Not wet tail?

LavoChain · 03-13-2013, 08:38 AM

Hi guys,

Following on from my thread about Clio I need some advice. My vet is a great man who is brilliant with cats, dogs, rabbits. I was lead to believe that he was also very desirable in the way of small animals, this I really doubt and I'm starting to have my reservations about him.

Clio has all of a sudden become very nervous, a bit lethargic and has some slight matting around her bum. I took her to the vet and all he did was pick her up and exclaim 'yes, that's wet tail'. To the eye it may seem as such however the matting is totally dry and has been for days, there is no sign of diarrhea anywhere and she actually has been doing solid black poos like usual. I'm starting to think it could be something else that's making her feel poorly, she seems quite nervy around any sounds and I'm wondering if she's having problems with her eyes?

I really can't see how wet tail could produce no diarrhea and the hamster could still be having normal bowel movements. He has given her an injection of baytril and wants to give her another on Thursday, no mention of diarrhea medications or a probiotic. I've found a vet in Cheshire that has a very well qualified exotic animal vet at their Holmes chapel practice, I'm considering moving as I know something is up with Clio but I can't see my current vet doing any tests, I don't think he'd know where to start.

shiny · 03-13-2013, 08:47 AM

An exotics vet is a good idea if you're not sure. You can always give a probiotic anyway with antibiotics if you think it's a good thing. Might just be worth checking with the vet anyway. We use Bio-Lapis for our guineas & I think you can use it in hamsters too, it tastes yummy according to the guineas

csockman · 03-13-2013, 08:59 AM

100% agree with Shiny.

Knowledge is power LavoChain, and you demonstrated that in your post IMHO. The interesting thing to note in this case is that even though it may not be classic Wet-Tail, the treatment may end up being antibiotics with a probiotic. Probably not administered SQ but orally twice a day.

If this were me, I would take my ham to this second vet if you have confirmation from other people like yourself that this vet is good with hams, has a good reputation in the community, etc.

Will this other practice let you talk to their exotics vet for a few minutes? I am not suggesting that you ask for free medical advice, just whether or not this vet thinks their approach would be different. If the answer is "yes", then off I would go to this new vet.

souffle · 03-13-2013, 09:00 AM

Does she have any discharge at all? Is her tummy swollen or does it seem firm to touch? If you press near her vent is there any discharge like yellow or brown stuff oosing out? Is she drinking more than usual?
It could be a pyometra or womb infection. This can also cause diaorrhoea but the fact she has matted stuff round her rear seems to indicate there is a discharge from somewhere and it is not wet tail. If it is this and he gave antibiotics then that will also help get her fitter to stand and operation if she did need to be spayed for a pyometra.
Other things to consider might be a kidney of bladder condition causing her to have smelly urine or a bowel tumour that is maybe bleeding a bit. I'd get another opinion.

csockman · 03-13-2013, 09:11 AM

souffle makes excellent points... and it reminded me to include my interview questions list for prospective ham vets. It would be a good idea to know if this other vet can do hamster spays in case she needs to have one down the road.

Finding A Veterinarian Knowledgeable About Hamsters

01 Selecting a Veterinarian - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!

LavoChain · 03-13-2013, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

Does she have any discharge at all? Is her tummy swollen or does it seem firm to touch? If you press near her vent is there any discharge like yellow or brown stuff oosing out? Is she drinking more than usual?
It could be a pyometra or womb infection. This can also cause diaorrhoea but the fact she has matted stuff round her rear seems to indicate there is a discharge from somewhere and it is not wet tail. If it is this and he gave antibiotics then that will also help get her fitter to stand and operation if she did need to be spayed for a pyometra.
Other things to consider might be a kidney of bladder condition causing her to have smelly urine or a bowel tumour that is maybe bleeding a bit. I'd get another opinion.

I'm really glad you've posted this as I were actually thinking the other day about womb infections and the like. Her tummy seems more bloated than usual and I had noticed some yellow creamy looking discharge the other day, it definitely were not diarrhea as I checked her bum afterwards and all was clear. As I've said the area has been dry for days, this may indicate she's had diarrhea in the past but as far as I'm aware she has not had any since. Wet tail is severe diarrhea and I'm sure I'd notice it, she isn't wet at all.

I'm going to email this vets and ask her level experience with hamsters ect. With me having the rescue now I really need an experienced vet. I know that I'm not an expert but I had the awful feeling that I knew more than our current vet and that never fills you with confidence. As far as I'm aware he also won't operate on animals smaller than rabbits, I'm fairly sure that I'll be moving vets. PTS is not the first port of call in my eyes.

LavoChain · 03-13-2013, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csockman

souffle makes excellent points... and it reminded me to include my interview questions list for prospective ham vets. It would be a good idea to know if this other vet can do hamster spays in case she needs to have one down the road.

Finding A Veterinarian Knowledgeable About Hamsters

01 Selecting a Veterinarian - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!

Thank you for the links, they're very helpful. I'll bare those points in mind whilst I write my email and will express a desire to have a quick chat on the phone with her. As far as I can see on the website she is very qualified, she has worked all over England as well as in Canada and has always specialised in exotic mammals and reptiles.

I hope that she turns out to be as good as her write up is. It is a bit of a travel but very doable, even in emergencies.

racinghamster · 03-13-2013, 09:34 AM

Just wanted to say hope Clio is okay Lavo and like all good small animal people, you are using your own instinct here rather than just being fobbed off. Sometimes we need to take charge rather than just be polite and take the vets word. The other members have probably given you better advice on this anyway!

Good luck. x

souffle · 03-13-2013, 09:39 AM

If you have seen a bit of discharge and her tummy is bloated even a bit then she needs to be seen again. A scan can show if there is any pus in the womb and if there is the next action would be to consider a spay depending on how the vet felt she would fare on an operation. Sometimes there is little discharge if the pyo is closed and the pus and toxins build up inside and make the hammy feel very poorly.
There is also a drug called Galastop which has been used to treat a pyo which can give remission for a good while if the hamster is not fit for an op. Vectis may be able to help advise on this.
Time is of the essence if you think she has a pyo as the stronger the ham is before the op the better chance she has so I would get her seen as soon as you can. Pyo also usually has an 'odd' unpleasant smell that is not at all like the normal cyclic smell of a female.

Minnie · 03-13-2013, 12:47 PM

Hi

Souffle echoes my thoughts exactly on this. I have had two hammies with pyo. One was too old to operate on and unfortunately passed away. The other was spayed and lived for at least another year.

One thing to be mindful of when giving probiotics is to give them at least 12 hours after you have given the antibiotics otherwise you are just undoing the work of the antibiotic which is having to fight the probiotic as well as any infection thus potentially lessening the power of the antibiotic against the infection. IMHO leave the probiotics until you've finished the course of antibiotics.

Good luck