Snappy]

Our little Robbie who has now passed away had this. He started losing hair and scratching, causing a bald, red patch on his back. He went to the vets and had to have two injections, one a week. It cost about �50 all together but he was worth it! He was the worlds best hamster!

[Emma-J]

Great! that means i'm gonna have to take him to the vets. Isn't it ridiculous that they can charge �10 just to look at your animal and then extra on top for whatever treatment they give.

[clair3934]

It sounds like he might have mites they can get this from the sawdust you use in the cage. some vets use ivermectic injections and some use a spot on, it would mean one trip to diagnose and another trip back for repeat treatment after about a week but as has already been said it is worth it none of us like it when our animals are suffering its just a pain that vets charge so much its like going to a private doctor shame we don't have animal NHS :-)