How to Treat Wet Tail in Hamsters
- Antibiotics Your veterinarian will most likely prescribe hamster-safe antibiotics. ...
- Subcutaneous Fluids Depending on how dehydrated the hamster is, your vet may help it retain more fluids. ...
- Sanitize and Isolate Sanitize the entire cage and all its components (water bottles, food dishes, enrichment toys, etc.), replace cage bedding and throw out any food remaining in the food dish. ...
- Extra Care at Home ...
How can you tell if your hamster has wet tail?
- Check the base of your hamster’s tail for a wet, mucus-like substance.
- If your hamster has diarrhea, accompanied by changes to eating and activity levels, it may be wet tail. Wet tail can be fatal within 48 hours. ...
- If the veterinarian finds a case of wet tail, he might prescribe antibiotics, anti-diarrheal, or give fluids.
What is hamster wet tail and why is it serious?
Wet-tail is a condition that is common in hamsters and other small rodents. This infection is similar to dysentery, and can cause dehydration and diarrhea, which, because they are so small, can be a serious problem for hamsters. This condition is also contagious, so if you have other hamsters, they can catch it as well.
How do you treat "wet tail" in hamsters?
Method 1 Method 1 of 2: Treating Wet Tail Download Article
- Check for the signs of wet tail. The hallmark of this condition is wetness around the hamster's tail - hence the name "wet tail".
- Remove fruits and vegetables from the diet. Before seeing the vet, do not remove all food, but remove fruits and vegetables.
- Isolate the sick hamster. ...
- Take your little friend to the vet. ...
Can Wet tail be cured in a hamster?
These hamsters are particularly vulnerable to a variety of things that can take a serious toll on their health. The good news is that wet tail is a treatable condition that most hamsters can fully recover from with antibiotic medication. Your veterinarian will prescribe a course of antibiotics for your hamster.
What are the first signs of wet tail in hamsters?
0:121:52Wet tail in Syrian Hamsters | Hamster Health - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt got the name wet tail from one of the main symptoms being diarrhea. Making the area around theMoreIt got the name wet tail from one of the main symptoms being diarrhea. Making the area around the hamsters tail look wet and dirty it is caused by stress which causes an attack of bacteria in the
What does it mean if my hamster has a wet tail?
The term "wet tail" refers to just that—a wet tail, on your pet hamster. This wet tail is basically diarrhea, or loose stools, and is known as proliferative ileitis or regional enteritis. The diarrhea is thought to be caused by an overgrowth of intestinal bacteria.
What antibiotics are used for wet tail?
Several antibiotic treatments are recommended, including doxycycline (5–10 mg/kg, PO, twice a day for 5–7 days), enrofloxacin (10 mg/kg, PO or IM, twice a day for 5–7 days), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (30 mg/kg, PO, twice a day for 5–7 days).
How can hamsters prevent wet tail?
Preventing Hamster Wet Tail Keep your hamster's cage clean. This will help prevent contaminated food or water, and dry bedding is healthier for hamsters than damp, soiled bedding. Stress can weaken your hamster's immune system, making them more susceptible to wet tail.
Can a wet tail heal by itself?
The only cure for wet tail is antibiotic treatment available from your vet. Even if you notice the smallest sign of wet tail, ring your vets and make an appointment immediately. Wet tail can cause hamsters to die within 48 hours of the first symptoms showing.
How long can a hamster live with wet tail?
Wet-tail or proliferative ileitis, is a disease of hamsters. It is precipitated by stress. Even with treatment, the animal can die within 48–72 hours. Baby hamsters are much more likely to get the disease than older hamsters.
Can I give my hamster amoxicillin?
Amoxicillin should not be used in pets that are allergic to it or other penicillins, cephalosporins, or other beta-lactam antibiotics. Do not use in rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, or other small mammals.
Can I use hydrogen peroxide on a hamster?
Treat Hamsters. You can treat a hamster's skin sores by using betadine (topical antiseptics), hydrogen peroxide and an antibiotic ointment .
How do you test for wet tail?
Check for the signs of wet tail.Tail end and sometimes abdomen are wet, matted.The wet area is soiled and smells bad from excessive watery diarrhea.Failure to groom, dull, ruffled coat.Dull, sunken eyes.Abdominal discomfort, which can show itself as grumpiness or aggression.Lethargy, hiding away and being reclusive.More items...
Why does my Syrian hamster look wet?
Conspicuous patches of wetness on your hamster signify hamster sickness, either diarrhea or tooth-related issues. A wet stomach generally stems from diarrhea, and a wet mouth can be the result of either diarrhea or teeth overgrowth.
What is wet tail caused by?
Wet tail is a term used to describe watery diarrhea in hamsters which may have a variety of causes. The exact cause of proliferative ileitis is not known, but it is thought to be caused by a variety of intestinal bacteria such as Campylobacter, and Lawsonia intracellularis.
What does hamster sick look like?
Hamsters with colds will often display the same symptoms as people. Your pet may sniffle or sneeze, and his little nose might run. You may also notice your pet seems a bit lethargic: he may just curl up to sleep, and not want to do much. His little body may feel warm to the touch, and he may be thirstier than usual.
Why is my hamsters bum Brown?
A dirty bottom: Hamsters with wet tail have a dirty, smelly bottom that may be brown, black, or very sticky.
Why do hamsters have a wet tail?
This is likely because their immune systems are still developing, and aren't very good at fighting off bugs yet. Research suggests that most the bacteria most likely to cause wet tail is the Desulfovibrio species.
How to tell if a hamster has a wet tail?
The following signs indicate wet tail in a hamster: Tail end and sometimes abdomen are wet, matted. The wet area is soiled and smells bad from excessive watery diarrhea. Failure to groom, dull, ruffled coat. Dull, sunken eyes. Abdominal discomfort, which can show itself as grumpiness or aggression.
Why do vets give antibiotics to hamsters?
If the hamster is very unwell, the vet may give antibiotic s by injection to ensure he gets the correct dose. Because hamsters are so small, it's hard to run diagnostic tests (bloods and imaging) on them. This makes it difficult for the vet to reach a definitive diagnosis of the underlying cause of the illness. ...
How long does it take for a hamster to die from a wet tail?
Hamsters can die from wet tail! Take your hamster to the vet as soon as you see the symptoms; death might occur within 24 hours of the symptoms first appearing if left untreated.
Why do hamsters have diarrhea?
Adult hamsters tend to develop the symptoms if the balance of microorganisms in their guts is disturbed. This lets a bacterium called clostridium overwhelm the gut, causing diarrhea and wet tail symptoms. Factors which can trigger the initial gastrointestinal disturbance include:
How long does it take for a hamster to rally?
The success rate for treating wet tail is low, and if the hamster does not rally within 24 - 48 hours then the chances are it won't.
What to do if hamster is stressed?
Remove any source of distraction or stress from the room where the hamster is resting. This includes other hamsters, barking dogs, inquisitive cats, bright lights, and anything noisy. Other than removing wet foods from its diet, do not change the usual food unless your vet advises you to. This can cause more stress.
What causes a hamster to have a wet tail?
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.
What does it mean when a hamster's tail is wet?
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 losing 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;
How to treat hamsters with heat?
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).
How long does it take for a hamster to die from a wet tail?
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.
How to take care of a hamster?
Finally to reduce stress, make sure you provide a well balanced hamster diet with adequate sources of water. The Essentials of Care. Diagnose Disease and Illness.
How to treat a sick hamster?
To treat a sick hamster at home using medication drops, you can choose to mix the drops into your hamster’s drinking water or if it isn’t actively drinking its water, you can use the provided eye-dropper to physically feed the hamster its medication. The medication is flavored so it should make the hamster more open to drinking the solution. Some owners have also had success with adding drops onto their hamster’s food/fruit. Improvements to your hamster’s health should be seen within one to two days.
Can hamsters die from wettail drops?
In a matter of a day, your hamster can go from bad to worse and it can even die. We recommend you have a medication like this on hand in the case this happens again. These wet-tail drops are suitable for hamster, gerbils, mice, rats and guinea pigs.
How to treat a hamster with wet tail drops?
This can be done by mixing the appropriate amount of wet tail drops into your hamster's water bottle. When choosing a hamster from a pet store, make sure he is active, that his eyes are open, ...
How Does a Hamster Get Wet Tail?
Stress is usually the main culprit of wet tail. Young hamsters get moved from a breeder or vendor to a pet store, to a new home, and sometimes get returned to the store after that, all within a period of a few weeks. This would stress anyone out—especially a tiny baby hamster. This stress causes the bacteria to overpopulate in the gut, which in turn causes diarrhea.
What Is Wet Tail?
This wet tail is basically diarrhea, or loose stools, and also known as proliferative ileitis or regional enteritis. The diarrhea is thought to be caused by an overgrowth of intestinal bacteria.
How to Prevent Wet Tail?
This can be done by mixing the appropriate amount of wet tail drops into your hamster's water bottle.
What is a wet tail on a hamster?
The term "wet tail" refers to just that—a wet tail, on your pet hamster. This wet tail is basically diarrhea, or loose stools, from one or multiple factors . 1 It is also known as proliferative ileitis or regional enteritis. The diarrhea is thought to be caused by an overgrowth of Campylobacter jejuni, a type of bacteria.
How to choose a hamster from a pet store?
When choosing a hamster from a pet store, make sure he is active, that his eyes are open, and that his rear end is dry and free of fecal matter. To play it even safer, don't take home a hamster that is living with another hamster that doesn't look too healthy (i .e., eyes closed, sitting in the corner, wet bottom).
Why do hamsters get wet?
How Does a Hamster Get Wet Tail? Stress is usually the main culprit of wet tail. Young hamsters get moved from a breeder or vendor to a pet store, to a new home, and sometimes get returned to the store after that, all within a period of a few weeks. This would stress anyone out—especially a tiny baby hamster.
Why do hamsters die from wet tails?
Most hamsters infected with wet tail actually die of dehydration because of serious diarrhea, so hydration is especially important.
What is the disease of hamster tail?
Most hamster owners have heard of the horrible disease Wet Tail, which is described as extremely lethal for the fluffy. Still, they do not know about any detailed information about it. Therefore, I will thoroughly introduce the disease, including what the wet tail is, how to prevent it, and how to treat it.
What on earth is the Wet Tail?
Wet tail is the popular name of Proliferative Ileitis, a common disease for many animals, especially pigs, but not human beings.
How long does it take for a hamster to die from a virus?
The harm is obvious. Normally a hamster infected with this disease will die within 48 hours after these symptoms mentioned above showing up.
Do hamsters need friends?
It has been emphasized many times that hamsters are solitary animals, and they do not need any friend as you may have imagined. More than one hamster in one cage only brings endless fight over territory.
Can hamsters take penicillin?
Cephalosporin and Gentamicin are good choices, but notice that Penicillin is strictly forbidden for hamsters.
Can you keep hamsters in cages?
The disease itself is highly infective, so keeping several hamsters in one cage will cause more than one death. Therefore, for whatever reasons, one hamster in each cage is the basic condition for preventing the wet tail disease.
How long does it take for a hamster to survive a wet tail?
Wet tail can be fairly hard to survive for hamsters. This is mostly because it has an incubation period (7 days), in which it’s not immediately obvious that the hamster is sick.
Why is my hamster's tail wet?
There are other symptoms, which we’ll cover soon. That is because wet tail is a type of diarrhea, brought on by bacteria inside the hamster’s gut. While diarrhea for humans is not very hard to treat, hamsters have an incredibly small chance of survival.
How to treat hamster diarrhea?
In this case you need to do the following: 1 Remove any fruit and veg from your hamster’s diet. ‘Wet’ food like these can worsen the diarrhea, mostly because it doesn’t provide just water. 2 Only give the hammy very dry food. This includes his usual food mix, dry oats, a very small piece of dry bread. Another option if a few grains of steamed brown rice. The dry food will settle your hamster’s insides a bit more. 3 The water your hamster gets from his bottle should not be very cold. And it should be plain, unflavored water. If he has a vitamin mix in his water, remove it for the time being. 4 If your hammy isn’t drinking – try giving him one drop of water every half hour. Hold him by the scruff of the neck (it will not hurt) and with an eye dropper place a drop of water on his lips. The hammy will then lick it, and have at least a bit of water. More than a drop at a time can drown the hammy. 5 If your hamster isn’t eating, try unflavored baby food. No onion, garlic, sugar, or any spices at all. He will need very small amounts of food, only what he can lick off the very tip of a teaspoon. Scruffing the hammy will work here as well.
Why is hamster swarming fatal?
It can be fatal because the hamster hasn’t had time to fatten up and build a big and warm enough nest.
How big is a hamster cage?
The right sized cage is a minimum of 24 x 12 inches, and about 12 inches tall. That’s 61 x 30.5 cm, and about 30.5 cm tall. That’s for a Syrian hammy, and the minimum for keeping 2 Dwarf types. Not all hamsters can live together though, and some will fight to the death.
Why do hamsters have moldy cages?
This is because infections can occur when the hamster’s cage has stray bacteria, that can develop from an unclean cage. And also, an unclean cage can become moldy in some places.
How to get hamster to stop smelling coconut?
Before you touch your hamster, make sure your hands are clean. Use an antibacterial soap, and try to find one with little to no scent. A strong scent could make your hamster either think you’ve really got coconut on your hands and try to taste it, or scare him away.
What to do if your hamster has a wet tail?
However, as soon as you spot the signs you should seek veterinary advice. For the best chance of a full recovery, you should seek out veterinary help a.s.a.p., preferably within the first 24 hours.
How long does it take for a hamster to die from a wet tail?
Wet tail can be fatal for your hamster if it is not treated within 48 hours, with most dying from dehydration. It is important to note that you cannot treat wet tail yourself with over the counter pet medicines.
How to keep hamsters from getting icky?
Lay off the treats for a while and avoid additional fresh fruit and vegetables – especially those with a high water content. Never bathe your hamster, but if their tail looks a little icky, gentle wipe it clean with a damp cotton bud. Try to minimize the amount of stress your hamster may be exposed too.
Why is my hamster's tail wet?
Hamster wet tail or “proliferative ileitis” as it is commonly known, is an intestinal disease that usually effects young hamsters. Distinguishable by excessive diarrhea that makes the tail area appear wet and dirty, it is usually triggered by stress. Here I look at the symptoms, treatment and prevention of wet tail in hamsters.
How to treat hamster diarrhea?
Once diagnosed by a professional, they will provide your hamster with antibiotic drops to clear the infection and something to treat the diarrhea. They may also need to give your hamster an injection of fluids.
How to keep hamsters calm?
Keep them on food they are used to. Hamster love variety and in the wild are used to eating almost anything.
How to calm a hamster?
Try to minimize the amount of stress your hamster may be exposed too. Place them in a familiar room that is quiet and calm until they are back to their best.
What is hamster wet tail?
Hamster damp tail or “proliferative ileitis” as it is frequently understood, is a digestive tract condition that normally impacts young hamsters. Distinct by excessive looseness of the bowels that makes the tail area show up wet and dirty, it is normally set off by stress.
How old should a hamster be to have a damp tail?
Don’t burn out your brand-new hamster. Young hamsters under the age of 12 weeks are one of the most susceptible to creating damp tail, as they are moved far from their parents and into a brand-new home. In order to assist your hamster stay calm throughout this transition, attempt and resist the lure to handle them excessive to begin with, letting them check out on their own.
How to keep hamsters healthy?
Avoiding stress is a simple method of keeping your hamster healthy, but there are various other points that you should recognize:
What is a wet tail?
Wet tail is one of those illness that has such a brief window in order to find the signs and symptoms as well as if not captured quickly enough can have significant ramifications.
How to calm a hamster?
Try to lessen the amount of stress your hamster might be revealed also. Put them in an acquainted room that is quiet as well as tranquil until they are back to their best.
Can you use wet tail drops on hamsters?
You can treat your hamster yourself with wet tail drops available at Amazon . Nevertheless, as quickly as you identify the indicators you ought to look for vet advice.
Can hamsters catch damp tails?
Hamsters can also capture damp tail from other cage friends, so young hamsters are specifically at risk.
How to tell if a hamster has a wet tail?
There are some symptoms of the wet tail by which you can identify the wet tail disease. Wet tail symptoms are very clear to look at that your hamster is suffering from the disease of the wet tail. These symptoms are the bad smell coming out of the hamster.
Why is my hamster's tail wet?
Some work can be done in order to prevent the hamster from these diseases. Wet tail is caused by stress to the hamster.
Why do hamsters pee blood?
You have to provide them the same environment in which they born. Otherwise, they feel stressed and may suffer from the wet tail disease. This cal also results in hamster peeing blood.
What is a wet tail in hamsters?
Wet tail in hamsters is a very serious disease which is frequently fatal. It is a common mistake to call any diarrhoea in a hamster wet tail, but in the actual condition the lower part of the ileum – or lower part of the intestine – becomes inflamed and thickened. This gives wet tail its alternative names of proliferative ileitis or transmissible ileal hyperplasia. The hamster will certainly have very profound diarrhoea and other distressing symptoms but to call all cases of diarrhoea wet tail is to mislead, as the prognoses are very different.
How to tell if hamster has wet tail?
There is likely to be a loss of appetite and very shortly the main symptom which gives the condition its name will appear, namely watery extremely offensively smelling diarrhoea, which may be blood stained. The condition is extremely painful and distressing and the hamster will probably adopt a hunched position, to try and ease the pain a little. It will possibly also cry out regularly, as the intestine will be painful and the tail will be sore. These symptoms come on very quickly and the affected animal must be isolated immediately and a vet’s intervention sought urgently. Over the counter preparations which are said to arrest wet tail are not sufficient – they are for normal diarrhoea and even then should not be used without the animal being taken to the vet. If one of these preparations is used, the vet must be told so that it can be taken into account when planning medication .
How common is wet tail?
Wet tail does not usually spontaneously occur in a stable population and is not something which the hamster owner need worry about unduly, but it is vital to seek help if for some reason it is suspected. If for example a new hamster has been introduced, it may already be suffering from wet tail. After a few weeks of normal health after introduction, there should be nothing to worry about. It is very serious, though, so it is unwise to buy a hamster from a shop which has recently had an outbreak, because it is difficult to eradicate completely. It is very rare in Russian or Chinese hamsters.
How to prevent wet tails?
Scrupulous cleanliness is always a good idea, but if you have inadvertently imported an animal with wet tail, then keeping it and its equipment strictly segregated from the others is vital and hand washing is very much part of the routine. Many breeders and vets never see cases of wet tail and with simple precautions, this situation can continue.
What antibiotic is given for a wet tail?
If the decision is made to go ahead and treat, the antibiotic of choice is usually neomycin, which is given by mouth three times a day.
Do hamsters need hydration?
Meanwhile, hydration is vital and vitamins added to the water will go some way to aiding recovery. It is also a good idea to add some prophylactic antibiotics to the drinking water of any other hamsters in the house; the vet will prescribe the right ones.
Can you use over the counter diarrhoea medication on a wet tail?
Over the counter preparations which are said to arrest wet tail are not sufficient – they are for normal diarrhoea and even then should not be used without the animal being taken to the vet. If one of these preparations is used, the vet must be told so that it can be taken into account when planning medication.
Prognosis
- Check for the signs of wet tail. The hallmark of this condition is wetness around the hamster's tail — hence the name "wet tail". However, this is a description rather than a diagnosis in its own right. What we call "wet tail" can actually have several different causes, but the result is the same: diarrhea and fluid loss. The following signs indicate wet tail in a hamster:[2] X Res…
- Remove fruits and vegetables from the diet. Before seeing the vet, do not remove all food, bu…
Overview
Causes
Prevention
- The term \"wet tail\" refers to just thata wet tail, on your pet hamster. This wet tail is basically diarrhea, or loose stools, from one or multiple factors. It is also known as proliferative ileitis or regional enteritis. The diarrhea is thought to be caused by an overgrowth of Campylobacter jejuni, a type of bacteria.
Treatment
- Stress is usually the main culprit of wet tail. Young hamsters get moved from a breeder or vendor to a pet store, to a new home, and sometimes get returned to the store after that, all within a period of a few weeks. This would stress anyone outespecially a tiny baby hamster. This stress causes the normal gut flora (the Campylobacter bacteria) to overpopulate, which in turn causes …
Risks
- Wet tail is also extremely contagious. Therefore if your new hamster was kept in a large cage with other hamsters that had wet tail, your hamster and/or the other hamsters could get wet tail too. When picking out a hamster to take home, make sure he is active and running around to decrease the likelihood of him having wet tail already. Some exotics vets may recommend treating your h…
Safety
- In order to treat wet tail, you need to know your hamster has wet tail and not just diarrhea. Remember, since wet tail is a bacterial issue and causes diarrhea, your hamster can have diarrhea for reasons other than having the wet tail disease. For example, your hamster may eat some fresh fruit or veggies that have high water contents and suddenly he has diarrhea. This diarrhea is mo…