My hamster has tiny black dots on his genitals. What could it be?

Question

Hello A month ago I noticed the area around my hamster's anus and penis was dark. Tried to wash it off but it didn't work and now that I see closely I've noticed it's not dirt but tiny black dots. They weren't there before. What could it be? My hamster eats and is active as normal, but I'm still worried. He's like 9 months old. Please help me! Thanks a lot. I took some good pictures which I hope can help you. Pet's info: Other | Unknown - Other | Male | unneutered | 7 lbs

Rebeccah Wood · Accepted Answer

Hello there! These do to be unusual spots on Percy's genitalia. There is no hamster-specific condition that would cause this that I can think of, but they do look a bit like folliculitis - an infection of the hair follicle. Hamsters do have tiny little hairs all over their testicles and prepuce (the prepuce is the skin that covers the penis), and sometimes they can get clogged with bacteria and cause a blackhead-like lesion. The only way to know if this is the cause for sure is to visit your vet - preferably, a vet that is comfortable with hamsters, or an exotics specialist. At the vet's office, they will give Percy a full physical exam, and they will likely collect a small scraped skin sample from Percy's skin lesions to look at under the microscope. This will help them determine if Percy needs a topical treatment, like antibiotics or antiseptics. I suggest giving a call to a local vet to see if they will examine a hamster, and if not, they can likely suggest someone who will. For now, you can continue keeping Percy's genitals clean with a mild soap and water solution that is rinsed and dried well. Best of luck to you and Percy!

My hamster has tiny black dots on his genitals. What could it be?

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