Why are my Syrian hamster's ears getting worse, but he's not bothered?

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Reese and including photos. By the pictures, this does look like ear mites. These mites are not visible with the naked eye and require a microscopic examination of an ear scrape. At the veterinary visit, a treatment plan can be implemented. It is agreed, it one hamster has mites, they all have mites but maybe not visible yet. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Stevie. A red ear can be caused by an irritation, an infection, ear mites, ear polyps and possible cancer. Gently cleaning with a warm wet washcloth or cotton tipped applicator could help to determine a cause. If it appears painful or signs of infection, an exotic animal veterinarian needs to be seen to determine a treatment. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Polly. A first though would be skin mites causing her to itch a lot, creating wounds. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. If it turns out to be mites, all animals need to be treated and the environment cleaned thoroughly. Good luck.

I am so sorry that this is happening to you and Hoshi. I didn’t see how long you have had Hoshi, or how old she is, but there are a few things that could be going on. She may be itchy - this can be due to infectious diseases, such as parasites. She may have also traumatized herself and now is not letting it heal and making it worse. She could also have a growth, or mass, in the region that is growing and bothering her, or it could be another cause. I would recommend taking her to see a veterinarian. They can evaluate her for parasites, and can look at a sample of the affected region under the microscope to determine what is going on. They can also prescribe her pain medications, and potentially other medications depending on what is going on. Please don’t give any human medications to Hoshi, as many of them are harmful to our furry friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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.

Your hamster may be suffering from ectoparasites such as mites or fleas and/or an allergy to the bites. I suggest you take him to a veterinarian for a hands-on exam and diagnosis. The vet can prescribe or treat your hamster with a proper medicine to kill the parasites. There are mite treatments for hamsters available in the pet shops, but I am not sure whether they are effective. You will definitely need to clean and disinfect your hamster's cage, bedding and toys and food and water containers to hopefully prevent the mites from reinfecting your hamster after treatment.