How to Cure Wet Tail in Hamsters

I recently purchased what I thought was a healthy hamster from Pet Supplies Plus in Akron. I noticed something was wrong though because all the way home she screamed, cried, and growled. I have had many hamsters in my time, and never once experienced that.

After getting her home and happy in her house, I noticed something was wrong. She was becoming lifeless, and one morning I noticed puss in her eyes. It was only near the fifth day of me having her did I discover it was Wet Tail. Still not sure, I took the hamster back to Pet Supplies Plus. Thankfully, the receipt said within 7 days for a full refund. They took her lifeless near death body away, and told me I wasn't permitted another hamster because all their hamsters had been infected, and were being treated for Wet Tail. I still didn't know much about this condition and went back home to clean up the cage. Well what the store didn't even bother to tell me, when I shared how I had another hamster was, if one hamster has Wet Tail all the rest in the house do too.

I kept a close eye on my other hamster still unaware as to what was going on, until one morning, I picked up my hamster to discover diarrhea. I was so mad! Pet Supplies Plus was about to kill my healthily happy almost one year old hamster. I got on the internet and made some calls. Searching for a cure, any sign of hope. Full of distress, not sleeping or eating I took care of my hamster the only way I knew how, and after 3 days of torment for her and I both. I cured Wet Tail, and here's how along with tips to not get infected again.

The very minute you notice signs of your hamster having Wet Tail, you need to take action. The action I took didn't really take effect till the second day of my hamsters' infection. Because I choose at first to do everything naturally. Acidoliphus, honey, water and tons of love was not the cure. So if you missed one day, it's ok there still is hope. But remember, if you don't take care of yourself, who will take care of your pet.

You will need, Pedialyte found in the baby isle of any grocery store, preferably unflavored. I don't know if you ever tasted Pedialyte but it's nasty, so take it easy on your already sick hamster and get the unflavored. You will need a dropper to make sure your hamster takes it. You need plenty of water too. Be careful to not give your hamster too much Pedialyte. You only want to give your hamster enough to replace the vitamins lost due to diarrhea. Mix 50/50 Pedialyte and water.

You may also need to use Pepto Bismol, which was recommended to me by a vet. Yes it may sound crazy, but I watered it down, and it also wasn't maximum strength. You don't want to block your hamster, you want to slow it down, and I only gave her 1 drop every 9 hours or so.

Every hour I would pick up my hamster and give her water, clean her bottom and clean her bedding. Hamsters will eat their poop, do not let them! You need to make sure they stay clean and as dry as possible.

The most important factor in the cure to wet tail is: Tetracycline. I used Maracyn - TC which is fish medication, and can be found in the fish isle for anywhere between $4 to $6. Do not purchase the liquid but the powder. Mix enough Tetracycline in the water that the water turns yellow. The first dosing of this product is the most important. You want to make sure your hamster gets enough in their system to start kicking the bacteria's butt once and for all. So don't worry if the water is too yellow, just make sure it's well dissolved. You can lessen the Tetracycline as the days progress. You can add Tetracycline to a bowl of water, and making sure it dissolves, and use a dropper to place it in your hamster's mouth. Do this about every hour for 3 hours. Then fill your hamster's water bottle with water, and some of the Tetracycline powder. Be sure the water bottle is out of the sun. Change the water bottle every other day with fresh water, and fresh Tetracycline powder for 10 FULL days.

A word of warning, your hamster is in a heck of a lot of pain. Be gentle, now more then ever. Speak softly, try not to touch them too much. My hamster who has never bit anyone, who sleeps on me and lets me kiss her and even bath her, got to the point where she wanted to bite me but didn't. She was so thin after this process I was still scared she was going to die.

I read plenty of bad things about Dry Tail medicine and wasn't about to purchase it when there was better methods of cures for hamsters out there. I also don't recommend Dry Tail for anyone because it does kill the good bacteria in the bowel which can end up killing your hamster. The method described in this article will cure, not kill your hamster.

In the process of ALL of this, yes there is still even more you must do. You must fully and completely clean everything in their cage. Do not just use water, but diluted bleach too. Any chew toys will need to be thrown away. Think of it as a human with the flu, how everything needs to be cleaned. I went overboard and cleaned my hamster's cage daily for the first seven days though she is litter box trained I was still paranoid.

Do not give your hamster anything strange to eat during this time period. No fruit, no vegetables, and certainly no cheese.

So remember these things should your hamster ever be infected with Wet Tail.

Tetracycline

Water

Pepto Bismol

Pedialyte

And cleaning of their bedding, butt and cage.

To prevent Wet Tail:

Put your new hamster on Tetracycline for 10 days. If you have other hamsters at the time of your new hamster, put them both on Tetracycline. Keep your hamsters cages clean and dry at all times. Don't stress out your hamster, everything you do even when it's bathing needs to be done gently.