Also known as wet tail disease, this infectious diarrhea mainly affects very young hamsters between three and eight weeks old. It can lead to death within 48 hours and must therefore be taken very seriously.
Wet tail disease is usually the result of a stress-related disturbance of the sensitive intestinal flora. Separation from the mother, moving to a new home, a change in diet, and transport can lead to an imbalance in the intestinal bacteria. The coli bacteria, which are also present in healthy hamsters, multiply beyond normal levels and cause diarrhea symptoms.
As the name suggests, the characteristic symptom of the disease is wet fur in the tail area, caused by extreme watery diarrhea. The fur in the anal area is often stuck together with feces. Occasionally, the rectum prolapses. Affected hamsters show a significantly disturbed general condition with loss of appetite and apathy.
In acute cases of the disease, extreme urgency is required, as your hamster will die within two days if left untreated. Therefore, consult your veterinarian immediately at the first signs of diarrhea.
A veterinary practice with experience in treating hamsters will make a diagnosis based on your preliminary report, the age of the animal, and a clinical examination.
Your vet will treat wet tail disease with antibiotics and a remedy for diarrhea. Since affected hamsters lose a lot of fluid and become severely dehydrated due to the severe diarrhea, they are usually given fluids in the form of an infusion. Vitamin supplements and medication to support the intestinal flora can also help speed up the healing process.
Please follow the instructions provided by your vet regarding the type of administration and exact dosage of all prescribed medications. Your hamster should not be given any fresh food or fatty foods such as nuts or mealworms until the diarrhea has improved. As the disease is highly contagious, the cage and food bowls should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after successful treatment.
In acute cases, the prognosis is poor, as the disease is often detected too late and the hamster is only brought to the vet at that point. Moderate cases have a much better prognosis if the hamster is treated in time by a vet with experience in treating hamsters.
Since it is not easy to tell if your hamster is unwell, daily health checks help prevent wet tail and many other diseases. Symptoms of illness can be detected early and treated by your veterinarian before it is too late. Pay particular attention to whether your hamster is eating the fresh food offered and whether it is drinking enough water. A disturbed activity rhythm, which in healthy hamsters follows a consistent pattern, is a sign of illness. If your hamster is increasingly withdrawn and appears listless, for example, it may be ill. A dull or ruffled coat is also an indication that something is wrong with your hamster. Furthermore, the risk of illness can be reduced by avoiding stress and optimizing the living conditions.
A horse is quite large, and the damage it can cause is considerable. In the event of an accident, the costs can easily run into several thousand dollars. A substantial sum may also be required if our horse falls ill or even needs surgery. Not to mention the financial worries if we lend our horse and it has an accident while being ridden. It is therefore very sensible and important to think about what would happen in the worst-case scenario. There are plenty of insurance policies available. Every horse owner and rider should find out exactly what is available and choose the right policy for their needs. Below is a list of some insurance policies and situations where they might be needed.
Before acquiring a dog, it is important to consider not only the important questions regarding a suitable living environment, daily routine and care options. You should also address safety issues, which often begin with "What if...?" Yes, you guessed correctly: we are referring to insurance.
Not all cats are the same – but most of them do have some characteristic traits in common! Here are a few things you should know about cats and our special relationship with them.
Glaucoma describes a condition of increased intraocular pressure (physical pressure on the inner wall of the eye, leading to a constant, smooth curvature of the cornea), which causes damage to the retina and optic nerve. The medical term glaucoma comes from Greek and means "sea-colored," because the cornea turns blue due to the increase in pressure in the eye.
HCM is the most common heart disease in cats. Hypertrophy refers to the enlargement of an organ, in this case the thickening of the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy refers to a heart muscle disease. As a result of the thickening of the heart muscle, the heart can no longer fill itself sufficiently with blood and cannot pump enough blood into the body's circulation. This leads to a backflow of blood into the pulmonary circulation, which in advanced stages can lead to water retention and shortness of breath.
Most horse owners are familiar with and fear this scenario. The horse suddenly stops eating, becomes restless, scrapes its hooves and kicks its belly. Colic basically describes any type of abdominal pain in horses. Unfortunately, colic in horses is a very complex problem and should never be taken lightly.
Blood in the ear, which primarily occurs in dogs with drooping ears, refers to a specific type of hematoma in the outer ear. Affected dogs display a sudden swelling and warmth in the ear. In most cases, an underlying disease is the cause of a bloody ear. It is therefore extremely important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian in order to successfully treat the underlying disease and the hematoma itself.
Rabies is a viral infection that has been known for thousands of years. Most mammals, including humans, are susceptible to it, and it can also be transmitted between animals and humans (zoonosis). The infection caused by the rabies virus almost always results in fatal brain inflammation. Rabies is a notifiable animal disease in Germany, which means that even suspected cases must be reported to the competent authorities. Germany has been recognized as free of rabies in non-flying animals since 2008. It continues to occur in bats.
Dogs are pack animals. They need clear structures and consistent rules to feel comfortable. Your dog should know its place in your family from the very beginning. A dog that obeys well is socially acceptable. Your fellow human beings will appreciate this. And you will enjoy being out in public with your dog more. Loving but consistent training is the basis for peaceful and stress-free coexistence between dogs and humans.
As the name suggests, this is not a separate disease, but rather a complex of various manifestations of inflammatory changes in the mouth and skin of cats.
They're back again in late summer and fall – fall mites. They cause allergic reactions in animals and humans, with severe itching and skin inflammation. Find out how to recognize them, treat them, and, ideally, prevent an infestation here.
Tympany refers to the accumulation of gas in internal organs; accumulations of gas in the intestines are colloquially referred to as flatulence. Due to their special digestive system, guinea pigs are relatively prone to tympany, which can sometimes be life-threatening.
