Can fancy hamsters get ticks? My hamster keeps using its back feet to scratch itself. Is it just cleaning?

Question

Its only a baby; less than a month old! I just got it, and i don't know. (:

Oh. and also another question! Its butt is like pink. Is that normal? What does a hamsters butt usually look like?lol

Answer 1

yes, hams scratch themselves with their back feet just like a dog does - and mine usually immediately chew their toenails afterward too.  Its a good possibility its just a part of your hamster's grooming routine - keep an eye on when your ham tends to scratch itself and see if there's a pattern (ie. when its cleaning itself, when its just sitting in its cage board, etc.).  If its scratching all the time though you do need to check its skin under the fur.  Chances of it having a tick are - wow, slim.  Especially at this size you'd see a HUGE grey swollen shiny bump coming out of your hams fur if it was a tick and it would have fallen off within a day or less when it got full.  Fleas are a possibility but you'd know if there were - you'd be getting bitten too.  Check the ham by parting the fur - fleas are easy to spot and dark in color - kind of like lead shavings.  Chances of your ham having those - not very high either but check anyway.  If so you'll need to call a vet to ask how to get rid of them since hams are so sensitive to chemicals.  You can always call a vet - that part doesn't cost anything.  Check your ham's skin by gently parting the fur - if its red or rash looking or swollen or raw (you know, things that make sense) than your little animal is itching because its uncomfortable - and therefore its time for you to call a vet.  If the skin is the same color overall and doesn't look broken or irritated - chances are your ham is just itching because it feels good and its keeping clean.  Consider getting a sand bath for it - cheap little plastic container and chinchilla sand (NOT dust - sand).  Also consider what kind of bedding you're using - aspen or carefresh are best - most of the other stuff (pine, cedar, etc) has resins in it that can irritate the ham's skin.  If you think its the bedding, one week just use paper towels and shredded toilet paper in the cage (your ham will love it, shred it to bits, make a mess with it, and its entirely non-harmful) instead of the bedding and see if that makes a difference.  Then you'll know if you should switch to a different type of bedding.  You should be cleaning the cage and changing out all the bedding, food, etc. once a week.  Use your common sense.  Most of the time you can figure out what's going on with your critter without having to call a vet every time you turn around.

as for the butt - I noticed you didn't mention what s*x your ham is.  If its a boy there's going to be some - growing going on in the back end.  That might be it.  Otherwise just use that common sense again.  Is the area dry and the same color as the rest of the ham's skin?  If so, you're probably just fine.  If it looks inflamed or irritated, is wet or looks like a rash - that's not good.  

Do some research on the web or in the library to familiarize yourself with hamsters.  And make sure you handle your little one daily so it tames to your hand.  I adore my hams, they're great personalities and each one is different from the last.  You'll have fun with yours and you'll do fine as a hammie owner.  You've already got one of the most important parts down -  paying attention.

Answer 2

Lol. I'm not exactly sure what a hamster's butt should look like either. But-just about every animal can get ticks, or fleas. If at all possible, you should check for ticks. If the hamster is really small, that won't be a huge problem.