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Old 06-21-2017, 02:13 PM   #1
newtohammys
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Default Maybe mites? Idk help

Have I asked for help on this hamster before?
No - This is the first time I am asking for help on this hamster.

Here is information about my hamster -
Age:wasn't told I got her on my birthday the 22nd of may
Gender:female
Species:syrian

These are the details of my hamster's ailment - itching, general jumpyness
When did it start:roughly two weeks after I got her she itched more than usual and I feel worried

Description of Ailment:
[Please provide photos if possible]
I don't see any physical problems really I mean I noticed her itching more that's it really I've looked all around her and I don't see any physical changes to her apart from that she's eating normal drinking normal she is VERY jumpy lately but that might be due to the new cage I got her and the sudden hot weather that usually doesn't happen in Ireland so I dunno I feel like mites are possible but I could be just being overprotective idk I've been putting frozen bottles in her cage and putting her water bottle in the freezer to chill before she wakes up and giving her chilled fruit every two days to help a bit.

Hope these pics help a bit? If the image hosting site works here idk

https://ibb.co/nBXhCk
https://ibb.co/jesSdQ
https://ibb.co/mr30yQ
https://ibb.co/ijntJQ
https://ibb.co/homndQ
https://ibb.co/jyXcdQ
https://ibb.co/jMznCk

Any specific physical changes:
[For example, sudden weight loss, localized weight gain] nothing that I've noticed I feel like I'm over worrying but I really fear for her all the time but its probably my own anxiety getting to me I just don't want her to die if I'm a bad owner and fail to notice any problems quick enough hopefully the image sharing site works D;
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Old 06-21-2017, 02:25 PM   #2
Drago
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Default Re: Maybe mites? Idk help

I don't personally suspect mites, hamsters do scratch and groom quite a bit. Her fur also looks to be in very good condition, not something I'd expect from a ham suffering with mites. Her being so jumpy is likely due to her not being completely tamed yet. If the nervousness started two weeks after she was brought home, you can rest assured that it's not unusual. Many hams won't express their nervousness for the first few weeks as they're still in a bit of shock from being brought home. The heat could also be agitating her as well. I wouldn't recommend a frozen water bottle as their tiny paws can get stuck or even get frostbite if they are pressed against it too much. Instead, try offering ceramic mugs and tiles or a terra cotta pot. You could also refrigerate a sand bath and offer that to keep her cool Chilled fruit is fine, but not too often as fruits are sugary. I wouldn't stress out so much, it sounds like you're a very good and attentive owner. Just try moving her to a cooler room, and use as many techniques as you can to keep her from getting too hot. Good luck
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Old 06-21-2017, 02:49 PM   #3
newtohammys
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Default Re: Maybe mites? Idk help

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drago View Post
I don't personally suspect mites, hamsters do scratch and groom quite a bit. Her fur also looks to be in very good condition, not something I'd expect from a ham suffering with mites. Her being so jumpy is likely due to her not being completely tamed yet. If the nervousness started two weeks after she was brought home, you can rest assured that it's not unusual. Many hams won't express their nervousness for the first few weeks as they're still in a bit of shock from being brought home. The heat could also be agitating her as well. I wouldn't recommend a frozen water bottle as their tiny paws can get stuck or even get frostbite if they are pressed against it too much. Instead, try offering ceramic mugs and tiles or a terra cotta pot. You could also refrigerate a sand bath and offer that to keep her cool Chilled fruit is fine, but not too often as fruits are sugary. I wouldn't stress out so much, it sounds like you're a very good and attentive owner. Just try moving her to a cooler room, and use as many techniques as you can to keep her from getting too hot. Good luck
Yeah she kinda accepts me petting her but we did have some mishaps she climbed onto my hand and I went to lift her a little bit off the ground after a while and she kinda jumped on to the floor which led to ages of me trying to coerce her back onto my hand and she seemed alarmed by the whole thing the same thing happened a second time eventually both times I had to grab her ball and put her in that. I guess I worried because she was scratching more than usual but yeah her fur seems intact to me so guess I'm a bit over cautious. I'll buy a fan for my room to see if that cools it down as this house is small and there's not much space for her anywhere else and I don't like her being out of my room since I live with smokers which effects my chest and would probably not be good for hamsters I guess. Would she not end up chewing/cutting herself on the mug/tile I mean she has a ceramic house she doesn't chew but she used to be a bar biter for two weeks before the new cage arrived (which I think did stress her out too but she seemed happy and energetic the first few days in her new cage til the heat suddenly picked up xP I'll try a few of the cooling down methods and try to tame her then if she's still super itchy and nervous I'll take her to a vet
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Old 06-21-2017, 02:59 PM   #4
newtohammys
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Default Re: Maybe mites? Idk help

I just moved her home for a second to check she hadn't chewed the wood under it and I seen these black things idk if its just chewed food or poop I try not to touch her nest cause she gets annoyed but yeah the dots aren't moving or anything.

https://ibb.co/gvrLHk
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Old 06-21-2017, 03:29 PM   #5
Drago
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Default Re: Maybe mites? Idk help

Her leaping out of your hand isn't out of the ordinary for an untamed hamster. She just sounds as though she's not yet quite ready for regular handling. I'd start instead by just getting her to be a bit more confident. Try offering treats when she sits on your hand, and show her that you're no threat. The fan will cool you down, and help with humidity, but it won't cool her down unfortunately. The reason fans work is because we sweat, but because hamsters don't, it unfortunately won't do anything to cool her. However, it's definitely worth a shot if you can get it in the room! I've never heard of a hamster chewing a mug or tile tbh. However, they work wonders for a hot ham so if you could offer one, it would help a lot. I have a bar chewer and extremely mouthy ham and he's never once chewed at his ceramic mugs or tiles- if that helps to comfort you at all. I doubt it is anything health related, but a vet visit never hurts!

As for the dots, it's hard to tell what they are from the pictures. My assumption is that they're just bits of detritus from food, bedding, or waste. The bottom of a hams cage can have some pretty nasty stuff so I wouldn't stress yourself out over it. Best wishes
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Old 06-22-2017, 05:00 AM   #6
dreamtree1234
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Default Re: Maybe mites? Idk help

Drago has given you great advice. As far as the possibility of mites, I can't see any signs of them from your pics. I also assume that the specs in the last pic are probably crumbs from food or waste, too. Best wishes and have plenty of fun with your hammy!
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Old 06-22-2017, 11:29 AM   #7
newtohammys
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Default Re: Maybe mites? Idk help

She started rubbing herself against the cage heavily and itching worse than ever so just to be sure I'm taking her to the vet but she can't see my hamster til tomorrow so hopefully whisper will be fine til then she's probably healthy but I'd still like to be certain I know it might end up a waste of a lot of money (since I'll have to pay a taxi yo take me) but I couldn't live with myself if she died i just have that gut feeling something is up yaknow when you have a pet and you know they arent being their usual self right now. Here's hoping she gets an all clear tomorrow.
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Old 06-22-2017, 11:33 AM   #8
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Default Re: Maybe mites? Idk help

Hope the vet visit goes well.
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Old 06-23-2017, 04:32 PM   #9
newtohammys
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Default Re: Maybe mites? Idk help

The vet was super nice and patient while Whisper hid in a tube to avoid her xD took a long time but I convinced her to leave the tube and she had her check up. The vet has worked with rodents before including hamsters. She said she couldn't see any signs of anything wrong but she did say its possible there could be mites because its hard to detect if they're under the skin so she put drops on Whisper and gave her a little injection. Whisper didn't bite at all so I was very proud although she did run away a lot. I was told to remove all the old bedding, wash the cage +all her stufd with washing up liquid then rinsed and dried everything and put new bedding in so I removed all of it and put new hemp bedding in so hopefully it works well i don't think the hemp is soft enough for her but I don't want to add any tissue or care fresh because I feel like those two things could've caused her itch (could be the hemp too the vet said but if she's still itching I guess I'll switch bedding) so here's hoping the itching stops so I don't have to wash everything again and try a new bedding -_-
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Old 06-24-2017, 04:24 AM   #10
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Default Re: Maybe mites? Idk help

Hope that sorts it Are you in the Uk? Fitch is hypoallergenic bedding. It's recycled food grade paper. Never heard of a hamster being allergic to that. But yes it is possible she might be allergic to hemp or wood bedding (I'm allergic to the hemp bedding!). Carefresh is wood pulp so has been through a lot more chemical processes I suspect, than recycled paper. Plus it can be dusty.

Where do you store your bedding? Because if that gets damp then it could attract mould or funal things possibly. You can freeze bedding if you're worried but I've never managed to as we don't have a big enough freezer! Although I did freeze a few smaller bagged up quantites once but gave up on that.

Let us know how she gets on. If the treatment makes no difference then it probably wasn't mites.

As for the taming - this can take time. And patience You will get things like her jumping away or having to be bundled back into a ball when she isn't tame, as Drago says. Maybe try and set up a playpen area, or use the bathtub. Carry her there (carefully) inside her ball then set it down and take the lid off and let her run around in the enclosed space. You can sit in there too so she will run over you and get more familiar (be careful - they can run up your arm and try and jump out!) So either be prepared to block that or have someone else there who can.

You can also try a kind of taming box. Just a cardboard box and gently keeping lifting her a bit and letting her go - a couple of times a week maybe. Eventually she will get used to being handled.
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