Fleas

Wexland · 01-06-2014, 11:43 AM

Hi

This could well be a daft question but do hamsters get fleas or need worming? I would have thought not until I saw flea spot on for small creatures and it listed hamsters. Having always had cats and dogs I'm trained to de-flea and de-worm at regular intervals.

Advice appreciated. Thanks!

**DrKMcK** · 01-06-2014, 11:50 AM

I don't know about worms, but they can get fleas. If my dog brought a flea in the house and it jumped on my bed and one of the hammies was running around on the bed, it is definitely possible for a flea to get on the hammie. I haven't had such a thing happen as my Yoda gets his monthly flea drops regularly. But it can happen. Mites are more often an issue with hammies though.

Wexland · 01-06-2014, 11:54 AM

Thanks for the reply. So I should check bubbles and if I see anything suspicious treat her?

**DrKMcK** · 01-06-2014, 11:57 AM

I prefer a vet do it. Hamsters are really small and I'm not sure how safe the spot on drops are for them. I'd only use them if a vet gave me the okay on them.

Wexland · 01-06-2014, 12:04 PM

Right great! That's what I need to know. If I ever think iv a problem il pop her to the vets. Thanks

suga · 01-06-2014, 12:06 PM

I would always go with the vet option too. Mainly as I would worry otherwise.

Wexland · 01-06-2014, 12:17 PM

Hopefully il never have the problem but having seen stuff in the shop it made me wonder if I need to deflead regularly but it would appear not. I will check her over though as I have a cat.

tolennaki · 01-07-2014, 01:00 AM

Another thing to remember is that sometimes mites are very difficult or impossible to see with naked eye. My hamster had caught mites and I knew something was wrong when I saw him scratching more than usual and a bald spot developing on his back. Even the vet could not see anything but gave me the mite medicine to administer to him as a first option and it worked, so now we know it was mites. What I am trying to say is that it's worth noticing the general behaviour of your hamster and if you see anything unusual then check further.

Wexland · 01-07-2014, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tolennaki

Another thing to remember is that sometimes mites are very difficult or impossible to see with naked eye. My hamster had caught mites and I knew something was wrong when I saw him scratching more than usual and a bald spot developing on his back. Even the vet could not see anything but gave me the mite medicine to administer to him as a first option and it worked, so now we know it was mites. What I am trying to say is that it's worth noticing the general behaviour of your hamster and if you see anything unusual then check further.

Thank you, I handle her daily and always give her the once over, I will definitly keep an eye.