The wet tail (also called by the English term wet tail or with the more precise definition proliferative ileitis or transmissible ileal hyperplasia) is a bacterial infection that affects hamsters. This disease causes severe diarrhea and takes the name of "wet tail" precisely because of the soft and watery excrements that dirty the tail. Hamsters affected by this infection can suffer from severe dehydration due to diarrhea, which can even be fatal. It is important to know what you can do to increase the chances of your little rodent getting well.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Treating the Wet Tail
Step 1. Check for wet tail marks
The typical feature of this disorder is the humidity that forms around the hamster's tail - hence the name. However, this is more of a description than an actual diagnosis. In reality, what is called a "wet tail" can have several causes, but the result is the same: diarrhea and loss of fluids. Here are the signs to check:
- The tip of the tail and sometimes the abdomen are wet and matted.
- The wet area is dirty and gives off a bad smell due to excessive watery diarrhea.
- The coat is not groomed, it is dull and puckered.
- The eyes are sunken and dull.
- The hamster suffers from abdominal pain and may appear moody or aggressive.
- He shows signs of lethargy, hides and stays on the sidelines.
- He is irritable, has discomfort and assumes a hunched posture.
- The rectum is protruding due to exertion.
- Weight loss.
- Loss of interest in food and lack of energy.
Step 2. Eliminate fruits and vegetables from your diet
Before taking him to the vet, do not deprive him of all food, but only remove fruits and vegetables. The vet will give you other indications on the diet that the animal will have to follow, once examined. Dry food "solidifies" stool better than fruits and vegetables, while more watery foods can encourage diarrhea; therefore, by eliminating these foods from his diet, you can try to prevent further discharges.
Step 3. Isolate the diseased hamster
Wet tail infection can be contagious, so it's best to err on the side of caution; for this reason it may be necessary to separate the sick hamster from all the other specimens to prevent the disease from spreading. In any case, the little sufferer may prefer to be alone anyway, so by isolating him, you can reduce his stress levels. Consider asking a trusted friend to care for healthy hamsters during your infected rodent's recovery period so you can focus more on him. This also reduces stress for you and your hamster.
Step 4. Take your little friend to the vet
The doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics, as well as medications to stop the diarrhea. Avoid adding antibiotics to food and water; the hamster probably doesn't eat or drink anyway, so this would be an ineffective way of treating him. If you see him drinking, you don't have to discourage him by putting something weird tasting in the water. If your hamster is very sick, your vet can give him antibiotics with an injection to make sure he gets the correct dose.
Since these mammals are very small, it is difficult to get them diagnosed (blood and imaging). This makes it difficult for the veterinarian to be able to make a definitive diagnosis on the possible triggers of the disease
Step 5. Ask the vet to hydrate the hamster if necessary
If the animal is really very dehydrated, ask the doctor if he can give him an injection of saline solution under the skin. You can check if he is extremely dehydrated by pinching the skin on the back of his neck. If the skin is healthy and well hydrated it will immediately return to its natural position. If it takes more than 2 seconds for it to return to normal, you need to worry, as it could be dangerous dehydration.
Injection of saline solution does not always bring benefits as hoped, because absorption can be slow when the animal is sick
Step 6. Let the vet admit your small rodent if recommended
If your doctor is concerned about your hamster's health, follow their directions. He may ask you to leave the pet at the clinic so that staff can regularly administer fluids and give him additional doses of antibiotics by injection.
Step 7. Give your hamster his medication at home
If your vet doesn't recommend hospitalization, you need to be prepared to treat your pet at home with medication. Your vet may prescribe an antibiotic called Baytril to be taken by mouth. This is a very concentrated drug and the dose is usually one drop per day. Your vet may also recommend giving him a balanced electrolyte solution in drops (such as Lectade or Pedialyte) directly into his mouth to keep him hydrated. When giving the drug, you need to be very careful and gentle to avoid clogging the hamster's lungs.
- The best way to give him the electrolyte solution is to use a dropper. Squeeze a single drop of solution from the dropper and drop it on the hamster's lips.
- The surface tension of the solution caused by the fall allows it to be absorbed on the hamster's mouth, which will then dry it by licking it.
- If you can, give him the medicine every half hour or 1 hour.
Step 8. Keep the hamster warm
Small mammals such as hamsters have a large skin surface in relation to their volume, as a result, they can feel very cold easily when sick. The ideal environment for these rodents should be between 21 and 26.5 ° C.
Step 9. Reduce his stress
Experts believe wet tail is a stress-related disease, which is the last thing your little friend needs. Remove any distraction or anxiety from the room where your fluff is resting. This includes other hamsters, barking dogs, curious cats, lights, and any noisy agents.
- Excluding the fact of eliminating wet foods from his diet, do not change his usual foods, unless your vet specifically tells you to; this could be another cause for stress.
- Try not to move the hamster more than necessary, apart from veterinary visits and initial isolation; traveling is also a source of stress.
Step 10. Practice consistent and regular good hygiene throughout the nursing period
This is especially important if you have more than one hamster, as neglecting this can spread the infection.
- Always wash your hands before and after handling your hamster.
- Always keep everything clean, including the cage, drinking bottle, food bowl, and toys.
- Clean the cage every 2 to 3 days. If you try to clean it more often, you can cause additional stress, which is not good for its healing process.
Step 11. Be prepared for the possibility of having to make a difficult decision
Unfortunately, hamsters often don't respond well to therapy. So, if your little friend develops severe symptoms, you need to be prepared for the worst and know that there can be no improvement. The success rate for wet tail treatment is low, and if the hamster does not improve within 24 - 48 hours, then the odds are completely reduced. If, despite all your best efforts, your hamster continues to deteriorate, it may be necessary to consider putting your pet to sleep forever.
- Look for signs of dehydration (by lifting the scruff of the neck and checking how the skin returns to its original position), see if it does not act, if it does not react when you touch it or take it in your hand, if the diarrhea persists and if the smell always gets worse Moreover.
- If you start treatment, but the hamster's condition worsens, at least you will have given him a chance to recover. In this case, however, it may be more humane to end his suffering and "let it go".
Part 2 of 2: Knowing the Risk Factors
Step 1. Consider the breed of the hamster
Dwarf hamsters can suffer from severe diarrhea, but they don't get sick from wet tails. Long-haired Syrian hamsters, on the other hand, seem to be more prone to it. When getting a hamster, consult with the breeder or veterinarian about the specific breed's risks of contracting this disease.
Step 2. Monitor the juveniles
Those still puppies, between 3 and 8 weeks of age, seem particularly vulnerable to infection. This is likely due to their still developing immune systems and the fact that they are not yet able to fight bacteria. Studies have found that most of the bacteria most likely to cause wet tail fall into the Desulfovibrio genus.
Step 3. Don't handle newly weaned hamsters too much
It seems that the animals that are most easily affected by this infection are those weaned up to the age of 8 weeks. You must always give new hamsters time to adapt to the environment before picking them up too much, otherwise you risk putting too much stress on them, making it easier for the infection to develop.
- Give your new hamster at least a week to settle in before you start handling it often.
- It is also a good idea to isolate it during this time, as wet tail infection can incubate for 7 days before symptoms begin to appear.
Step 4. Watch out for gastrointestinal upset
Adult hamsters tend to develop symptoms when the balance of microorganisms in their intestines is disturbed. This can occur when a bacterium called clostridium takes over the gut, causing diarrhea and wet tail symptoms. Factors that can trigger the initial gastrointestinal upset include:
- Stress (for example, due to an overcrowded cage or fear of a predator such as a house cat).
- Power change.
- Some antibiotics taken by mouth for other diseases.
Step 5. Also consider other possible diseases of the animal
Gastrointestinal problems don't always stem from ailments such as stress or eating abnormalities, but they could be caused by an underlying condition. Diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome or bowel cancer can also be contributing factors to wet tail.
Warnings
- Disinfect everything the hamster touched during his illness before using it for another small rodent; this way you avoid spreading the infection. A safe, non-toxic disinfectant can be found at pet stores.
- Throw away anything that cannot be disinfected.
- Good hygiene practices are also helpful; exposure to wet tail could put humans at risk for campylobacteriosis, an infection that causes diarrhea (often bloody), abdominal pain, cramps, fever, and vomiting.
- Remember that hamsters can die from this infection! Take your specimen to the vet as soon as you notice the first symptoms; death can occur within 24 hours of the first signs appearing if the infection is not treated.
