Wet back end but otherwise seems perfectly well?

[kits]

Hi everybody,

Charlotte is a female Syrian hamster, approx. 20 weeks old but came from Support Adoption for Pets so we're not 100% sure.

I came home from work an hour ago and she was sitting grooming her back end. All around her bottom and even above her tail is wet. I immediately thought wet tail and thought to go to the vets but she was very happy to climb out into my hands like normal, run on her wheel, climb the bars, chew her toys etc. She is usually let out for play time in the evenings and climbed out as soon as I opened the door and helped herself to sunflower seeds I had accidentally left out. Every description of wet tail I've read describes a lethargic, hunched hamster trying to avoid human contact - this does not describe her behavior at all.

I've smelt the discharge/liquid and it is unpleasant - reminds me of how pigs smell, not a smell like feces and not sticky or dirty looking. However I'm not familiar with how a hamster in heat smells as I have only owned males before and Charlotte has only been here for about 5 or 6 weeks. Any tips? At the moment I intend to see if she dries off - wondering if she sat in her own pee or something? - and if not she will go to the vets tomorrow morning.

Thanks x

[kits]

Panic is probably over, she is all dried out, happy, active and no longer smells at all. I think she might have peed in her plastic tube (she does use it as a toilet a lot) and sat in it

[DrKMcK]

LOL Hello kits, and welcome to Hamster Central. Hammies do make us panic, don't they?
It is very likely you are right about the tube. I'm so glad she's okay. Hope to see photos of her soon.

[kits]

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

LOL Hello kits, and welcome to Hamster Central. Hammies do make us panic, don't they?
It is very likely you are right about the tube. I'm so glad she's okay. Hope to see photos of her soon.

They so do! She's not been here very long but she's such a big part of the family, SO curious and interested in what is going on around her. I'd hate for anything to happen to her. Thanks for checking my post anyway