|
Itching and
obsessive scratching is usually caused by one of two things- bedding allergy
or parasites. All hamsters groom and scratch at themselves, but if your hamster
seems to be scratching constantly, is showing any hair loss, redness of
skin, or altered behavior, you can pretty much guess something is causing
him to itch and it is not just grooming.
Mites
Mites are tiny
bugs that eat dead skin on people and animals. They insert a tube into the
skin to release a chemical that dissolves the skin so they can digest it.
This chemical, and the tube sometimes breaking off into the skin, causes a
great deal of discomfort. Mites continue to lay eggs on the host and
increase in numbers. Mites can come from bedding, other animals, or brought
in the house on shoes after walking through untreated areas outside.
To rid your
hamster of mites, there are some home remedies, but they do not kill the
eggs and the mites will certainly return. The only thing that is going help
your hamster is Ivermec or Ivermectin (brand)- an anti-parasitic drug
commonly used by vets that is very safe when dosed correctly. Ivermectin can
be dosed orally, injected, or used topically like a dog or cat flea
preventative. It is relatively inexpensive, especially in a dose small
enough for a hamster. Ivermectin kills the adults and makes them sterile so
their eggs do not hatch, but in order to insure that every mite has been
targeted, the dosage is usually given three times, each 7-10 days apart.
Oral or injected doses are usually more effective in hamsters. The cage and
environment will also need to be cleaned and any suspicious bedding thrown
away or frozen before use.
Fleas
Fleas can plague
hamsters as well, from other pets, or brought in from outside on shoes and
pants legs. The entire environment will need to be treated to eliminate
fleas. Dogs and cats will need to be combed, bathed, and treated with a
proper flea preventative or flea-dipped at the vets; all carpeting and
furniture will need to be sprayed with a household flea-killer; the yard
will also need to be sprayed with a flea killer designed for outdoors. Your
hamster will need to be moved into a room with no carpeting that will not be
sprayed with any pesticides. The cage will need to be cleaned thoroughly and
the hamster treated before being returned to the cage.
You will need:
a shallow dish
rubbing alcohol
(soapy water will work, but not kill them as fast)
a flea comb
kitten or puppy
or small animal flea spray
white towel or
paper towels
Lay out the towel
or paper towel on a flat surface. White is best, but any color that will
contrast easily against a black flea will work. Fill the bottom of a shallow
dish with rubbing alcohol. Use the flea comb to thoroughly comb over your
hamster several times. Any fleas you find, drop into the alcohol to kill
them. They are usually too hard to mash and jump away easily. Check around
the eyes and anus carefully, as these are warm spots fleas love to gather.
When you are satisfied there are no more fleas on your hamster, spray the
flea spray directly into your hand and pat all over the hamster, rubbing his
fur backwards to get it all over. You will need to check your hamster at
least every two days for more signs of fleas. If you find any, clean the
cage again and repeat the process of defleaing the hamster.
Bedding
If you see no
signs of mites or fleas, consider the bedding. Pine and Cedar almost always
cause skin allergies, and should also be avoided due the the ill effects
they have on the respiratory system. Some hamsters are also allergic to
Aspen or even Carefresh. Maybe you recently switched beddings, or maybe the
scratching has progressively gotten worse. A bedding change may solve the
problem. If a bedding change does eliminate the scratching within a week or
so, or the itching worsens, you will want to take your hamster to the vet to
find out what the problem might be.
Skin Injuries
Injuries are
generally caused by bites or scratching, so in those cases there may be
different problem. But sometimes hamsters can be scratched or injured on
their equipment- and this is usually not serious unless their cage is not
clean or their health is already poor. Most abrasions to the skin should be
washed with warm water on a cotton bulb and then dried before applying an
antibiotic ointment. Be sure to rub the ointment in well and wipe off any
excess, because the first thing they are going to do is lick it off.
Sometimes an injury can cause an abscess- and you will notice on your
hamster a bump that is swollen and hot to the touch- and you may notice some
fur loss in that area. An abscess can be pretty serious, as a hamster is
very tiny and any amount of infection in their body can make them very sick.
A vet will be able to give them antibiotics and decide the course of
treatment, whether he feels minor surgery or otherwise is the best way to
go. Importantly, remove any items from the cage that have any sharp edges-
and hamsters chew, so there is always sharp edges. Good rule of thumb- if it
scratches you while you are cleaning it, it will scratch them.
|
