Cage

How to clean hamster cage after Wet Tail?

Well I had a new little hamster (RIP Mr. Pudding) die of wet tail. We want to get another hamster soon- but I am scared to use the same cage. How do I really know it is clean enough not ot infect the new hammie? Thanks!

Public Comments

1. Remove all toys and wheel. Soak these items in a bleach bath (10 to 1 = 10 cups water to 1 cup bleach) Do the same with all the "habitrails", the interior and exterior of the cage. Allow to dry completely, or use your hair dryer to make sure there is no moisture whatsoever remaining. Use good, quality bedding (a number are available at your local pet store) and read up as much as you can about "wet tail". No animal deserves to die without every effort being made to ensure their overall health and well-being. Good luck!
2. Sorry to hear about Mr. Pudding. We lost Lizzy to wet tail and it was so sad. I've read that you should throw everything away and start over, new water bottle, bowl, toys, cage, etc. but we didn't. I scrubbed everything repeatedly in as hot water as I could. Then I washed again with bleach/water. If you have a dishwasher put everything in there also after the scrubbing/bleaching. Then make sure everything is rinsed really well. Don't reuse anything that can't be washed. We didn't have a problem with wet tail again, although poor Velvet had a heart attack :( Good luck.
3. aghhhhh!!! i had the same question a couple days ago... my hamster gizmo died of wet tail and i was wondering the same thing so i kinda asked the same question.. they told me to bleach it and everything and rinse it really REALLY good, so theres no bleach left(very harmfull to hamsters)and throw away their water bottle! (pain in the butt to clean) IN the end i decided to buy all new and smaller hamsters, becuase bigger hamsters require bigger more expenisive stuff. i suggest getting dwarfs becuase they are smaller and bigger hamsters die faster soo.... but if u insist on useing it and u have that really confused feeling that u dont no wat to think i would clean the cage u have really extremlly well and then go think about if u really want to buy all new or reuse it a risk the chance of getting wet tail again >=P GROSS! ITS UP TO U GOOD LUCK email me if u get confused, becuase i was
4. You do know that wet tail is not a contagious disease? It is when an animal becomes stressed and his body over works causing him to die. So you wont have to worry about your other hamster catching they disease. How ever you should bleach all of the toys food bowls water bottles everything you're new hamster ill use that the old one had. The reason is because the new scent of you and the other hamster mixing could then cause you're new hamster to have wet tail as well
5. the answer that said it is not contagious is WRONG. please ignore tekkers response - this person is clueless. you should clean everything thoroughly and discard anything that can't be cleaned. use hot water & bleach as mentioned and RINSE RINSE RINSE with hot water once cleaned to get all traces of the bleach away & let it dry. then clean it again using a natural cleaner such as ones made by seventh generation or method. if you don't have them use vinegar. then rinse thoroughly again and let dry. also know the reasons they get wettail so it doesnt happen again. yours could have had it before u brought it home if it died within a week or 2. it is caused by stress and sometimes a poor diet. make sure u feed ita good hamster mix with preferably 15% protein or more. read the label. if u notice signs of wettail u must seek a vet immediately. sometimes they can treat it and save it. the meds at the store VERY RARELY work. once u notice symptoms they've actually had it a week or 2 already which is why a vet is needed so quickly. to reduce stress - DO NOT HANDLE it the first couple of days after u get it. let it get used to it's home, but DO talk to it. do not wake it EVER. if u want to handle him do it at night when hes up already. they are nocturnal. if u want a daytime animal choose another pet. make sure they are in a quiet draft-free area. not next to the tv or in a child's playroom. get as large a cage as possible. connect 2 or 3 with tubes. make sure they have a spoke-free wheel & a hamster ball that they use nightly. they bar chew when they want in the ball. good luck!