very sick hamster with wet tail

[mikatelyn]

Smokey is just about 2 years old now.
He developed diarrhea a couple of days after I introduced a new pellet to him, Oxbow's essentials. I took it back out of his diet, and even hunted down all his hordes so he wouldn't have anymore, but his stools were still poorly formed.
So then I went and got him on antibiotics from the doc, and his diarrhea got even worse! He's lost so much weight, my poor little furball is just skin and bones. He's still so sweet though, and will come for cuddles, but he's really not eating anymore. I've been syringing in hamster-ade (3/4 tbsp sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, with 1 cup warm water). He'll drink that, and it slowed his weight loss a little, but he's sleeping all the time now.
A couple of times I thought maybe he was in pain because he would be sleeping standing up all hunched over, but then he'd wake up and stretch and ask to come out, so I'm not sure if he's in pain or not.
He messed all over his bedding, so I've been changing out the soiled stuff. Surprisingly, he doesn't seem to mind all that much.

He only ate a little bit of egg yolk- and he usually LOVES that! He usually loves walnuts and he won't eat that. I'm about to go get him some baby food to see if he'll have some of that.
I'm getting all teary eyed just reading what I've written. Objectively the prognosis doesn't sound very good does it?
Has anyone's hamster bounced back from this at 2 years old?
I can't get into the doc until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest, but I'm wondering if it's time to put Smokey to sleep? I just don't want my poor furball baby to suffer.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Amethyst_ice]

Hello

Sorry to hear about your little one.

If his tummy hasn't settled after returning to his usual mix then I would hazard the change in pellet wasn't the cause. Antibiotics can be harsh on the stomach at the best of times, let alone for an old hammie. Is he on baytril? Did the vet provide any pain relief like metacam?

It's hard to tell if a hammy is in pain, being prey animals they hide it well. Hunching and spiked up fur though do suggest they are uncomfortable.

You could try foods like chicken and rice, they are soft on the stomach. With age they may have teeth problems too which makes the harder food harder to eat.

They do generally have some muscle wastage with old age but with loose stools obviously dehydradion is the primary concern.

We can only speculate here im afraid and I'd go with your vets advice and also your gut as you know him best.

All the best to you both x

[Ria P]

I am so sorry to hear of Smokey's illness.
I understand how upset and emotional you must be because my Henry has been ill recently with an infection but bounced back after a course of antibiotics.
If the diarrhea doesn't improve by the time you see the vet then it may be kinder to help him on his way.
I would just make him as comfortable as possible and let him sleep.

[Pebbles82]

Hi. I'm sorry Smokey is having a difficult time. Diarrhoea is not necessarily wet tail. It may or may not be coincidental that he started with diarrhoea after the Oxbow (although it isn't a good food for hamsters - too much roughage) and it may be that this is a stage in him being in his twilight time. He is quite old at 2 years old. Any change of diet can cause diarrhoea as their digestive system adjusts (usually done gradually over a week or two for that reason).

But this does sound a bit more than a change of diet. Is there anything he does like eating or is he just not interested in eating? The diarrhoea will cause a big weight loss. Have you tried soaking his hamster mix so it's softened. Still put the hard mix out as usual but an extra bit in a small dish (eg a jar lid) and a little bit of boiled water poured on it to soften it. Leave it 10 mins or so to soften and cool down. He mind find softer food easier (and yes baby food as well).

I don't know if anyone's hamster has bounced back from diarrhoea at this age. It can make them go downhill quite quickly although you have tried treatments and remedies. Banana is a binder as well as egg yolk. You could maybe try him with a bit of banana.

Does he seem to be suffering in himself? Stretching sounds positive. Does he do normal things in the cage or use his wheel?

Did he finish the full course of antibiotics (yes they can affect the gut as well and it can be an idea to give probiotic at the same time). It is important that they get the fulll dose and finish the course as otherwise any bugs can proliferate once the antibiotic has been started (the bugs fight back and if the antibiotic is stopped too soon they can proliferate). Although I can understand if it was stopped because the diarrhoea got worse.

Another thing is they can lose control of their bowels when they are near the end of their life which can go on for some time- hence it might be coincidental.

I was going to suggest giving him daily probiotic in a bit of baby food (Benebac for small animals is good - the dosage is on the bottle.) For a Robo I think it worked out as an eighth of a quarter of a teaspoon! I had a quarter teaspoon measure, tipped that onto a plate in a circular pile and divided that into 8 segments. The eighth worked out as a "pinch" - ie what I could pinch between finger and thumb and I just mixed the power into a teaspoonful of baby food and put it out on the teaspoon.

But it depends how poorly you think he is.

[mikatelyn]

Thank you all for your replies.
I took him off of the antibiotics after 3 doses because he looked like he was getting stomach cramps with it. He didn't seem to be in any pain after that. He wouldn't take any of the baby food. He pouched a couple of peas last night, and I think he even nibbled a little bit on one of them.
He was still acting his sweet self, but increasingly weak, skinny, and less interested in food.
He came out for a drink a couple of times this morning, but by 11am he had crawled to a different, dark portion of the cage, was laying on his side, limp, and minimally responsive.
I held him for the next few hours. He would dream sometimes, and occasionally would his little legs would start going. I like to think he saw the rainbow bridge and was running towards it.
I told him I loved him, that he was the best hamster anyone could have ever had, and that it was ok to go.
Eventually, at 3:34pm today, my little furball baby became a furball angel.
I buried him in the garden and set up a little rock memorial for him.

I'm so thankful that I happened to have the day off from work today and got to be with him in his last hours.
I played with Smokey nearly daily for the last 20 months. He was the first thing I would go check on in the morning. I knew this day would come, but I had really hoped it would be further away.
I've been crying all day. I'm so glad he was in my life, but this really sucks now that he's gone. Rest in Peace, Smokey.

[Pebbles82]

I am so sorry. It was his time. I’m glad you were able to be there with him. Play well over the rainbow Bridge Smokey.

[Ria P]

I am so very sorry to hear of Smokey's passing. He left this world peacefully and in the comfort of your arms. He would have sensed your love in his last hours so he wouldn't have been scared.
It is very hard when they leave us but once the raw emotions of grief have faded the happy memories will live on.

[Petite]

I'm so sorry to hear that your little one has gone. What a blessing that you were there at the end and were able to hold him and give him comfort. Rest in peace, Smokey.

[mikatelyn]

Thank you all for your kind words. They are a comfort.
I miss my little Smokey dearly.

[Ilycaramel]

Rip smokey you will be mist! All the best from caramel Coco and candy