Why hamsters loss hair

Prevention Avoid overcrowding a cage and separate hamsters that are known to fight. Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Yes No. Share this article. What did you find helpful? What was not helpful? Say more Sign me up for the PetMD Newsletter. Submit Feedback. Still have questions?

Continue to Chewy. Connect With a Vet Experienced vets answer all your pet questions via chat or video. If the cause of the hair loss is not corrected, your hamster will continue to lose fur and will be unlikely to regrow his coat. Dietary deficiencies can also cause baldness but you should consult your veterinarian before making any changes to your hamster's diet. Feeding too many grains or a low protein diet can cause hair loss. Try changing your hamster's diet or modifying it by adding more fruits and vegetables.

Hair loss can also be caused by a vitamin deficiency, so you may want to try adding a vitamin supplement that is specifically designed for hamsters to his diet.

Vitamin B deficiencies have been linked to hair loss in hamsters. In most cases, vitamin supplements can be found at your local pet store or purchased from your veterinarian. Crushing a yeast tablet and adding it to your hamster's food a couple of days a week can also help with baldness.

It is fairly common for older hamsters to begin to lose fur as they age. The average lifespan of a hamster is between 2 and 3 years. If your older hamster is going bald and your veterinarian cannot find another cause of the baldness, then it's possible the hair loss is normal.

Nursing females may also lose fur when nursing a litter, but the hair should grow back once the pups are weaned. Balding or fur loss is pretty common with hamsters but there is no good reason for them to experience such illness.

It could be a nutrient deficiency problem or being exposed to some allergens. Whatever the reason may be, it is paramount that it gets treated as soon as possible. Moulting is one of the reasons for your hamster losing hair. They tend to lose more hair during the spring in preparation for the summer season. As summer is the hottest season, hamsters shedding makes perfect sense so that they would feel cooler.

Their fur will start to grow back during the autumn season in preparation for winter. Syrian and Russian hamsters shed more compared to Chinese or Roborovki hamsters. You can also consult your veterinarian with which specific foods your hamster should have. Some of the good foods for hair loss include whole wheat pasta, cheese, unseasoned cooked eggs, and unsweetened cereal.

Some might be shocked to know that hamsters get stressed as well, but they definitely do. Some of the reasons include changing environment or living space, lack of toys, too much human contact, and stimulation in general. In line with that, you also need to clean the cage regularly but not too often. Ensure that your hamster has an ample amount of food and water that are replenished every day or every other day. The age-related reason is common with hamster fur loss as well as the change of hair colour.

It usually happens to hamsters more than two years of age. The bald patch on hamsters starts at the tummy area then spreads out to the neck, chest, hips and leg area. A hamster who just gave birth also experiences loss of hair while feeding its babies. If the reason for your hamster losing hair is old age, make sure that your hamsters are always comfortable.

Some of the things you can do are adding softer food to your diet, such as porridge, cooked chicken, steamed veggies, and rice. Aside from that, you also need to make sure that their habitat is clean and warm.

One example of excessively rubbing on something is when hamsters bite on bar cages one too many times. Because of consistent friction, bald spots on their nose area may form. Another instance is when your furry pet often rubs against their toys or other abrasive items. Numerous hamsters living in one cage will cause them to fight because hamsters are territorial and are solitary creatures.

Fights can result in wounds, which can turn into bald patches. Having water bottles that leak can also cause your hamster fur loss because moisture affects hamsters as much as it affects humans.

The extra water is detrimental to preventing hair growth. Ringworms, mites, ticks and fleas can also cause hair loss to your pet. Hamsters with ectoparasites may itch and scratch themselves excessively, which can cause their hairs to fall out.

If you suspect that your pet has parasites, contact your veterinarian immediately. Excessive itching is not only caused by parasites.

It can also be a sign of an allergic reaction.