How do dwarf hamster scent glands get infected and abscessed?

I'm sorry your hamster is sick. If the abscess is open and draining, you can use warm compresses to help it drain. But really, she needs antibiotics and possibly for a very to drrain it. These are just not things you can do at home.

Hi, and thanks for your question. Even though I cannot see very well from the pic you upload unfortunately, 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) are needed to approach the problem. Euthanasia should be considered only this lesion is causing severe inappetence. 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

If Hannibal has an abscess, this is actually painful and can make him quite sick. Hamsters are good at hiding illnesses and pain because they are prey animals, so he may be feeling pretty badly without seeing obvious signs. The best thing for him is to have him seen by a vet in the morning. An abscess has to be treated by a vet.

Thanks for reaching out about Galya. You can clean the abscess are with a warm, moistened cloth or cotton tipped applicator. Topical medications are often ingested and can cause gastrointestinal upset, so not recommended. Try clipping the fur around the open lesion to lessen contamination. Continue with the oral antibiotics if hamster appropriate. Providing heat support in the 75 F range could give some aid, not letting it get too cold. If this veterinarian can't help you, find one who can. Good luck.

Some hamsters will have a normal change in skin color. However if the spot is raised at all I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian for an aspirate. This is where the vet looks at the cells under the microscope to tell you what exactly the spot is. Some possibilities are cyst, non cancerous growth and infection. Hope that helps.

Poor baby! He probably needs some oral antibiotics but since cost is a concern, you can try treating at home. I would gently try to express any pus out of the ruptured area. I would do this the next few days until you are no longer getting any pus out. I would try to clean it with some mild soap and water after you squeeze it. If it is near his ears or eyes, be care to not get it in his ears or eyes. You can try putting some neosporin on the area twice a day as well. If possible, do not let him lick it. You can use a small piece of plastic and make a small cone collar to prevent this if needed. With these guys being so tiny, you will likely have to make your own temporary collar. I have attached a video of how to make one for a sugar glider which are similar in size. I hope this helps and you are able to get it to heal on its own. Just know that if he stops eating or it isn’t improving within a couple of days then it likely won’t heal without some oral antibiotics. Also if the abscess is near the mouth, it could be a tooth root abscess which will also need to be treated by a vet. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=67Zn5rsPW5Y

Typically hair loss in hamsters comes with age. Older hamsters can lose their hair due to a lack of protein (less than 16%) or iron in their diet. Other hamster illnesses can cause hair loss including sarcoptic mange, demodex mites, ringworm or disease such as kidney or Cushing’s disease. When you can get him to a vet for an exam I suggest you do so. In the meantime I suggest that you make sure he has a high quality diet and cut back on cereals if you are giving him any. You can give him one drop of cod liver oil daily. You can also use this spot-on product in case the problem is mites. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beaphar-Anti-Parasite-Hamsters-Gerbils-Rabbits/dp/B073H1GXSR/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=hamster+food+oxbow&qid=1587944081&sr=8-8