Wet tail is one of the most common diseases seen in hamsters, yet it can\u2019t be taken lightly. It is a serious and potentially lethal condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are ways to treat and ultimately cure the disease. The main key to recovery is detecting wet tail early and getting veterinary<\/a> assistance as soon as possible.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning about wet tail will inform you and boost confidence in your ability to keep your hammy healthy and happy. In this article, we\u2019ll cover what wet tail is, how to recognize the symptoms in your hamster, what causes the disease, how to treat it and ways to reduce your pet\u2019s risk of contracting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contents<\/p> Also known as proliferative ileitis<\/em> or regional enteritis<\/em>, wet tail is a disease that causes dangerous dehydration in hamsters.<\/strong> It occurs when excessively watery diarrhea plagues the hamster, not allowing it to retain any fluids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wet tail is most commonly seen in 3- to 6-week-old hamsters,<\/strong> right around the time they are weaned. Long-haired teddy bears are the hamster species most likely to contract the disease, while Roborovski dwarf hamsters are least likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While certain hamsters are more likely to get wet tail, all hamsters have some risk of contracting it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wet tail disease is very contagious. <\/strong>Once one hamster has it, any other hamster in the same cage has a high probability of contracting it, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hamsters with wet tail will show obvious symptoms. Signs of illness you may notice in your hamster include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of these are general signs of illness, but the bolded symptoms are specific to conditions like wet tail that cause potentially lethal dehydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you notice signs of wet tail in your hamster, you must respond quickly. Wet tail can kill hamsters in as little as 48 hours. Do not try to treat wet tail with DIY treatments. Seek immediate veterinary care.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep your hamster as hydrated as possible as you get veterinary assistance. If your pet won\u2019t drink water on its own, try giving it a drink from a water dropper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several treatments you should expect to see your veterinarian prescribe. There are also several actions you can take at home to help your pet recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your veterinarian will most likely prescribe hamster-safe antibiotics. As with all antibiotics, it is extremely important that your hamster takes all of the doses as directed,<\/strong> from start to finish, even if it seems like your pet has fully recovered from the disease before all the medicine is used up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Warning: Never self-prescribe antibiotics to your pet hamster. <\/strong>Many antibiotics that are safe for humans are lethal to hamsters. Please follow your veterinarian\u2019s guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on how dehydrated the hamster is, your vet may help it retain more fluids.<\/strong> Subcutaneous fluids<\/em> are pockets of water (with electrolytes and other good stuff for your hamster) that are placed under the animal\u2019s skin. They gradually dissolve into the hamster\u2019s body and help it rehydrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sanitize the entire cage<\/strong> and all its components (water bottles, food dishes, enrichment toys, etc.), replace cage bedding and throw out any food remaining in the food dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your sick<\/a> pet is caged with other hamsters<\/a>, separate them so the disease doesn\u2019t spread.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with following all of your veterinarian\u2019s directions, keep a close watch on your hamster and make sure it\u2019s improving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your hamster doesn\u2019t show marked improvement within a day or two, you may need to further consult with your veterinarian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wet tail is most associated with elevated stress levels. When a hamster experiences high-stress situations, its stomach bacteria (campylobacter jejuni<\/em>) overpopulates in its gut, leading to watery stool and other digestive issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Weaning babies<\/strong> will often contract wet tail because of the drastic dietary changes they experience when they are no longer relying on their mother\u2019s milk as a food source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adult hamsters are also at risk of wet tail when they eat too many unsafe or unhealthy foods.<\/strong> While a diet of various foods provides the spectrum of nutrients a hamster needs, their main dietary source must be their food mix. Too many fresh fruits or vegetables, or too many unhealthy foods, can lead to dietary distress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is very stressful for a hamster to be moved from one home to the next.<\/strong> Its cage environment completely changes, along with the smells and sounds around it. Plus, when baby hamsters leave the pet store, they are often separating from their mothers for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Living among fecal matter or old, rotting food can cause all kinds of illness in hamsters.<\/strong> It surely causes high stress levels when a hamster doesn\u2019t feel clean or safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a hamster doesn\u2019t have enough of its own personal space, the crowding in its cage can also lead to maintained elevated levels of stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n High stress in hamsters can also be caused by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of these are environmental conditions that you, as a pet owner, have control over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not possible to completely prevent wet tail, but you can significantly reduce your hamster\u2019s risk of contracting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is Wet Tail?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Are the Symptoms of Wet Tail Disease?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What to Do if Your Hamster Has Wet Tail<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Treat Wet Tail in Hamsters<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Antibiotics<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Subcutaneous Fluids<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sanitize and Isolate<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Extra Care at Home<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Causes Wet Tail in Hamsters?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dietary Changes<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Moving to a New Home<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Unsanitary Conditions and Crowding<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Other Causes of Elevated Stress<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Prevent Wet Tail Disease<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ease Transition to a New Home<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n