wet tail??

Question
Hello, my name is Erica and I have a teddy bear hamster that is almost a year old now. I asked you another question quite a while ago and you helped a lot:). Right now I am wondering if my hamster has wet tail, under her on her bum the area seems hard and the hair is wet around it. Her tail is not wet though. She is still eating and drinking just the same...what do you think? I look forward to hearing from you and thanks a bunch!!  

Answer
Hi Erica,

It sounds like your hamster may have diarrhea, which is often confused with wet tail.  With diarrhea, the area around the anus is wet and messy, and the droppings are soft and light-colored.  The hamster exhibits no other symptoms - however, her sides may be a little sunken due to dehydration.  Common causes of diarrhea are the feeding of too much vegetables and/or fruits, or a sudden change in your hamster's diet.

To rid your hamster of diarrhea, feed her only her normal hamster mix for the time being.  Make sure she is kept warm and has plenty of water.  The diarrhea should clear up in a few days.  Afterwards, re-introduce her to vegetables by feeding her small amounts a few times a week.  (For example, feed her a small baby carrot 2-3 times a week.)  After a few weeks, then you can feed her a small piece of vegetable or fruit 6-7 times a week.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Kelly