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Old 08-23-2020, 06:35 PM   #1
Engel
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Default Hair loss

Hi, hope everyone is well. I haven't been on for a while as I've been busy trying to figure out whats going on with Ghost.

He's got a bald spot...well more of a large patch and I don't know what is causing it but it is something which has gradually happened over months rather than days or weeks.

His skin isn't sore or scaly. Not itchy and doesn't bother him. He's been treated for mites and lice just in case. I've given him flaxseeds, mealworms, shrimp and coconut oil to see if that helps too. I've applied coconut oil to the area for moisture and add a barrier again as a just in case and also to take this photo hence why it looks wet. He's so fluffy. So much so that if I hadn't put the oil on you'd hardly see the bald spot.

He's eating and drinking normal. Poop is normal colour, consistency and frequency, same as urine. He's fine in himself. Still digs and burrows, run on his wheel etc.

He's currently in the Alaska. I have uploaded him to the plaza but didn't change anything. I also removed all bedding and disinfected everything. I've tried changing bedding (from paper to wood based). It hasn't cha bed a thing.

No smellies been used, haven't even changed washing powder! I've even got an air purifier to see if it helps.

But the thing that's baffled me the most is that it's just healthy skin. No irritation, inflammation, sores or crustiness. It's just one side in a place I know he grooms easily. Is this just a case of barbering? Any ideas on what can cause it? Or how I can fix it?
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Old 08-23-2020, 11:12 PM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Hair loss

It looks as though it could be from rubbing against something, spindle in the wheel possibly, are there any rough surfaces in the cage he might rub against when scent marking, do you see him rubbing against anything in particular when he scent marks? Any entrances or holes in anything that could be a bit small for him?
It doesn’t look like any kind of mite issue so cleaning won’t help, doesn’t look like the start of Cushing’s either so rubbing seems like the most likely cause to me.
I wouldn’t give him coconut oil,try evening primrose oil .
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Old 08-24-2020, 04:22 PM   #3
Engel
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Default Re: Hair loss

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Originally Posted by cypher View Post
It looks as though it could be from rubbing against something, spindle in the wheel possibly, are there any rough surfaces in the cage he might rub against when scent marking, do you see him rubbing against anything in particular when he scent marks? Any entrances or holes in anything that could be a bit small for him?
It doesn’t look like any kind of mite issue so cleaning won’t help, doesn’t look like the start of Cushing’s either so rubbing seems like the most likely cause to me.
I wouldn’t give him coconut oil,try evening primrose oil .
What's the difference between coconut and primrose oil?I agree that it's probably from rubbing. He does have a wicker tunnel that he frequents which is quite rough but it's been in there since I've got him. Could that still be a potential candidate?
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Old 08-24-2020, 10:20 PM   #4
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Default Re: Hair loss

Evening primrose contains EFAs which coconut. oil doesn’t, these are needed for general health of the skin & fur, even more so when there is either a skin problem or hair loss that the body needs to repair & there may not be sufficient in the diet so evening primrose s a good supplement.
Also saturated fat doesn’t really occur in their natural diet so I’m not sure how well they would digest & metabolise it really.

I would check the tunnel, if it’s been chewed it could have rough enough bits to cause a problem, if you suspect it might be that then I would try removing it & replacing it with something else & see if that helps.
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Old 08-25-2020, 03:36 AM   #5
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Default Re: Hair loss

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Originally Posted by cypher View Post
Evening primrose contains EFAs which coconut. oil doesn’t, these are needed for general health of the skin & fur, even more so when there is either a skin problem or hair loss that the body needs to repair & there may not be sufficient in the diet so evening primrose s a good supplement.
Also saturated fat doesn’t really occur in their natural diet so I’m not sure how well they would digest & metabolise it really.

I would check the tunnel, if it’s been chewed it could have rough enough bits to cause a problem, if you suspect it might be that then I would try removing it & replacing it with something else & see if that helps.
Ah I see, I'll get some. I removed the tunnel last night. How long do you think it'll be until I see results?
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Old 08-25-2020, 10:28 AM   #6
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Default Re: Hair loss

I don’t really know how long it will take to see any signs of improvement, provided the cause has been removed then hopefully you should see some change fairly soon.
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Old 08-26-2020, 06:11 AM   #7
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Default Re: Hair loss

Hi Engel, looks like others may have come up with the solution but the problem is so similar to my Syrian, Oscar, that I hope no one minds my sharing. His coat was thinning in the same kind of area so he had skin scrapes that came back negative for mites and then it got worse - similar to Ghost. This was at the start of lockdown so the vets gave me some ivermectin drops but this didn’t work either. When I was finally able to take him to the vets they agreed there were no signs of mites at all - healthy looking skin too. They did urine samples, hair samples to rule out various things and in the end they took some skin samples and that came back positive for dermodex mites. The vets administered the drops this time and I’ve had to deep clean his enclosure 3 times whilst on the drops. This included a special spray they gave me. He is now looking mighty fine and handsome. I hope Ghost gets better soon. K
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Old 08-26-2020, 12:07 PM   #8
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Default Re: Hair loss

It could be a moult after the hot weather. How old is Ghost? Newt had this in his first year during summer - large balding patches. I gave him linseeds regularly and it all grew back. I'd keep going with the Linseeds. He's already had treatment for mites. I gave a pinch of linseeds every day on a separate dish - they all get licked up. It took a few weeks before the hair grew back.
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Old 08-30-2020, 09:41 AM   #9
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Default Re: Hair loss

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Originally Posted by KittyHound View Post
Hi Engel, looks like others may have come up with the solution but the problem is so similar to my Syrian, Oscar, that I hope no one minds my sharing. His coat was thinning in the same kind of area so he had skin scrapes that came back negative for mites and then it got worse - similar to Ghost. This was at the start of lockdown so the vets gave me some ivermectin drops but this didn’t work either. When I was finally able to take him to the vets they agreed there were no signs of mites at all - healthy looking skin too. They did urine samples, hair samples to rule out various things and in the end they took some skin samples and that came back positive for dermodex mites. The vets administered the drops this time and I’ve had to deep clean his enclosure 3 times whilst on the drops. This included a special spray they gave me. He is now looking mighty fine and handsome. I hope Ghost gets better soon. K
Demodex mites normally come along side other issues well in dogs anyway. Normally the immune system is low and demodex go nuts. Demodex are found on the skin anyway too.
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Old 08-30-2020, 09:49 AM   #10
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Default Re: Hair loss

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Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
It could be a moult after the hot weather. How old is Ghost? Newt had this in his first year during summer - large balding patches. I gave him linseeds regularly and it all grew back. I'd keep going with the Linseeds. He's already had treatment for mites. I gave a pinch of linseeds every day on a separate dish - they all get licked up. It took a few weeks before the hair grew back.
I'm unsure exactly how old he is as he's a rescue but we're guessing 14-18 months. Surely if it was moult it'd affect his whole body not just one patch? (I will read up on hamster moult though). I've kept on with the linseed, infact it's been a part of my hamsters diet since Lilith had dry skin. I'll keep an eye on him and hopefully I'll see some new growth soon
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