My hamster has a poorly leg

Lucy30120 · 11-10-2013, 02:55 PM

I noticed in the week that my Campbells dwarf has lost the fur under her front legs, and they are looking very red and sore. She is still quite active, and isn't limping or dragging herself, she will also eat when I feed her treats but isn't keen to leave her bed otherwise.
I am treating her with tea tree ointment that I bought from the pet store and I have also treated her for mites just incase. She doesn't mind the ointment being applied, but rolls in her bedding straight afterwards, and is always biting her leg!
I don't know why this has happened to her, she is around 9months old.
Does anyone have any ideas on the reasons for her irritation, or anything more I could do to her?

paula_dolphins · 11-10-2013, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucy30120

I noticed in the week that my Campbells dwarf has lost the fur under her front legs, and they are looking very red and sore. She is still quite active, and isn't limping or dragging herself, she will also eat when I feed her treats but isn't keen to leave her bed otherwise.
I am treating her with tea tree ointment that I bought from the pet store and I have also treated her for mites just incase. She doesn't mind the ointment being applied, but rolls in her bedding straight afterwards, and is always biting her leg!
I don't know why this has happened to her, she is around 9months old.
Does anyone have any ideas on the reasons for her irritation, or anything more I could do to her?

If it isn't getting any better I would strongly suggest taking her to a vet,
fur loss could mean any number of things along with the red soreness, I always tend to go with the idea that its best to find out its nothing much on taking them to the vets rather than try our best and hope, after all it could be an easy cure that maybe just needs some stronger medicine like antibiotics or something. hope she makes a full recovery

souffle · 11-11-2013, 03:36 AM

I would suggest a vet visit too. Tea tree can be toxic if the inject too much

It can also irritate already inflamed skin and make i worse. Perhaps change her bedding and substrate in case there is an allergy and also see the vet. A steroid should help relieve the itch and maybe some antibiotics in case of infection. The vet can do a skin scrape to look for mites and also a test to see if it is a fungal infection.
Does she wee and drink a lot at all? Diabetes can have skin symptoms as a side effect.

Lucy30120 · 11-11-2013, 10:01 AM

She is drinking and peeing as normal. She doesn't drink too much anyway. I have booked her into the vet for Wednesday evening so hopefully she'll be feeling better soon. Her little legs look so tiny without fur

Do you think I should stop with the tea tree? And also anything you think I could put on it in the mean time?
Thank you so much for your advice

souffle · 11-11-2013, 12:41 PM

Yes I'd stop it for now until you get the vet's advice. Dwarf hamsters often lose fur as they get older. Some can get quite bald however it should not be red or itchy so it does need checked over. Let us know how she gets on at the vets and I hope it helps her get better x