Eeek!!! mites!

Cheeky's Mom · 03-31-2005, 12:03 AM

Ack! Is someone around at this hour? My baby seems to have mites!! Eeek eeeeeek

Cheeky's Mom · 03-31-2005, 12:06 AM

Okay I found this http://www.hamsterific.com/IllnessGuide.cfm#Mites

Still slightly panicking... but it seems I can do something at this hour, even with only drug stores open

Eeek okay...calm....calm.

Cheeky's Mom · 03-31-2005, 12:08 AM

I just bought opened a new pack of bedding the last time I changed it... should I buy a whole new pack? I wouldn't think so, I found the creepy crawlies in her food, but... arghhh my poor baby!!!!

Emma · 03-31-2005, 03:31 AM

Hi CheekysMom,

Don't panic! What makes you think she has mites? The type of mite hamsters usually get is not really visible to the naked eye, and symptoms are hair loss and scaly, red skin, which may or may not seem itchy. It sounds like you found bugs in the food - is this the same or a seperate problem? Bugs in the food won't be connected to skin mites.

The demodex mite lives normally on healthy hamsters without causing a problem, and if it does cause a problem it indicates an underlying problem suppressing the hamster's immune system. I wouldn't recommend self-diagnosis and treatment as the web link you posted suggests, unless you are experienced in recognising this problem. A vet will be able to diagnose what the problem is, and the usual treatment in this country is ivermectin orally or by injection.

Cheeky's Mom · 03-31-2005, 05:00 AM

Well, now I'm not so sure. I've been treating her fur loss the way I have for other hammies -- yeast tablet, vitamin drops, cod-liver oil. I cleaned her cage out really well as often as I normally would, so I didn't think it could be that. I waited a little while to see if it would clear up, but it hasn't. But she didn't have any other symptoms at all -- seemed normal, otherwise healthy, active, and her skin didn't seem terribly dry to me. . .but still, she's young -- only 8 months.

So I went to refill her food (I bought her the nice expensive stuff, and I thought I had it sealed really well), I saw a bunch of little black guys in the lid. And then I kind of dropped the food and it went all over the counter, and then I peered down at the spilled food and the little bastards were all over the place! So of course everything went into the trash immediately and I cleaned the crap out of the counter.

I didn't really realize there were all these different kind of bugs, as I'd never had a problem with them with my hammies, so I started freaking out (as you could see from my earlier posts, heehee). I thought OMG it is mites after all! Cheeky's been suffering all this time!! Agh I was so panicked. . .still am worried, of course, but at least I feel okay.

So. I went out to the grocery store to get a nice scrubby sponge and, after researching, a bunch of ingredients to make Cheeky's own food mix. I'll go out tomorrow to Fred Meyer, as I know they have more of the stuff I need for the mix, but she'll be fine for tonight on what I have, some cheerios, and a piece of carrot. I discovered all this at 10:30 so of course nothing was open. Anyway, it's now 3:47 and everything, I mean EVERYTHING of hers has been scrubbed in really hot soapy water, her food is tightly sealed in Tupperware-stuff, and she seems to be doing fine. Which she was before, but. . .yeah.

OH and okay I was looking at her tower really closely (that's where her food is) before I cleaned it, and I saw really really tiny little bugs in there. Lots smaller than the ones from the food and not dark at all -- looked like little dots. But then I thought that could just be baby food bugs or something. . .I dunno. Either way, Ew.

So her vet isn't in until Monday, but after all this yucky bug crap I shall make her an appointment as soon as I can.

SnuggleHam · 03-31-2005, 06:22 AM

Are you going to contact the company that makes the hamster food? I think you should, also what brand was it so that I can steer clear of it?

Im sure a trip to the vets will help solve this problem, althoug mites and bugs sounds really scary and gross I'm sure the ham will be fine untill you can find it a vet

Coco1 · 03-31-2005, 07:50 AM

"So I went to refill her food (I bought her the nice expensive stuff, and I thought I had it sealed really well), I saw a bunch of little black guys in the lid. And then I kind of dropped the food and it went all over the counter, and then I peered down at the spilled food and the little bastards were all over the place! So of course everything went into the trash immediately and I cleaned the crap out of the counter."

Sorry but I'm just cracking up here at your post! You had me laughing so hard, not AT you, but WITH you! yuk exactly!

I agree, those mites you get with food stuffs sometimes are yukky but won't cause any harm to your hammy. It seems you are already treating it for skin problems (& 8 months is a little young for those problems, could be allergic to something?) I'm sure a vet trip would help clear things up. If you don't want to take him to the vet then maybe some photos of the fur etc and describtion then maybe the vet will know what to give you to help out that problem.

As for the food / mites/ bugs whatever... definatly tell the store and certainly change the brand if you can - OR probably better, rather than switch brands just try and purchase from a different location. Very often its the way foods have been stored by the shop that causes problems but if if it is a sealed bag then it may have just been a bad batch? Either try another bag from somewhere different or switch brands slowly, try to get something as close as possible to the brand you were using. Hey your hamster for all you know may well be picking out the bugs and eating them! (they would do this in the wild!) I'm sure its grossing you out more than the hamster but of course you don't want bugs so check out some different stores / brands. You did the right thing by thoroughly cleaning out his cage. Keep an eye on things - their may be little eggs around but with good cleaning I'm sure you got most of them.

Now... breath... relax!

**babyboos** · 03-31-2005, 08:18 AM

We have a Hamster Health Section on Hamster Central in which Emma has described a number of skin complaints. Maybe check this out to see if anything seems to fit with your little one's symptoms. A vet would be able to do a skin scrape etc to try and get to the underlying cause of the problem. Let us know how you get on please. As to food storage a good airtight container is a must but also store this in the freezer if you can spare the room. Hamsters don't mind the food being cold - it soon heats back up to room temparature as dry hamster mix has such a low water content.

Coco1 · 03-31-2005, 11:14 AM

I believe I read somewhere that putting food in the freezer can actually help kill any suspected buggs / eggs. I have put mine in before, mostly when I get a new bag. It suggesed leaving it in there for 24 hrs.