Flakey Skin?

[Elliethehammylover]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone knew what is wrong with the fur/skin of my baby Pip?
(brief background) I adopted two "girl" hamsters from the pet shop and turns out one was a boy and got the girl pregnant. My baby Pip was one of the pups and the only one to have flakey skin. His father had similar fur to him but was never flakey. Iv tried loads of different bedding, I provide him with a sand bath, brush him, etc. I also have a long-haired Syrian who has the most beautiful fur/coat iv ever seen, so I don't see how it's the products I'm buying for them. It doesn't seem to bother him too much but I do see him bite himself aggressively sometimes. Do you know any solutions or products I can use to help him?

[AprilPearl]

Hi Ellie. Sorry I can’t be much help, but I wanted to reassure you that I have read some hamsters are just prone to flakey skin/dandruff and it is probably nothing sinister, especially if Pip has been this way throughout his entire life. That said, if you are concerned you could take him to the vet. The only thing I know of that helps is regular grooming, but you say you are doing that!

[Thin Lizzy]

I would recommend a vet visit, the vet will be able to examine your ham close up. It could be mites, which can cause itching and scratching.

[cypher]

Does he eat all his mix (no picky eating) & have fresh veg daily? If he doesn't eat all his mix then he could be missing out on some nutrients & a variety of different veg each day will help to give him a micronutrient boost.
I would try giving him a pinch of flax seeds & a drop of evening primrose oil (either on food or straight from a spoon) daily & some nutritional yeast if he'll take it.

[Elliethehammylover]

Originally Posted by cypher

Does he eat all his mix (no picky eating) & have fresh veg daily? If he doesn't eat all his mix then he could be missing out on some nutrients & a variety of different veg each day will help to give him a micronutrient boost.
I would try giving him a pinch of flax seeds & a drop of evening primrose oil (either on food or straight from a spoon) daily & some nutritional yeast if he'll take it.

He never finishes his mix, however he does finish all his fresh veg and dried mealworms. I'll try flax seeds and primrose oil, thank you

Originally Posted by AprilPearl

Hi Ellie. Sorry I can’t be much help, but I wanted to reassure you that I have read some hamsters are just prone to flakey skin/dandruff and it is probably nothing sinister, especially if Pip has been this way throughout his entire life. That said, if you are concerned you could take him to the vet. The only thing I know of that helps is regular grooming, but you say you are doing that!

Im glad too know it isn't just him who suffers with flakey skin. I have seen a slight improvement when I provided him with a sand bath and when I groom him. I shall take him to the vets and hopefully find a way to stop it, thank you

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

I would recommend a vet visit, the vet will be able to examine your ham close up. It could be mites, which can cause itching and scratching.

I'll book a vet appointment, thank you. (im hoping its not mites!)

[Cotton]

Ellie, is it possible he's reacting to a product you use on your hands? I only suggest that as a possibility because I had a house rabbit whose ears became flaky. She was a mini-lop so, initially, I thought she was reacting to something on the floor. However, she loved to have her ears stroked and one day it occurred to me that it was a product I was using on my hands. Still take him him to the vet as planned, though, to rule out mites.

[Thin Lizzy]

Even if it is mites, it's treatable.
Cotton made a good point about it maybe being something you use on your hands.

[alpacassei]

One of my hybrids suffers from flakey skin. The vet gave him mite medication which helped a lot and I also give him evening primrose oil whenever it starts to appear again which stops it from getting worse and makes it go away.

[ChocoMintAnswersSincere]

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

I would recommend a vet visit, the vet will be able to examine your ham close up. It could be mites, which can cause itching and scratching.

This is good advise.