Be Kind To Pets, Vet case studies, Photography tips, Travel Stories: 4565. A roborovski hamster with an itchy nape of the neck loses appetite. What to do?

VET CASE. Video 5/5. A roborovski was bullied and bitten. Lost appetite. What to do?

The owner bought two roborovski hamsters. "Buy two to keep each other company," the pet shop girl advocated. But for the last 3 weeks, Roborovski 1 lost appetite and had a balding red area on the nape of the neck. The owner consulted me (Dr Sing K Y) on 19 Jan 2023.

"It is a bite wound infection of the skin, hidden under the hairs," I said. "Treatment could be either at home by you giving the antibiotics and washing the area with disinfectant daily.

“The alternative is that I sedate him with anaesthetic gas and clip away the infected hairs around the nape, wash and clean the nape thoroughly. You feed the antibiotics via the food at home for at least 10 days."

There is NO way anyone can restrain a healthy roborovski as it is a speedy hyperactive creature. My assistant did not want to attempt it as she knew from experience. The usual dwarf hamsters and Syrian hamsters are much easier to restrain, but never a healthy Roborovski.

The owner consented to sedation and clipping. 3 weeks later, the hamster had recovered fully. This is the 5^th and final video summarising the case study. Roborovskis rarely can live together. Roborovski 1 had to hide and run away from the bullying and domineering Roborovski 2, but in the confines of the cage, he got bitten. His nape skin was inflamed and infected – hence he lost appetite for 3 weeks before the owner consulted me. He took another 3 weeks to recover from skin infections after treatment and now enjoys his sand bath!