Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Blogs | Writers | Paid | My Orble | Login

My Hamsters Butt is Wet

March 21st 2010 15:54
Wet-tail is a pretty common illness in hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Basically, you know your hamster has wet-tail when you notice the wet bum. You may notice loose stool, but for the most part the wet butt is is going to be your key sign that something is up because your hamster can have diarrhea without having wettail.


Other signs that you may see when associated with wet-tail may include, foul smell, lethargy, lack of appetite, lack of grooming, hunched back, and excess sleeping.

Wettail can be deadly, so if you think that your hamster may have the illness, you want to have the hamster treated as soon as possible. Treatment can include either purchasing an over-the-counter treatment such as dri-tail or you can seek assistance of a vet and use prescribed antibiotics.

I have seen better results using the over-the-counter treatments, as they seem to work faster, but you have to use the syringe and give the medications orally versus in the water bottle.



If you think that your hamster is sick, you should really try to gt him diagnosed so that you can have him treated, especially in regards to wet-tail because it is potentially fatal. It is easily treatable, so if you think that your hamster has wettail, treat him.

Just remember that you want to try to reduce stress on your pet, as it is the most common cause of wet-tail. When you bring home your new hamster, you want to leave him alone for a few days so that he can adjust to his new home and surroundings. Try to keep a close eye on the hamster's habits and behaviors so that you can see if wet-tail starts to develop, but try not to handle the hamster. Excessive handling will stress out the hamster, which is something you should avoid.

Preventing wet-tail can be hard because hamsters of any age can develop it, but in most cases once treated, the hamster won't develop it again. You may want to go ahead and start your new hamster on a round of wet-tail treatment so that you can potentially prevent the illness, but still try to avoid handling for a few days after you've brought the hamster home.



39
Vote
   


How to Treat a Sick Hamster

March 15th 2010 15:23
Depending on what is wrong with your hamster, the treatment will vary. For example, an anti-fungal will treat a ringworm but it won't have much effect on a common cold or an allergy. In order to treat your hamster, you need to figure out what is wrong with him.

What are your hamster's symptoms? Is he sleeping more than usual? Is he still eating or has he lost his appetite? Has he stopped grooming himself? Does the hamster have any bald spots? Is he more irritable? Does he have problems moving around? Does he move slowly when he does move? Is he still using his wheel and exercising? Does the hamster have a runny nose or any discharge from his yes? Are the stool droppings loose, watery, or dry?

Keep in mind that older hamsters will experience bald patches, and older hamsters will sleep more than younger hamsters. Older hamsters may also have more trouble moving around. If your hamster is over a year and a half, age could be the cause of your hamster's disabilities.

If you strongly feel that your hamster is suffering some sort of illness, then you need to have him diagnosed so that you can get him treated.

Common illnesses and treatments may include the following:
* Broken Bone- signs may include a limp, swelling, lack of movement, lethargy, crankiness; remove all exercise equipment and tunnels from the enclosure; consider putting the hamster in an aquarium with paper towels until the bone has healed.
* Common cold- symptoms may include a stuffy nose, sneezing, runny nose, irritability; offer cod-liver on small pieces of bread.
* Constipation- symptoms may include lack of stool, crankiness, and lack of appetite; ensure that there is water in the hamster's water bottle at all times and offer carrots or other fresh fruits and vegetables.
* Diarrhea- signs include loose and watery stool droppings; reduce the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables that you're offering. Add a little alfalfa hay to the diet.
* Teeth problems- signs may include trouble eating, lack of appetite, and irritability; offer dry milk as it helps most dental problems
* Wet-tail- symptoms may include a wet bottom, diarrhea, hunched back, irritability, and slower moving; treatment will consist of dry-tail or a prescribed antibiotic from the vet. You should also clean the cage with a mild disinfectant.

You want to try to prevent your hamster from getting sick, as prevention is much easier than treatment. Plus, preventing an illness is cheaper than treating one.
* Wash and dry your hands before handling your hamster
* Keep your hamster out of cold, drafty rooms
* Make sure if you bathe your hamster, you thoroughly dry him (baths are not ideal)
* Make sure that your hamster has chew blocks to help file down his teeth.
* Keep the cage clean
* Reduce stress
* Keep treats to a minimum. Your hamster's diet should not consist of more than 10% treats.
* Make sure your hamster has water available at all times
* Frequently check your hamster's mouth for overgrown teeth, cracks and teeth deformaties
* Avoid using wire exercise wheels

40
Vote
   


Hamster Having Breathing Problems

March 10th 2010 15:17


If your hamster is having breathing problems, especially persistent problems, then you want to see a veterinarian for diagnosis. Respiratory conditions can sometimes heal on their own, but in some cases, you want to have the symptoms treated before they become more severe. For example, like people, hamsters can get over a cold on their own, but if that common cold worsens, people need antibiotics, so will your hamster.

Common breathing problems generally include sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and labored breathing. A sneeze once in a while usually won't be a concern, but persistent sneezing could be a sign of an allergy, cold, respiratory infection, or even pneumonia.

You want to be especially cautious if your hamster is also showing signs of lethargy, lack of appetite, a matted/ unkept coat, and/or struggling to breath (stretching out and gasping for air). You don't want the illness to progress until it develops into something more severe.

A veterinarian can give you a full diagnosis and treatment. Treatment will probably consist of an antibiotic. If the breathing problems are caused by an allergen, you'll want to figure out what is causing the allergic reaction so that you can remove it.

If you think that your hamster is sick, don't risk his health any further. Locate a veterinarian that is familiar with small animals.


49
Vote
   


Common Hamster Illnesses

March 6th 2010 15:04
Hamsters are usually pretty hardy pets, but they, like any other animal, can get sick. In a lot of cases, the health of the animal will depend on how you care for it. With proper care, diet, and caging, your hamster can live a full and healthy life.

Dirty cages, unbalanced diet, leaking water bottles, stress, a drafty environment, other hamsters, other pets, and other factors can all lead to health problems.

Common health problems in hamsters can include:
* Abscess
* Allergies
* Broken bones
* Common cold
* Diarrhea
* Fungal infections (Ringworm)
* Upper respiratory infection
* Wet tail

Common Hamster Illnesses



If you think that your hamster may be sick, you should really consult a veterinarian. Hamsters generally don't show signs of illness until the illness is a little more progressed, so it is very important that you seek veterinary assistance. Some illnesses can easily develop into more severe illnesses. For example a common cold or even an upper respiratory infection can develop into pneumonia if not treated.

It is important that you keep a close eye on your hamster if you change anything in or around the cage so that you can spot signs of a reaction or stress right away.

There are some illnesses, though, that a vet may not be able to treat or willing to. Depending on the severity of the illness and the symptoms that your hamster is having, your vet may find that the hamster is already stressed and may not recover through treatment. For example, if you notice a lump on your 2 year old hamster, your vet may feel that removal is not an option because the hamster is already very old.

Let your veterinarian make the call. If your hamster is sick, take him to the vet if the symptoms persist.

Common signs of illness in hamsters include:
* Curled position
* Diarrhea
* Discharge from eyes and/or nose
* Fatigue
* Hunched back
* Labored breathing
* Lack of appetite
* Lethargy
* Lump
* Matted or unkept coat
* Shivering
* Sneezing
* Weight loss
* Wheezing


63
Vote
   


Is a Hamster Right for You?

September 6th 2009 00:12
Hamsters are not the right pet for everyone. You'll find that it takes time to tame them, and without proper socialization, hamsters can be very nippy. But, even with all that hamsters can be good pets if you're ready to take the responsibility to caring for them and for working with them to make them great family pets.

I know a family, who always had hamsters. They had one at a time, and would all watch TV together with the hamster. Whenever the hamster got out of his cage (because they are escape artists), the hamster would always go to the TV wanting attention from them, no matter what time of day or night it was.

When thinking about getting a pet hamster, consider the temperament and personality of the three main types of hamsters.

Syrian hamsters- Most common pet hamster. Always house one Syrian hamster in a cage at a time because they will fight if kept together. Over time, they can be tame, easy to handle, and friendly.

Dwarf hamsters- (Campbell's Winter White Russian, and Roborovski hamsters) are more social and better kept in pairs of the same species. If going to be housed in pairs, it's best to introduce them at a young age, and keep them in same sex pairs.

Chinese hamsters- These are not true dwards. They can be very friendly, but are also very quick and agile.

NEVER keep different species of hamsters in the same cage.

Consider whether or not you can handle that they just don't live forever. You'll find on average hamsters live 1-3 years. Check out the average lifespan to hamsters below.

Average Life Span
Syrian Hamster: 2-3 years
Dwarf Campbells Russian Hamster: 1.5 - 2 years
Dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster: 1.5 - 2 years
Roborovski Hamster: 3 - 3.5 years
Chinese Hamsters: 2.5 - 3 years




42
Vote
   


Bathing Syrian Hamsters

February 28th 2009 20:37
Hamsters can be great pets, but at times they may become a little dirty or smelly. I mean, so would you if you lived in a small cage. Well, if you notice that your hamster is getting a little dirty, you want to be careful of how you groom him. You don't want to throw him in the sink with warm water and shampoo; that really is the last thing that you want to do, because for the most part a hamster will groom and clean himself as needed, although there are a few things that you can do to help him.

When grooming a hamster, you want to first check out the hamster's skin and fur for mats and skin abrasions. If you have a long hair hamster, you can use a fine toothed comb to brush out and bedding or wood shavings. Regular combing will keep mats out of your hamsters fur, which can potentially become painful as he mats begin to pull on the skin


[ Click here to read more ]
33
Vote
   


General Hamster Behaviors

February 26th 2009 19:23
Hamsters are probably one of the more popular small pets that parents buy children. They are small and typically take up minimal room when compared to guinea pigs, rabbits, and other small animal pets. Now, personally, I don't think that hamsters are the best pet for younger children, but with care and socialization, they can make pretty good pets.

As for basic behaviors of hamsters, you'll find that the main behaviors will be pretty similar amongst the different hamsters- Syrian, Chinese, Russian, etc., but generally, you will find that there are also specific behaviors for the different the different hamsters. For example, you will find that Syrian hamsters should not be housed in pairs or small groups after the age of about 6 to 8 weeks because they can be come very territorial over their space, whereas many of the dwarf hamster species are live better in pairs


[ Click here to read more ]
72
Vote
   


Pictures of Gerbils

October 4th 2008 17:03
Gerbils are often a very popular pet among small kids. The only good thing about them is that they are social in the sense of you can have more than one in a cage, unlike hamsters. But, gerbils can still be nippy and really aren't the best choice of pet for younger kid. That still doesn't stop parents from buying them though.

The one downfall that I see with many parents allowing their kids to get a gerbil is the tail. For so many people, the gerbil's tail reminds them of a rat, which is funny because gerbils and pet rats have completely different personalities


[ Click here to read more ]
38
Vote
   


So, I have found even more cute pictures that what I posted in my blog post "Cute Pictures of Hamsters." Plus I've added two cage ideas near the bottom, so that if you need help trying to design or redesign your hamster's cage, you can check out on version of an aquarium style cage and one example of a plastic cage with extension options.

Remember that with the aquarium style, you want to be weary of ammonia buildup, as the hamster spends most of his time in the cage, and the aquarium doesn't allow for too much ventilation even though there's a wire screen top (that you need to have on at all times as hamsters are escape artists). So if you opt for an aquarium style, you'll want to make sure that you keep it cleaned


[ Click here to read more ]
62
Vote
   


Pictures of Dwarf Hamsters

May 29th 2008 14:26
There are different species of dwarf hamsters; the most common being Campbell's Dwarf Hamsters, Chinese Dwarf Hamsters, Roborovski's Dwarf Hamsters, and Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamsters.

Unlike Syrian hamsters, you can typically house more than one dwarf hamster in the same cage; just make sure that you have ample room for the hamsters to be able to get away from each other if need be. Remember that it's best to keep same sex pairs, and to watch out for bullying amongst males. If you want to house 2 males, it's best to get brothers, as by introducing male hamsters at different times, you may run into territoriality and bullying


[ Click here to read more ]
82
Vote
   


Whitney's Blogs

11393 Vote(s)
649 Comment(s)
130 Post(s)
15562 Vote(s)
102 Comment(s)
248 Post(s)
16076 Vote(s)
221 Comment(s)
276 Post(s)
Moderated by Whitney
Copyright © 2006 2007 2008 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]