wet tail - help!

mrnibblesmommy · 01-25-2011, 05:00 PM

I discovered, two nights ago, that Niblet had a wet bottom..and was having diahrrhea. I know i caught it quickly, because he'd been fine a few hours before (like 4). I was worried, but put him to bed and tried to get myself some sleep. When I woke up about eight hours later, I checked him again - it was worse, his ears were lying flat and he was completely lethargic. We called the vets and they diagnosed him with Wet Tail and put him on a baytril and a probiotic. My question though...(and he seems to be doing quite well..takes his medicine good and seems to enjoy pedialyte and is eating again). I have nine other hamsters...that i haven't gone near since I discovered all of this. I had someone else feed them for me. How long until he wont be contagious now that he is on baytril? when and how do i do decontaminate his cage? how long before i can have contact with the other nine hamsters of mine? im going out of my mind!!!!

ZuZu · 01-25-2011, 06:09 PM

oh no! poor ham

I have heard of wet tail but have not had my ham get it before, sorry I couldnt help but I hope he gets better quick!

Iluvhamsters · 01-26-2011, 02:28 AM

Found some information here for you, the bit after prevention: Wet Tail - Proliferative Ileitis - Hamster Central WIKI It doesn't mention how long your hamster will be infectious though.

I hope Nibblet gets better soon.

souffle · 01-26-2011, 05:49 AM

Wet tail is only really found in young hamsters up to around 12 weeks or so. I do not think it is true wet tail but either a bowel infection or something he has eaten. Has he had a lot of fruit or veg recently or eaten any unusual foods?
Check he does not have anthing gone bad in his store as well and that the food bag is fresh and has no contaminents.
The meds should help but be vigilent about finishing the course and sticking to his normal food for now.
Keep him isolated and wash / change between attending to your other hammies for around 2 weeks after he is completely recovered.

mrnibblesmommy · 01-26-2011, 07:21 AM

in the past week he had a little bit (like a few pieces) of crunchy nuggets cereal (walmart brand here in the USA) and a piece of Kashi cereal, he also had a tiny bit of baby rice cereal mixed with water (and his usual diet of seeds)....

is it my fault?

i feel like a horrible hammie mommy

he's taking his medicine real good and he's still running on his wheel a bit and eating his seeds and drinking plenty..

Womblehands · 01-26-2011, 12:02 PM

It's not your fault hun....Just keep a close eye on him and anti bac your hands and such..keep checking his toilet area and bed for any poos..

mrnibblesmommy · 01-27-2011, 08:26 PM

his water bottle went down two lines in the past 24 hours, he's still eating too and taking his medicine and probiotic. im so worried...he seems ok enough, he's not awake quite as much as before he got sick though..but does do a bit of running/bathing... his 'manbits' have dried poo all over them though, and so does his 'butt fur'...he doesn't seem able to clean it all up..so what do i do about this?

thanks souffle and womblehands, giving him loads of love...and lots of handwashing/clothes changing (obsessively so) and i have my brother caring for the other nine (i haven't been near them) and he is staying away from mr. quarantined

Francescamice · 01-28-2011, 02:05 AM

When Holly my passed hamster had Wet Tail I too was very lucky to have caught it in time. Vet advised to clean her bottom with simply tissue and warm water (NOT with any cleansing wipes that you can buy from pet shops or Pets at Home) just warm water, not too often to add to the stress thought , just keep bum area clean. He will be lehtargic, imagine if you had a bad form of Dysentary (hope i spelt right) you abdomen would be very sore and you wouldnt want to be bothered with anyone or anything, this is how the vet explained it to me, as long as your hammie is drinking plenty of fluids and the Baytril , he should make a good recovery. Obviously, as you are aware, wash hands before and after you touch him, or touch cage. I was maticulous about cleaning Hollys toys , house etc when she had Wet Tail. It is very contagious to other hamsters too, so you are right not to go near your others until this has passed.
Hpe he makes a very speedy recovery.

mrnibblesmommy · 01-29-2011, 04:48 PM

your post about holly really makes me feel very hopeful about things

last night he bar chewed for a couple of HOURS..it's the first time since he got sick...and he used to do it as a nightly thing, it was great to see him back to it! (i know how ridiculous i probbaly sound but it...made me feel better to see). this morning we gave him his baytril and he looked the cleanest he has since he got sick (although, the fur around his..ya know is very...matted and like, crusty..sorry for the gross description but yeah)...i will try the water/tissue thing in a day or two when he's back to his old self...he's totally cool about the baytril but not overly fond of his probiotic, thats a real chore to give him

he seems to enjoy baytril and pedialyte, perhaps he's just odd :-/

thanks everybody for the well wishes, i appreciate all the help! and support..so scared for him

Francescamice · 01-29-2011, 05:05 PM

You dont sound ridiuclous, you are naturally concerned for your hammie - some hamsters dont like Baytril stick sweet taste, as long as hes taking his meds and drinking PLENTY of water , you should see results fairly quickly but all hammies are different responding to meds. I saw Holly go from being very ill with wet tail to running gently on her wheel and looking alot better within a timeframe of 12 hrs,although the vet did give her a booster injection of Baytril to kick start it , as well as her having it orally. The other important thing is also keeping bum area clean as possible. It sounds a chore but its keeping area clean where your hammy may not feel like bending to clean himself, just ensure the water is not hot but warm.I wouldnt leave it for a few days though do it now, as crusted fur is not good, Dont know what housenest bedding you are using, but I always used shredded loo roll, but obvioulsy if they have wet tail this gets dirty, so again, keep bedfing clean, but dont induce too much stress by disturbing him. Hope this helps, pelase keep us updated on his progress.