RE: Eyeless white hamster overgrooming flanks

alison silvester — Fri, 31 May 2024 15:29:18 GMT

Thanks Marie,

He is Syrian. I wasn't sure if there was any other weird things associated with the anophthalmic white gene. The only paper I found was from 1981! I will speak to the owner but I am not sure they will go as far as bloods and biopsies.

Thanks again,

Alison

RE: Eyeless white hamster overgrooming flanks

Marie Kubiak — Fri, 31 May 2024 13:56:53 GMT

I'm assuming this is a Syrian hamster, so Cushings would be a significant consideration in an older male. Additionally, cutaneous lymphoma, demodex and dermatophytosis are possible causes. Neuropathic and psychogenic overgrooming causes are uncommon. If a different species of hamster then prevalence of lymphoma and Cushings is much lower and parasitic/infectious causes predominate.

I'd start by ruling out the common medical causes, with a skin biopsy, dermatophyte culture and checking ALP levels as a secondary marker of Cushings.

If there are no medical causes found then consider ketamine, gabapentin or haloperidol trials to address neuropathic/psychogenic causes.

Marie