My dwarf hamster has a red, tucked ear. Is it a health concern?

Thanks for reaching out about Lune. Hair loss is probably due to scratching. The redness inside the ear could be due to infection, inflammation, mites or tumors in the ear. Unfortunately, a veterinary visit is needed for a diagnosis and then to prescribe a treatment. Care must be taken not to apply any topical medications as self grooming is common, and ingestion of medications can be critical. Try to look inside the ear to visualize any lesions. Good luck.

Poor Flash! It is a little difficult to know where the blood came from without a photo. Flash may have scratched himself or caused some trauma to the inner ear. A small scratch should heal easily and you can carefully trim Flash’s nails to ensure he doesn’t cause any further trauma. If he develops a head tilt, or does not act like himself, it can be a sign of inner ear damage and he may require pain medication prescribed by a veterinarian. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have!

I am sorry to hear about Rex! I would be concerned about possible skin mites causing these changes, or a vasculitis of the ears. I would recommend bringing him in to a vet who sees pocket pets for an examination. They may try to do a skin scrape or treat him prophylactically for mites.

Thanks for reaching out. Ear abscesses and ear tumors are fairly common in hamsters. You can try to gently clean with warm water and a cotton tipped applicator, but don't rub too hard as these tumors can bleed a fair amount. If the scab comes out easy and it appears as pus, a veterinary visit is needed to prescribe otic and systemic antibiotics. If it seems like a mass (i.e. tumor), a veterinary visit is needed for this treatment. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Nick Fury and including photos. Abscesses and papillomas are common in hamster's ears. If the mass continues to grow or seems to bother him, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess. An abscess can probably be treated with antibiotics, the papilloma might need to be removed, a laser or freezing works well. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Snowball and including photos, although they are out of focus and difficult to view. Hair loss and redness on the skin might be indicative of an allergic dermatitis. Any contact with new bedding, fabrics or detergents? Mites or moist dermatitis are also possible. Try removing wood chips, fabrics and replace with paper products like Carefresh. If the condition worsens, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

It could be some minor irritation or infection Keep the area clean and dry. Keep the bedding clean and dry. Monitor the spot for rapid change or growth. If necessary, see your veterinarian for an exam and treatment.