Hamsters and fleas?

[SourRoses]

Well... Our dogs were doing great on Frontline for quite some time.. and then this spring we had a huge flea infestation that sprang up and we are only just now getting a handle on it since I got a new flea stuff off Petmeds.
I was just thinking about it last night and looked up at my little hamster. I realised I had never thought about my beloved little hamster when it came to the fleas.. and he has a very open airy cage. So do hamsters even get fleas? I can only imagine they can. Though he regularly grooms himself.. I can't tell the difference between regular grooming and itchy hamster grooming. Do I need to be worried? If so, is there something safe to use on my little boy?
Thank you!

 

[Akane]

Yes hamsters can get fleas. Generally it does not happen unless you notice an infestation on other animals so as long as you are using preventive measures on the other animals and the house (vacuum frequently to get fleas out of the carpet) small pets like hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs usually won't get fleas. They will go downhill very quickly if they do get them though because they are so small and the fleas take so much blood. Advantage and revolution can be used on hamsters but make absolutely certain of the dose. Don't follow any moronic vet that tells you to put on just a "drop". I had one vet treat my hamsters for fleas successfully and then when our apartment flooded and my hamsters were at my mom's house they got fleas again from her cats which she never puts flea meds on. The vet in that town said dose was unimportant and to put a drop on them. They all died except one that was pts to stop it's suffering.

 

[chickbea]

Have you seen any evidence of fleas on your little guy? I'd be afraid to guess at dosing such a little thing. I'd put in a call to my vet for free advice!

 

[bgelber]

What kind of bedding do you use? I know cedar shaving will keep them from getting fleas or by other pest, they don't like the smell.

Good luck.

 

[Pharm Girl]

We had a $2 mouse last year that went from healthy to sick over a few weeks time. I decided to give him my own exam and while digging through his fur, I noticed all these tiny little black things slinking around on him. I believe it was mites, not fleas, but we had an impossible time treating him. I tried small bird spray (which burned his eyes and skin - don't do it!) , a shot of ivermectin from the vet to the tune of $50!!!! And they wanted me to come back 2 more times, to which I said no way. Not for a $2 mouse. I bathed him every day, hand picked the buggers off him, and in the end I had to have him put to sleep for another $27. Sheesh.
Good luck, hopefully you have better luck than we did.

 

[Akane]

I know cedar shaving will keep them from getting fleas or by other pest, they don't like the smell.

You should never use cedar shavings. They are toxic in a small area or without enough ventilation and will cause respiratory infections and liver failure. They keep pests away because the toxins kill them.​

 

[SourRoses]

Thanks everyone!

My little guy.. he is very active and healthy. Super fat. He will only eat the pumpkin and sunflower seeds in his mix and toss out everything else... then of course I have to keep filling up his bowl everyday. I tried just leaving him with the plainer peices of food and he didn't touch them for 2 days.. so now he just gets what he wants.. LOL!
I can't see any evidence of fleas on him... but I also can't get him to hold still long enough for me to fluff back every inch of fur. He does love to wash himself and on occasion will use his back paws to scratch his shoulder or his ear.. but as far as I can tell.. looks like normal hamster behaviour.

I was just really wanting peace of mind. That there would be something I could have on hand to use on him if I noticed him scratching more or something. With the way the fleas are at the moment.. this flea stuff is just making them jump off the dogs and every now and then one will leap onto my bed

So that's why I was concerned about Mr. Hamster... who doesen't have a name because he was supposed to be a girl

I would be way scared using dog flea stuff on him! He is so little! I don't want to loose him.

Fleas!!!!!! Ahhhhhhh!

Ps- Our vaccum.. apparently.. doesen't suck hard enough. What am I supposed to do about a vaccum that barely sucks? I don't have the money for another one. And how am I supposed to get under my huge, heavy bed. Darn loose animals that had to go bringing the things into our yard in the first place!

Ok, I'm done ranting now.

Thanks everyone!

 

[SillyChicken]

I bet hes' adorable, I had them when I was a kid.

But you may want to consider holding out a few days on the fattening seeds... he probably has plenty of reserve to survive until he eats all the other food he doesn't care for.

I don't mean to be mean, but seriously, if I could eat chocolate chip cookies all day, cause I prefer them, I would get huge, and I wouldn't live very long!


To see if he has fleas, if you brush his fur so you can see down to his skin, look for little black specs.. if he has them, try to soak some up on a wet q-tip... if the black spots turn reddish, it's flea poop (dried blood).

I don't know how a hampster would be around essential oils, but lavendar, citronilla and eucalyptus are natural repellants, maybe a dab in a cotton ball and pat on your hampster sparingly.

can you give him a bath? Try Johnson's baby shampoo.

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Oh yeah. They can get fleas! I remember the 4 I had through the years getting them.

Are you sure that they are fleas and not mites? I'm not sure if hamsters can get those, but we had a mite infestation once when we brought a rescue hedgehog home. That was AWFUL. They not only infested the hedgehogs, but us too!

 

[HamstersAndMe]

6 weeks ago, I got a beautiful caramel coloured hamster named Truffles, but the first time we put her in her cage, she started itching. We dont know if she had fleas before we adopted her, or she'd been given back to the petshop with fleas. When I went to check her to put her in her beloved hamster ball, we saw there was a huge amount of blood and a black, little spot on top of her front right paw which was there when we got her. We dont know whether the mark has anything to do with it or if she'd been rehomed with fleas already...