Help needed

[Jamos]

Hello everyone
Can anyone give me some advice on a itchy hamster. Mr cricket seemed to be getting itchy and spending all his time in one corner rolling on his back and shaking violently instead of playing. I bought some beaphar spot on and gave him the correct amount cleaned cage bedding etc but he didn't seem to get any better, so I took him to the vet who couldn't see any mites but gave me some mite treatment and he has now had the three treatments all a week apart from each other and there is still no change in fact I would say he is worse, I now have two more that are doing the same and are not responding to treatment. Has anyone come across this or have a solution for cricket.
Many thanks aaron

[The Hamster's family]

Were the cages cleaned ?? I'm just asking...

[souffle]

Have you changed the type of bedding or substrate lately? Used a new type of cleaning spray /air freshener or food or anything at all that could have caused an allergy in the hams? Some even respond badly to the spot ons.
Is there any redness on the skin or flaking?

[Josh]

Is there anything you've changed in the cage lately, such as the bedding?
If there is, it could be that.

It's never happened to my hamster, so I can't really give you an answer, it may be worth phoning the vets again or popping in to see them, and tell them what they need to know.
If you've changed bedding, tell them!
If the mite treatment isn't working, tell them that, too!
And anything else they need to know about the problem.

[Jamos]

hi thanks for getting back to me. after every treatment cages are cleaned boiling water a little bleach etc, I also bought new bedding and food incase of comtamination, I don't have air sprays in same room as hamsters and there is no red or flakey skin. cricket will be at the side of his cage and you can see the twitching going on on his fur then he will sprint to the corner onto his back then bite and scratch he will do this all night but does not do this when outside of cage as he is to busy all three hamsters do this

[Jamos]

the only new food that I'm feeding them are meal worms

[The Hamster's family]

Originally Posted by Jamos

hi thanks for getting back to me. after every treatment cages are cleaned boiling water a little bleach etc, I also bought new bedding and food incase of comtamination, I don't have air sprays in same room as hamsters and there is no red or flakey skin. cricket will be at the side of his cage and you can see the twitching going on on his fur then he will sprint to the corner onto his back then bite and scratch he will do this all night but does not do this when outside of cage as he is to busy all three hamsters do this

Could they be only cleaning themselves ? I don't mean to be insulting or anything... But I clearly saw my hammies do about what you have said... If they are new with you, it coud be from bestressed and not settled yet... But all 3 !?!?!? I'm out of words, really...

[Jamos]

cricket is 16 weeks old. george is 12 months old. and mole is 12 weeks old. they are the only 3 out of my 12 that are like it. I'm getting worried because out of all the years I've kept hamsters I've not seen them as bad as this. do you think I should get the vet to take some skin samples

[racinghamster]

Hi Aaron, it does sound more suspicious especially as the spot-on treatment has had no real effect. A skin scraping should show if anything is present that is microscopic like mange. Mites can sometimes be hard to shift, sometimes not.

Are you in the UK or elsewhere? I only ask because foreigh pests can sometimes be an issue that in the UK, we don`t normally deal with. Although you mentioned using Beaphar, so i`m assuming your in the UK?!

Try not to worry too much as I`m sure a decent vet will be able to look into this more for you if it`s worrying you.

[Jamos]

Yes a trip to the vet would be best. Thanks for your help much appreciated