My hamster died from wet tail. How can I prevent it with a new one?

Wet tail is usually not highly contagious, it sounds as you cleaned the cage very well, he should not get wet tail from the cage. make sure you do not feed him many treats and sugary fruits as this can be the cause of wet tail in hamsters.

I am sorry for the loss of your hamster. A clean, warm, stress free environment is critical to the health of any pet. Stress can predispose a hamster to serious infection. Provide a healthy diet and plenty of chew toys to keep teeth worn down. Your veterinarian can trim teeth if necessary. Regular veterinary checks are also strongly recommended.

Wet tail, or Proliferative Ileitis, is an extremely serious gastrointestinal disease and Hamsters can die from it very quickly. it is caused by a bacterium called Lawsonia intracellularis and hamsters get infected when contaminated feces get on their food and they then ingest the fecally contaminated food. If the hamster is stressed it exacerbates the condition. Since this is an emergency you will need to have your hamster seen by a vet immediately. Treatment usually consists of antibiotics, anti-diarrheal medications and subcutaneous and oral fluids to combat dehydration. In addition to that you need to thoroughly sanitize his cage to prevent re-infection and make sure your hamster is kept clean and warm.

Thanks for reaching out about Hammy. You can wipe him with a warm, moistened clean towel. If recurs, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Intestinal parasites or infections, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), ingested foreign bodies, exposure to toxins and other conditions can cause a soft stool. Good luck.

It sounds like your hamster could have a potentially life threatening condition called wet tail. This condition can be brought on by stress (which it sounds like yours may have had some of recently) and it can be quite dangerous. If not treated by a veterinarian asap, it can be fatal. Please seek treatment as soon as you can. In the meantime, clean the cage very well and minimize stress as much as possible; do not hold the hamster or have any new or abnormal conditions to his environment.

As long as he is eating and behaving, it is probably not wet tail. Typically, they are lethargic and not eating. You can clean him up gently with a plain, unscented baby wipe or pet wipe. Make sure he is dry, warm and stress free afterwards. Monitor for the above symptoms as wet tail can be serious if not addressed promptly by your veterinarian.

Yes, there are veterinarians that will treat small mammals, or "pocket pets". Honey should be examined and treated if it is wet tail and this can be a life threatening condition in such a small pet. She will likely need antibiotics and medication to treat diarrhea. Keep her cage clean. Replace bedding daily. Make sure she continues to eat and drink normally. Discontinue feeding treats, fruit and vegetables until she recovers.