Reptile & Amphibian Forums

George (the albino dwarf pictured below) has been losing fur gradually around his bottom side and now it's even gotten to his lower flank. I've also noticed pus where his belly button is. He's not very old-- a year at most. I don't remember ever reading about something like that.

He lives with 8 other hamsters, but they're all fine-- not even losing hair.

I've already called a few veterinary clinics and they either don't check hamsters or charge six times as much as George costed just to give him a check-up.

Does anyone know what could be wrong, or of any places that don't try to charge an arm and a leg in San Francisco?

Thanks.
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Haru!

Currently...

I understand being financially constrained, but the amount of money you paid on the animal should not determine how much you are willing to pay to a vet for their health. The hamster doesn't know how much he cost, and he suffers just as badly whether you spent two dollars on him, or a hundred and fifty. He really sounds like he needs a vet.

Good luck.

I have to agee with the vet idea as they will probably know what is best to do and they will be able to prescribe medicines to help you hamster.

Cayleigh

Ravyn couldn't have put it better, but I'm adding my two cents anyway. My question to you, simply put, is why did you buy a pet if you did not want to take responsibility for it? Responsibility doesn't mean feeding it, watering it, and changing its bedding. Responsibility means that this animal depends solely on you for everything it needs. Responsibility means that if something goes wrong, it's in your hands to right it. Please take this animal to the vet as soon as possible so that he can get help, and if you can't handle the vet fees, please give him to someone who can. Many vets will work with you if you can't pay the money up front, and vet fees aren't all that much anyway. Good luck with getting him better.

Thanks but I don't think your "two cents" was necessary. Your message was of no help and I can understand that you probably like feeling superior and righteous, but I posted to ask for help, not for criticism. If you think that simply giving the hamster away to someone else is a good solution then you are no better than you make me out to be. You have no idea how hard it is to find someone who you will know for sure will take GOOD care of any animal, do you? Go take a look at some other online forums and classifieds. Also, many hamster also know their humans and would have a hard time adjusting to someone completely different. You say it as if hamsters were just items of possesion-- shame on you.

If financial constraint is not a problem for you than congratualtions. I had no problems until I moved, and still I am pouring a lot of my income into my 23 babies. Don't go judging me without knowing what I already do and where I come from. This makes me very glad I've decided to stop coming to this forum and go somewhere else. During my time here, I've found that most of you are horrible people who just want to feel superior to other by giving "advice" that's always just "go see a vet." Whenever I reply to a post, I try to give as much helpful information as I can. If I don't have a solution, I don't reply. The new forum I go to actually have people who are there to help. I asked the same question and was given information on finding good vets who don't treat their patients like income.

Oh, also. Vet fees aren't all that much anyway? I had a regular check-up for one of my hamsters just recently. It cost me 100 USD. It was just a check-up. You obviously don't know much, do you?

>>Ravyn couldn't have put it better, but I'm adding my two cents anyway. My question to you, simply put, is why did you buy a pet if you did not want to take responsibility for it? Responsibility doesn't mean feeding it, watering it, and changing its bedding. Responsibility means that this animal depends solely on you for everything it needs. Responsibility means that if something goes wrong, it's in your hands to right it. Please take this animal to the vet as soon as possible so that he can get help, and if you can't handle the vet fees, please give him to someone who can. Many vets will work with you if you can't pay the money up front, and vet fees aren't all that much anyway. Good luck with getting him better.

I only have a few things to say in reply.

Number one, I got a good chuckle out of your post. I hope you didn't put too much time and effort into writing it since it obviously was not meant to entertain.

Number two... superior and righteous? Riiiiight... anyway.

Number three: "Don't go judging me without knowing what I already do and where I come from." Back at ya.

Have a wonderful day and best of luck with getting the hamster better.