For today's slightly late a-z post(sorry!) I am going to cover some of the main illnesses that affect hamsters.
Wet tail - this is a bacterial infection of the gut resulting in diarrhoea. The diarrhoea is severe and droppings
are pale, very mushy and may or may not contain mucus. It is called wet tail because the diarrhoea is so
severe that the tail and anal area of the hamster is often dirty and 'wet'. Affected hamsters are lethargic,
hunched up and are often in pain. This is an emergency situation as affected hamsters can get dehydrated
very quickly - it is therefore vital that at the first onset of signs, veterinary treatment is sought immediately.
Wet tail is often precipitated by stress which is why it is commonly seen in hamsters who have just been weaned
(very stressful for them) and many owners who have just acquired their new pet hamsters from the pet store
would encounter wet tail as a disease. It is highly infectious and any equipment that the sick hamster has
had contact with should be disinfected thoroughly and left for a period of a few weeks before allowing
another hamster to use it.
Cancers are quite common as a disease in hamsters - anything that has such a short lifespan is prone to cancers.
There seems to be a higher prevalence of cancers in female hamsters than male hamsters - but this is only
because the female reproductive tract is often a site for cancers hence the skewed results. As with most cancers,
they can be benign or malignant. Malignant cancers are fast growing and inevitably kill the affected hamsters with
great rapidity. Benign cancers as their name implies are often slow growing and is not a death sentence per se.
Hamsters seem to be quite prone to getting many different types of benign cancers. The most common cancers in
hamsters are ones involving they thyroid and adrenal glands. Signs include hair loss and alterations in their
behaviour. Skin tumors are also common in hamsters. Whilst surgery is an option, most hamster owners will opt for
euthanasia when the word 'cancer' surfaces whether the condition is benign or not.
Lumps and bumps - if you discover a lump on your hamster don't just leap to the conclusion that it's cancer
(it could be), more often than not, it could be an abscess. Abscesses are usually caused by bite wounds
from fighting. These often form hard painful lumps under the skin where the puncture wound has closed up.
Hamsters can also get abscesses in their cheek pouches - these would've resulted from puncture wounds
from food or bedding materials. If you suspect an abscess in your hamster, you will need to take it into the
vet to have it drained and antibiotic therapy started.
Hamsters can suffer from what is known as cage paralysis - this is generalized weakness that results due to lack of
exercise and a small cage is usually the problem. Choose the largest cage you can afford because your
little friend deserves to be in spacious surrounds. Generally providing them with adequate exercise and a larger cage would solve the problem. Sometimes a lack of Vitamin E and D could contribute to weakness
and paralysis, if this is the case then vitamin supplementation helps. Some Syrian hamsters also have a hereditary
defect which often starts as a progressive hind limb paralysis from 6 months of age. There is no cure for this
hereditary disease condition.
Being sick is horrible for any human, so imagine what it is like being a hamster, unable to tell anyone how you feel. Make sure you check your little friend at least once a week for illnesses :).
