Lola and wet tail!!! Help!!!

Hetty · 09-09-2013, 01:18 PM

Oh god,
just as Lola is getting over her leg, I think she may have wet tail now!
Yesterday she was very lethargic and refused to eat. I noticed her using her wee corner alot.
Today, I had to wake her up to give her her milk, but found it very hard to do! She's been asleep all day and again weeing alot. She's also peeing alot in her bedding.
Now I took her out her cage, turned her over and her bum and tail are covered in poo! She's beside me now and wandering/limping around slowly.
She's not hunched up.
Her fur and eyes are bright.
She's slow and has a poo covered bum.
Her bum is nibbled raw
And she hasn't eaten ( I think) today.
I can't get to a vets till the morning. I've scrubbed her cage now, what else can I do!!!!!
Help!!!

souffle · 09-09-2013, 01:30 PM

You need to have her seen very soon. Is she still on any meds? It could be a reaction to the medication if so.
Is it definitely poo as sometimes a discharge from a womb infection can look like this. I don't think I'd risk trying to stress her with any bathing of the area until the vet has seen her. Is there any swelling of her tummy or leg at all. It could be that the leg limp is due to pressure of something wrong inside her tummy.
Keep her warm but not hot and offer food and water frequently. You may want to phone the vet and ask for advice? If there is any tissue hanging out her bottom then you must see a vet as this is very serious.
Sending healing vibes to her. x

caro317 · 09-09-2013, 01:35 PM

Oh no poor Lola! Try not to panic though, the main thing is getting her to the vet as soon as possible and you being stressed isn't helping her - although I know myself it's very difficult to stay calm

It could be a number of things but hopefully some antibiotics will clear her up as you've noticed it nice and early, if it is wet tail. Good luck and get well soon Lola x

Hetty · 09-09-2013, 02:37 PM

Okay, She's only on the steroids for her nose.... I can't see any diarrhoea in her sawdust or bedding...just all over her bum. Mercifully there's nothing, tissue or otherwise hanging out her rear. She's not squeaking or vocalising pain if I touch her. But she smells...
I don't want to poke at her nor am I going to bathe her rump.I really don't want her stressed anymore.
I have offered her her favourite nibbles, which she has pouched and stashed in her nest, I think that's a good sign, right? I have added more fluff to her nest and draped her habitat with a loose blanket ( I have left a area uncovered!) so as to keep her warm.
Souffle, I was thinking about that in regards her leg. I was wondering, if this is wet tail, how could she have gotten it? Isn't mainly an affliction of young hamsters and serious stress??? Or am I just generalising? Oh god, I hope she's alright. Back to the vets!

Hetty · 09-09-2013, 02:44 PM

I rang a different vets then the one she went to about her leg, cause they don't do emergency/out-of-hours service, except in a farming situation.
I just wanted some veterinary advice, but this guy was awful to me. Told me ''she's just an old hamster'', she'll be dead by the morning anyway if it is wet-tail and there is nothing I can do bar keep her warm and wait it out ( her death he meant). If she's still alive in the morning, bring her in and he'll put her to sleep if I want.
Lovely.

caro317 · 09-09-2013, 03:05 PM

Oh my word!! How awful! I'd be tempted to put in a complaint about that response, as wet tail can definitely be treated and it's pretty appalling anyone from a professional vet service would say that to you

Kirsty1987 · 09-09-2013, 03:20 PM

I would have gone mental if someone spoke to me like that on the phone make a complaint. If I was you I would try contacting another vet in your area. I really hope she is ok. You mention adding more fluff to her bed? Are you using fluff bedding? As that stuff is dangerous for hamsters x

Hetty · 09-09-2013, 03:23 PM

I am going to put in a complaint. I quite taken aback at him. I was panicking and he really didn't help.
I said that to him, about the antibiotics, but he just said bring her in and he'll see. NO WAY am I bringing Lola up to him!( which I said) To Tadhg, the very lovely rodent vet she will go in the morning.

Her nesting fluff is Trixie Hamster Wool. It's a browny colour, very thick and made from spun vegtable fibre. It's not ''fluff'' as in fluffy puffy stuff, and doesn't contain any cotton or wool/ animal fibres. It's just what I call it,''fluff''. The woman, whom I adopted Lola from, is a hammy breeder and recommended it to me. I've never seen Lola nibble on it or pouch it.

icklemunch · 09-09-2013, 03:23 PM

Hetty that is awful!!! What a nasty horrible person.

Really hope Lola is ok

souffle · 09-09-2013, 03:31 PM

That is dreadful. I'd contact the practice manager.
Wet tail is not really seen in older hamsters as you suspect though most people use it as a blanket term for all diarrhoea in hamsters so it may be that it is a stomach bug rather than wet tail.
The steroids could be the problem and affecting her system. It may be best to stop these till you see the vet again. I am again thinking there is something amiss inside - either a tumour or a womb infection. Womb infections also affect the bowel causing the diaorrhoea. A tumour pushing on her leg nerves may have been the cause of the limp.
I don't know but I hope your regular vet can see her and shed some light as well as give some relief. I hope things go well overnight and you get an early appointment xx