Why is my dwarf hamster's leg bald and pink with a swollen belly?

Poor Zoey, this is a very painful condition. You can try to cool the leg with a cold wrap on and off ( 2-3 minutes at a time, but make sure that she does not start to get cold.) to help with the pain. She may have a little abscess there as well. Inspect the leg thoroughly and make sure that there isn't a hair or string wrapped around it that cuts off the blood flow. She really needs to be seen by a vet ASAP.

Thanks for reaching out about Biddy. Is Biddy new? Could it have been a fight with another animal? Hair loss, swollen and scabbed sounds like a wound. This could be parasitic, bacterial, fungal, endocrine and more. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Do not apply anything topical such as Neosporin as some of these medications can be ingested and cause problems. Good luck.

If there is a visible wound and hole in the body and Bob also can't use his leg, it likely means that he is injured or ill. It would be best to bring him to a vet ASAP so the wound can be treated, he can be examined, and any medications given as needed to help him feel better.

It may be an abscess or mass. A visit to your veterinarian would be recommended. A fine needle aspirate can be done in the clinic to collect samples for pathology. If it is an abscess, it may be drained and antibiotics dispensed. If it a mass, benign or malignant, you can discuss treatment options with your veterinarian.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) may be needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hello. My concern is the possibility of a tumor that has grown & completely enveloped the limb. The other possibility is the hamster is obese & fat has also obscured the limb. The only way to know definitively is to have your veterinarian examine Fuzzy & determine if there is a problem. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From the photo, I can see a small ulceration or reddened area on one of Leilani's feet. This can be due to a pressure sore and a secondary infection. These issues can be caused by inappropriate flooring in the cage such as wire. Leilani should have a solid floor cage with plenty of bedding. Heavier animals are predisposed to these types of wounds from the increased pressure on the feet, so Leilani may need to cut down on treats if she is overweight to help the condition resolve. You should have Leilani seen by a vet as soon as possible, as she may require antibiotics if an infection is present. In the meantime, you should keep the area clean and apply a small amount of SSD (silver sulfadiazene) ointment to the area to promote healing. I hope this helps!