hamster hairloss?

[benjamin0]

while i was cleaning my hamster's wheel i noticed there was a lot of tiny hairs on it. this is unusual for him, i don't think i've ever seen that many hairs on his wheel before. i don't think it's a nutrient problem as he gets a mix of commercial food mix and safe vegetables daily.

he's a campbell dwarf hamster and under a year old, i haven't noticed any other health problems and i keep a close eye on him.

[Ria P]

How big is his wheel?
A Campbell dwarf would need a 20cm wheel. If the wheel is smaller and has a spindle then he may rub his fur off.

[benjamin0]

it's 20 cm, so i don't think that's it. do they shed occasionally, maybe that's why?

[Ria P]

That's the wheel ruled out. Is he a pure pred Campbell? If he's from a petshop he's a hybrid. I'm asking because going by my own experiences, hybrids are prone to all sorts of health issues which doesn't mean that your hamster has an ailment.

At this stage i would check him over to find out if he has any obvious bald patches or thinning fur and take it from there. I'd also check his skin to see if there are any red areas. Observe him to see if he is itching and scratching excessively or a lot in certain areas.

Hamsters fur can get a bit thinner and then grow back again without an underlying cause but it's always best to keep an eye on it and check with a vet if needed.

A daily pinch of brown linseeds, also called flaxseeds is very good for their fur and hamsters like them.

[benjamin0]

thank you so much for your advice, i'll make sure to check him over for that!