Hamster Wet Tail
Tips On How to Deal With Hamster Wet Tail
When a hamster is suffering with diarrhea it is called hamster wet tail. It is a descriptive term because it explains the tell tale symptoms of this disease. You will see a matted, wet fur that surrounds the rear end of the hamster. You may also notice loose feces around the bedding of the cage. Hamster wet tail is a very serious condition for hamsters and if it isn’t treated immediately, it can also be fatal.
Diarrhea is extremely dangerous to hamsters because it causes dehydration. But the reason for hamster wet tail can vary and may be hard to pinpoint. A veterinarian can easily re hydrate the animal but until he understands why the hamster is having the problem, the outlook isn’t very good. There are many reasons why a hamster can suffer with hamster wet tail.
One condition that causes hamster wet tail is an inflammation of the intestines. This is called a proliferative ileitis. This is commonly seen in the Syrian hamster. It is considered a bacterial infection and most hamsters that experience this illness die in a short period of time. This disease wreaks havoc on the hamster’s immune system and leaves the animal open for getting other infections. They include tumors, diabetes and organ failure. This disease is a genetic disorder and it is caused by a mutated gene. As a hamster gets older, the risk goes up for getting this condition.
A hamster’s diet can result in hamster wet tail. But this is nothing like the fatal proliferative ileitis. This happens when the animal is feed certain foods that contain too much natural sugar or fructose. Green, leafy vegetables can also cause this as well as too much fiber. All of the symptoms will still be seen with this condition but the animal will still acting normally, with no sign of distress or pain. Luckily, diet related hamster wet tail can be cured by eliminating all wet foods. When the stools are no longer loose or runny, the animal should not have any further problems.
If the hamster is placed in an area with a lot of activity it will become stressed. Stress can also cause hamster wet tail. This is usually seen in baby hamsters that are at the weaning age. It may be a good idea to move the cage of the animal to a quiet location. You can also take the small hamster to a veterinarian to make sure that it is properly hydrated. He can also make sure that the animal does not have any bacterial infections.
You can make sure to feed your hamster safe foods and include foods that promote a healthy intestinal track. You can do this by feeding the hamster yogurt. It contains pro biotic bacteria that are found in fermented foods. This keeps the good and bad bacterium in check and helps to prevent hamster wet tail.
Never use over the counter medications to treat a hamster. These medications contain small amounts of antibiotics. If the hamster is not suffering from the fatal type of hamster wet tail, it can do damage to the system and actually cause the same symptoms of the disease. They can kill off the natural bacteria that are present in the intestinal track and throw if off balance in the body. This can cause severe diarrhea and worsen the problem considerably. It destroys the beneficial flora in the digestive track and impairs digestion.
In most cases, hamster wet tail can be cured by eliminating all wet foods and by starting re hydration therapy. After the salt and fluids are replaced the animal usually returns to normal.