Wet-tail
Wet-tail, wet-bottom or proliferative ileitis, is a disease of hamsters. It is precipitated by stress. Even with treatment, the animal can die within 48 hours.[1] Baby hamsters are much more likely to get the disease than older hamsters. It is commonly found when the hamster is being weaned at about four weeks of age.
Causes
[edit | edit source]Wet-tail is a disease in the animal's intestines caused by the bacteria, Lawsonia intracellularis.[2] Wet-tail is a stress related illness—such stress can be caused by a variety of factors, including too much handling, change in environment/diet, extremely unclean caging, separation from mother/siblings before they were ready to be weaned, and improper caging.
Symptoms
[edit | edit source]The symptoms may not appear for several days. The main symptom is the animal has a wet tail, matted with faeces. Other signs of the disease are:[1]
- Odour
- Diarrhoea
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Excessive sleeping
- Walking with a hunched back
- Unusual or staggered movement
- Folded ears
- Unusual temper (biting or nipping)
Treatment
[edit | edit source]Antibiotics can be used to treat wet-tail.[3]
References
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