Why is my hamster losing hair on his back?

Why is my hamster losing hair on his back?

If your hamster is losing hair on the back, you should find the main cause of this problem. This hair or fur is very soft and delicate in nature and gives them an elegant and cute look. This hair also protects their skin against damage.

Why is my hamster losing hair on his back? Your hamster can lose hair on his back because of stress, moisture, chronic diseases, dandruff, and lack of sun-light. 

Hamsters shed their hair and fur biannually and this process is called molting. They shed their hair to get new fresh fur. During this process the hair loss is common but hamsters lose their hair due to some other reasons also.

Why is my hamster losing hair on his back?

There are many reasons due to which hamsters lose hair on his back. These include some environmental factors and some illnesses or severe medical conditions.

The following are some of the causes which are responsible for hamster hair loss. I hope this will help you find the causative agent of hair loss on the back of your hamsters.

Nutritional deficiency

When your hamster is not taking enough food then there are chances that he will suffer from hair loss. This food skipping makes him deficient in various nutrients. You should allow the hamster to come out of cage 1 to 2 times a day.

If you are feeding your hamster with whole grains and skip all the protein content this too causes nutritional deficiency. Protein deficiency is a more prominent cause of hamster losing hair.

Hamster meal deficiency in all vegetables and fruits is also a reason for nutritional deficiency in hamsters. When a hamster is not taking enough vitamin B12 its hair becomes weak and starts to fall.

All these nutritional deficiencies play an important role in making hamster bald. You should feed your hamster diet containing all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. Give them a nutrient supplement and protein supplement to treat these deficiencies.

Rubbing against hard objects

If you see hair loss on the back of the hamster this is a sign of damage caused by rubbing against hard objects. Hamster spends their most time in cages or in their burrowing activity.

They also love to play with toys. The hamsters who live in cages with steel wired bedding suffer from more hair loss on his back. 

During these entire activities, the hamster rubs his body against various objects. Hamster rubbing its back with walls of the cage and other objects like toys produce friction.

This friction makes the hair on the back of the hamster weak and prone to fall. If the bedding of the hamster cage is rough and abrasive this too can cause hair loss from the hamster back.

During burrowing hamster rub their back with the surface and suffer from hair loss from the back. Try to place a hamster in a cage with soft bedding. 

Parasite attack can cause a hamster to lose its hair

Parasite attack is another reason hamster losing hair on his back. When a hamster is attacked by ticks fleas and mites they scratch their skin brutally against the walls of their cages.

The hamster can get this infection through other hamsters or through humans. This scratching produces bald patches on his back. These parasites are also responsible for itching on his back. They scratch their back and hair fall happens.

If the hamsters have bald patches in the form of the ring then it must be due to ringworm. This can make your hamster sick.

Mange mite attack hamster and cause dry and flaky skin. This infection is caused by Demodex mite. If the hamster’s immune system is weak or he is suffering from nutrient deficiency They multiply rapidly and cause severe itching.

Less exposure to sunlight

Sunlight is necessary for the health of hair. They are nocturnal animals means they sleep during day time. House pet hamsters are in their cage all the time and it causes damage to their hair.

Dandruff

Dandruff is another factor that causes severe baldness in hamsters. Dandruff is not an illness but a symptom of some medical condition. Dandruff is also caused by a fungal infection in hamsters.

Dandruff causes white flaky dead skin cells in hamster fur. These dead cells cause itching in hamster fur. This itching makes the hair of the back weak and scratching the skin causes bald patches on the hamster’s back.

Molting results in hair loss from the back of the hamster

Hamster lost hair naturally due to molting. Molting is a continuous process in hamsters but it is at its peak in February and April. They shed their hair and fur to get a new coat of fur on their skin. So if you see small bald patches or fur of hamster becoming thin you need not worry about.

Molting is a natural process and it helps hamster to protect itself in extreme temperatures. Hamster lost hair due to molting but they are soon replaced by new hair. 

Overcrowding

As we all know that hamsters are aggressive and they live in solitude. If you have kept two or more hamsters in the same cage there are chances they will quarrel with each other. During the fight, they scratch each other’s bodies.

The wounds and scratching cause hair loss in the hamster. They also bite each other and chew the hair. This chewing also plays a role In hamster hair loss. So always keep the hamster in a separate cage to prevent bald patches and hair loss.

Old age

Hamster as they grow older they start losing hair on their back. Hamsters in old age have a weak immune system. They also become deficient in various nutrients The weak and old hamsters especially when they reach the age of 1 year suffer from severe hair loss on the back. 

As they age, the amount of sebum in their skin reduces. This is an oil that protects hamster skin against bacteria and keeps it moisturized. The reduction in the amount of sebum makes hamster’s hair and kin susceptible to bacterial attack. The germ attack frequently and hair start to fall.

The reason behind male suffering more from hair loss as they age is hormonal imbalance. In older age, the secretion of testosterone is also reduced.

Diseases

These diseases include T cell lymphoma and kidney disease. T cell lymphoma is a skin tumor that is responsible for hair loss in hamsters.

This tumor causes skin inflammation and pruritus. The inflamed skin causing hair to become weak and they start falling. This tumor also causes bald patches usually sporadic patches. Various viral infections and environmental factors are responsible for this tumor. 

Hormonal imbalance is another factor in hair loss from the hamster’s back. Like in male hamsters reduction in testosterone level can cause loss of hair. Testosterone causes a reduced level of sebum in the skin. 

Hormonal imbalance is less common in female hamsters that are why they suffer less from hair fall due to hormonal imbalance. The wet tail disease is also common among them.

Moisture

When they are exposed to moisture, have hair loss on their back. Excessive moisture can weaken the hair roots and make them prone to fall.

Always try to keep your hamster in a moisture-free environment. This will cause a reduction in hair loss from the hamster’s back. Keep your hamster away from moisture and a dry place.

Stress

Have you ever notice hair fall in a female hamster that has given birth to a baby hamster recently. A newly nursing mother suffers a lot from stress.

This stress causes severe hair loss in female hamsters. A nursing mother is anxious about bringing up their child. Stress and anxiety also make their immune system weak.

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