Tuesday, July 5, 2022

4143. Videos Pt 1/2 and 2/2. Why are the two 3-month-old dwarf hamsters scratching all the time?

INSTAGRAM STORY
 







-----------------------------------------------------------

 
 
 
 
------------- 





 

 

 






 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------- 

Video Pt 1/2. Why are the two 3-month-old dwarf hamsters scratching all the time?

30 Jun 2022 case study for video creation: 1. HOOK WITH VIDEO INTERNET CONSULTATION ON 28 JUN 2022:
"My 3-month-old male dwarf hamsters are always scratching," the lady owner messaged me on the Toa Payoh Vets Google Business for an appointment on 29 Jun 2022. "The other sibling scratches now and then. Could the cause be due to inbreeding as they were born from accidental breeding of two sibling parents earlier.? " 
 


 
 

Video surveillance when left alone. Both hamsters scratch furiously during the afternoon when left alone
 
 
 
Hamster 2 scratches much more, non-stop when left alone.

 
 
  
 
 2. TOA PAYOH VETS CONSULTATION ON 29 JUN 2022:

The owner brought the two hamsters for consultation. Hamster 1 had ventral dermatitis (inflamed infected skin on the lower part of the body). Hamster 2 had no obvious signs of hair loss on the neck or lower body. 
 
 
 



 Hamster 1 (left) has more severe skin infections of the lower body. You can see dampness on the skin and increase in dark pigmentation. Hamster 2 also scratches the whole body and bites his paws, but his lower body skin is not inflamed, hyperpigmented or moist due to licking.
 
 
 
 
"This Winter White hamster is more severely infected as he has hair loss around the lower neck and a damp lower body," I said during consultation at Toa Payoh Vets on 29 Jun. "The skin is infected and inflamed red. Infected skin can be very itchy. Hence the hamster scratches frequently to relieve his itchiness!" 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. INPATIENT TREATMENT AT TOA PAYOH VETS. I advise clipping of most of the hairs on the lower body for both hamsters, preferably the whole body. "But Hamster 2 has NO skin problems," my assistant was not in favour of shaving the hamster bald. " "Hamster 2 had no obvious signs of hair loss because the skin infections are below the skin and are at the early stage, " I explained to my assistant. "Shaving them bald enables the skin to be exposed to receive ventilation. The owner can wash them with antiseptic and anti-fungal washes. Otherwise, Hamster 2 may need another consultation if he becomes itchy, causing more expenses to the owner." 
 
The hamsters' lower body hairs were clipped short. 
 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hamster 2's hairs were tested for fungal infections using the rapid test kit. There was no fungal infections. 
 
 

 
 
 DAY 1 VIDEO BEFORE TREATMENT
 
I videoed the two hamsters with my DSLR camera. You can see IN THIS VIDEO that both hamsters scratch their body, bit their paws for some seconds. After scratching, they would sleep for a short while. They would wake up to scratch their body and ears again.


BEFORE TREATMENT VIDEO OF HAMSTERS UNDER SURVEILLANCE
 
 
 
 
Hamsters are nocturnal creatures and sleep during the daytime. Body itchiness prevent them from having a sound sleep. The video evidence taken in the afternoon confirms what the owner had experienced at home. That was the reason she consulted Toa Payoh Vets.

DAY 2 VIDEO AFTER TREATMENT. Less scratching on Day 1.



  
 
 

TIPS AND ADVICES Three-month-old male dwarf hamsters are not young unlike a 3-month-old baby in human beings. They can become fathers are around one month of age. The age of Sexual Maturity for dwarf hamsters is generally two months of age. Males bite, bully and fight at around 2 months if housed together. In this case, the cause of BODY SKIN itchiness from bite wound infections as they would be fighting as males are territorial. 
 
Also, the housing is cluttered. 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

X = pee areas






 
 
 
 
Green lines show the entrance and exit of the hamster's tunnel in a cluttered housing
 
 
 
 
 
 
As at 7 Jul 2022, the owner has housed the two male hamsters separately. She sent me the footages of the new housing. The hamsters no longer scratch their body or bite their paws.  



 
 
 
 

 
 
4. MORE INFORMATION AT: https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2022/07/video-pt-12-why-are-two-3-month-old.html
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



-------------------------------------------
VIDEOS








-----------------------------------------

IMAGES FOR INSTAGRAM

























--------------------------------------------------


No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.