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 02-28-2014, 05:56 PM   #1
Figaro91
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 39
Default Hamster hair loss and open skin sores - PLEASE HELP

Hello all,

About a month ago I noticed that my 1 1/2 year old Syrian hamster Figaro was starting to lose hair quite rapidly. I realised this could be due to mites, old age or irritation caused by the wood chips I used in his cage, so I gave him one dose of Beaphar Anti-Parasite spot on treatment and changed his bedding to the shredded paper variety. Since then, he has regained some hair on his face and flanks, but I've noticed that he has some quite big, puss filled and very smelly sores on his stomach, and flaky dry round sores on his back. Also, he appears to have some small lumps beneath his skin, and I'm not sure if this is normal, but his back end seems to be "bulging"? I'm wondering if it has always looked like this and I just hadn't noticed until now because he had hair covering it before.

Aside from being a bit lethargic and not using his wheel (which I'm attributing to him just being old) he is acting normally - eating, drinking and organising his bedding, etc. He doesn't seem to be in pain, but the open sores especially do look really painful. How can you tell when a hamster is in pain? I cannot afford to bring him to the vets, and haven't tried any other treatment apart from the spot-on I mentioned above. I'm not even sure if it IS mites, I certainly can't see any on his skin. Are there any over the counter treatments I can try, and any home made remedies that will sore his skin? I have been considering using ivermectin, but it's so difficult to know what to use because I don't know what's wrong with him. I would really appreciate any help. I realise that he is old and may not have much time left, but I want whatever time he does have left to be lived in pain-free comfort.
Figaro91 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2014, 03:29 AM   #2
RedSky
Senior Hamster
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: UK - West Yorkshire
Posts: 580
Default Re: Hamster hair loss and open skin sores - PLEASE HELP

Does he look anything like the ham in this post:
Stages of Cushings Disease with illustrated pics (inc. treatment)
Please note though that the ham here has white skin because of the sudocrem her owner put on her to help with the flaky skin.
As far as I am aware you cannot see the mites without using a microscope. A vet would have to take a skin scraping. Maybe you could as if a vet would give you some decent mite treatment to try? I'm not sure how well those over the counter treatments work for small animals, I know the dog and cat ones are pretty rubbish.
RedSky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2014, 03:52 AM   #3
evel_lin
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
evel_lin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Bedfordshire, UK
Posts: 1,833
Default Re: Hamster hair loss and open skin sores - PLEASE HELP

He really needs to see a vet. Is there anyone who could loan you the money for the consultation? Pus filled sores will be painful but you also need to remember that hamsters are prey animals and are very good at hiding pain. 1.5 years is an older hamster but they can live for 2-3 years so don't write him off just yet.

Even if he can't be cured, you should at least take him to the vet who will be able to give him a gentle end
__________________


Missing my Sherly-bum
evel_lin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2014, 04:02 AM   #4
racinghamster
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
racinghamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 13,415
Default Re: Hamster hair loss and open skin sores - PLEASE HELP

Hi. Ivermectin is an active ingredient in the Beaphar product for Syrian hamsters and gerbils, but it`s not the best product on the market. Xeno50 mini is a better product but is costly as it comes in vial packs from Amazon.co.uk and a few other websites. But your own vet would apply it if you are worried that there are other things going on, like the lumps and puss filled sores? I would be inclined to say see a decent vet for a professional opinion and then go from there. I do sympathise with you on the affordability of a vet and whether they would actually help as many will give you an opinion and perhaps topical or oral medication to try, but the choice is yours if you believe this may be just a formality, but do bare in mind that a vet would be able to give you more information than any of us can on a forum. We can only advise and make educated guesses as to what the symptoms could be based on your description.

You won`t visually see mites as they are microscopic, but the symptoms can be scratching a lot, small scabs forming around the face and neck/shoulder areas due to scratching. Lice can be seen as tiny little specs on the hair shafts, which can appear `sticky` as they lay their eggs on the hair follicles. Although it sounds to me as though your Syrian has something underlying going on that may have triggered this in response to that.

Keep things simple and if the bedding change you recently made has proved a positive move, then that`s good. One and a half still isn`t `old`, but some hamsters can age faster than others due to genetics and environmental factors. x
__________________
Get A Life, Get A Rodent!
racinghamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2014, 04:26 AM   #5
RedSky
Senior Hamster
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: UK - West Yorkshire
Posts: 580
Default Re: Hamster hair loss and open skin sores - PLEASE HELP

If we are talking about the affordablity of a good vet then maybe you could look at a payment plan or something as well.
I took my Zippy in on Thursday, the vet couldn't see much with her awake so she was given a little gas, had an examination, mite treatment and baytril for 14 days and it cost me just short of £23. Not sure if this is a true price or a bit of a discount since we might as well live at the vets with my lot. I do take them in the minute something worries me, better to be safe than sorry I always say.
RedSky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2014, 05:32 AM   #6
racinghamster
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
racinghamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 13,415
Default Re: Hamster hair loss and open skin sores - PLEASE HELP

That`s true RedSky. Some vets are very reasonable while some are extortionists! It`s always best to ring up a few practices and ask what their pricing is for a hamster consultation with treatment. x
__________________
Get A Life, Get A Rodent!
racinghamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2014, 05:55 AM   #7
flogging_molly
Hamster Overlord
 
flogging_molly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland
Posts: 835
Default Re: Hamster hair loss and open skin sores - PLEASE HELP

vets can be quite accommodating to circumstances where money is an issue, its worth asking as it sounds like your hamster should definitely see the vet as soon as possible, also i'd be worried about putting any kind of spot on treatment onto an animal which has any open wounds as this could make the situation worse so best to seek advice from a vet asap
__________________

Owned by Reuben, Aria. Melody, Henry & Mouse
flogging_molly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2014, 01:37 PM   #8
Figaro91
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 39
Default Re: Hamster hair loss and open skin sores - PLEASE HELP

Hello all,

Thank you for the replies. Yes Redsky, that certainly looks like Figaro Am I to take it that it's Cushing's disease, then? Normally, I would have no issue with taking him to the vet, but before Christmas my cat got run over, and it has cost me more than 2k with all her treatment, and I'm still paying some of it off. Plus, I don't to be told "it might be this, it might be that" and pay for the privilege as I'm aware that many vets aren't too familiar with illnesses with hamsters. As far as I can see too, there is no cure for Cushing's disease.

Is it now a case of recognising when he is suffering, and putting him to sleep? I feel that if I can soothe his skin, he will still have a fairly good quality of life. I want to give him as long as possible, but I don't want him to suffer either. Is sudocreme a suitable option for soothing his skin? I've also heard that grape seed extract can be a miracle worker for hamsters with Cushing's disease, does anyone have any experience with this?
Figaro91 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2014, 09:44 AM   #9
racinghamster
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
racinghamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 13,415
Default Re: Hamster hair loss and open skin sores - PLEASE HELP

Hi Figaro, thanks for coming back. I could recommend Manuka Honey for wounds, but remember, it has to me medical grade manuka for it to be of any use. Normal honey is useless as it carries it`s own bacteria, so could add to the problem.

I`m sorry to hear about your cat, that must have been a shock. And vet bills for larger animals are not cheap either, so I can sympathise.

Your hamsters may or not have cushings, but cushings (see the sticky on Cushings at the top of the page) is usually associated with balding all over and true thinning of the fur.

Contact dermatisis can look really inflamed and red under the belly and can also cause flaky/patchy skin conditions, so you could be dealing with that or a knock on effect of varying things going on. You could keep the wounds clean with saline (one teaspoon of salt to one pint of boiled, cooled water) and apply with a cotton ball. This won`t do any harm if ingested, neither will the manuka honey.

As far as your vet is concerned, my guess is they would either be able to identify the cause, or as you suggested, take some educated guesses and send you home with Baytril and some ointment. Skin scrapings are normally required to rule out mites or other parasites or using a special light to identify fungal infection like ringworm, although not all fungal skin problems are ringworm!
__________________
Get A Life, Get A Rodent!
racinghamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2014, 11:52 AM   #10
Figaro91
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 39
Default Re: Hamster hair loss and open skin sores - PLEASE HELP

Hi Racinghamster,

Thank you for your suggestions. Will applying saline solution sting? He has lost almost all of his hair (though it has grown back now) and as far as I can see, the development of his symptoms are absolutely the same as Cushing's disease.
Figaro91 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

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 02:26 AM.