Hamster Care & Dandruff

Hamsters can appear to get dandruff--white, peeling, flaky or crusty skin that is often accompanied by hairless patches in the coat. Dandruff on hamsters is often a sign of a health problem that needs to be addressed immediately.

  1. Age

    • Old hamsters of all species kept as pets normally have bald patches and dandruff, according to Christine Logsdail, vice president of the UK National Hamster Council.

    Parasites

    • Mites cause baldness and dandruff in hamsters, according to the British Hamster Association. Healthy hamsters can host some mites without any problem, but a sick or elderly hamster may lose resistance to the mites and get mange.

    Fungus

    • Ringworm, caused by a fungus, first appears as small bald spots but progresses to large bald spots and dandruff. The danger for the hamster is in scratching its skin open, according to Hamsterific.com.

    Allergies

    • Individual hamsters can be allergic to their bedding, to particular foods or even to strong odors like smoke. They may get bald patches, runny noses and dandruff, according to the British Hamster Association

    Treatment

    • Hamsters with dandruff should be taken to a vet to get a skin scraping. When the cause is diagnosed, then proper medication can be given.