Endocrine diseases reported in hamsters include diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, and pheochromocytoma. Neoplasia (cancer) of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, and pancreatic islets may occur in hamsters but these conditions are very rare.
Hypothyroidism in hamsters does occur; the signs of this are cold intolerance, alopecia (hair loss), lethargy, thickening of the skin, and hyperpigmentation (darkening) of the skin. This disease has been reported in the USA and responds to treatment with thyroxine.
|
