Causes
The term “wet tail” is one that refers to a severe case of hamster diarrhea caused by various bacteria and genetic factors. Proliferative Ileitis and Transmissable Ileal Hyperplasia, the medical terms for wet tail is associated with such bacteria as Lawsonia intracellularis, Campylobacter jejuni and E. coli. It’s difficult to pin point which bacteria is the root cause of wet tail disease but it’s thought to be more likely brought on during times of high stress of a hamster.
Wet tail disease is more prevalent in the larger Syrian hamster breeds and not as much in the dwarf breeds. That said, it is possible for a dwarf hamster to be diagnosed with a case of this hamster sickness. Look for the signs listed bellow and seek treatment right away.
Signs and Symptoms
The most obvious symptom of hamster wet tail disease is the appearance of a wet backside bottom. This is the result of a severe case of diarrhea. Other signs of wet tail include a hamster that is loosing weight at a fast rate also known as hamster anorexia; the ill hamster will also look tired, bent over with abdominal pain and all around out of it; it’s eyes will be sunken and dull; the hamster can also have a protruding rectum or blood in the stools.
How to Treat It
A vet can prescribe a set of antibiotics and injections of multivitamins.
If you fear one of your hamsters has a case of wet tail disease, you need to immediately separate the sick individual from its housemates since it a contagious illness. Next, you must act quickly to treat a sick hamster with wet tail. If you wait too long to see if it gets better on its own, the hamster can die in a matter of days from dehydration. The first step in treatment is to keep your hamster hydrated to avoid dehydration. At the same time, complications from dehydration can cause hypothermia so it’s important to use the heat treatment method. Essentially this includes keeping the temperature inside the cage at a constant warm temperature of 70-85*f (21-29*c).
Prevention Tips
While you are treating a sick hamster for any contagious illness, you will need to clean the main hamster habitat thoroughly to disinfect it. Throw the bedding out, clean all the surfaces with a very mild bleach solution and rinse them several times. A water based antibiotic can be added to the groups water source to prevent an outbreak.
The best way to take care of a hamster with wet tail is to attempt to prevent it in the first place. Since stress is associated with the cause of this serious hamster illness, try to minimize your hamster’s stress level. Avoid housing too many hamsters together and know when to separate weening babies when they begin to mature; this will help keep stressful fighting to a minimum. Take care in the process of relocating any of your hamsters to a new home since anything new to a hamster can be somewhat stressful. Finally to reduce stress, make sure you provide a well balanced hamster diet with adequate sources of water.
Author: Tim Winter
Hello. I got a hamster like four days ago. I do think that she is stressed. She keeps digging in the corners of the cage, biting the me, and the bedding. And I want to know some things to help with that. Thanks
Take a look at this post on how to handle a new hamster. This should help answer some your questions about the biting and stressed out hamster. digging is certainly what hamsters do and you should not be concerned about that.
hi, i think my hammy has wet tail. exessive poo, creamy discharge, and thirst. also crust eyes. shes moving around a little wobbly but is drinking, moving food and bedding around, and tried to clean herself. she is now asleeep. were taking her to the vet tomorrow and getting wettail drops. if she doesnt have wet tail will this harm her? and also we have to take her on a week vacay with a seven hour drive. like HAVE to, no other options. please help. her nails are also very short. And she seems sort if tired, and her bottom is swollen and it seems her tail is sticking out more than normal.
It sounds like the flu. I hope the vet gave you some good answers. sorry for the late reply. I was on a vacation too.
Hi,
My hamster already has wet tail. He’s had antibiotics and probiotics from the vet and was given fluids too. I’ve been giving him water with the probiotics through a syringe as well as water and honey (suggested by the vet to give him energy), but he is still very lethargic four days later. Is there anything else I can do?
Just keep doing what you are doing. Think about a time when you had a flu or a cold, it usually takes a week or two to get fully better. Keep up the good care.