Hamsters, like rabbits and other rodents, are extremely sensitive to antibiotics, which can cause fatal enteritis due to the proliferation of Clostridia spp. with the production of lethal toxins. Antibiotics should only be administered when really necessary. The antibiotics that cause the most problems are penicillins, cephalosporins, tylosin, lincomycin, erythromycin, clindamycin, bacitracin and gentamicin, but even antibiotics that are considered “safe” can cause fatal reactions.
The symptoms are profuse watery diarrhoea and death within 4-10 days. The prognosis is poor. Treatment can be attempted, immediately suspending the administration of antibiotics, administering probiotics (lactobacilli) and providing rehydration and general supportive care.
Streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin do not cause enteritis in golden hamsters, but they have direct toxic effects and should never be used in any hamster species because they cause death.