What causes wet tail in hamsters?

Question

how does a hamster get wettail. i think mine might have it, but i dont have any money to take him to the vets. hes a russian dwarf hamster, and i cant handle him as he bites

Answer 1

He'll be dead soon then. Why on earth did you get a hamster if you can't afford vets treatment for him? Of all the selfish things in the world to do...

Wet tail is more common in young hamsters. It can be brought on by stress, change in environment or bad husbandry.

Without treatment, if it is wet tail he will be dead in the next 48 hours most likely.

"Wet Tail

Symptoms: Severe diarrhoea, dehydration. Wet, soiled, smelly rear end. Very soft/wet p**p. Hunched over, lethargic behaviour. Very contagious and can be fatal if not treated within 48 hours.

Causes: Main cause is stress and results in bacterial attack of a hamster's gastro-intestinal tract due to a lowered immunity system. Stress can come from new environments, example change of bedding or unfamiliar surroundings. Most likely to affect young syrians.

Remedies: Separate from other nearby hamsters immediately. Consult a vet and obtain hamster-safe antibiotics such as Baytril (enrofloxican). Note that a pregnant/nursing-hamster should take antibiotics such as Albon only.

When feeding antibiotics, always supplement with plain, unflavoured yogurt to keep the hamster's digestive system balanced. Remove fruits, vegetables and other wet food from the daily diet during this period. Feed only dry hamster mix. Reduce stress on hamster by not handling as often. Give the hamster time to adjust to his/her surroundings. Disinfect cage which housed the wet tail affected hamster thoroughly and sun it. Change bedding at most once a week and keep a small amount of previous bedding in the cage to retain the familiar scent. Ensure drinking water is always available. Recommended: Rehydrate the hamster by adding an electrolyte solution like Pedialyte to the drinking water, 25% pedialyte to 75% water.

For general diarrhoea, obtain a medicine called Kaomix or Kaolin at any pharmacy and feed 1 or 2 drops to the hamster. This is recommended by Dr. Ling of Namly Animal Clinic."

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*edit* what makes you think he has wet tail if he is acting normal and eating and drinking ok then O.o?

Veronika v...are you a troll? of course you take hamsters to the vet. They need urgent treatment for wet tail and a diagnosis for what it is if it isn't wet tail. Should people take advice from you, just one person or thousands of good hamster owners who know what they are talking about...let me see...

Answer 2

????????????????????????????????????????... lol :) ????????????????????????????????????????...

good luck

flo

-x-

Answer 3

Dwarf hamsters don’t usually get “Wet tail” They may, and can get diarrhea; meaning the symptoms of the “Wet tail” (diarrhea) is signaling a different problem. Do not use Dri-Tail; at all, and especially on a healthy hamster. In the case of any diarrhea this can actually make the situation worse, and complicate matters further, by killing off the hamster's friendly or resident bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. If your Dwarf hamster does at any time get diarrhea, soft or lose stools, then you need to look elsewhere.

A lot of people confuse diarrhea, with wet tail, although the clinical signs are the same.

Diarrhea, loose, or soft stools in a hamster, can be caused by feeding him an incorrect diet. i.e.: feeding too much fruit, all fruit contains Fructose, a naturally occurring sugar. Too many veggies, and green, or green leaf vegetables, feeding hamsters too much of this can cause loose stools. From what you describe, that he is looking quite normal in himself, running around and eating o.k. then I suspect this may the case.  

All you need to do is adjust the diet, and think about what you’re feeding him. Keep him on a totally dry food diet for a few days. Feed him some dry wheat biscuits, these are good for firming up the stool, and providing bulk.

What you need to do is help to boost the good intestinal bacteria, if you can get some live yogurt this is full of the good bacteria that are need.

Answer 4

well its tail gets infected  that is why it is wet tail and a lot of hay gets stuck on its butt

the cure we used was a treatment called

    WET-TAIL PLUS you can find it at petsmart

first you need to put a piece in water then poor it in the water bottle.

wet tails only need pills

you don't take hamsters to the vet

i had a wet tail but now his wet tail is gone

                 so take it from me  i no that's it

Answer 5

I agree with the above ( hass_ent) its some form of infection - best to try and get someone to have a look at the poor little fellow

Answer 6

Wet tail is a bacterial infection that causes severe diareah.

Answer 7

How does a Hamster get Wet-Tail?

Wet-tail, also know as Proliferative Ileitis, is a stress related bacterial disease which is very contagious. It occurs in small animals such as Syrian hamsters.  (Dwarf hamsters do not get wet tail but the can suffer from diahrroea.)  It is usually contracted when your pet is stressed, usually when you first get the pet. The hamster you get could already have Wet-tail, yet not all the symptoms are noticeable. Once a hamster gets Wet-tail, they should never be bred, as it could cause more stress, and the Wet-tail could be inherited by the offspring.

How does an animal get Wet-Tail?

Many stress related things can cause a hamster to get Wet-tail. They can easily become stressed from being handled too much (after just getting your hamster), being away from mother/siblings, change in diet, improper/inadequate cage cleaning, often, etc. There are many other reasons that hamsters can get Wet-tail.

A new, young hamster is most likely to contract Wet-tail, simply because they are young, and stressed at being put in a new, unfamiliar environment. Along with younger baby hamsters, long haired hamsters are also more likely to get the Wet-tail disease.

Other Bacteria that often play a role in Wet-Tail:

E. Coli

Campylobacter species

Cryptosporidium species

Chlamydia species

What are the Symptoms?

Wet-tail symptoms are not very noticeable for the first few days. It will usually take about 7 days for the symptoms to begin showing.

What to look for:

Watery diarrhea, foul smell

Wet, dirty tail area

Pet not grooming itself

Not eating/drinking

Looking dehydrated and lethargic

Walking with a hunched up back

Constantly sleeping

* Some more serious cases result in rectal prolapse

Without veterinary treatment, a hamster will usually die within 24 to 48 hours after the symptoms are noticed.

How do I treat my Hamster?

If you notice that your hamster has Wet-tail, you should take it to the vet immediately for a medical diagnosis and help. Some pet stores sell Dri-Tail Drops that you can buy to treat your pet. However it is common that the drops do not help, and sometimes even worsen the Wet-tail.  A visit to a vet is the only responsible treatment.

If your hamster gets Wet-tail, you should soak the cage and accessories in a bathtub mixed with bleach and water. Then let the cage air dry and wash it again with dishwashing liquid. After this, your pet should be isolated. You need to clean the cage and accessories every 2-3 days to keep your hamster's home clean. You also need to keep your hamster hydrated with fluids. Recommended is Pedialyte mixed with water.  Also, when holding your sick hamster, you should wash your hands afterwards, as the bacteria can get spread to other pets. If you have taken your hamster to the vet, be sure to give them their medicine as prescribed.  (If you are given any, you most likely will be.) It is also best to use the medicine until the bottle is empty.

Prevention

Since Wet-tail is stress related, it is best to make your new hamster completely at home. Before you purchase your pet, its new home should already be prepared. It is best to isolate your hamster for a week or two to make sure there is nothing wrong. Also, give your hamster a few days to get used to its new environment before handling it. If you have other animals, don't let them around your new hamster, as it could become scared and nervous.

If you find out that your pet has Wet-tail, you should either return the hamster, or take it to the vet. If you got your hamster from a store and you decide to return it, it is wise to get your money back and go somewhere else, rather than getting another animal from their stock.  Most stores keep their animals together, so the others could also have Wet-tail.

Answer 8

sitting in their water bowl?

Answer 9

It can be an infection or from stress.

Answer 10

Okay infection, parasites or most likely to many fruits of veggies.  What this will due is cause dehydration and in most all cases they animal will pass.  Most pet stores, or even Walmart carry "Wet Tail" meds.  Keep the cage extra clean daily, nothing but his pellets or seed mix for two wks and give the meds.  if caught early most all make it, best of luck:)

Answer 11

bacterial illnes called: prolifeerative ileitis. Causes severe diarrhea and can be fatal. Wet tail is highly contagious and mostly comes when changing homes. The exact reason is uncertain. Also from stress, crowding, and diet changes. To tell if your hamster has it you should see if their is any wetness around the tail. Ask the person if they treated for wet tail before buying. If your hamster has it go to petsmart and buy the antadote to fix it!! Hope this explains it easily!

Answer 12

Wet Tail is a stress-related illness and the disease is triggered by stress. Often the cause of stress may not be easily identified, if at all and so an outbreak can often occur for no obvious reason.

The most stressful time in any hamster's life is when it first leaves its mother then moves to a pet shop and then moves onto a new home. In the space of 2 or 3 weeks a hamster has been subjected to removal from its mother and change of owner and home twice. The stress that this subjects the hamster to can then produce Wet Tail which is why it occurs commonly in young hamsters. A minor illness can also trigger stress which can then lead to Wet Tail.