Introduction
Whether you’re a first time hamster owner, or had a loveable friend for some time, you may have heard the term “wet tail” among forums, Facebook groups, or from other hamster owners, but what does it actually mean?
This guide covers everything you need to know about wet tail in hamsters including probable causes, ways to prevent it, and in unfortunate circumstances how to treat wet tail which most often requires veterinary help as quickly as possible.
Table of Contents
Summary: Wet tail in hamsters, also known as proliferative ileitis, is a serious form of diarrhea often caused by stress, unsanitary conditions, or exposure to sick hamsters, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea, wetness around the anus or tail, anger, dehydration, and other signs of distress, requiring prompt veterinary treatment with antibiotics to prevent potentially fatal outcomes within 48 hours of onset.
What is wet tail?
Wet tail is a form of diarrhea with the correct terminology labelled proliferative ileitis. Unfortunately it is one of the most common illnesses in domesticated hamsters in the UK, although this doesn’t mean it’s less impactful. Wet tail can be a serious and fatal condition if it is not treated correctly and promptly.
Also known as regional enteritis, wet tail is used to describe diarrhea or loose stools in hamsters which is where the term comes from. As hamsters continue to discharge diarrhea, it will stick to their tail causing it to be wet. But what are the causes of this common illness? Below we discuss wet tail in greater detail for you to better understand
What causes wet tail?
There isn’t actually that may causes to wet tail in hamsters than you may originally think. The most common causes to this illness are either stress, unsanitary conditions, or exposure to another sick hamster that already has wet tail. Below we highlight each cause in a little further detail to understand in more depth.
Stress
One of the greatest and most recorded causes of wet tail is stress which can be brought on due to a wide range of issues including being placed in a small environment, loud noises, rough handling, or sudden movement to name a few.
Wet tail is often observed in hamster pups (baby hamsters) due to moving environment between breeder, pet store, and their final home. In addition, a sudden change in diet or exposure to completely different surrounding can cause stress in your hamster and possibly lead to wet tail.
Unclean Environment
If a hamster spends time in unsanitary conditions it is more prone to suffer with wet tail. The added stress of a dirty cage or tank, alongside the changes that can cause stress are often key issues that can lead to your hamster suffering with wet tail.
Transferred from another hamster
Although wet tail is not contagious between humans and hamsters, the illness is highly contagious between hamsters. If you purchased or rescued your hamster from a cage or tank with other hamsters, there is a risk of wet tail if others had the illness. Always check your hamster when you take it home to ensure that it is active and healthy.
If you already have a hamster, ensure it is not placed with another and always ensure to clean your hands when handling multiple hamsters after each other to reduce the risk of spreading wet tail between them.
How do I know if my hamster has wet tail?
There are a wide range of symptoms of wet tail that are important to understand to notice if your hamster requires help. The most obvious sign that your hamster has wet tail is if they have diarrhoea or have wetness around their anus or tail. However, there are other tell tail signs that your hamster could be suffering with wet tail, below we highlight the main symptoms of wet tail.
Symptoms of hamster wet tail
- Anal prolapse
- Anger (unusual biting or nipping)
- Blood in their stood or around their anus
- Dehydration (or drinking significantly more water)
- Discomfort that’s clearly noticeable
- Excessive sleeping or time hidden away
- Folded ears
- Dull or hazy eyes
- Hunching their back
- Loss of appetite or being more lethargic
- Swollen or larger abdomen
It’s important to notice that there could be other symptoms of wet tail with your hamster. If you notice anything out of the ordinary that appears to be causing distress or discomfort we strongly advise seeking veterinary help or guidance.
How to cure wet tail
Unfortunately the only cure for wet tail is antibiotics which are available from your vet, for this reason it’s important to seek veterinary help as quickly as you can if you notice any symptoms of wet tail in your hamster as it can cause death in hamsters in as little as 48 hours from the first symptoms showing.
When to seek veterinary help
As highlighted, wet tail can cause death within 48 hours of symptoms first appearing, for this reason it is vital to seek veterinary help as quickly as possible if you believe your hamster is showing any sign of wet tail or any other illness.
Your local vet will assess your hamster and if it has wet tail they will prescribe antibiotics along with anti-diarrhoea medication to treat the illness. Because wet tail can also increase the likelihood of dehydration, your vet may also prescribe or provide intravenous liquids to get them back on the mend.
How to treat when home
When returning with your hamster after visiting a vet, it’s important to ensure that you offer the best care possible to increase the likelihood of survival. Ensure that your hamsters is isolated from any other hamsters and carry out increased cleaning of their cage or tank to prevent any reinfection. Ensure your hamster has adequate access to water, and keep them warm, clean, and nourished to increase their recovery.
Preventing wet tail
It’s important to focus on providing the best care possible for your hamster to lower the chances of wet tail, however, it may not always be possible to prevent, especially if purchasing your hamster from a big chain pet store as the hamster pup may have already suffered a large amount of stress and diet changes.
Although it is not possible to prevent wet tail completely, ensuring that you provide everything your hamster needs including a large enough cage or tank (minimum 100x50x50cm), regular spot cleaning and a healthy balance diet, you can greatly minimise the risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, wet tail is highly contagious between hamsters. It’s important to ensure you clean your hands between handling other hamsters and vital to house any hamster separately to reduce the risk of wet tail.
Hamsters can survive wet tail if you seek veterinary care as quickly as you notice symptoms as they could die within 48-72 hours if they do not receive antibiotics and care promptly.
Wet tail also known as proliferative ileitis is a term referring to diarrhoea in hamsters which causes a wet anus and/or tail.
The only known treatment for wet tail is antibiotics prescribed by a vet. It’s vital to seek veterinary care as soon as you notice symptoms of wet tail to greater the chances of your hamster surviving.
Symptoms of wet tail in hamsters includes unusual anger, dehydration, excessive sleeping, folded ears, dull or hazy eyes, hunching, loss of appetite, and a swollen abdomen. There may be other symptoms of the illness, therefore it’s important to seek a vet as soon as you notice there is something wrong with your hamster.