As I mentioned in a previous post, my little Sergei has been feeling somewhat under the weather due to his tyrant of an brother. I called the Vet on Friday for some advice, but having spent the day watching him, I decided on Saturday morning that he should see a vet as something was obviously wrong.
I carefully put my grumpy little man into the pet carrier we have for just these sorts of emergencies, and we headed off on the 20min run to Colwyn Bay to see our vet at Prospect House. I haven't had any cause to deal with the vet since we moved other then to get Izzy's prescription diet, but I have to say I was very impressed.
It was an open clinic, but we didn't have to wait long. We walked into the consultation room, praying it was just stress and nothing more serious, although by now, in my heart of hearts I knew better. We talked to the vet, explained his situation and then I said the words that I had forced myself to accept.
"I think it is wet tail" I told her quickly, hoping to get it out before I could worry too much about the implications of what that statement might mean for my tiny friend. She picked him up, causing some language I didn't know three month old hamsters knew, and looked him over gently.
"I think your diagnosis is pretty much spot on" she replied, gently putting Sergei back to bed. "I'll just be a minute, I will get him some antibiotics".
Wet Tail is very serious, and quite often fatal. It is a myth that it only effects the larger, Syrian hamsters - it can effect any hamster, rabbit, chinchilla or several other species. Time is crucial with this illness and the sooner you can get your pal to the vet to get on treatment the better his/her chances are. You can get "over the counter" remedies too, but I personally would advise that you get them to the vets as they can confirm the diagnosis at the same time.
Sergei tried to tuck himself back into bed, grumbling and swearing - but I will forgive him, poor little guy is really sick and probably in a fair amount of pain, so I will let him off his bad language, I know how miserable I feel when I have a bad stomach, and I am considerably bigger then him.
She injected him with his first dose, and then told me how to administer the rest over the next 5 days, and what I could do for him. Keep him warm, keep him quiet, and keep him hydrated - syringing the water down his throat if I had to.
Then came the phrase, oh so gently, that I had been trying to ignore even though past experience has taught me harshly of the truth of them - "Of course, I have to tell you that Wet Tail is very serious, and can prove fatal even if they are medicated"
This is where the prayers come in dear reader, help me give my little buddy the fighting strength he needs, I got him up for his dose this morning and he looks so ill now (he didn't really look ill before other then the matted area on his tail). I need him to keep fighting this with me, I need him to hold on and weather the storm till the antibiotics can start to kill off this bug before it kills him.
To be honest with you dear reader, it isn't looking good for him right now, and despite the short time we have been together, the thought of loosing him has me a complete mess, so spare a few seconds to help me the only way you can, send a prayer his way - it certainly can't hurt his cause, and who knows, it might even help!
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