According to my vet, wet tail is a collection of bacteria but the exact details of the disease is still unknown. The treatment is also not 100% effective. In fact, even with early treatment, hamsters may have best a 50% chance of survival. Thus, it is important to take your hamster to the vet if you see signs of wet-tail as you would not be a moment too soon.
Wet-tail seems to be a very common disease in hamsters - many owners see their hamsters come down with this disease. Some have speculated that it could be stress-induced and that some hamsters may be more susceptible than others (due to their genetic makeup).
However, more obvious is the fact that wet-tail is transmitted from hamster to hamster. This makes it very important to quarantine new pets for up to three weeks. Handling all your pets at the same time is also discouraged. Wet-tail is highly infectious from hamster to hamster and you must be careful or you may lose all your hamsters to this disease at one go.
Check all hamsters you are purchasing carefully and also its cage mates. If one is affected, all may very well be.
When my hamsters came down with wet-tail, they refused to eat, had severe diarrhea ( the whole portion of the tail area was wet with brown fluid = wet-tail) and slept both day and night.
Some hamsters may also develop problems breathing if its condition is already very severe.
Your vet will in all likelihood prescribe a wide spectrum antibiotic and something to help with the diarrhea.
If you have any doubts, please do ask your vet.
