Hamster's Wet Tail.?

Question

I was wondering how are you completely sure that your hamster

has wet tail? It is because i have heard that hamsters who have wet tail die instantly?Or is it that they become more and more restless?because my hamster still runs around a lot and gets diarrhea from time to time, but it does not seem as serious as wet tail. May anyone help?

Answer 1

It happened the time I gave my hamster 2 baby carrots, his dropping were mushy, but then I laid off the wet stuff for awhile and he got better. Only feed them 1teaspoon of wet foods a day- any more and he may get sick.

The major causes of wet tail are stress and too much greens. You can tell because the hamster becomes lethargic and his butt is smeared with droppings. Some cases are worse then others- but the minute you notice, take him to the vet.

Answer 2

Wet tail IS diarrhoea. It's diarrhoea of bacterial cause.

Wet tail does not kill 'instantly'. It can kill within 24 hours but it can take however long, so I would re examine the husbandry and diet of your hamster if I were you.

Hamsters with wet tail tend to sleep more and eat less. It's the dehydration that tends to kill them - being so tiny they cannot handle the fluid loss from diarrhoea. They need rehydration fluids to keep them going and antibiotics from a vet to clear up the diarrhoea.

You don't always know for sure if it is 'wet tail' - which is why a hamster should always be taken to a vet immediately if it is damp around it's tail or acting lethargic or different from normal.

Chalice

Answer 3

If a hamster has wet tail, it will have something like diorhhea around it's rear end.

It can sometimes look very drawn in the face and it's behaviour will be a lot different to normal.

They don't neccessarily die straight away but, they can go down hill quite fast so, if you suspect it has wet tail, it's best to take it to the vet, If it's caught in time, it can be treated.

Answer 4

they don't die instantly..Symptoms of wet tail is Hunched back, Diarrhea, hasn't groomed itself, wetness around rear, dehydration (when the ears are back) loss of appetite, constant sleeping. to be safe buy some dri-tail drops or dissolving pills at a pet store. You should give them meds for 5-6 days. if there is other hamsters seperate them so they wont catch it too. Make sure you clean the cage good get rid of any contaminated food.

Answer 5

Wet Tail is a bacterial infection or an imbalance of the natural bacteria in the hamster's stomach or intestine and is often confused with diarrhea. Although a hamster with Wet Tail has diarrhea, the diarrhea is so severe that the hamster is wet and/or dirty not only around the a**s but usually around the top of the tail as well. The diarrhea is accompanied by a strong unpleasant smell. Droppings are pale in co lour and extremely soft and may contain mucus. The hamster often walks hunched up, is weak and lethargic and may squeal in pain.

Symptoms take 7 days to appear and the disease is often fatal with death occurring as early as 24 hours after the appearance of the symptoms. Therefore it is vital that veterinary treatment is sought immediately if a hamster shows symptoms of Wet Tail.

Hamsters suffering from Wet Tail often die from dehydration rather than from Wet Tail itself, or they simply refuse to eat or drink. Also, because of the severe diarrhea Wet Tail can lead to rectal prolapse where the intestine is pushed outside the body through the a**s.

Veterinary treatment will consist of a course of antibiotics, diarrhea medication and help with re hydration.

Wet Tail is a disease associated more commonly with the Syrian Hamster and is not associated with Dwarf Hamsters. Dwarf Hamsters can suffer severe diarrhea but it is not clear at present that they actually suffer from 'Wet Tail'.