HI I NEED ADVICE. THANKS X

[purplestar]

Hey, I decided to get a hamster a few weeks ago. I have since read posts on here and now would buy from breeders instead of pet shops. However, as I wansn't aware of the negative reputation of P@H (from numerous people when I searched on google), I bought a hamster from P@H a few weeks ago. I have kept hamsters when I was younger, and know a bit about wet tail (that it is life-threatening etc and brought on by stress, but I did not realise it was contagous.) I know that probably appears quite stupid to most of you reading this, but from someone who only ever kept one hamster as a child (I was always a gerbil owner and guinea pig owner), I just didn't realise. So I chose a hamster in the tank at P@H- he was in with another one. However, the other one had signs of wet tail (the lady serving me even showed me the other hamster and told me to look for those signs in mine). She told me she was taking that one straight to the vet. I asked her if there is any chance mine could have it and she told me it's NOT contagous and that it is caused by genetics, and imbalance in hormones and stress. So, taking her advice I bought the little guy. When I got home I googled it and obviously found it was contagous. So checked on him every day (which was awful as he was just so lethargic and i had to wake him up out of his little bed). Anyhow I noticed the wet tail the day he got it (even before he developed the diarrhoea). Took the little fella back and they offered me money back and that they would treat him and I could re-buy him. The people who served me told me I had been given incorrect advice and apologised. I got a phone call today and re-bought him today and got him home- his wet tail has definitely cleared up as I checked it, but i put him in his cage and he fell over twice. His front paws are fine as I saw him washing himself. He went straight in his house as he seems quite tired (he even fell asleep in his box on the way home). Now my question is- I don't want the wet tail to develop again due to stress so should I leave him in his house for a few days and just wait for him to come out on his own? or should I try to get him out to check him over? He's not squealing or anything so i don't think he is in any pain. Any ideas on what it could be? could it just be an injury to his foot if they have kept him in a wire cage? His balance was definitely fine before I took him back. My cage has no wire on the bottom. Also I would definitely keep him even if it is some genetic thing or w/e but I just think that if it was that it would have been present when I first bought him??? and he was DEFINITELY okay.....

(I have also disinfected the whole cage every inch of it with pet disinfectant twice.

[souffle]

Hi purplestar and welcome.
Poor wee hammy and I hear this story day in and day out
Although he now seems clear he is likely very weak and still suffering from the after effects of the medication and treatment he has received. He is also still a baby and they do need a lot of sleep like any baby. The wobbling could be due to several things including a small stroke, neurological damage due to side effects of medication or possibly just weakness. A week is not enough time for a full recovery to occur and he will take much longer to gain full health and normal function.
Now what to do...
I would recommend rest and quiet for a couple of days to start with. Don't take him out just yet but just talk gently, making sure you check for signs of the wet tail. Keep him on the same food he has been on and add ProC (probiotics for a healthy bowel) to the water (from P@H). If he seems good with normal poops in about a week you can start adding tiny bits of foods which will help build him up to the diet like tofu, egg, chicken, porridge, babyfood and teeny bits of fruit and veg. One at a time in in tiny amounts till you are sure they agree with him. Keep everything very even and routine and avoid any stress like hoovering round the cage and loud music for now. After a week start the taming routine. Look in the WIKI at out taming tips article. Take it slowly and calmly and remember he has been through a lot. He may never be normal in the bowel dept as bowel damage may have occured but you caught it early so it is hopefull.
Ask any questions on here and I hope he does well now. Good for you on taking him back.
What is his name and what colour is he?

[suga]

Hi welcome from me too. I hope that he continues to improve and that you have lots of good times to come. Its brilliant that you took him back! Enjoy the forum

[purplestar]

hey,

am going to type it out again!!

Thanks Souffle for the reply.....I just didn't want him to be in any pain. I think it's terrible that P@H gave me such awful advice. However, when I did take him back the guys I saw seemed to know their stuff- what it was caused by and what dose of Baytril to put him on. I bought him on the Tues, and checked him fully every day and he was fine. A thorough checking on the fri. Then on Sat he had a slight wet bum. he didn't have any diarrhoea- just one semi solid poop in his little house. The guys in the shop told me I'd caught it very early and that he will be fine- hopefully because I caught it early, there will be no lasting damage. They even told me they have a good success rate in treating wet tail if it is noticed early. He did a poop in the box but it was solid and was checked over at the vet so am hoping he continues to pull through!! He is a friendly little guy compared to the others in the shop (as they are never handled). Even when i bought him he had a lovely temperament. It won't bother me if he has had a stroke- i would never take the little guy back. He is also pretty tame now because he has had to be handled every day for his medications. He is brown, fluffy and pretty tubby!! Even when he was ill on the sat, i heard him waking up every hour to eat in his house!! P@H only had him since last sun so as you say, he is probably still recovering. I threw away his house (and replaced it with a coconut house) and threw away his chew sticks and drinking bottle and replaced it all just to make sure he doesn't catch it again. I just a few more ques- I have kept him on P@H food because that is what he is used to and he likes it a lot. However, I have seen on a forum that harry hamster is better- is this the case? Also, about P@H- all these complaints- is it mainly because of the breeders who supply them? The cages looked clean when I was in there and they are small cages, but there is a high turnover of animals in the one I was in....

[souffle]

Well I am glad to hear he seem to be pooping solid poos again. That is great.
It is not the store itself that is at fault but the supplier. Being such a massive breeder there will always be a proportion of animals who will become ill. I am sure that the animals are raised in good conditions actually as it would not be in their own interests to have ill animals. The main problem is caused by the lack of human contact which means that the babies are under a great deal of stress when they leave the supplier, then more stress in a big shop display and then again in a home move. Weaker animals will succomb to disease and as they are not particularly selective about breeding for health as a hobby breeder would be, looking more for attractive colours and patterns which appeal to the public than the most healthy robust individuals.
That is not to say that they are not lovely hamsters and lovely pets. With time and understanding they soon tame beautifully and make wonderful furry friends. They just do not get the best start in life. Most stores have caring and knowledgeable staff and if you are in any doubt you should ask to speak to the head of that department or the manager. You should also report any problems to their Customer services dept by e mail.
We do prefer Harry hamster food personally as it does contain a Prebiotic which feeds the bowel bacteria and maintains a healthy bowel. We have never had a case of wet tail when using Harry (fingers crossed) Most of our friends also use this food. If you wanted to change you need to make it very gradual and if he does not eat as well on it then probably best to stick to what he does eat rather than risk problems. I would keep a record of his weight and make sure he gradually grows.
Good to hear he is nice and tame already. This indicates he is less stressed. Is he still on the Baytril?
The coconot house may get a little small for him soon so watch the size of it. They are also a bit hard to clean if they wee in bed
So what do you call him? He sounds like a long hair if he is fluffy and maybe a Golden?

[Emmurz]

It seems to be that a lot of people have had bad expierences when buying little hammies from P@H.
I bought my Chomp from ourclosest P@H store but I think he's alright, he's not shown any signs of wet-tail and doesnt mind being handled all that much.
Gee, I do hope he'll be okay.
Good luck in nursing your little guy back to full health! ~