What is wet tail hamster?

Wet tail is a very serious disease in hamsters that unfortunately has a high mortality rate even when caught early and treated. “Wet Tail”, named from the obvious sign of wetness around the rear end and tail of the hamster from diarrhea, comes from a bacterial infection that is generally brought on by stress.

How do you know if your hamster has wet tail?

What can cause wet tail in hamsters?

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.

Is wet tail rare in hamsters?

Syrian hamsters, of all the hamsters, have the highest chance of developing wet tail. Seeing as they're the most common type of hamster pet, this doesn't sound great. Dwarf types can still get wet tail, but in a much smaller degree and it's kind of rare for them.

What causes wet tail disease?

True Wet Tail AKA Proliferative ileitis

Proliferative ileitis is a disease caused by the bacteria Lawsonia intracellularis which causes severe diarrhoea in hamsters.

Wet tail in Syrian Hamsters | Hamster Health

Can humans catch wet tail?

You should also be aware that wet tail is contagious to other hamsters. In some rarer cases, it can cause stomach upsets in humans as well, so it is very important to wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling a sick pet and to quarantine them from other animals until all symptoms have disappeared.

Is wet tail an emergency?

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.

How long does wet tail last?

Unfortunately, wet tail is fatal for about 90% of hamsters, killing them within 2-3 days. You mustn't administer a wet tail treatment without consulting with your vet first.

Why is my hamster wobbling and falling over?

If hamster is having problems with balance and keeps stumbling and falling over, it is suffering from a problem with its vestibular system. The vestibular system is the mechanism within the inner ear and brain that helps mammals - including us - keep balance.

How do I know if my hamster is dying?

When a hamster is dying, its breathing will be more agitated, choppy and its pulse will begin to diminish progressively until exhausted. It is also possible that your hamster may suffer from tremors or a stiff jaw. Signs of a dead hamster include: No apparent breathing or movement.

How do you clean a hamsters bum?

You can clean him up gently with a plain, unscented baby wipe or pet wipe. Make sure he is dry, warm and stress free afterwards. Monitor for the above symptoms as wet tail can be serious if not addressed promptly by your veterinarian.

How is wet tail transmitted?

As we already know, wet tail is caused by the bacterial species Lawsonia intracellularis. Lawsonia intracellularis is transmitted through feces. This particular bacteria can also infect pigs, horses, ferrets, dogs, and primates.

What does hamster pee look like?

Hamster urine is milky white and it is normal to find a white stain on the cage bottom that is very difficult to remove. Washing the area lightly with soap and water is sufficient to eliminate odour. It is not necessary to scrub off the white stain. The normal lifespan for a hamster is 18-24 months.

What do you do after your hamster dies?

What is this? At home, the best option for your hamster is a burial. Leave it inside of the bags, and bury it at least three feet down and away from anything else. Now is a good time to have a funeral for your pet and say your last goodbyes.

Can I use Clorox wipes on my hamster cage?

What is this? But even though Clorox wipes are great for cleaning up around the house, Clorox wipes are not safe around pets, especially small pets like guinea pigs.

Why does my hamster smell like a skunk?

"The glands become most obvious at puberty and the odor is most obvious then too," she said. Some people could be put off by this smell, but it's really quite normal and natural. "The scent glands' smell varies from unnoticeable in some hamsters to quite a strong, musky scent in others.

How often should you clean hamster cage?

Besides scooping out dirty bedding every day, plan to change out all of the bedding in your hamster's habitat once a week. This includes removing any food your hamster may have stored throughout the week, as well. Wash the entire habitat once a month.

How much does it cost to take a hamster to vet?

It does depend on where you live but on average I would say an exam is about $30-70, but could be higher for an exotic specialist.

Can you get sick from hamsters?

While it might be possible for other animals to become infected with the virus, documented infections in humans have occurred only after exposure to infected mice and hamsters. Human infections almost always occur from house mice and rarely occur from pet hamsters.

Can I put baking soda in hamster cage?

Sprinkling baking soda on the bottom of the cage can help absorb odors. Just add the baking soda before you put in the hamster's bedding. Baking soda is a good way to keep your cage smelling great, as it is readily available and very cheap.

What fresh food can a hamster eat?

Romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, cauliflower, carrot tops, broccoli spears, spinach, sweet potato, squash, artichokes and any other dark green veggies are great choices. Avoid iceberg lettuce and other veggies or fruits—such as watermelon—that are high in water content and have little nutritional value.

What does hamster diarrhea look?

A healthy hamsters' faeces (or stools) will be small, firm, dark coloured pellets and if they are suffering from diarrhoea, this will not be the case. Instead stools will be paler in colour, soft and watery.

Can dogs get wet tail?

Dogs who like to swim or spend a long time in cold or wet weather can sometimes suffer from something called limber tail syndrome. There are many other names for this condition including: cold water tail, frozen tail, water tail, broken tail, broken wag, or wet tail.