My hamster has sores, losing fur, shaking. Should we put her down?

I am so sorry to hear that tour Syrian hamster is not well. It sounds like he is possibly in pain and may have an infection. Unfortunately with prey animal species like hamsters, they do not tend to show signs of being unwell until they are actually very sick. They tend to hide signs their body is not well longer, then other species. For this reason I would advise taking your hamster to your veterinarian. It is very likely they will be able to provide medication, such as antibiotics to try to help him recover. The vet will also be able to provide medication for pain relief and healing. Best of luck to you both and please feel free to ask as many questions as you may have here on the forum. We want to support you through this time.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is a little difficult to see in the photo, but there is what appears to be a small area of scabbing and hairloss, both of which are patchy on the hip. This can be caused by a skin infection, certain cancers, fungal infections, or skin mites which are very common in hamsters. These mites live within the hair follicles rather than cage surfaces, so cleaning the cage will not get rid of any of the possible causes. Mochi should be seen by a vet who can perform some quick tests on this area of skin to determine the underlying cause and start her on the appropriate treatment. In the meantime, to keep her more comfortable, you can gently trim her nails to keep her from traumatizing herself as she scratches. I hope this helps!

Thanks for reaching out about Peppermint and including photos (although they are a little out of focus). Hair loss and chewing at the skin could be an indication of a lesion (mites, bacterial, other) and being irritating and over-groomed. Most hamsters are nocturnal, so active at night. If having a skin problem could be more secretive. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic treatment plan. Good luck.

Yes you should as this could be due to a skin infection, possibly caused by a mite infestation. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. 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!

Hi Kate. So sorry you are having to deal with this and I sincerely apologize that no one was able to respond to you sooner. If Nibbles had not already passed away and is still showing the same symptoms you mentioned above then I suggest you take her to your vet to be euthanized humanely. You don't want her to suffer. Just letting animals pass at home sounds nice and peaceful but that is not often the case. Usually they are suffering. Again, my apologies for no one responding to you sooner. Unfortunately we are not an emergency service and not all the vets on this forum are comfortable answering questions about hamsters. Best wishes.

Unfortunately it sounds as if your hamster is very sick. The life span of a hamster is 1.5-2 years so Milla is considered an older hamster. If you are unable to take her to be examined by a veterinarian the best thing you can do for her at home is keep her warm and dry and encourage her to eat as much as possible, even if you are able to hand feed her. Also make sure she is still urinating and defecating as well. Best of luck. Let us know if there is anything else we can do for you!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like she is having a lot of issues right now that need veterinary evaluation and treatment. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to take a look at all these abnormalities you described so that therapy can be recommended accordingly. Good luck!