Mysterious hair loss

[Bertiebobbins]

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas about this.

Nibble's hair appears to be thinning on one side of his lower back towards his tail, near his scent gland. It started about two weeks ago, and just as I thought I'd best take him to the vet, it started growing back, so I left it. Then the other night I noticed another small patch thinning from the same place. It's a specific area and hasn't got any bigger than when it first appeared.

He's fine within himself, eating drinking and playing normally, he doesn't care if I touch the place where the hair has gone from and the skin is perfectly healthy not broken or sore. When he's grooming he doesn't pay that area any more attention than anywhere else and he doesn't scratch or bother with it.

I've had my vet friend look over him today and she doesn't think it's anything to worry about especially as the hair is growing back, and wondered if he could be rubbing it in something. She's not an exotics vet though.

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas? Could he be rubbing it on his wheel or something? He has a wobust wodent wheel but the hair thinning wasn't coincidental with that arriving, in fact nothing has changed in his cage for quite a few weeks before this started.

Thanks

[xbuttons94]

How old is he? It could be due to age if he is an old ham maybe. He could be rubbing against part of his cage or some of his toys so keep an eye on him and see if you notice if he is doing that. It is good that he is eating and drinking, etc so it sounds like he it is bothering him. I have heard it is common for hamsters to get alopecia but someone might know a little more than I do. If you do get concerned or it gets worse you can call your vet and tell them his symptoms and they can check him over for your piece of mind xx

[Bertiebobbins]

He's 6 months old so I don't think it can be due to age.

[cypher]

It does sound as though he's been rubbing against something, how you figure out just what I don't really know, but if it's growing back I doubt you have much to worry about.
Maybe he just has a favourite scratching post somewhere in there!

[Nancy's Hamsters]

It could just be normal aging around his scent glands as most males have a thinning around the scent gland area of the body when they are also mature adults.