Miranda's fur is falling out

[MeganAndMisty]

So earlier I noticed that Miranda has a bald patch on her side and her skin is red. She keeps scratching all over her bottom area is also red and she seems to be in a lot of discomfort. She doesn't seem to be in any visible pain but she seems really annoyed and irritated.

She's making horrible squeaking and coughing sounds she's been fine until now and I don't know what's caused this. We think that maybe her wood shavings may have caused this since we recently put more in her cage ao she could dig.
Should we change her bedding? We cant go to the store now so would she be ok with just a towel in her cage just for tonight?

[Aisling and hamster]

bring her to the vet. is she an elderly hamster because sometimes they do loose hair when there old.

[MeganAndMisty]

Originally Posted by Aisling and hamster

bring her to the vet. is she an elderly hamster because sometimes they do loose hair when there old.

She's only 5 months old. We can't take her to the vets now but we will in the morning I need to know if I should remove the wood shaving and if so what to replace them with. Thank you.

[Coco61]

Not a towel M&M because if she chewed it that could cause internal problems. She could have an allergic reaction to the wood shavings but only a change in that would demonstrate that.
A better substrate would be Fitch as it is paper.

[MeganAndMisty]

Originally Posted by Coco61

Not a towel M&M because if she chewed it that could cause internal problems. She could have an allergic reaction to the wood shavings but only a change in that would demonstrate that.
A better substrate would be Fitch as it is paper.

Could it be because we added more? Maybe it's irritating her? We can't get anymore bedding until the morning I'm planning on getting care fresh. Ill order Fitch but I don't know what to do for now

[Coco61]

Perhaps just reduce the quantity then overnight until you can get an alternative.
Good luck with the vet. I am going tomorrow too over my boy's hair loss so I sympathise.

[MeganAndMisty]

Originally Posted by Coco61

Perhaps just reduce the quantity then overnight until you can get an alternative.
Good luck with the vet. I am going tomorrow too over my boy's hair loss so I sympathise.

thank you, I'll take most of it out until I got more. Hopefully both of our hams will be ok. (fingers crossed)

[Pebbles82]

Another day with current bedding will be ok, then you can change it tomorrow. Does she have plenty of torn up sheets of white toilet paper for nesting? If so she will be off the shavings while in her nest. Hamsters can be allergic to any kind of wood, and as Coco says you will know if it improves after changing the substrate. I also think Fitch is one of the best beddings, but it's only available online so if you wanted to change it tomorrow then buying a bag of Carefresh is probably the easiest immediate solution. If it hasn't improved in the next week or she seems worse then a vet visit might be needed.

If you really feel she is bad tonight and don't want to wait till tomorrow to remove the shavings, then you could use a load of torn up toilet paper for a layer of substrate tonight. Not kitchen roll paper as that's too thick if swallowed - just plain white toilet paper. It may not be as deep or thick as the shavings you have now but will be fine for one night.

[MeganAndMisty]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Another day with current bedding will be ok, then you can change it tomorrow. Does she have plenty of torn up sheets of white toilet paper for nesting? If so she will be off the shavings while in her nest. Hamsters can be allergic to any kind of wood, and as Coco says you will know if it improves after changing the substrate. I also think Fitch is one of the best beddings, but it's only available online so if you wanted to change it tomorrow then buying a bag of Carefresh is probably the easiest immediate solution. If it hasn't improved in the next week or she seems worse then a vet visit might be needed.

If you really feel she is bad tonight and don't want to wait till tomorrow to remove the shavings, then you could use a load of torn up toilet paper for a layer of substrate tonight. Not kitchen roll paper as that's too thick if swallowed - just plain white toilet paper. It may not be as deep or thick as the shavings you have now but will be fine for one night.

Thank you! I don't know if its an allergic reaction because she's been on the same wood shavings since we brought her home. I'm going to buy some care fresh today and order some Fitch later. She seems to be a bit better this morning she's eating, drinking and she was on her wheel In the night.

I couldn't get an appointment at the vets for another 3 days, hopefully once we change her cage she'll be ok until then.

Thank you for your advice.

[Pebbles82]

You're welcome. Changing to a paper based substrate or Carefresh will show if that solves the issue