My senior hamster has hair loss & inflamed skin. Is it old age?

As hamsters age they can get a disorder known as bald hamster syndrome where they start to lose hair. I would suggest going to your vet though to rule out other reasons for hair loss such as infection or parasites.

Hair loss and skin infection in hamsters is most commonly caused by either ringworm, a bacterial infection or skin mites. This could also be caused by trauma to the head, especially if there is another hamster in the enclosure. It is also important to note that the life span of a hamster is about 2 years so Flash is considered ‘geriatric’. It would be a good idea if you had him checked out by your veterinarian to ensure nothing else too serious is going on. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hi, sorry to hear about Stitch. From the pictures I can see small lumps on his body. Due to his age, I have a feeling these are tumors. Dwarf hamsters only live to be about two years old. Removing the tumors at his age would not help him. I think he is over grooming himself due to the tumors. I am sorry to say this, but I believe he may be at the end of his life and there is not much to help him. Taking him to an exotic vet can confirm this. I would also examine him carefully for mites and clean all of his cage and replace the bedding to see if that helps. A soft bedding made from recycled paper can make him more comfortable. Also, you can feed some some extra fruit and veggies to keep him eating. Good luck, I hope this helps!

This presentation could be caused by a mite infestation or possibly a skin allergy. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. 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.

Hair loss in hamsters can be due to many things including: * Rubbing on metal cage feeders or excessive burrowing; usually the hair loss is around the face * Cage overcrowding, wounds from fighting, hair chewing by cage mates * Vitamin, mineral, or protein deficiency (general hair loss and not usually just a patch here and there) * Ticks, mites, and other ectoparasites * T-cell lymphoma * Thyroid gland hormone imbalance and inflammation of kidneys (rare) I would be a bit worried about her having T-cell lymphoma or a thyroid issue due to her age and the fact that she is not itching, sleeping more and drinking more. I suggest you talk to your vet about these possibilities. If your vet is not used to treating hamsters you may want to find one that is.

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

Two years old is considered "old age" for a hamster. These may be age related changes, but you would need to have him physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose and treat any infection or injury. The clicking while breathing is concerning as it could be a respiratory infection.