Illnesses and Ailments

Diabetes: If your hamster is drinking excessively, and/or urine has a strong odor, it could be a urinary/kidney infection. Unfortunately, the chances are also high that your hamster is showing signs of diabetes. Your hamster needs to see a vet as soon as possible! Petwebsite provides an article on these symptoms HERE.

Wet Tail: A well- written CAA article by Rebeccah Brittain explains this stress-related illness, and how to treat it before it becomes fatal.  CLICK HERE

Cancer: Sometimes, hamsters will develop cysts that appear and eventually disappear. If you notice a lump on your hamster that is not getting smaller or going away, you will need to dip into that vet-fund. Cancer is almost as common in hamsters as it is in humans.       Your vet will be able to diagnose the lump. If it is cancer, he/she can advise you on the decision to treat the cancer, or to uthanize your hamster to keep it out of pain. This can be decided once your vet diagnoses how far the cancer has progressed.

Demodectic mange: A common external parasite problem of hamsters, is caused by mites that reside within the hair follicles and certain glands of the skin. The mites cause dry, scaly skin and significant hair loss, especially over the back. This disease is rarely a problem by itself and is frequently associated with long-standing, debilitating diseases, such as those involving the kidneys.      Hamsters exhibiting hair loss should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. The doctor will do a skin scraping and examine it under the microscope. The presence of mites in the scraping confirms the diagnosis. This disease can be treated, but the patient may have an underlying problem for which there is no practical treatment or cure. (To view a dicussion about this illness on our forum, click here.)

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