How does wet tail look like?

marisse_redblossom · 04-19-2010, 04:02 AM

My hamster's fur is wet

So I'm not sure if she has wet tail, or she just slept on her pee. But her poops are all formed.

So how would I know if that's diarrhea or not?

Thank you so much

helenp · 04-19-2010, 04:39 AM

I am not too sure what it looks like so can't really help, but my little ones often have wet bums where they have either sat in their wee or in their water (some have little water bowls to catch the drips from the bottle).

**Hope** · 04-19-2010, 04:41 AM

Is she wet underneath and around her back end? If she is wet on her back and top it maybe that she has taken to sleeping under her water bottle? Could it be this? It is not usual for hamsters hamsters to sleep in their wee, this could indicate another problem. As she has not moved out of bed to pee annd come back again. Have you had her out and checked her over? Is she eating and drinking and acting as she usually would?

souffle · 04-19-2010, 06:19 AM

Wet tail looks like bad diaorrhoea and smells pretty bad. A hammy with wet tail is usually pretty ill and hunched up and not eating and drinking.
There are a few things that can make them look wet. It she is sleeping in an enclosed house or a tube then condensation can build up and wet the hamster. Remove tubes and houses and just give a bundle of bedding under a log bridge or even in a cardboad box with holes cut in it.
As mentioned she may be sleeping under or chewing the water bottle and getting wet. Keep moving bedding away from this till she gets the hint.
Babies often wee in their wheel and then run in it and have a pee shower. Wash it daily if she does.
Is it on her back? Have you greased the wheel and it has rubbed on to her coat? If so she needs a bigger wheel.
If it is indeed diaorrhoea the you must see a vet asap for treament.
Hope there is a simple answer and welcome to the forum.

marisse_redblossom · 04-22-2010, 03:55 AM

Thank you so much for all your very well-explained answers!

I found of that she had just sat on wee because she's in enclosed house in the cage. She only looked weak because it wasn't night enough yet for her to be fully awake. I felt so relieved.
Thanks to all of you again for your help!

**Hope** · 04-22-2010, 04:00 AM

Good to hear that all is ok, maybe a house without a base would be better for her, or try putting some absorbent bedding in the house to try and mop up some of the wee. Glad that it was nothing too serious.

annie81 · 04-22-2010, 05:27 AM

thank god its a simple explanation