Scarlett is poorly and I'm running out of options

Katy13 · 11-02-2011, 04:48 PM

Hi everyone,

I posted a while ago that Scarlet was having very smelly, soft poos She is too old for wet tail. I was (sensibly) advised that, as she had been staying with my parents, she may have been eating differently so just to avoid fresh fruit and veg and hopefully it will clear. It hasn't. the vet first gave me a probiotic and we have now moved on to an antiobiotic and the probiotic.

She is a bit bloated

What could it be?

TIA x

Demecat · 11-02-2011, 05:08 PM

Since wet tail is a bacterial infection, any hamster can get it no matter what the age but it is more common in the young hamster.

Though to be honest, the bloating makes me wonder if it could be some kind of fluid on the organs (seen in kidney failure), a blockage of the bowel or a tumour.

racinghamster · 11-03-2011, 09:58 AM

Bloating and smelly/runny poo can be dietary related (i,e...eating the wrong types of food) sometimes, but given her age, it could be as Demecat suggested. Fluid build up or organ failure or tumour. Did your vet feel her tummy for anything suspicious?

Stick to feeding her strictly her dry mix and try adding dry oats and Buckwheat. Both easily found in Tesco`s or any healthfood shop. Both will help her digestion.

Also, when an animal is taking antibiotics, these will destroy good and bad bacteria, so probiotics (gut flora bacteria) are usually given after a course of antibiotics, not while the animal is on them for obvious reasons. Antibiotics themselves can cause runny poo.

Older animals can become more rounded in the abdomen as they age. I see this in mice a lot. I guess it`s the same for some hamsters aswell.

Is she otherwise eating/drinking plenty? Is she active when she`s awake in the late evenings?

suga · 11-03-2011, 10:54 AM

I would take her to the vet to get her checked over. Hope she is okay.

Vectis Hamstery · 11-04-2011, 09:32 AM

As Suga suggested, I would take her back to the vet as there are several things that could cause similar symptoms. Some things that the vet may find useful to know: how old is she? how long has she had diarrhoea? what food does she have? is she bright and her usual self, or ruffled/hunched/poorly? has she lost any weight?

I had a 17 month old hammy with diarrhoea which a sample showed to be a giardia infection (which doesn't respond to usual antibiotics). She then developed a food intolerance after treating this which settled with an exclusion diet (under vet supervision).

I hope your little lady feels better soon.

Katy13 · 11-04-2011, 11:45 AM

Thank you, you are all lovely.

She has been to the vet twice now, and will finish the antiobiotics tonight. The vet told me to give her antibiotics and the probiotics at the same time.

Im a bit unsure about the vet - they just don't seem to know what is what? May try another one.

Thanks ladies. She seems absolutely fine, she just smells to high heaven and I can't imagine she is particularly comfortable. poor baby.

Will keep you updated

x