Roborovski constantly grooming and scratching

[Carl1986]

Two days ago I went to adopt a two year old Roborovski hamster who had been living in a tiny cage his whole life with little to no enrichment (toys, proper chews etc), just a tiny cage,flying saucer, food bowl, bottle and these little wooden chews of a type which I don't think any hamster actually likes.

When I arrived to pick him up the seller told me they had only had him for four days and the previous owner had owned him two years

They also told me that since they had him he has been scratching and grooming constantly so they took him to a vet who applied spot on for mites (they showed me the receipt for the vet bill)

The hamster is impossible to handle (too fast, too timid) so the vet wasnt able to examine the hamster properly and applied spot on as the best option.

The hamster is still grooming excessively. I've watched him carefully and he keeps licking his feet as he does it. So it looks to me like excessive grooming rather than scratching.

He has no bald spots. No red marks, he looks healthy, eats and runs and has been enjoying the new things I've given him, he just grooms a lot.

Could it be an allergic reaction to the woodshavings? He is two years old and I would guess he has always lived on woodshavings since I doubt the previous owner gave him carefree.

Please help

[souffle]

I think I'd let him settle more before doing anything much. The changes of home and cage etc may be causing him to overgroom to spread his scent as nothing smells right anymore. The scratching spreads the scent through the coat and putting it on his paws also helps do this. The do lick the foot as they groom to wet it and spread it further.
I'd advise not cleaning the cage for a good while so he becomes more secure in it - just spot clean any wet corners. Always replace some of the old bedding when you do clean or do half cage changes. Add some wheatgerm to his food maybe to help boost his Vit B levels which helps skin and coat health

[Carl1986]

Please, if anybody can help, my Roborovski is still grooming and scratching a lot and now I have noticed that he has a bald patch appearing on his back which I think is from overcrowding.

I got him when he was 2 years old and he had just been treated for mites so I don't think it is mites.

[BorisPasha]

Did you take him to the vets to get the mite treatment? Usually the vet does more than one dose roughly 10 days apart so that it kills them at the different stages in the life cycle.

[cypher]

If he's still doing it after all this time then he may need to go back to the vet to check for mites or just finish off the treatment from before.
What are you feeding him on?
Skin problems & some hair loss are fairly normal at that age but if he hasn't had a good diet with his previous owners that could be a factor too.
You could add some extras into his diet which are good for general skin/coat condition & may help (not a substitute for a vet check though) flax seeds, evening primrose oil & either some nutritional yeast or the wheatgerm as souffle suggested can all help if used together.

[Cinnamon Bear]

I don't think the bald spot us from overcrowdiny? Especially if you are just noticing it now. Elderly hamster do have problems with fur loss & mites sometimes. Every hammie has mite from the time they start milking the mothers milk. They lay dormant unless the immune system is comprised or they are elderly. If your hamster is really suffering then I'd take him for a vet check up.

That lady must not have taken the robo to an exotic vet that seems a little odd that he was too hard to handle. Exotic vets would not have that problem, so if you decide to take him in, go to an exotic vet.

Why did that lady have him for only a few days? Maybe she was frustrated the same way you are & gave up on him & rehomed him to you?