critter diseases

[breakingnews]

Anyone have any experience with hamsters having wet tail?

According to several pet Web sites, poor Matilda will likely die within a few days with or without treatment. I'm not sure what to do at this point - I noticed her getting sluggish a few days ago, but then she was fine for two days ... but late last night I finally noticed most of the symptoms (diarrhea, won't sit up, very sickly).

Poor hammy. I did get berated by a friend for not taking her to a vet today ... but, uh, I wasn't really looking to spend $100 in vet fees on a $4 critter. I bought Dri-tail medication from the pet store, but she's already too weak to really take it, even though I've tried forcing it into her mouth.

Hm.

[garnet]

I REALLY hope you'll consider taking her to the vet. I don't know anything about hamsters (sorry), but it definitely sounds like she's hurting. It seems crazy to spend all that money on a little critter, but you don't want her to suffer.

[breakingnews]

Yeah, I feel horrible ... but I just can't justify the expense. Most sites are saying 48 hours to as long as one week, regardless of what treatment is given. I've done all that I can - changed her cage twice since yesterday, cleaned all her stuff, forced her to drink water, fed her some veggies. Poor poor hamster.

Here's a picture from her better days.

<IMG SRC="http://www.supdogg.com/images/matilda.jpg">

[garnet]

Originally Posted by breakingnews

Yeah, I feel horrible ... but I just can't justify the expense. Most sites are saying 48 hours to as long as one week, regardless of what treatment is given. I've done all that I can - changed her cage twice since yesterday, cleaned all her stuff, forced her to drink water, fed her some veggies. Poor poor hamster.

Here's a picture from her better days.

<IMG SRC="http://www.supdogg.com/images/matilda.jpg">

She's SO cute! I'm so sorry. It sounds like she's in bad shape--have you thought of bringing her in just to have her put to sleep? That really might be the kind thing to do at this point, and it might not be as expensive. I'm so sorry--I know how hard it is to lose a pet.

[perth]

I agree with Garnet. I couldn't justify that much money for a hamster, especially if it's not going to do any good, but I doubt it would be terribly expensive just to have her put to sleep. If shes suffering, I really think you should do what you can to end it for her quickly.

[Trilby]

That is one cute hamster-critter. I had to do that once to a very sick kitten--have her put to sleep. There was no other way. If you can find a decent vet they usually give you a break on this sort of thing. The critter is counting on you to do the right thing. I am so sorry.

[xoxoxoBruce]

The critter is counting on you to do the right thing.

Sorry about Matilda, BN, but be rational. She is dependent on you for food, water and belly rubs, but she's not depending on you for anything. She would have to have comprehension and I doubt she's pondering the meaning of life. I fully understand your not wanting her to suffer pain, but how do you know she's feeling anything other than unusual?
Fortunately it's not my call, it's yours. Sorry, man.

[Cyber Wolf]

I know how that is, Breaking. I'm a rat owner myself and have been for several years. I'd say the best you can do now is make sure the little sprite is comfy. Keep trying to help but just make sure she's comfortable and feels loved.

[Griff]

We had to put down Petes old Huskie/Sheperd mix a few years ago, it was a bummer. What causes wet tail? Chickens can get something called cocxydosis(sp?) where they start losing control of their legs and get diahrea. Chickens are easier to put down though, being somewhat further down on the pet chart. Anyway, this will pass, give yourself permission to get another pet when it feels right.

[Brigliadore]

I worked at a PetSmart for a number of years and so have some experience with Wet Tail. We would get a shipment of Hamsters in at least once a month where they would come down with it. There are several medications out for it, and as far as I remember most the Hamsters we treated made full recoveries within a week or two. Last I checked most petsmarts carry the medicine for it (we just pull some meds off the store shelves every time we needed it)

Here is some links to a few of the products.

This is the one we most often used in the store.

This one might work just as well.

Good luck.

[Brigliadore]

oops, should have read your full post. I guess you already got her medicine but it sounds like she might be too far gone. Give her a day to give the meds a chance to start working and if she seems to still be suffering then you should consider just putting her down.

[jane_says]

Sorry to hear about that. My daughter had the biggest, cutest hamster I've ever seen. It was a hairless one, which seemed kind of oogy at first but was really neat. She got it for Kindergarten graduation this spring. It seemed smarter and friendlier than any hamster we've had (and I've had a lot, beginning when I was a kid). About a week after we got her she developed wet tail and despite our best efforts she died and my daughter was heartbroken. We got her a rabbit instead and he's quite a bastard. Sorry to hear about the little mite. Hope she gets well quickly and if not, don't get a rabbit.

[Brigliadore]

Sometimes rabbits can be great pets, I have two fantastic ones. Both come to the front of the cage to say Hi and when let out to run around both check in every few min to get their head scratched. I did have two "bastard" rabbits before them, that hated people, scratched me all the time and just wanted to be left alone. So it can be a crap shoot if you get a good one. I think the breed has a huge amount to do with it. When I got these two I researched the breed a lot and then chose. One was a rescue given to me by a co-worker but he happened to be a breed I was interested in. And then a few years later I got the other one as my mom had one of that breed and he was awesome. So sometimes they do work out.

After working in a pet store for so many years I recommend a Guinea pig as a pet for a child. They don't stink like a rat or a mouse, they aren't temperamental like hamsters can be (esp. those Siberian Hamsters the stores sell, man those things are mean), and if you get them as a pet to teach your child responsibility, the guinea pig will let you know if your kid isn't feeding it. They are small so its easy for a kid to pick them up and hold them, and they are a fairly lazy animal, which means they are perfectly happy to sit on the couch with you and do nothing.

Here is a photo of my hairless guinea pig, Blaze. They look kinda ugly but they are really cool pets.

[wolf]

I received a vaguely hamster related call the other night ...

Caller (frantic): My 7 year old killed the hamster!! What should I do?

Wolf (sorting through all kinds of really good possibilties that would get her fired: Call this other number. They specialize in children.

(what were the other possibilties, you may wonder? --- "Give your kid a damn good spanking." "Dig a small hole in the backyard and dump it in." "Is your small monsterchild also lighting fires and wetting the bed? Kill him now before he grows up and moves on to humans." "Go buy another hamster and hope your other kid doesn't notice.")

[lookout123]

how about "throw some libby hot sauce on it and grill it for 6 minutes on medium heat."?