wet tail

[Skwee]

ok, i am now even more sure its not wet tail, he has too much energy, not hunched up etc and still alive and biting hard for wet tail.



however if it is coccidia im totally screwed. theres no way i can spend the next however long without touching a cat/dog/another hamster/guinea pig and almost as bad... im at risk myself. simply because i have no idea which type it is.



this is so crazy and way out of control



Skwee is running in circles, has been for ages. theres been blood in his diarrhoea too....

[Skwee]

not to mention my dad is absolutely seething... im never going to be allowed a hamster again... let alone get the hamstery i have always dreamed of to start showing.



if my dreams cant happen? whats the point any more?

[Pendragon]

Originally Posted by Skwee

however if it is coccidia im totally screwed. theres no way i can spend the next however long without touching a cat/dog/another hamster/guinea pig and almost as bad... im at risk myself. simply because i have no idea which type it is.

Wait... you haven't read what I wrote. Coccidiosis as far as I am aware is species specific.



You don't know what he's got so don't go mental!



Giardia is something that's in the environment and only if the parasite multiplies does it cause a problem. It's not incredibly contagious... most people's and animals' imune systems cope with it. Don't quote me but I have a feeling it's present in tap water and is legally allowed to be there if under a certain number per gallon (or whatever). Most common sources of infection in dogs & cats are from wild birds or drinking stagnant rainwater.

theres been blood in his diarrhoea too....

Get thee to a vet with him tomorrow. Blood in faeces is not good. Mention things like coccidiosis and giardia and see what the reaction is - if it's not responding to antibiotics, they might agree to try something like Flagyl (Metronidazole), if it is suitable for hamsters. I don't know if Panacur can be used in hamsters but that's another treatment for it - probably would be off-label use, but I've heard of it being used in rabbits for E. cuniculi.



When my (indoor) cat had Giardia she was nursing kittens, but ate well and remained lively and healthy otherwise, and raised her kittens perfectly, even put on weight, despite disgusting smelly diarrhoea for 4 weeks! The vet tried all manner of antibiotics and none worked, until finally one of the kittens went down with it as well and a different vet prescribed Flagyl for them all. It cleared up within 2 days (and I could take the clothespeg off my nose!).

[Skwee]

^^ ignore me what i said.



im the one who is ill. paranoid.



skwee is ill. i know no more.

[souffle]

Always look on the bright side Skwee. Follow your vets instructions. They have examined your hamster, cross your fingers toes and everything else and hope for the best. If the worst comes to the worst you will know you tried your best and your little one knows that too.

[i-love-paddy]

How is Skwee Gemma? Please let us know x

[Skwee]

he's.... still biting hard



no better no worse.



its sad because he is sooooo hyperactive, he really wants to run and run and run in his wheel like he always does at this time but he just doesnt have the energy, he keeps trying to escape but when or if he does escape (or i let him out and he thinks he has) he just collapses in a heap exhausted





he's still having to be force fed and forced to drink water

[Skwee]

Better news!!!



He's up, hes running in his wheel, he has eaten a load and all on his own and hard food not mush!! he's dissing in his sand and having a good wash now



He is still on Baytril but yesterday morning i stopped giving him the probiotic to see if it was something in his gut that happened to like his gut.. and pro biotic making it better for whatever is there...



24 hours later (well... less) and he has done a complete U-Turn and is looking really good and hasnt lost more weight!

[Pendragon]

Great news! Go Skwee!



Incidentally I emailed someone I know online, who is a veterinary student at Glasgow Uni and specialising in hamsters, about coccidiosis etc.



Here's the reply I received:

Hams DO get coccidia, some are more species specific but not all and they

can be zoonotic. They also respond to some antibiotics. I hope this lady's

vet is aware of it (its not an obscure fact but one of the main causes of

GIT infections in hams)



I would actually advise her to go with the fluids, antibiotics and any

dietary suppelements/prebiotics/probiotics her vet can offer.



Sadly, it MAY be wet tail as the necrosis and intussuceptions can cause

bleeding.



The prognosis is what we are told to describe as "guarded" however....



I'm sorry I cant offer some miracle suggestions for this, GIT upsets in hams

are just not good basically due to their rapid onset, the animals small size

and the limited availability of suitable antibiotics. Only enroflaxacin

(Baytril) is licensed in hams in the UK and although it is a very, very

good, modern, wide spectrum anitbiotic it may not always do the trick.



Hope this helps!

[Skwee]

thank you it helped and im specially happy that Skwee is now looking a heck of a lot better!! there was only a tiny bit of bllod once maybe twice, enough to make me worry but that was yesterday and its normal and even slightly less watery today!