2 yr old Syrian Hamster has wet tail

michellemay74 · 04-19-2012, 03:54 AM

Hi, I've got a 2 year old syrian hamster (people who had her previously said that they were allergic to sawdust....

). So I brought her home with me, as I knew no one else would want a 2 year old hamster. Poppy has got diarreah. She had this before I got her from pet shop and she was on antibiotics and got better. She's been doing fine over the past 10 ten days, then 2 days ago, she got diarreah again. I'd been feeding her with the normal hamster food, plus fruit and veg - but I guess this was too much for her poor belly to take. Took Poppy to the vets last night and they've prescribed 0.04ml of Baytril once a day. Gave Poppy some last night and then again this morning. She's very weak and shaky. I knew when I bought her that she could get the diarreah again and she might not have that long. I just don't want her to be in pain, so my question is, how long should it take to start seeing some change, if any and do you think she could be in pain? Many thanks for any advice that you can give. Michelle

souffle · 04-19-2012, 04:11 AM

I'm so sorry to hear Poppy is ill. Most people would have passed her by at 2 years of age so you did great to take her on. This really is a good age for a hamster to be honest and it may be that things inside her are just not as they should be anymore. Her immune system will also be weaker making it hard for her to fight off problems.
I would say it takes 3 days for the meds to kick in and if you don't get any improvement at that point it may be that she is not responding or there is another cause at the root of the problem which the meds cannot cure or the bowel has been damaged beyond repair.
Females can get womb infections which are very serious and can also cause the diahorroea. She may have a tumour higher up in the tummy or reproductive tract. Is her tummy swollen or bloated at all? Has she lost weight or drinking a lot?
For now keep her warm and hydrated and also feed a little teaspoon of live yogurt to see if that will help her tummy.
I am glad she has you to care for her and if it comes to making a decision then you know her best and will know in your heart the right ay forward.
Welcome to Hamster Central x

michellemay74 · 04-19-2012, 05:21 AM

Thanks so much Souffle, I've just given her a little Manuka honey and will try the live yoghurt too. She's just really wobbly and losing her balance and when I touch her, she rolls onto her side - is this a sign of pain? I keep changing her bedding and cleaning her bottom. The pet shop said not to give her fruit and veg, which I didn't do until the diarreah went, but then she was getting better, I gave her a little bit. It's so frustrating, because she was running around the front room last Sunday and climbing on the sofa - this is why I don't want to give up on her.

The vet has given me some Baytril and I'm to give her 0.04ml once a day, is this enough? I know she was on antibiotics before, I'm not sure which one, but she was on 0.05ml twice a day. I obviously don't want to be selfish and keep her alive to make me feel better, but if she got over the diarreah before, she could do again...?

Many thanks for your advice x

Charley101 · 04-19-2012, 05:46 AM

My thoughts are with you hun x

michellemay74 · 04-19-2012, 06:21 AM

I've just changed her bedding again and whilst I was doing that I put her in her run and she had some natural yoghurt and drank some water, which is a good sign. When she walks though, she is very hunched up... is this a sign of pain?

michellemay74 · 04-20-2012, 02:38 AM

Had to have Poppy put to sleep this morning. She was getting weaker and weaker and was all hunched up and just walking around and falling over. I've only had the little angel for 10 days and I'm heartbroken

God knows what I'm going to be like when Bella (hamster) and Sammi Jo (gerbil) go.

At least Poppy had a good few days with me last week and was running around the front room jumping up on the sofa. I guess she wouldn't have had that if she was stuck in a pet shop. I've just cleaned her up and closed her eyes. She's wrapped up in kitchen roll and I will bury her tomorrow. I will get a nice rose to go on top of her.

Can anyone give any suggestions with regard to a book about looking after Hamsters, i.e. "Everything you need to know about Hamsters". I just want to make sure I'm giving my Bella the right food.

Rest in peace pretty Poppy xxxx

Nush · 04-20-2012, 03:05 AM

Oh that sounds awful but you did the right thing by her. You gave her a home when no one else would and you took care of her. That counts for a lot.

RIP Poppy.

Mona's Humans · 04-20-2012, 04:20 AM

I'm sorry to hear this, and i'm glad she spent her last days with you, and not at the pet shop

There is a lot of information on the Wiki (top left) section of this site, but if you still wanted to purchase a book, i find this one the best, and i know a lot of other users here swear by it too.

Run free at Rainbow Bridge little Poppy x