Little Luna Moonchild

[Rescued One]

Hi All,

My sweet girl Luna (about 18 months old) has developed bald spots on her rump (not wet bottom). The exotics vet recommended a trial injection of Lupron (a gonadal hormone suppressant) to see if the problem is endocrine in origin). Luna is typically a "ghost" hamster that I only see if I am up very late, yet she was up when I got home from work last night around 8:30 pm. She seems distressed, and the Lupron can make hormones transiently worse before the suppression starts, and it may be that simple, but she is not a happy girl right now. I have also started her on supplemental Oxbow Omnivore Critical Care mixed into a little baby food and sprinkled into her seed mix. We are accepting all thoughts and prayers for her return to health.

 

[Socks' Mum]

I hope little Luna gets better soon. She is being very well cared for

 

[Maz]

Fingers crossed. A pinch of linseeds daily helps with fur loss as well If it's on the rump area it can be parasites or mites - did the vet suggest that?

 

[Rescued One]

Fingers crossed. A pinch of linseeds daily helps with fur loss as well If it's on the rump area it can be parasites or mites - did the vet suggest that?

Thanks Maz, they gave her a topical treatment for mites during the visit, and I have been including flax seeds in her diet

 

[Maz]

Hope things improve Is she fine in herself?

 

[Rescued One]

Hope things improve Is she fine in herself?

She's been up earlier the past few evenings and I have been able to interact with her some. Last night she seemed more herself, so got some playpen time. Here's hoping!

 

[Maz]

Yes I hope the treatment works!

 

[Rescued One]

Hi All,

Luna and I will be going back to the vet for a recheck in about a week. The Lupron perked her up for about 2 weeks, but did nothing to regrown the hair on the bald spots
Since I had new rescue guinea pigs to chat with, I checked in with Luna via Sharon, the animal communicator I use. Luna says the hair loss is "because she is old (18 months on June 24th" and reports that she is very chilly. Chilly = hair loss = low thyroid in my corner of the world. Has anyone had experience with hypothyroid hamsters? Or a way to safely increase the iodine in her diet? I placed a small piece of dried dulse seaweed with her snack last night, but she ignored it

 

[Maz]

That sounds interesting It could potentially be a moult. If there is any fur loss, I give a pinch of brown linseeds daily on a separate dish - the hamster just licks them up. They are so good for skin and fur and I've seen fur regrow. I am not sure hypothyroidism is a thing with hamsters though.

As she is female, the other reason could be hormonal. So as long as she seems well and happy, and you try supplementing (eg the linseeds) I wouldn't worry too much.

I don't think specifically adding iodine to the diet would be advisable personally. Eggs and meat are supposed to contain iodine though, so a bit of egg as a treat might go down well - either scrambled or chopped hard boiled. Or the occasional bit of plain chicken or beef if you happen to have a roast dinner.

 

[Amy]

That sounds interesting It could potentially be a moult. If there is any fur loss, I give a pinch of brown linseeds daily on a separate dish - the hamster just licks them up. They are so good for skin and fur and I've seen fur regrow. I am not sure hypothyroidism is a thing with hamsters though.

As she is female, the other reason could be hormonal. So as long as she seems well and happy, and you try supplementing (eg the linseeds) I wouldn't worry too much.

I don't think specifically adding iodine to the diet would be advisable personally. Eggs and meat are supposed to contain iodine though, so a bit of egg as a treat might go down well - either scrambled or chopped hard boiled. Or the occasional bit of plain chicken or beef if you happen to have a roast dinner.

I feed a small amount daily they love them

 

[Maz]

I bet she would like some scrambled egg I give it on a teaspoon- about half a teaspoon.

 

[Rescued One]

That sounds interesting It could potentially be a moult. If there is any fur loss, I give a pinch of brown linseeds daily on a separate dish - the hamster just licks them up. They are so good for skin and fur and I've seen fur regrow. I am not sure hypothyroidism is a thing with hamsters though.

As she is female, the other reason could be hormonal. So as long as she seems well and happy, and you try supplementing (eg the linseeds) I wouldn't worry too much.

I don't think specifically adding iodine to the diet would be advisable personally. Eggs and meat are supposed to contain iodine though, so a bit of egg as a treat might go down well - either scrambled or chopped hard boiled. Or the occasional bit of plain chicken or beef if you happen to have a roast dinner.

Thanks. I have been including linseeds, but not as often as I could be. I will try to be more regular with them. If it's a moult, it has gone on for several months