Should I be worried that my hamster's hair is falling out?

Answer by  Jinxie (15)

Hair loss can be attributed to many different things. Depending upon the season it could be normal hair loss, a type of "shedding" that most fur covered creatures go through. However, if you notice other signs that your hamster is not feeling well, such as hair loss, continuous scratching, sores or abscesses on the skin, or red inflamed areas, you should consult with your veterinarian. If you do not have a regular veterinarian, you can look in your local phone book, for a "Small Animal" or "Pocket Pet" Veterinarian. These are Vets that specialize or have advanced training on smaller animals. (Birds, Pocket Pets, Lizards etc)

Answer by  traumatised (3285)

If hair is falling out in patches, revealing irritated skin, then it is likely mites. Hair loss can also be a sign of vitamin deficiency, or an obsessive response to boredom if there are no activities/toys in the cage. Hamsters also lose hair if they are very old, for which there is no treatment. Worth having a vet checkup.

Answer by  Heloise (397)

If your hamster is very old (2 years would be "old" in a hamster, 3 years exceptional), some thinning of the fur may be natural and unavoidable. But if it is a relatively young hamster, there might be a medical problem. Possibilities include poor diet, skin or parasitic infections, or stress causing the hamster to pull out his own hair.

Answer by  Latin4 (11170)

Yes, this is not good. Any animal that has hair falling should see a vet. This could be caused by his food, or a parasite that embedded himself in the animal skin. Make sure if you do pick him up you wear gloves, until you find out what he has.