Urgent: Sudden Hamster Illness

[sirheinouslot]

Hi, Im a new poster

I came for advice, as I am desperate and worried for my poor hamster, Peanut.
Peanut Info:
Age: 2 Years Old
Type: Russian Dwarf Hamster (white with grey line on back)

Peanut in the past week has rapidly lost fur on his belly, and his back. He is itching a lot and behavior has been changing.

At the start (few days ago), I noticed a lot of fur loss on his belly, it got worse each day untilk I noticed it spreading on his back and bottom. At this point, he was showing no behavior differences.

Now, he is refusing to eat his treats. He nibbles at his favourites and then he abandons them. He wants out of his cage, but when I let him out he goes into the same corner and falls asleep. I noticed today that when he came out, he froze and looked as if he was falling asleep. I thought he was going to die because he wouldn't react at all, until he gradually came back and went back to sleep again in his house. Most of the night and day he is sleeping, unlike before he would always be awake most of the time and come out.

I don't notice wet tail or anything of the sort.

Please help.

[souffle]

Hi there - sorry to hear that Peanut isn't well.
I would recommend a vet visit to find out if they can detect anything going on here.
Have you changed anything in his bedding or food that could have caused an allergy? If not then it sounds like there is something at the root of the fur loss. He is quite an old hammy at 2 years and various problems can arise in older hams. Is he drinking more than usual? Sometimes drinking can mean diabetes and passing a lot of urine can result in urine burns on the skin and fur loss. The vet could test his urine for sugar.
It could be mites and a vet may do a skin scrape to see if there are mites present and treat with a spot on suitable for small animals. Don't treat without seeing the vet.
It isn't uncommon for dwarves to lose fur at the back end as they age due to hormones as well but they usually act normally and do not itch.
If you can see an experienced vet and have him health checked and take it from there.

[Rads]

It does sound like an allergic reaction, I found that Pip was showing signs of itching with her wood shavings substrate,so I got rid deep cleaned her cage and changed the substrate to Carefresh all though a lot more expensive Pip is fine with it, also it is easier to spot clean I have found.
I can't comment about the possibility of mites as I have no experience about them.

[sirheinouslot]

Thanks all for the speedy reply. Peanut is sleeping in his cute corner at the moment.
On the possibility of an allergic reaction, I doubt it. I have been using Carefresh blue colour for a long time and Peanut doesn't seem to mind. I haven't changed anything in his cage, his food is all the same.
Peanut does urinate a lot, but he doesn't drink a lot either. I rarely see him awake.
As for mites, I clean his cage twice a week and don't seem to notice anything. He does clean himself a lot so I won't rule out this possibility (itching??), does mites effect behavior and eating patterns? Peanut is rarely eating the treats he likes and is having huge difficulty trying to eat, as when he grabs food he drops it, or falls over. I try and give him a helping hand.

I'd also like to add that he has cataracts and I suspect he is fully blind as in the dark his eyes are pale white from the centre to the edges, I only noticed right now that he has a injury/growth on his front paw/foot. Its red and quite small but it looks as if it could cause pain.
Peanut has very bony and hairless feet, maybe arthritis if hamsters can get that..

I can't get a vet at the moment. In a few days time I will be able to get him there, but I am insanely concerned that he might not make it. Peanut is a strong hamster but I've never seen him so frail and weak.

[Happy Hamsters]

I believe it may be a allergy. For best results, take your hammy to a vet.

[sirheinouslot]

Peanut has deteriorated heavily... he is crawled in a fetal position sleeping with deep heavy breathing. I don't know what to do. Help. He usually would never sleep near my belly.

[sirheinouslot]

He is refusing to eat and is really skinny now... He crawled up onto the pillow with his eyes closed..

[souffle]

Maybe it is his time to be called now. In people years he would be quite an old man now and he does sound to be on his final path. Can you not manage a vet visit at all? Pets at home vets are open Sundays at normal costs?
For now all you can do is keep him quiet and peaceful and offer a teaspoon of something like ready break made up soft or even just some water from the bottle. Talk soothingly and let him know you are there.
He needs seen for the foot problem anyway and maybe the vet will advise what is going wrong and what he needs?
It is unlikely to be an allergy if nothing has changed. It does sound to be like a kidney problem if he is weeing a lot though. Once the kidneys fail the body chemistry gets all upset and the hammy will be unsteady and disorientated. They do tend to fall in to a coma eventually so if this happens don't be alarmed but leave him quiet as he will feel no pain at this point.

[Rads]

I have to agree with Souffle it does sound like his time is very near, with some good luck he will pass gently in his sleep..
Pip and I send a hug at this unsavoury time.

[Pebbles82]

So sorry to hear Peanut is so unwell. Souffle's advice is good.