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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.
Symptoms
As mentioned above, diarrhea is one of the main symptoms of wet-tail. Also, you will notice that there is feces stuck to your hamster's fur, and the odor probably will not be pleasant. Do not worry if your hamster sleeps all day, as this is normal anyway, but keep an eye on its evening activity. If it is less active than normal, there may be a problem. Also keep an eye on whether or not your hamster is eating and drinking.
How is Wet-Tail Contracted?
Strangely enough, one of the most common causes of wet-tail is stress. You may be thinking, "how can a hamster get stressed?". Well, because they are small and nervous creatures, they can get stressed out. You will find that many pet store hamsters have wet-tail, due to the stressful environment they are in with so many other hamsters. Wet-tail is more common in younger hamsters.
Treatment
Dri-tail is the most common treatment available for wet-tail, and since it is available at pet stores, you do not have to visit a vet to get it. This is a liquid, which can be mixed with water and put in your hamster's water bottle, or, you may prefer to give your hamster the medication with an eye-dropper, to ensure that it gets the medicine. While you are treating your hamster for wet-tail, you need to make sure that it is properly hydrated at all times, even if it means giving the hamster drops of water through an eye-dropper.
Prevention
Of course, the best course of treatment for wet-tail is to prevent your hamster from contracting the infection in the first place. As previously mentioned, wet-tail is caused by stress, so you need to do your part in ensuring that your hamster's life is as stress-free as possible. This means keeping the habitat in a quiet location in the home, providing fresh, clean bedding, food and water, and keeping the habitat clean.
Also, it is wise to not keep more than one hamster per cage. They are not overly friendly toward each other in the first place, so why add extra, unnecessary stress? You may even want to think about purchasing a hamster that is a few months old, and not a baby, since younger hamsters are more susceptible to the infection than older ones.
Wet-tail is a condition that can be preverted, but if it is contracted, can easily be rented, if you know what to look for and how to deal with it. If you are treating your hamster, and do not see any improvement in the condition, do not hesitate to visit a vet.
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Source by Kent Tan
