Wet tail is a standard illness in hamsters, particularly Syrian hamsters and hamsters who are weaning ( from four to 7 weeks old). It is a significant, potentially terminal condition and may be treated quickly. The illness can be fatal within 48 to 48 hours after symptoms first are shown.

Symptoms : Symptoms for wet tail include listlessness, hunched posture ( or walking while hunching the back), irritability, diarrhea and wet, soiled fur round the anal area ( which is where the illness gets its name ) .

Causes : Wet tail is primarily a disease caused by too much stress for your hamster.

Complications : If left untreated, wet tail can lead to rectal prolapse. This is a condition caused by prolonged diarrhea and occurs when the walls of the rectum start to protrude through the ass and become obvious outside the hamster’s body. If the condition is still left untreated, it can cause death.

Treatment: Your hamster’s veterinarian can prescribe medication for this condition. There are a few over-the-counter products that are cheap and effective when used properly and fast. These can be found at your local pet supply store and some chain retail stores.

Prevention: Prevention is really the preferred way to respond to wet tail. Making sure your pet does not get it in the first place is much easier on your pet. The key to remember is that stress is a huge factor in wet tail. Keeping your pet as unstressed as possible is the only way to keep wet tail from taking place to your pet. With this under consideration, follow these guidelines:

1. When you are bringing home a new hamster, ensure you have the cage already set up for him. Have food, water and a nesting box in effect and be certain not to bug your pet for a minimum of 2 or three days when you bring him home. Keep new hamsters quarantined for a minimum of two weeks before introducing them to the hamsters you already have. Keep a new hamster away from over the top noise and activity. (This means not to put him in the busiest room of the house. )

2. Make changes in diet or environment gentle and keep them to a minimum. Avoid them utterly if at all possible.

3. Keep your hamster’s cage clean. Grimy cages are extraordinarily intense for hamsters. Make sure you clean the cage at least once a week and wash it out and disinfect it at least one time per month.

4. Keep a keen watch on your hamster when it has a stressful event occur,eg the passing of a house mate or when he is removed from his mother. Attempt to make transitions as straightforward as possible.

5. Visually check your hamster once a day, if possible. This does not have to be an in depth inspection, but at least check long enough to note any probable symptoms. This is especially important if he has just gone through a stressful event.

Pet Insurance Causes, Treatment and Prevention of Wet Tail in Hamsters

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