New Member with Questions about Fur Loss

[hampy]

Hello! I have a female Syrian hamster who is around 2 years old who has lost a huge patch of fur on her back/rear and just wanted to seek out some advice.
We recently took her to the vet and they found no mites nor anything else of concern (besides the fur loss). However, the vet did advise us that she may end up bald, but as long as she is otherwise healthy that she can continue living ok. She did give us some medicine for mites even though none were found-- so is this something I should use despite no presence of mites? I am considering seeking the opinion of a more specialized exotic vet though they are booked out for nearly a month.
However, I was wondering if perhaps it could be something with a nutritional deficiency or something else?
This is what she is currently fed:
-- 2-3 clusters of Henry's Hamster Food (attached the ingredients)
-- Rosewood's nature's salad (attached the ingredients)
-- As well as a homemade blend of oats, farro, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds (and more recently some other seeds such as celery seeds, flax seeds, etc..)
-- On and off (had not been feeding this for some time until a day or so ago): hamster herb mix with calendula, rose petals, alfalfa, and more
Just wondering if such a diet is suitable or if some things should be tweaked or if you would have some general advice for hair loss?
Thank you in advance!!

 

[Maz]

Hello. I think at two years old, hair loss beginning can be quite common as an ageing thing. If it was a very young hamster it could be lack of protein (or various other things). Older hamsters, the high protein level isn't needed, but they do still need around 15% protein. Your mix has 18% so that is fine.

However it does sound like you vary between the mix, the Rosewood and a home made one. Which might be ok but it could possibly lead to a nutritional imbalance. It's better to feed one main mix daily and then other things as treats. But I can't see any issue with anything you've mentioned really.

A couple of things can really help skin and fur condition. The first is linseeds (or flax seeds). Rather than having them in a mix, give a pinch of those daily on a separate little dish or jar lid eg. Hamsters tend to lick them up and like them. So a daily "dose". It can take two or three weeks before much difference is noticed, but I've had a hamster's hair grow back with them And get lovely and thick and glossy. But it may depend on the cause of the fur loss.

Is there anything she could be rubbing on? With it being her back and rear? Squeezing under something regularly? Which wheel does she have? Some wheels with spindles, if not that large, can also cause fur rub.

So about the mite treatment - no it doesn't sound great giving it anyway if there are no mites. Did the vet actually test by a skin scraping or tape on the skin and look under a microscope. Or just "look". Demodex mites aren't visible to the human eye.

So yes it could definitely be worth seeing an exotic vet, but if they do rule out mites, it could just be a combination of age and hormones.

As for the diet though - when you say two to three "clusters" of the food - are they like biscuits?

I use a 50/50 mix of Harry Hamster (Tiny Friends) and Bunny Dream Syrian food. The former has been used for years without issue and contains everything needed - a tablespoonful a day. But it doesn't have a lot of variety - which is why I mix it 50/50 with the Bunny Dream Hamster food which does have more variety. The only thing is the Bunny Dream food is only available online. From the Netherlands (it used to come from Germany) and is a bit expensive at about £10 a pack. However the Harry Hamster is very inexpensive, so it balances out, mixing the two

It might be better to start giving her one main mix (Harry Hamster on its own would be fine) daily. You can give treats/extras - eg a bit of porridge (using your oats for that rather than a home made mix). Forage scattered in the cage (eg the flowers). But keep to one main mix daily so that way you'll be sure she gets all the nutrients needed.

Do you know if her teeth are ok? Sometimes at this age they can start having tooth problems and not actually be eating much hard food, so not getting the nutrition. But then you'd think she would be losing weight if it was that.

 

[hampy]

Ok, thank you! The vet said she was going to use the tape on skin method and after looking under the microscope saw nothing.

I do not think there is anything on her cage that she is rubbing on-- she does have a sand bath and coco peat area that she will dig a bit in, but nothing in the cage that is really a tight space.

Also unfortunately parts of the bare skin seem dry/wrinkled and there is a little scabbing-- though I am not too sure where those tiny scratches could be from as I have not noticed any scratching. Is there something that could help soothe this area? And I gave her a pinch of flax seeds separate yesterday and I will definitely continue with that then!

For the wheel she has the Niteangel Super-Silent wheel in size medium I believe.

 

[Maz]

It does sound like mites have been ruled out then. And she isn't itching or scratching herself raw anywhere presumably, which is often a sign of mites. Do you have a nightcam? Just wondering if you could see how she gets the little scratches. However hamster skin is easily damaged without fur on it.

Does she seem well and active in herself? As for something to put on it, that can be tricky, as hamsters lick things off which might not be good for her - but maybe a drop of evening primrose oil. No more than that - that will be fine if licked off and in fact one of our members swears by it for oral skin and fur condition. I think in this case, a tiny drop externally - which may become internal if licked!

Do you have any photos? They can look really quite wrinkly without fur at this age so it may be the dryness is normal - unless it's particularly flakey. If she's grooming, the scratches could be from that, with no fur to protect the skin.

I would keep an eye on any scab though to make sure she doesn't get an infection. If anything starts to look infected, it might need some antibiotics.

 

[hampy]

Unfortunately I do not have a night cam.

And yes she has been quite herself! Though perhaps a little more tired which I was presuming is just age. And sounds good about the evening primrose oil-- I will give that a try.

Also I do not have any photos at this moment, as I am travelling and my father is taking care of her at home, but I can attach some once I get back.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Applying the mite treatment can't do any harm and could help. Socks had very thinned fur which has improved and grown back. The vet gave him Ivermectine and I gave him a more varied diet with fresh greens and cooked butternut squash to boost his immune system. Also some cheese, nuts, flax seed and oats along with his Harry Hamster mix. I remove any soiled bedding each week as I think they may wee more as they get older. I hope your hammy improves, good luck ❤

 

[Maz]

I think it's something that shouldn't be given unless mites are definitive personally. It can be quite toxic to their system so if it's not necessary then giving something their system has to process isn't the best idea. There are other causes of fur loss than mites. The vet did give you some and say you could try it, but ........ If she's fine in herself, maybe just observe for a while.