Due to my nervousness...

Mikayla · 09-05-2011, 08:40 AM

I'm getting a new hamster today (I'm so excited!) and it will be from a petshop (there's no other places

), but I am so nervous about it getting wet-tail. Is there a way to prevent it? Like giving it acidophilus or something like that?

I'm so nervous and excited! The last time I've seen a syrian was something like two years ago, and the last time I owned one was four or five! eeek!

louisbs · 09-05-2011, 08:46 AM

First thing id do if wet tail is really worrying you.. give the new little one some good time to settle in.

Jayden · 09-05-2011, 09:07 AM

Only one of my hamsters which i bought from a pet shop got wet tail and it came on very suddenly and agressivly, despite the fact that i left her alone to settle in like all my other hamsters. However i think she was already ill when we got her because when we put her in her cage she didn't move much and wasen't really that active at all. :/

I'm sure you already know this but just look for a ham which is alert and active and looks nice and healthy.

Mikayla · 09-08-2011, 05:28 PM

Since I didn't get my ham that day (Two weeks from Tuesday at 11:00 SHARP!

) I'm just clarifying, there really is no way to PREVENT wet-tail, is there?

Tammanae · 09-08-2011, 05:36 PM

I have gotten most of my hams from pet stores (although these pet stores have breeder supplied hams, so I don't know how much that counts) and none of them have ever had wet tail. However, to my understanding, there is no way to prevent it. Just avoid giving your new hamster lettuce or anything that is too concentrated in water while she/he gets used to its new surroundings, and as the others said, look for a healthy looking one from the bunch, and you should be safe. I hope everything goes alright when you get your new hammie. ^^

If there is a way to avoid wet tail, I am not knowledgeable of it, but I would definitely like to hear of it if there is a method of avoidance.

Mikayla · 09-08-2011, 05:38 PM

I'm still learning about hamsters, but sometimes other rodents get adicophilus to balance their digestive track, but I'm not sure about the safety of it.

Tammanae · 09-08-2011, 05:46 PM

I have read that acidophilus doesn't help the prevention of wet tail in hamsters, but this information could be wrong, so if someone knows of it working, I am certain they will let you know. As for whether it is harmful to hams or not, I have not read anything leaning towards either direction, as I normally see it being left at 'not preventing'.

Mikayla · 09-08-2011, 06:19 PM

That was my best guess, so I guesss just being patient is the best prevention *sigh* I'm a worrier. It'll be the first time the baby will have ever been away from it's mom or siblings.