Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Hamster Healthcare

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-31-2019, 07:28 AM   #1
babel
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 11
Exclamation Raw patch of exposed flesh on my hamster's back (Syrian)

Here is information about my hamster -
Age:around 7 months
Gender:male
Species:long haired Syrian

These are the details of my hamster's ailment -
When did it start:less than one week ago

Description of Ailment: There is hair fallout in one part of his back, the area is bloody. Suprisingly, there isn't much of a change in his personality or how he acts.

Here's how it looks like :

https://ibb.co/6nPVzcF

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could identify the cause of this wound or suggest ways to treat it if possible. Thanks in advance!
babel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 07:43 AM   #2
WillowHamHam
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 38
Default Re: Raw patch of exposed flesh on my hamster's back (Syrian)

Whilst I'm not sure what that could be, I would definitely have him checked out by a vet. Did this occur suddenly? Has he been scratching at the area?
WillowHamHam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 07:57 AM   #3
babel
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 11
Default Re: Raw patch of exposed flesh on my hamster's back (Syrian)

Quote:
Originally Posted by WillowHamHam View Post
Whilst I'm not sure what that could be, I would definitely have him checked out by a vet. Did this occur suddenly? Has he been scratching at the area?
Not that I know of...I came back from a four day holiday today so I do know this occurred only recently. I didn't notice anything in the days before I left and he doesn't seem to be scratching at the area.

He has, however, been digging in his sandbox more than usual, though I'm not sure why.
babel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 08:09 AM   #4
WillowHamHam
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 38
Default Re: Raw patch of exposed flesh on my hamster's back (Syrian)

It might be worth removing his sand bath for now, just to try and keep the wound clean and to prevent him accidentally irritating it further. What sort of bedding do you have him on currently?
WillowHamHam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 08:17 AM   #5
babel
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 11
Default Re: Raw patch of exposed flesh on my hamster's back (Syrian)

Quote:
Originally Posted by WillowHamHam View Post
It might be worth removing his sand bath for now, just to try and keep the wound clean and to prevent him accidentally irritating it further. What sort of bedding do you have him on currently?
Will definitely heed your advice, thanks! I've been using the wood shaving/pellet type of bedding since that was the bedding used in the store and he seemed rather accustomed to it. I've had him for around four months now and the bedding hasn't caused any problems so far.
babel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 08:39 AM   #6
WillowHamHam
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 38
Default Re: Raw patch of exposed flesh on my hamster's back (Syrian)

As long as the shavings are aspen or kiln-dried pine, they should be ok. Cedar shavings are a definite no, as are non kiln-dried pine shavings. It may be that he has caught mites, which cause hair loss and can result in something similar to this. Have you added any new items to his cage, or recently cleaned him out?
WillowHamHam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 09:10 AM   #7
babel
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 11
Default Re: Raw patch of exposed flesh on my hamster's back (Syrian)

The shavings are aspen and, no, I have not added any new items to his cage. I clean his cage once a week and just did so today, actually. Are there any cures or treatments for mites? Thank you so much for your help!
babel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 09:13 AM   #8
mangoandmimi
Little Miss Tinytoes
 
mangoandmimi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 7,036
Default Re: Raw patch of exposed flesh on my hamster's back (Syrian)

That does look quite sore, you'd be best off taking him to the vets to figure out what's caused this. It does look like he has been biting or nibbling the area too. I suppose for now you could try bathing it with saline to keep the area clean. I wouldn't go trying to find shop bought treatments yourself as you need a vet's help to know what's wrong and make sure you're giving the correct & safe dosage.
mangoandmimi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 03:08 PM   #9
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Raw patch of exposed flesh on my hamster's back (Syrian)

It looks like a cut or an injury to me. Don't try and treat him for mites without a clear diagnosis. The treatment is very strong and could make them ill if given when not absolutely necessary. Also the vet prescribed treatment is safer than anything you can buy.

You said you'd been away for a few days. Is it possible that someone looking after him let him out and he got injured?

You could try gently cleaning it with saline. Make the saline with a pint of boiling water and dissolve a teaspoon of salt in it - but then let the water go cold - or very nearly cold. Then use a cotton bud - or the corner of a cloth, but only just damp, not sopping wet, and gently clean it a bit. Try not to get your hammy too wet. You should be able to tell, when doing this, if it is a deep cut or more just sore from scratching. It's hard to tell from the photo but it looks like a deepish cut or injury to me.

Either way it would be best to take him to the vets. Do you have any other pets in the house and is the cage very secure? Some cage doors are easy to open.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2019, 04:19 PM   #10
babel
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 11
Default Re: Raw patch of exposed flesh on my hamster's back (Syrian)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mangoandmimi View Post
That does look quite sore, you'd be best off taking him to the vets to figure out what's caused this. It does look like he has been biting or nibbling the area too. I suppose for now you could try bathing it with saline to keep the area clean. I wouldn't go trying to find shop bought treatments yourself as you need a vet's help to know what's wrong and make sure you're giving the correct & safe dosage.
Thank you, I'll take him to the vet for sure!
babel is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
ailment, hamsters, back, syrian, change, personality, acts, https://ibb.co/6npvzcf, ways, suggest, treat, advance, wound, greatly, identify, hair, agearound, months, gendermale, haired, specieslong, hamster, exposed, patch, flesh

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:54 PM.