Hello!

My brother has two hamsters (both male). One of them has developped a strange illness - loss of fur and strange skin around arms. It appeared two weeks ago and has been progressing (going deeper) since. Hamster is licking and scratching the arms more frequently.

Can't be mites because in this case the other hamster would have caught them too and why only arms then?

Can not be alergy because nothing has changed during last few weeks except that we separated both hamsters as they were fighting a lot lately and after this one had some blood on the nose we decided to separate them forever. Plus the other one (same age but a bit bigger) was dominating and collecting the best of food.

Vet is not an option. Either we resolve this or else. We are from Latvia, very poor economy here and thus we do not have vets that specialize in small rodents - no vet we called offered any help. They all specialize in cats and dogs mainly.

Here are the pics - caught in a glass because could not photograph otherwise. Take a look at the arms. Please help with advice if you can. Thanks!

I think you need antibiotics, check if you can buy Baytril online, as thats the only thing I can think of a vet prescribing to rodents!

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I think only vets can distrbute baytril... Even if you can get baytril online, you might not get the dosage right which could potentially kill the hammy.

might also be worth it to look around on google and see if you can find anything on this.

Peace
Akai-Chan

That is obviously sore looking, probably inflamed and swollen too. That hammie must be in a fair amount of pain or discomfort

Looks to me like a skin infection of some sort which will require antibiotics and possibly a cream.
You can buy baytril online but you should never give medication without knowing th correct dosage. In a hamster of that size, i would say no more than 0.1ml once or twice a day but i'm not a vet therefore i cannot say for certain.

Can you get your hands on some vaseline? That may help to soothe the area and prevent a build up of bacteria

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not exactly sure what it is, put im going over to my pet shop this afternoon and will get my boss to have a look at the pics and see what he thinks, i can also find out the dosage amount needed if you can tell my the weight of the hammie (guessing it willl be around 40-50g) it will deffinately be worth you getting hold of some baytril online, and putting some aloe vera/vasaline cream on the legs.

to me though it does seem to either be parasitic or an allegy, if not them then could be an infection in the legs and due to the hamster licking them it has mad them sore and inflammed on the outside.

will right back later to let you know what my boss thinks

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animals are my life

i have:
2x dogs (rottweiler and a jug),
1x african grey parrot,
2x rosella parekeets
4x syrian hamsters (baby, mocha (wiggy), peaches and daisey),
2x winter white dwarfs (sunshine and harry),
1x female leaf insects (doesn't have a names),
1x female corn snake (awaiting eggs),

Hi hun,

Firstly please separate your hamsters. Hamsters are not sociable animals and should not be housed together.

As far as your sick hamster is concerned...you really need to visit the vet...it will only be about £15, but i think it is a pet owners responsibility to take care of any animal they own.

Your hamster is obviously suffering so it is highly unfair. Have you looked into your hamsters fur for mites? One hamster may be badly affected while another is not. I had 3 mice in a cage together and it was only on one of the mice that I noticed scabs and scratching. The others had mites in the fur but not soreness. I took all 3 to the vet and it cos me 20 for all 3!!

Your hamster may have an allergy or perhaps skin infection and should be treated with anti-biotics.

Please separate them and please take responsibilty for your pet and care for it!

Good luck.

The OP has already seperated her hamsters, it says that in their post.

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She is from Latvia and can't go to a vet!!

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Actually, Russian hamsters live in social groups.

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Felix
Wish You Were Here

Like to see that!!! They are unsociable little sods!

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