Are wet tail and diarrhea the same thing?

Question

Are wet tail and diarrhea the same thing?

Answer 1

They're pretty much the same thing. And if wet tail doesn't get treated early it will more than likely kill any of your typical smaller pets such as hamsters, gerbils, etc. It's caused by stress, and I'vefound Baytril is an effective treatment (as long as you do it early enough).

Answer 2

No they are not. Wet tail is an itestinal infection which results in diarrhea and usually results in death in small rodents. Diarrhea usually is just something caused by to many fresh vegtables.

Answer 3

Wet tail is with a hamster.

Answer 4

Not necessarily. Like in humans, diarrhea can be caused by a number of things, like being introduced to a new food which they have a possible sensitivity to. Wet tail is a common infection that small rodents can contract very easily. It is the equivalent of something like dysentery. The animal will get a severe case of diarrhea and become dehydrated. Dehydration is very serious in hamsters because they are so tiny. A day without drinking can be lethal to a hamster. This disease is very contagious, so if you house more than one hamster, and if one hamster has wet-tail, it is very likely that they will all contract it. It is caused by a bacteria called Lawsonia intracellularis, which can also cause disease in swine, horses, dogs, ferrets, primates, and other animals.

But if you have a hamster and suspect it has wet tail you best take it too the vet rather than try to self treat it. The dehydration can be helped with pedialyte or gatorade mixed with water (diluted) but don't give them 'Dri-tail' cuz it is known to worsen things.