How to Recognize the Symptoms of Wet Tail

Wet tail is a deadly intestinal infection that strikes hamsters, often when they are only 3 to 7 weeks of age. It's important to recognize the symptoms of wet tail and to separate these symptoms from other types of gastrointestinal stress, so that the right treatment protocol can be followed.

Things You'll Need

• Veterinarian
• Anti-diarrhea medications
• Antibiotics

Instructions

1. Recognize the symptoms of wet tail in a hamster by noting excessive diarrhea. In cases of wet tail, the diarrhea may be accompanied by mucus and even blood, which separates the symptoms from more common types of gastrointestinal distress, such as an improper diet. With wet tail, the diarrhea is usually marked by a particularly strong odor as well.

2. Look for signs of lethargy when you try to recognize the symptoms of wet tail. A hamster with wet tail will often stop grooming itself, and the diarrhea will begin to accumulate on the rear half of the animal. The hamster may also appear hunched over in pain and reluctant to wander from its nesting area within the cage.

3. Watch the hamster to see whether it is eating and drinking normally. You can usually recognize wet tail by the accompanying loss of appetite. It is imperative that the animal be forced to drink water, however, since dehydration will kill a hamster quicker than the actual infection.

4. Listen for squeaks of pain from your hamster. This usually accompanies the bowel movements of hamsters that are suffering from wet tail.

5. Inspect the rear of the hamster to determine whether there is any swelling of the tissue around the rectum. In rare cases of wet tail, rectal prolapse (protrusion) can occur.

6. Contact a veterinarian immediately if you recognize any symptoms of wet tail with your pet hamster. If left untreated, wet tail can cause your hamster to die within 24 to 48 hours. Your vet will prescribe both antibiotics and anti-diarrheal medication, and your hamster should be feeling well within a week or so.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that dwarf hamsters do not contract wet tail. If your dwarf hamster is exhibiting any of the symptoms of wet tail, it is suffering from another type of gastrointestinal distress.

• It's important not to misdiagnose wet tail as another type of gastrointestinal afflictions, such as a diarrhea caused by an excess of fruits and vegetables. The antibiotics that are usually prescribed for wet tail can cause immune system problems in otherwise-healthy animals.