Questions about wet tail

[alisont]

Hi

I've not had syrians for many years but saw one in the adoption area of the new PAH by us yesterday. I don't think I can fit another hammy in my room but I do keep thinking of the hammy now.

The hammy had had wet tail according to the info sign - I asked for more info and they said she had seen the instore vet and has had antibiotics and recovered well.

Hammy seemed friendly/interested but tired - but was daytime so sleepy, she came to me and sniffed my hand - gather she does not usually come to people.

Now I do not know about wet tail - apart from if not treated it can be serious very quickly. Do you think the hamster will have further health problems?

To me there was something not quite right - said she was about 12 weeks old, but she looked older and you just know when they are off colour and have lost their sparkle. I think the poor little one has been through it health wise.

Can wet tail spread/stay in the system? I don't think I can have her but if she is still there in say 2 weeks I know I'll have to think about it again. I have a guinea who is elderly and not in top health and a Chinese hamster in my room. What other health problems might a hammy recovered from wet tail develop if any?

Thanks in advance for any info - I'm going to avoid PAH in future - as can't stop thinking about her - will ring end of the week see if she has been rehomed or not.

Thanks for any info

[racinghamster]

Hi alisont. I have a new syrian and have done some reading up on wet tail but not a lot. Mainly for future reference more than anything. It`s caused by a number of bacteria and antibiotics are given to help, but some hamsters don`t recover from it and die. The little one you saw in PAH could still be a carrier so can be highly contageous to other hamsters, so if you did rehome her, she would need to be isolated from your Chinese for a good few weeks in another room entirely and strict hygeine in place like washing hands and careful contact etc...

Did the person in PAH say if the hamster was still undergoing treatment or was that finished with? If she`s in the adoption part, that`s a good thing, but it also does`nt mean she`s healthy. I know someone on here who rehomed a little dwarf from PAH with a skin complaint and all they done was to apply tea tree cream and the wee thing needed further care from another vet after it had been taken home and has since died.

All I`m saying is, make sure this hamster is well before you decide to rehome her. It`s sad to think she is stuck in there looking for a better home, but do ask questions. Chances are she`s fine, but with wet tail, you can`t take any chances.

[alisont]

Hi thanks for the info - all useful. I know they say she has finished treatment - baytril but I still don't think she is 100%.

As much as I feel for her I don't think I can take the risk, due to having Dudley the Chinese hammy and Monty guinea in my room - Monty is elderly as in 6 and has a few dental concerns so can't risk it - know he is a guinea not a hammy but I'd still worry about infections or passing anything on. Can't risk little Dudley getting anything.

I could cope with having a hamster knowing it might develop further problems I'd be prepared to fund vets treatment and have had rescues who had been ill treated and only lived a few weeks with me then died - I was just happy they had had a few weeks knowing happy times!

My worry would be if he/she needed treatment as I'm out 8am - 5.30pm weekdays at work. Also I live with my parents so keep any animals in my room and there is a limit to what/who I can fit in there! So isolation would be an issue too, unless I can nab some space elsewhere.

I'll check later in the week see if she has found a home and will ask round friends in case anyone has room but would need an experienced hammy owner in case of further health problems.

[racinghamster]

I know what you mean about having the space and the time to care for another hamster, especially if they require treatment. If you knew she would be fine and free from this infection without endangering your other pets, the doubts would`nt be there so much. But having the space to accommodate another cage is always a concern. I have two large cages in my room at the moment and my syrian is residing in the main livingroom until I can keep him up here! This is what happens when you inherit a hamster you did`nt plan for!

[alisont]

My main concerns are space as I'd want a large cage for a syrian but the big concern is risking the health of my Chinese hammy Dudley and my guinea Monty - his health is not fantastic and would not want it getting any worse.

Also if this hammy needed meds in the future, which has to be a strong possibility then I'm out 9 hours a day sometimes longer - I'm ok with giving meds but would not expect my Mum to do it, not fair.

When I found Dudley left on a bench he came home with me and his cage is now on my large chair in my room - guinea cage is on the floor - unless I lose my dvd/sky box I'm out of cupboard space!

I do recall a time when I had loads of dwarf hammys and syrians as a child where our dining room was wall to wall with rotastacks/tanks and a huge gerbil house - we lost our dining room table to put cages on - parents not keen for a repeat of that now 20 + years on

Oh for a bigger house