My hamster has rectal prolapse. Can I use Vaseline? Is it contagious?

I can see that Kiwi has what appears to be a dilated anus. This can be associated with a rectal prolapse, when a portion of the rectum everts to the outside. Parasites, high fiber diets, and increased abdominal pressure can cause this. I recommend having Kiwi seen by a vet as soon as possible, as this condition is likely uncomfortable for Kiwi. In the meantime, I recommend making sure she has plenty of soft, moistened food and monitoring her for signs such as hunched posture and weight loss. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Thanks for reaching out about Evangeline. This is an emergency and needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Not only does the prolapse need to be treated but the cause determined. Intestinal infections, parasites, obstructions, urinary problems and more are possible. Try to keep the tissue clean and moist until the veterinary visit. Good luck.

I am sorry to hear about Thaddeus. I would unfortunately be concerned he is suffering from a condition called "wet tail" or proliferative ileitis. You can read more about it in this article: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=679 Unfortunately it does require veterinary care. Even if you were able to replace the prolapse if that is what your hamster has (I cannot really tell from this photo other than to see the hind end is raw and the fur is soiled/wet), we still have to treat the underlying cause of the prolapse. I would use this site: http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html to research ideas on how to help afford a veterinary bill.

Poor kitty. It looks like his rectum is trying to prolapse. I would definitely recommend putting some Vaseline on it for tonight and then if it is still protruding by tomorrow, get Smokey seen by your vet for further care. Best of luck with Smokey moving forward. Take care.

Thanks for reaching out about Princess. Anesthesia should be safe based on whether she is healthy. Underlying heart concerns (liver, kidney, heart) are difficult in hamsters as blood collection requires anesthesia first. It surely sounds as if nothing is done, she will do poorly, so something must be done. Concerns are that putting sutures in isn't addressing the problem of why is she prolapsing in the first place. Good luck.

Hi there! Based on Nibbles' age and symptoms, I would recommend a vet visit for sure. Although a prolapsed rectum in much younger ferrets can be caused by infectious diarrhea, older ferrets can have other issues that are worth looking into to make sure overall health is good. Some causes for prolapse rectum aside from diarrhea could be constipation, growths inside the colon, or inflammation of the the organs of the urinary tract like the bladder or prostate. Also, be careful of recurrence and watch Nibbles closely to make sure he doesn't chew on himself if it happens again. In the meantime, if give his veterinarian a call and set up an appointment. Best of luck!

Discontinue feeding any fruits or vegetables. Feed only a pellet or block type hamster chow. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and hides. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Spot clean the cage daily. Keep Hamster warm and as stress free as possible. If she becomes lethargic or stops eating, have her rechecked by your veterinarian immediately. Consider a probiotic to promote a healthy gut.