Help me with my new hamster!

Hi buddy2007!

You asked the right person- I’ve had a hamster named Zippy for 2 years in March. He’s my little buddy.

In young hamsters, especially after enduring stress (such as moving to a new home), there is a condition called “Wet Tail” that they can contract. It’s basically a digestive disease that is often deadly, unfortunately.

Here are the symptoms:

Hamsters with wet tail are generally lethargic with a loss of appetite and generally stop grooming. They have a very fluid diarrhea, and develop a wet, soiled and matted area around the anus and tail. The diarrhea causes them to become dehydrated, so their eyes may appear dull and sunken. They may sit “hunched up” and be irritable because of the abdominal discomfort. In serious cases, blood may be seen in the diarrhea or around the anus, and/or the rectum may protrude out of the anus because of the constant straining.

If his eyes are bright and he does not have diarrhea, his tail and dirty butt could just be from his young age and lack of grooming skills.

However, wet tail is lethal if untreated for 24 hours after the symptoms begin. It kills with a quickness because the hamster gets dehydrated. Your vet would need to prescribe antibiotics and you’d have to feed him water with a baby dropper.

If he starts to act lethargic, irritable, or has persistent diarrhea, take him to the vet ASAP.

Good luck.

(Here’s a picture of my hamster, Zippy).