My hamster has what appears to be wet tail...?

Question

There's absolutely no way I could take her to a vet (financial trouble), so I've done some research online and asked people I know for advice...

She's had diarrhea for about two to three days, is lethargic and constantly sleeping and is generally hunched over...

She hasn't gotten much worse since I first noticed symptoms, but doesn't seem to be improving either...

I've been giving her Pepto Bismol (in her water), as she's still drinking and eating a little. I change some of the bedding every day, quietly while she's asleep so as not to stress her out. I also wipe off the f***s once in a while (she's quite filthy).

Is there anything else that I can do WITHOUT buying medicine (which, from what I hear, isn't all that effective anyways), or going to see a vet?

Thank you.

Answer 1

You cant give a hamster Pepto Bismol. Thats for people, not hamsters i would ask the vet about that. I would for sure go to the vet.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

u might want to see a vet. or change shedding that is better for your hamster . make shure they drink a good amount of water, and i recomend to clean a hamsters cage once every 2 weeks when they have wet tail, and make sure they  have enough food and water. A vet can tell u more, so try to see one, but if u can't go to a local pet shop and ask them. ~natalie

Answer 3

What I have read can be effective is putting 50% of Pedialyte in the hamster's water, as well as mainly dry oats as her food. This will help, but really, without a vet her chances aren't the greatest. Dri-Tail can help, but there is also a chance it will kill off friendly bacteria in the intestine and worsen your hamster. Someone told me it was effective when administered directly to the hamster's mouth, as well as in the water. That's something to try.

Answer 4

At PetsMart they sell a bottle for like $5 to treat Wet Tail. Please do not give her Pepto Bismol, it is for Humans not Hamsters, it will harm her.

Answer 5

the best thing to give her is .1 cc of Pectillin twice daily. if it is hunched over then it is most likely going to die...it is dehydrated. get a small syringe and pick her up by the back of her neck like you would a puppy or kitten (it does not hurt them in any way) it does the same thing to a hamster as it does a kitten or puppy. Her mouth will most likely open up and just give her some water with the syringe. She needs liquids! You HAVE to buy pectillin...the pepto might kill her.

btw STOP feeding the hamster its food...give it dry oats...like the kind you would make oatmeal with but make sure its just plain oats. Their really cheap. Thats what we do at the store!

Answer 6

This is a hard thing to treat without the help of a vet but if you can't afford it here are some things to try...  Stop the pepto bismol it has aspirin in it now and can be toxic to hamsters, get some plain yogurt with live cultures and offer some to you hamster twice a day to help the normal gut bacteria to flourish,  change her bedding at night when she is awake, you can bathe her with a damp wash cloth at night when she is awake, make sure you are feeding a high quality food, change her water everyday.  Hope this helps and good luck!