I just got back from taking my girl Chicken Nugget to the vet. Long story short, she started losing fur about four months ago, and since then the hair loss has gotten significantly worse. Now, other health issues are starting to show up too. At this point we’ve seen three different exotic vets, and there still isn’t a clear diagnosis or treatment plan.

I’m realizing how under-researched hamster medicine really is, and how limited the options are just because of their size and biology. Everything feels like trial and error, and there’s only so much testing or treatment that feels fair to put one little hamster through.

I’m willing to do whatever I can to give her the best chance at life—as long as it doesn’t compromise her quality of life—but there just aren’t many options with predictable outcomes. Half the time I feel like I’m guessing about what the next step should be.

On top of that, I’m getting pushback from friends and family who think I should stop spending money or taking her to the vet, even though she’s still in decent spirits and no pain right now.

I’m stuck. I love my girl so much, and it’s heartbreaking and frustrating how limited the resources and knowledge are when it comes to hamster veterinary care.

Venting about the state of hamster medicine