Hammies and fleas!?

[elly]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with hamsters and fleas? I am assuming they can get them as they have fur. My sister has a ferret who has fleas, and we have no idea how it got them, as we had no other furry animals at the time, and if it is as easy for a ferret to get fleas from transfer, it would be even easier for a hamster to get fleas if another animal in the same household has them. I have been hesitant of letting other people in my household hold my hammy, and even of letting him run around in a hamster ball, in fear that he could get fleas.(we have not yet been able to get them off the ferret) Am i being too paranoid, or should i be cautious?

[lou1990lou]

once fleas are in the house, they can spread anywhere, which is why they can also affect us. This is also how fleas could get into your house. did your sister visit a friend who had furry animals who could also have fleas?

A quick google search has bought up that the same treatment for cat fleas works for hamster fleas.I'd say to ring your vet and ask them for their best advice,both for the ferret and for the hamster.

The best bet to get rid of the pests on the ferret is to take the ferret to the vet.

[elly]

Thats what i thought, as i have found one on me on more than one occasion. Would having the hamster run around in the ball be a risk?

[kyrilliondaemon]

The hamster getting anywhere fleas might be will be risky. I'd probably treat both the ham and ferret for fleas and try to clear them out of the house.
A vet would probably have the best advice but other forum users might know a bit more too

[racinghamster]

See your vet. The ferret and the hamster will need looked at and treated accordingly and the vet may well give you sprays to use around the rooms like along skirting boards. Fleas can be seen by the naked eye and they jump! So you will need to use a room to keep the hamster in that has been thoroughly vacumed and sprayed (not while the hamster is in the room though). Spot-on treatments are normally used on small animals but a hamster spot-on is weaker than one used on a ferret, which is why your vet is the best person to speak to. Fleas need dealt with quickly before they become a big problem.

[Arraminta]

Totally agree with everyone!! Don't use ANY flea product on your hamster without a vets say so.. I only say this because frontline dog is toxic to cats and will kill a cat if administered!!
So better to be safe then sorry.. Also you can buy large cans of "house" spray that will stop the fleas reproducing.. Hoover and then get rid of the Hoover bag & u need to do this every day! Once you have spotted a flea I'm afraid it is already too late and the house will need to be treated.. It happened to me last year a friend brought her dog over and it was riddled... As you Hoover fleas will come out of the carpet because the react to vibration and carbon dioxide (animal breathing it). If you catch one the easiest way to kill it (cause the un squash able) is to get a cup of water with a couple of drops of washing up liquid in.. Fleas float but the washing up liquid destroys the surface tension that lets them float so the drowned :0D x
It is treatable and you will get rid of them..
Good luck
Arraminta x

[Lougarry]

Putting a cat flea collar in the hoover bag can help too.

[Arraminta]

Ooo top tip there lougarry, I never thought of that!!

Aunty M x