What kind of skin does a hamster have?
As hamsters age some may lose fur. The underlying skin that is exposed may become dry and scaly. In some cases, particularly more so with males, this dryness may be so severe that the skin may become thickened, very scaly, and with a white hard eggshell like appearance.
Why does my hamster have a rash on his face?
Allergies (contact) are another cause of some skin problems. Some allergic reactions in hamsters may be mild, but some can be more severe. An allergy is a disorder that can result in symptoms as benign as a runny nose to skin rashes.
What does ringworm look like on a hamster?
The term ‘ringworm’ is misleading because ringworm is actually caused by a fungus ( Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum ). If your hamster has ringworm, you will see patches of hair loss where the skin looks crusty, flaky, and red.
How can a vet diagnose skin disease in a hamster?
Your vet will diagnose mites by taking a skin scrape (thin scrape of skin using a scalpel blade) and analyzing it with a microscope. Your vet may also brush your hamster while holding a white piece of paper to catch the mites. Your vet would then look at the mites with a magnifying glass.
What kind of skin disease does a hamster have?
Skin Diseases in Hamsters. Hamsters can be infested with a number of skin and fur mites that can be diagnosed from a skin scraping that your vet performs. Ringworm, a type of fungal infection, allergic dermatitis, and skin infections can also occur on the skin and require treatment by a vet.
How can you tell if a hamster has an eye infection?
A healthy hamster should have two bright and open eyes with no discharge. If your hamster is feeling ill, he may even eat and play less and also try to hide away. Common signs of an eye infection in hamsters include: The discharge usually starts quite watery but can then become slightly brown/red tinged or even yellow/green in colour.
How can you tell if a hamster has a tumor?
Hamsters can develop other lumps called abscesses, which are pockets of infection. When diagnosing a tumor in hamsters, it is important to make sure the lump is a tumor and not an abscess. An abscess will be red and maybe even warm to the touch, indicating infection and inflammation.
What causes a hamster to have an abscess on its face?
The most common cause of a hamster abscess is due to a bacterial infection that enters the body of a hamster through a scratch, scrape or open wound but it could also be caused by parasites or a foreign substance that makes its way into the body. An abscess on the face is often cause by some sort of hamster teeth problem like tooth decay.
