I have a sick hamster and need some advice please

[Drusilla]

She's a syrian, about 3 months old. No problems before now, but on Friday she developed diarrhoea, and now her bum is looking very mucky. She hasn't touched the food in her bowl for two days now, spending a lot more time than normal in her nest. The thing that worries me is a week ago I bought my friends old cage from her (because it was bigger than the one we had), it had been in her garage and had mice droppings in it. She said she had cleaned it out so I didn't clean it again before I put hammy in it - could she have caught something if mice had been in it? The only other new things in the last week were one of those hanging dried fruit stick things for the first time, which she stripped bare in two hours flat, and some tinned sweetcorn. Any ideas or advice? Thanks.

[whispywhisp]

Could be anything with such a small creature...must admit I would've thoroughly scrubbed the cage before I put a hamster into it especially if it had had another animal kept in it and especially if there was possibly mice droppings in it - sounds also she's overdone it with the food - she is only a baby and to have eaten one of those sticks in one go plus tinned veg - that's a lot for such a small stomach. I would definitely get her to the vet - she could easily die of dehydration due to the diarrhoea.

[Drusilla]

Thanks, I think I'll take her then. She has drunk lots more water than normal so I'm hoping she hasn't got too dehydrated. She's just come out of her nest and had a climb round her cage and sniffed at her food, but then went back in her nest

[whispywhisp]

I wouldn't worry too much...sounds very much as tho she's simply over-eaten - the fact she's drinking is a good sign.

[Drusilla]

I feel very guilty though! I put the fruit stick in, thinking it would be something to play with for a few days... then we went out and when we came back 2 hours later it was bare wood left hanging there!

[Insanitybecomesme]

Hamsters can get a disease called wet tail, which needs treating quickly so I would take the hamster to vets quickly, Its main sign is diarrhoea which leaves tail wet(messy bum area)If I remember right from hamster keeping days.

[whispywhisp]

Hows the hamster?!!

[Drusilla]

I think the diarrhoea has stopped She is still drinking well and has eaten a bit of dry food this morning and then again this afternoon, and has just been climbing round her cage. She even had a few tuens on her wheel I am about to clean the cage as it whiffs

[whispywhisp]

That sounds promising...did you take her to the vet?

[Drusilla]

No, was going to take jher this morning but she seemed much brighter, so on advice of hamster owning friends thought I would wait and see.

[Drusilla]

Have just cleaned her cage and got a good look at her bum is still dirty, but dry, whereas yesterday it was wet (TMI)

[whispywhisp]

Fingers crossed then she'll be ok...certainly sounds a lot better. Is she eating/drinking ok?

[Blondeshavemorefun]

yep def sounds could be wet tail

take to vet if nothing else to be told that hammy is ok - a check up is about £12 - money well spent imho

[Drusilla]

She's loads better eating and drinking, bum looks almost clean now. Running around in cage like normal last night so I put my hand in and she got on it like she does when she wants to come out. Am hoping it was just over eating on the wretched fruit stick. I've read I should give her nothing but dry food for at least another couple of weeks - does that sound right?

[whispywhisp]

yep I'd say so...give her tummy plenty of time to recover...dried food will help bind her up.

[Drusilla]

Thanks for all your advice