Pffffffffffffff.

**Pompompoms** · 07-07-2011, 10:22 AM

Oh dear my little Whizzbit.

Whizz has been to the vet today, he has lost the fur over one side over his back hip and bum, his little leg there is bald too, and he has quite a bald tummy. I did think it was from his paralysed face on that side, that he over groomed as he couldn't really feel what he was doing. As it got worse though I realised it was following exactly the same pattern as his dad The Cloud's did when he lost fur. Yesterday when I picked him up I felt a real irritation on my hand and it came up in little white itchy bumps.

Whizz went to the vet today for a skin scrape and mites were confirmed. Hamsters always have the mites there, but they're not activated as it were until there is an underlying problem affecting the immune system.

The Cloud's illness went hairloss over one side, mites diagnosed, tumor diagnosed, and sadly the tumors spread. Needless to say I'm very concerned, I only just lost my little white pompom and couldn't bear to see his son go the same way so young

Humphrey Furball · 07-07-2011, 10:28 AM

oh no poor Whizzbit! are they treating the mites? hopefully it won't be the same as the lovely Cloud, although i can understand how worried you must be. hope Whizz's itchy visitors depart soon x

racinghamster · 07-07-2011, 10:30 AM

Hope the treatment works Pompom. I voted for Cloud in the photo comp and was so sorry to hear Cloud had past on. Hopefully Whizzbit will battle on. x

**Pompompoms** · 07-07-2011, 10:43 AM

Thanks guys, they are indeed treating the mites. He's had a dose today, then a dose again in two weeks, then two weeks again and another skin scrape. The medicine is fine for him to be near Lilly with her pregnancy and when the babies come so all ok there. He actually has it applied then waits on his own in a little tub for ten minutes, then has to have it washed off. Needless to say he's thrilled

. Thankfully he's not got his dad's temper, so I still have all my fingers

fluffymunchkins · 07-07-2011, 12:41 PM

Oh dear, mites are such a pain!
Hope Whizzbitts alright

I'm wondering if Whizzbits condition is anything to be concerned about for carrying on his lines, obviously at the moment with the colour being so rare, risks have to be taken if it wants to become established. But is there any possibility of it affecting the babies?

vanilla-yazoo · 07-07-2011, 01:24 PM

poor lil whizz! I hope those mites go away soon! cant have photos of dad balding with the babys!
Everything else was ok? only the mites? I hope for all the best for him and lilly *hugs*

**Tammy22** · 07-07-2011, 01:26 PM

Hiya Pompoms,

i am really sorry to hear about Whizzbit and i really hope that this treatment works and it was just a one off - i hope he is soon back to his normal self.

You are right that all hamsters have mites at all times, but they only multiply to unmanageable numbers which cause itching and hairloss when there are underlying problems, and these underlying problems usually need to be sorted out first before the mites can be successfully treated. As you say, it could unfortunately be that a tumour could be in the early stages of development, but i really hope not, fingers crossed. but it could also be due to stress, maybe just the presence of Lilly could be stressing him out a bit, or the actual act of mating etc. as he isnt used to it.

I really hope it is just a one off and the mites disappear soon.

With the possibility of one of The Cloud's sons having a tumour, it could mean that this particular line is more prone to developing cancer . tumours etc. like fm has said, so this is something we will have to watch for in future generations.

I have had three robos develop tumours over the years and two of these were mother and daughter, so i do think it is something that can be passed down.

Fingers crossed for Whizzbit to make a full recovery very soon!!

Tammy xx

**Pompompoms** · 07-07-2011, 04:09 PM

I think for The Cloud, awful as it was, he was two and a half which is not a young man at all. I was saddened but not surprised that he developed an illness as many many older hams do. Exactly as we do as humans.

Whizz has always over groomed that area as he can't feel properly that side. The hairloss has escalated since he went in with Lilly which as you say Tammy could be down to stress or mating, could be hormones too.

Dasher is fine, the other eight babies are fine. Whizzbit hopefully will also like his siblings be fine. Sadly young hams will have problems at times, at the moment I'm just hoping I'm not going to lose another of my boys.

**Hamtastic** · 07-07-2011, 04:40 PM

Really, all hamsters have mites? That's distressing news to me =/ How could that possibly be though? Also mites "activating" due to a tumor doesn't make sense either.

Sorry if I'm missing something that's common knowledge. What is see is "Hamster mites Hamsters are usually free of parasites, but occasionally they can be exposed to and become carriers of mites." and the like.

Wishing Wizzbit the best!!!!

Sammybingo · 07-07-2011, 04:51 PM

Naww Whizzybum, get well soon, you daft egg! I hope it's nothing serious, and as you say, hormone or stress related. *Tickles*

Yeah Hamtastic, as far as I understand, all hamsters carry a small amount of mites, and if the hamster is immuno-compromised, the mites can increase in number quickly if left unchecked.