Sickness with boldness, itchiness and "tumors" in dwarves

[arratetxu]

Hi all,

I'm desperately looking for any clue about what's happening to my hamsters. I will try to sum it up as much as possible. Around 3 years ago I brought some Campbellis from the Netherlands to Spain with me. After a few months, 1 started to develop a bald area in the neck. That was all, but afterwards all of them (around 9 hamsters-even from different cages) started to show bald chests, itchiness and several tumors (fatty bening tumors). Apart from this, they had almost normal life and reached almost 2 years. When the last one was very old, I went back to the Netherlands and brough a few healthy couples with me. After around 6 months (same time span than the previous ones) they started showing the same symptoms (they weren't in contact with the old sick one, that died shortly after the new ones arrived). Again bold chests and tumors together with itchiness. The one male that comes from another breeder seems to be ok, so we thought it could be genetic.
With the previous ones I visited 4 different vets. No one had a clue about what they had. Now, I have been going to a hospital where a very good vet specialised in exotic species works. It was recommended by one of the previous vets I visited (also exotic vet) as the best one. Well, he performed some tests:
Mites: negative
Dermatological fungus: negative
Biopsy of a tumor: non conclusive as it was "just fat". No cancerous signs.
Necropsy of the worse case I had: non conclusive. The tumors are not really tumors, but fat accumulations. The report says the hamster was obese, but I don't agree. She was actually pretty thin because she was more sick than her sisters and they didn't let her eat enough. The fat she had was from this weird sickness. She was already living on her own for a month when she was put to sleep. Apart from a lipid storage disorder, the necropsy didn't show much...

I am posting this because after hours and hours of research, I've heard that some other Dutch breeders have this in older hamsters. Mine were 6 months when it started.

My roborovski group have started some baldness too and I'm afraid it might be the same sickness that could be contagious (the vet says it doesn't look the same, but I'm not sure anymore). I cannot see fat tumors or cummulations, just small bald areas in the chest and belly.

My other pets: cats and dogs are perfectly fine. I am a bit afraid that the 2 rats I brought home before I suspected it could be contagious (the vet insisted it was genetic) might be affected in a few months. I post some pics. The tumors are mostly in the armpits and chest. Two weeks ago, almost all males started to show scent glands infections too. Two kind of antibiotics didn't help either 😭.
Have you seen this before? I've visitied around 6 vets in total including the hospital and no one has a clue, so the sickness might be new or unreported until this time.
Thanks beforehand!

[Ria P]

I really have no idea what's happening to your hamsters but its strange that all seem affected.

Could it be diet related? A deficiency of some kind maybe?

I live in the UK but could not find a suitable food mix for my dwarf so had to order it from Germany.

[arratetxu]

Originally Posted by Ria P

I really have no idea what's happening to your hamsters but its strange that all seem affected.

Could it be diet related? A deficiency of some kind maybe?

I live in the UK but could not find a suitable food mix for my dwarf so had to order it from Germany.

I don't think diet is the issue because they started eating commercial food I gave to all my hamsters for years with no issue (Muesly - Versele Laga) and never had such an issue. Now I'm making my own home-made mixture. There's no change with them.

I see my pics were deleted or not correctly uploaded. Here's a link to the Imgur post:
https://imgur.com/a/w2Nda9o