Three Issues That Can Cause Hair Loss in a Hamster
When you stroke your pet hamster, you'll enjoy the sensation of its soft hair. There can be times, however, when you're touching your pet and become aware of hair loss in one or more areas. Hamsters can lose some of their hair for various reasons, and it's generally worthwhile to take the pet to see a veterinarian if you're concerned about its hair loss. Hair loss may be a symptom of a bigger health problem that the veterinarian can begin to treat. Here are three issues that can often cause hair loss in a pet hamster.
Mites
Mites can affect hamsters in several different ways. If your pet has these small insects on its skin, it will often scratch itself excessively. Over time, the presence of the mites will cause hair loss in your hamster. Often, there will be scabs that are visible in the bare areas of the pet's body. Through scratching, these scabs can often worsen to the point that they bleed. It's important to get your hamster to a veterinarian not only to get medication to deal with the mites but also to assess the scabs and ensure that they aren't infected.
Abscesses
Hamsters can develop abscesses in many parts of their bodies. Abscesses can appear for a number of reasons. If your pet has a wound from an encounter with another pet, an abscess can develop and cause the hair around it to fall out. The abscess can cause considerable discomfort for your pet, so veterinary care is necessary. The vet will drain the abscess, treat the infection, and bandage the affected area. Over time, you should see the hair in this part start to grow back.
Rubbing
It's also possible for a hamster to lose its hair as a result of rubbing its body on various objects in its cage. The friction simply causes the hair to fall out over time. Hamsters can rub for various reasons. If their cage is too small, they may be in frequent contact with the sides of it, resulting in some hair loss. If your veterinarian suspects that your hamster's hair loss is consistent with rubbing, they won't technically have to treat the issue. Instead, they'll give you some advice to deal with the situation. Something as simple as getting your hamster a larger cage or giving it more time outside of the cage each day may prevent the rubbing that is causing hair loss.
For more information, visit a veterinarian near you.