Does this sound like wet tail?

If you have a weak stomach or are eating right now, you might want to read this later.

One of my hamsters, Hailey, who was born in November, is having some difficulty. She was slowly getting fatter and fatter. She has never been around other males so I knew she wasn't pregnant. Every time my little girl picked her up, she would say that Hailey peed all over herself. The first two times, I said, well, put her back and wash your hands. After the third time she said that, I thought, wait a minute. She can't have pee on her every time Bri picks her up. So I picked up Hailey, flipped her over and looked at her. Well, around her vaginal/anal area was yellow, dry, crusty who knows what. I cleaned it off with some water and cotton balls. A couple hours later my husband and I went up. She had dried, hard poop stuck so my husband cleaned it off. We thought, all right, she's constipated and it's working its way through. Her stomach did go down some but it's still large and hard. I think she's also in pain because yesterday she bit my daughter and mother, which she has never done before. Today when I picked her up to check on her, it was the same dry, crusty, yellow color. I cleaned her off and as I was wiping her, liquidy poop was coming out of her. So now I don't know what to think. I have always heard of wet tail but I thought there was diarrhea involved, which Hailey has not had. She had constipation. I also thought that with wet tail there was weight loss. Hailey doesn't have that either. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

I have no idea, Beth. Do you have a small animal vet in your area that you could call to ask? Or call a trustworthy pet store that might have some medication to treat her.

From what I know about wet tail, it doesn't sound like it, but remember that I don't know a lot! My hamsters have never had that problem, but I think I'd check it out, just in case. Something is going on for sure with her. :(

Hope you can figure it out, and soon. She has to be uncomfortable.

Logan

When my hammie had wet tail he went thin. I think you should really go to the vets, right away.

Let us know.

Well, we have no local vets who will treat a hamster. I went to our only pet store and all they have is something for wet tail. Some of my co-workers think that I should "put her out of her misery" but I can't do that. I can't take a life. While she's "just a hamster" she is still a living, breathing thing and I can't do that. I'll keep cleaning her off with the wet cotton ball and water and hope that we can make some progress that way. I prayed last night that if she was in pain and discomfort that God would take her so that she wouldn't suffer. So far she's still here. I'll keep you all informed.

It does not sound like wet tail to me, but I do not know. What you are doing now will probably help some. I would also recommed researching diseases of hamsters. I hope that she gets better soon. Hugs from me and Sam.

I found this website on Hamster Diseases but I don't know how helpful it will be. I'll keep looking though. Hope the little guy will be ok.

Here's another site that not only looks cute, but has some links that may be helpful - Rebecca's Hamster Page Sure hope there's something helpful here somewhere.

Poor Hammie:( I just recently heard of wet tail after researching guinea pig diseases. What you describe doesn't sound like it to me. The sites Tubby and Peanut's Mom posted should be helpful. Prayers for dear little Hailey.

I tried all that I could with Hailey but I am not a Vet. I prayed that God would end her suffering and He has. I am thankful that she is no longer in pain but it hurts losing her. :(
We went up to the campground visiting relatives tonight. We came home about 8:55. We went up to Bri's room to get ready for bed. We did the usual running to Hailey's cage to check on her. Usually Bri says, Is she still breathing? I say, Yeah. She says, Oh, Thank you, God. Tonight Bri said, Is she still breathing? I said, Yeah. Then I looked at how she was breathing. I scooped her up and she was dying. I told Bri that she's still breathing but I think it's time for us to say good-bye to her. We said our good-byes and I held her in my hand until she died. It's not a happy night. :(

Thank you, Tubby and Peanut's Mom. I had done a lot of research on this before posting here. I was actually on those sites and couldn't find anything that sounded like what Hailey had. I'm wondering if she had a blockage or something. I don't know. I'll never know. :(

So sorry to hear that Hailey passed away. You gave her a good life. My sympathy to your family.

Im so sorry to hear that she passed away.:( At least it ended her pain and suffering.

I'm so sorry, Beth, that you lost your hamster. :( I have been through that whole episode more times than I would like to think about. It is hard enough on us, as adults, but for the children, even worse. And we hurt worse because they are hurting.

I will keep you and your daughter in my prayers.

Logan

Quote:

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Originally posted by Logan
It is hard enough on us, as adults, but for the children, even worse. And we hurt worse because they are hurting.

Logan

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Oh, tell me about it. I was holding Hailey telling Hailey to let go, to stop fighting, and listening to my little girl screaming no, I don't want her to go. Five year olds just don't understand. I don't know what hurt worse, seeing Hailey die or seeing my girl in that much pain. But things are going okay for us. My little girl will occasionally ask why Hailey had to die and I explain it to her. As time goes on, she will ask less often and the pain will subside.

Thank you to everyone for keeping us in their thoughts and prayers.