tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30173712262383397482024-03-05T05:41:11.335-08:00Singapore hamstersPhotography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-59506024211310312632017-09-03T08:03:00.001-07:002017-09-03T17:15:23.515-07:0020. A dwarf hamster has crusty skin earlierSunday, September 9, 2017. A bald dwarf hamster with oily skin. Whole body bald except face.<br />
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A Myanmar couple says the dwarf hamster is 3 years old. They do not know the exact date of birth.<br />
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"I adopted him when he was one year old," the tanned Myanmar husband in his late 50s who works in gas platform construction in a shipyard told me. His wife has dyed reddish blond hair.<br />
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"This hamster is so active," I said. "It cannot be 3 years old."<br />
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The hamster had stopped eating hamster food and was fed green peppers. He ate some and stopped eating. Abdomen distended.<br />
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"I surfed the internet and was told that applying oil to the body skin will remove all the crust," the husband said. <br />
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"The hamster has an oily hairless body now. Only the face has hairs.<br />
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Back to normal hamster food first. Given critical care food to feed by syringe. Stop applying oil. Clear oil from skin. Review in one month's time. <br />
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Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-44991456877648074472016-11-10T13:49:00.000-08:002017-09-03T07:57:13.226-07:0019. A dwarf hamster has a gigantic belly tumourNov 11, 2016<br />
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Dr Daniel operated on another tumour hamster. Female, 1.5 years old with a tumour under the belly skin at 4 cm x 3 cm. The hamster owner knew the anaesthetic risks and consented to the surgery. The hamster bit my assistant Judy's finger through one cottoned glove. She wore two instead.<br />
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Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-89097133435869884802016-07-03T15:58:00.000-07:002017-09-03T07:57:01.268-07:0018. A Syrian hamster has a fast growing gigantic neck tumourSat Jul 3, 2016<br />
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A gigantic fast-growing tumour in this 1-year-old female syrian hamster. The owner texted me for quotation for surgery and anaesthesia. Her vet near her residence had quoted $300 and $300 for after office hour fee. She came to Toa Payoh Vets for surgery. <br />
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I was surprised at seeing such a gigantic tumour. Would the hamster die under anaesthesia as it was so large, around 2/3 the size of a golf ball!<br />
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Dr Daniel operated. Zoletil 100 IM and isoflurane gas. At one stage, the hamster was not breathing much. Fortunately, all ended well and the hamster is at home now. A successful anaaesthetic outcome is what builds up the reputation of the vet. The owner expects no death from anaesthesia and this can be achieved most of the time, if the vet is careful and experienced.<br />
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<br />Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-75390673997194005052015-10-29T14:53:00.000-07:002017-09-03T07:56:44.795-07:0017. Email diagnosis: A dwarf hamster has a gigantic ear tumour EMAIL TO DR SING DATED OCT 28, 2015<br />
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Hi,
I texted one of your colleagues regarding a hamster which I have adopted two days back.
Two days back, I adopted two 1~2 year old hamsters from a friend who is migrating overseas. One of the hamsters has a super huge growth on the head where the ear is supposed to be.
It looks super painful and uncomfortable. <br />
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Also, the hamster seems to be having watery stools and appears deformed. It's fur seems to be yellowish as well. My sister said that it is old, and would probably be better to be put down, but I wanted to check if it could be saved and live a normal life if possible.
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The two hamsters have been at my place for two days. I noticed the one with the huge growth does not seem to eat or sleep much.
On query, my friend told me that he had brought it to a vet before when the tumor was smaller. The doctor said it wasn't advisable to operate as it was already old and gave him some ointments which didn't seem to work. He stopped after the fourth visit as the vet seems to be just visually checking the tumor. <br />
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He claimed that the tumor continued to grow very quickly despite the ointment and the hamster seemed to be balding, so he stopped administering the ointment to it.
I have attached a picture of the hamster with its tumor. Please take a look and provide some advice on what I, or we, can do to help it.
I may not check my email regularly, so please so text me at 9xx. <br />
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Thank you so much.
Regards,
J<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2XwUxduBGcQ44sDcbtQvDs7h9_ZsCnHNtATGZGca0b4wXD-sYB1DL1ScAi8DCEn7_mREzSWZ7irb29gW0tQqyCx33HeMEBjhW6c_U8c77rX9UbqJbs0lk8AXyvlZs40eWXb29iGh5lIT/s1600/20151030dwarf_hamster_giganti_ear_tumour.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2XwUxduBGcQ44sDcbtQvDs7h9_ZsCnHNtATGZGca0b4wXD-sYB1DL1ScAi8DCEn7_mREzSWZ7irb29gW0tQqyCx33HeMEBjhW6c_U8c77rX9UbqJbs0lk8AXyvlZs40eWXb29iGh5lIT/s320/20151030dwarf_hamster_giganti_ear_tumour.jpg" /></a>
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REPLY FROM DR SING <br />
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I am Dr Sing K Y. Thank you for your email.
You posted one view. It appeared to be an ear tumour. If it is purely an ear tumour and the hamster is in good health, lit can be excised. If the hamster is sick (not eating, diarrhoea), the risk of dying under anaesthesia is high and so you have to decide whether you want to take the risk.
Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-47204243595452915092014-08-09T14:44:00.000-07:002017-09-03T09:06:52.040-07:0016. Dwarf hamsters get better treatment in Singapore nowadaysAugust 9, 2014
"I thought it is $60," the mother of a small boy brought her 2-year-old dwarf hamster with a large facial tumour of 8 mm x 6 mm x 5 mm in size. I had quoted $150 - $200 as this surgery would take a longer time and require stitching with the fine 5/0 sutures. Each packet of such fine sutures costs around $10.
So she decided not to proceed ahead. After all the hamster is 2 years old and the life span is 2.5 years.
Yet there are parents who will bring their children's pet hamster to Toa Payoh Vets for consultation and surgery if necessary. some are the fathers in their late 30s.
Videos are at www.toapayohvets.com, goto 'HAMSTERS'.
Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-89182916921934859452010-04-25T17:06:00.000-07:002017-09-03T07:55:14.152-07:0015. Steroids on hamstersFrom: <br />
To: judy@toapayohvets.com<br />
Date: Saturday, April 24, 2010, 5:28 PM<br />
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Hi<br />
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My name is XXX, I have been to your place before and I have 2 hamsters that require some medical attention.<br />
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Both are about 2 years old, 1 male and 1 female.<br />
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Male suffers from having skin lesions and pus filled abcess in skin folds, I clean him regularly and he is on prednisolone, his conditions fluctuate between good and bad, my previous vet has suggested to keeping him in a high dosage of steroids to keep the inflammation and growth down since not much can be done and he is rather old. However recently he has been losing alot of weight and the situation is worse.<br />
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The female one has been very healthy for most of 2 years. However she likes getting into fights. She has a little wound above her right eye cause by a fight that simply wouldnt heal. However, the major problems that she has a pus filled growth in her mouth, it was originally very small and on the outside(with no pus), so I also started her on prednisolone. Only this week did I really she was walking weirdly and lethargic, upon further inspection I realized her her mouth sacs were swollen and there was solid pus on the growth. I cleaned off the pus with cotton wool. Also she has a deep red swell on her abdomen, near her right leg. I use the same syringe for both hamsters, but I wash it before feeding medication to each of them. Also, she bit me about 2 weeks ago while I was feeding her, as I pulled away she fell off from about half a meter on the back.<br />
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I was wondering if you will be free for a consult on monday evening.<br />
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I can be contacted via <br />
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Cheers<br />
XXX<br />
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I am Dr Sing. From what you described, the infections have overwhelmed the hamsters due to your use of steroids. I will be available during office hours. If you wish, you can leave the hamsters in my Surgery for daily check and treatment rather than just do it yourself.Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-59962477917156192022010-01-05T13:04:00.000-08:002017-09-03T07:55:00.522-07:0014, Cheek Pouch Coming Out in a Dwarf Hamster<span style="font-weight: bold;">E-MAIL TO DR SING<br />Jan 3, 2010 </span> <br />
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From: ...@gmail.com><br />
Subject: Hamster Cheek pouch<br />
To: judy@toapayohvets.com<br />
Date: Sunday, January 3, 2010, 10:43 PM<br />
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<br />
Dear Doc Judy,<br />
<br />
We have a 8 months old hamster which has a cheek pouch problem. Since last night, her left side cheek pouch was hanging outside her mounth. She appears to be in pain. We used the cotton bud to push her cheek pouch back into her mouth. She appeared fine after that. But early this morning, when I wake up to check on her. the same problem appear.<br />
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What should we do?<br />
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Appreciate your help and advice.<br />
<br />
regards<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING</span><br />
Jan 4, 2010<br />
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On Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 7:30 AM, David Sing <drsing_98 yahoo.com=""> wrote:<br /><br /> I am Dr Sing. Your hamster may need surgery.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />E-MAIL TO DR SING</span><br />Jan 4, 2010 <br /><br />From: ...@gmail.com><br />Subject: Re: Hamster Cheek pouch<br />To: "David Sing" <drsing_98 yahoo.com=""><br />Date: Monday, January 4, 2010, 12:53 AM<br /><br />Dear Dr Sing,<br /> <br />Thank you for the prompt response.<br /> <br />What is the chances of survival under surgery for a small animal like hamster?<br />How long will it take and how long will it take to heal?<br /> <br />What is the estimated cost involved?<br /> <br />Thanks in advance.<br /><br />E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING<br />Jan 6, 2010<br /><br />Chances of survival are hard to say just via e-mail as I have not seen the hamster. Every hamster is different. Healthy and good conditioned dwarf hamsters do not usually die under anaesthesia.<br /><br />Surgery and anaesthesia to excise the infected or gangrenous cheek pouch and stitch up the cut ends, takes around 20 minutes if there are no complications. It takes around 1 week for healing in most cases. <br /><br />In January 2010, the estimated total cost is around $150 depending on the time needed to do surgery, anaesthesia and antibiotics. Hospitalisation is $5.00 per day if necessary.</drsing_98></drsing_98>Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-14105169061894494082010-01-05T12:47:00.000-08:002017-09-03T07:54:43.336-07:0013. Hamster anaesthesia and surgery at Toa Payoh Vets. 2 queries.From: ...@yahoo.co.kr><br />
Subject: Hamster and Hedgehog anesthesia<br />
To: judy@toapayohvets.com<br />
Date: Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 7:16 AM<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"> <br />E-MAIL FROM SOUTH KOREA VET<br />Jan 5, 2010</span><br />
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Hello Dr Sing Kong Yuen,<br />
<br />
<br />
Happy new year!<br />
<br />
I'm very impressed "be kind to pet" of your homepage and operating small animal clinic in South Korea.<br />
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I have poor experience about exotic pets and especially anesthesia of them.<br />
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May I(as beginner) ask favor of you about pre-eminent experience at exotic medicine?<br />
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I have pyometra patient in hedgehog and scalp laceration at font head in hamster.<br />
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Could you recommend anesthesia protocol(inhalant and injectable) each.<br />
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Hamster with amputated leg by cage had been experienced irratic and deep breath, and death in anesthetic chamber. Other hamster was not maintained enough to do surgery with ketamine 40-120mg/kg only.<br />
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How do you evaluate anesthesia depth and deal with problems.<br />
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I have general patient monitor for heart rate with alligator clips and pulse oximeter.<br />
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Could I use it in rodent?<br />
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Do you usually use absorbable suture at skin and why ?<br />
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<br />
I appreciate you in advance!<br />
<br />
Be happy and wealthy!<br />
<br />
Keep Healthy!<br />
<br />
<br />
Sincerely yours, <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING<br />January 6, 2010</span><br />
<br />
I am Dr Sing from Singapore, not from South Korea. My surgery is www.toapayohvets.com. I don't have hedgehog patient. The following applies to dwarf hamsters mainly. For Syrian hamsters, the same principles of close observation apply.<br />
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For sick dwarf hamsters needing surgery, I use isoflurane gas anaesthesia (plastic container) at 5% for around 1 minute, but close observation of the hamster is the key to success. <br />
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In other cases of healthy hamsters for tumour removal, I use Zoletil 50 as little as 0.01 ml IM as sedation. Then I use 5% isoflurane gas for less than 20 seconds and take out the hamster from the gas container to operate. If the hamster moves, I repeat the gas anaesthesia. Then I take it out to operate. Operation room must be warm to prevent hypothermia. If you have a cold operating room, you need to reduce the temperature or switch off the air conditioning during surgery. Hamster should be as dry as possible. <br />
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In this way, I maintain the surgical anaesthesia to operate. Most surgeries are less than 10 minutes. I have not used ketamine or other injectable anaesthesia except Zoletil on dwarf hamsters, so, I cannot share my experience with you. <br />
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Surgical anaesthesia levels are very difficult to assess in the dwarf hamster unlike in the dog and cat. Close observation of starting eyelid closure, movement and breathing rate is extremely important as there is a very high risk of anasthetic death if the vet does not know what he should observe or being too busy doing surgery.<br />
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You may need to have a very good veterinary assistant to help you observe the anaesthesia while you do surgery. But you should be able to know too when the hamster moves. <br />
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I don't know whether you can use pulse oximeter on dwarf hamsters. I use absorbable 6/0 or 7/0 sutures to stitch the hamster's skin so that owners don't need to come back for suture removal.<br />
<br />
I hope this e-mail answers your questions.Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-8836796633079706212009-12-27T11:26:00.000-08:002017-09-03T07:54:25.226-07:0012. Corynebacterium in a dwarf hamster?This dwarf hamster of around 2 years of age lives life to the fullest. He does not stay still for me to take a good picture. He has to be on the move, trying to escape from the cage. Even though my hospitalisation cage has no bars, but just plain glass. <br />
<br />
This hamster personality reminded me of people with a "Type A" personality. Burning a candle at both ends and achieving performance, productivity and profitability if the person is on the right path. <br />
<br />
Are there "Type A" hamsters in this world? If there are, I presume that his immune system has no chance to repair. So the viral warts came in and build warts in his right ear lobe. Then warts appear above his purulent swollen nose. Yet he was still active. With a swollen infected nose, he now found it painful to eat. <br />
<br />
Could I resolve his problem and bring him back to health? You can't ask a hamster to meditate and find the path to enlightenment. <br />
<br />
I had to hospitalise him. Gave him antibiotics daily. Got his warts cut off and stop the bleeding by cauterisation with potassium permanganate powder. The firm round abscesses in his lower body and legs popped up like solid globes. He had a bacterial infection of the blood stream and yet he was still alive. This bacteria localised under his skin and formed virulent abscesses. More than ten of them. What bacteria is it? <br />
<br />
To reduce veterinary costs to the lowest, I did not do bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity tests. Many Singaporean owners don't even get their hamsters treated as they feel that vets are "expensive". <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kongyuensing.com/pic/20091264Dwarf_Hamster_Female_2years_multiple_warts_abscesses_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.kongyuensing.com/pic/20091264Dwarf_Hamster_Female_2years_multiple_warts_abscesses_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 477px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a><br />
<br />
"The hamster has lost weight," a young teenaged girl commented when she came with her family on Christmas Day to bring the hamster home after 7 days of nursing and treatment. I did not reply nor felt the need to defend myself. <br />
<br />
Sometimes, silence is golden for me. After all, the hamster had a very serious infection and the parents and 3 family members were happy to see a great difference in the health of the hamster. It was a miracle that he was still alive as most hamsters would develop a sticky wet skin-filled pus and skin rot. This hamster's bacteria would be a different type. <br />
<br />
The various pustules and abscesses just reminded me of Corynebacterium in sheep. Some 40 years ago when I was an undergraduate in Glasgow University, I had to study sheep bacterial diseases. At the post-mortem room of the University, the lecturer showed us an ewe carcass with abscesses all over the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, kidneys and spleens. Solid abscesses like what I saw in this hamster's skin. The sheep's condition was called Caseous Lymphadenitis and the bacteria was called Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. <br />
<br />
Caseous lymphadenitis was a wide spread disease in mature sheep due to shearing wounds during my time at Glasgow. At abattoirs, such infected sheep carcasses are condemned. This bacteria also causes polyarthritis in sheep involving one or more leg joints. It produces pus about the joint and in this hamster, there were some abscesses around its joints too. <br />
<br />
I wondered whether Corynebacterium in sheep is still a prevalent disease in the UK sheep industry in 2009? Farmers were advised to shear lambs first, disinfect the shears between sheep. <br />
<br />
Singapore has no sheep farms although Muslims do import sheep from Australia. I have not done any veterinary practice on sheep for many years. Is Corynebacterium still present in sheep in Australia where most of our Singapore students are studying? Apparently this gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria is widely distributed in nature and are mostly not harmful. C. bovis causes mastitis in cows. C. diptheriae causes diphtheria in people.<br />
<br />
Could this hamster be suffering from Corynebacterium? I google "Corynebacterium in hamsters". There was one Japanese laboratory report of Corynebacterium kutscheri isolated from the oral cavities of aged Syrian hamsters. See: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1658468. <br />
<br />
In private practice, it is possible to get the bacterial cultures done and make the owner pay for it. But laboratory testing would increase costs 10X the price of a new hamster. <br />
<br />
As it is, the bill for treatment and 7 days of nursing was around $200 and may be considered by some owners to be too much. An additional laboratory cost may mean that this poor hamster will cost over $300 to be treated. So, he will not get any treatment again. <br />
<br />
The vet has to be aware of the economics of hamster veterinary practice and try not to send tumours and bacteria for laboratory analysis in an effort to reduce veterinary costs for the hamster owners. <br />
<br />
In undergraduate life, our professors recommend laboratory tests and all tests to reach a diagnosis. In real life, hamster and many pet owners in Singapore try to look for "inexpensive" vets. They discuss about veterinary charges in internet forums. Inexpensive vets can't perform, be productive or produce profits over the years. They will just have to do something else after a couple of years. He has to survive unless he is very rich and can ride out the first few "under-cutting fee" years to build up a good clientele and sustain their business model. <br />
<br />
With rising costs, it is extremely difficult to be a cheap vet in Singapore nowadays. New vets undercut my professional fees to get large numbers of patients. Older vets may need to retire to pasture if they can't compete on prices. Ironically, the more experienced the older vet is, the less demand for his services from many price-conscious pet owners due to under-cutting of prices by new vets. Competition is great for the consumer, no doubt about it. <br />
<br />
Beauty and youthfulness attract but experience is valued in matters of life and death. Add "cheap services" to beauty and youthfulness and this is a powerful marketing combination for a start-up veterinary practice. <br />
<br />
One young vet starting practice was described as "eye candy" in the internet forum. Well, that is a USP (unique selling proposition) for this practice. The picture of this vet was posted by fans. Fantasize and fantastic fans? You are young only once, enjoy the fans but don't fall to temptations and be a "Tiger". I am not talking about "Tiger" beer. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kongyuensing.com/pic/20091266Dwarf_Hamster_Female_2years_multiple_warts_abscesses_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.kongyuensing.com/pic/20091266Dwarf_Hamster_Female_2years_multiple_warts_abscesses_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 500px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 416px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kongyuensing.com/pic/20091268Dwarf_Hamster_Female_2years_multiple_warts_abscesses_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.kongyuensing.com/pic/20091268Dwarf_Hamster_Female_2years_multiple_warts_abscesses_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 380px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.kongyuensing.com/pic/20091269Dwarf_Hamster_Female_2years_multiple_warts_abscesses_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.kongyuensing.com/pic/20091269Dwarf_Hamster_Female_2years_multiple_warts_abscesses_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 500px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 373px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Updates and more pictures - goto www.toapayohvets.com, goto "Hamsters".Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-62114983814375682132009-12-07T10:30:00.000-08:002017-09-03T07:54:06.961-07:0011. 3 stories of a dog, hamster and manI have recently encountered 3 cases which seemed to be on separate topics when I recorded them in a draft form. Now, after reading them, I note that they are linked by the theme of "Sexual Performance". Do you agree with me?<br />
<br />
STORY NO. 1. The non-performer male Cocker Spaniel. <br />
Two Cocker Spaniels with no dog licences. "The AVA officials went to the house to check, saying somebody had complaints about his dogs." No dog licences. $200 per dog compounded fine. 2 Cocker Spaniels will be $400. Owner can appeal. If not, go to court. Maximum fine is $5,000 per dog without licence.<br />
"Appeals are always offered in such cases. But you must have good reason," I said. "Otherwise, you will get a reply saying sorry. Can your daughter write a good letter?" I asked. The young girl who was quiet was studying Literature in the National University of Singapore. <br />
<br />
"It is quite rare to meet a Literature undergraduate," I said to her. "Most Singapore secondary schools have dropped the "Literature" subject for "O" levels. The School Principals have to perform to get promoted. Literature is a hard subject for most students to pass. So Principals discard literature to achieve more top A grades. We will produce a generation with not much love for the craft of writing." I asked whether her course includes journalism. "I don't study journalism in the course," this young girl informed me. "Journalism is mass communication."<br />
<br />
To apply for a dog licence, goto www.ava.gov.sg. Scan microchip form from vet. Pay $14.00 for a sterilised dog. $70 for non=sterilised. This Cocker Spaniel was <br />
9 years old. A male 18 kg. He never produced puppies from the other female who was also overweight. "The female just sat down when he tried. Then he gave up too." I advised, "You ought to slim down the male in the early years to give him a better chance of success."<br />
<br />
Now the female of another client was on heat. She was 3 years old, weighing 8 kg. My client had yesterday asked me if I had access to male Cocker Spaniels. Some professional dog breeder would have it. But as the HDB in which 80% of Singaporeans have this strange rule of prohibition of Cocker Spaniel in HDB apartments, there is not much production of Cocker Spaniels from the professional breeder. <br />
<br />
So, I introduced both of them to each other as I don't have other male cockers for the client with female on heat. One professional dog breeder proposed Cavalier King Charles male stud. But my client was not too keen to produce crosses. He wanted purebred Cocker Spaniels but this 9 year-old introduction. Could he perform? In home breeding, bring female to male. Slimming down the male would have given better chances. Help the male in mating. Artificial insemination.<br />
<br />
STORY NO. 2 - The Cougar.<br />
Flower supplier in the wet market. "I have no money," she said as she brought in her Jack Russell for her annual vaccination. <br />
<br />
65 years old. Trim and slim as in those slimming advertisement of famous celebrities and stars, but no photo-shopped changes unlike the advertisements. A sprightly woman who looked after her body well. Jack Russell is the constant companion. "How you get the flower supplier to sell you flowers?" I asked. Supplier started dumping poor quality flowers. She switched to other supplier but the others don't have the varieties. No supplier provide such varieties of flowers. Nice to the seller's delivery person so that the girl gave her good quality flowers.<br />
<br />
"I was spayed," she said. "If I had died during anaesthesia, my husband would have benefited." In Singapore, buying a HDB apartment requires a family unit. In this case, she had the money but needed a husband to be eligible. So, she found one but he was older. He would do. But she definitely does not tolerate his infidelity. <br />
<br />
I was surprised to hear the word "spay" applied for women. Faithfulness of husband who is into gambling, wine, woman and song was now in doubt. "He likes to peep and see women the "node" from behind the door. "What do you mean?" I could not understand. <br />
<br />
"Likes to see women in the node," she reiterated. Ah, I get it finally. She meant "nude." If you pronounce "rude" as "rude" correctly, then "nude" ought to be pronounced as "node". English is a difficult language to master. I asked, "Why would a man do that with a mistress?" She said, "He can't do it." No need for explanation. Maybe Viagra was not invented then.<br />
<br />
A husband with no income and who is a philander. Depends on wife for his daily bread. So, she took action, "I wanted him to take his name out of HDB list or get out." I asked, "Why would your husband oblige you?" I asked. "I gave him money after he took his name out." She kept her promise and he moved out. He died soon. <br />
<br />
Is she a cougar? So what? "I have a younger man as my boyfriend. More energetic and cares for me" <br />
<br />
A young man indeed. I was happy for this dynamic woman. Many women of her age have put on weight. She made me feel overweight too. Her personality shone through. This man was in his late forties came to pick her and her dog up in a truck. I went out of the surgery and I waved to him.<br />
How much does this flower seller make after expenses? "$500 is my best net income," she said. "$500 per day?" I asked. "No, $500 per month". High rentals of a market stall eat up a lot of income.<br />
<br />
"Know the trend," she said to me when I asked how she was still around despite the fact that she had difficulty getting good suppliers. "Learn how to be creative," she said. "I know how to string the flowers in a design that pleases the customers. I have a big clientele base. Some refer friends and some order on behalf of friends. So, how can I retire?" I know of Singaporeans who retire to smell the roses. Or are forced to retire at the age of 62 as what has happened to my banker.<br />
<br />
I learnt something from a humble flower seller that day. What I learnt is that I must be aware of the trend in Singapore's small animal practice. More practices are set up by younger vets who are more in tune with the younger generation. They have more energy. More hungry and cheaper. I can't compete on price war and volume. Long hours burn out the vet as they are very stressful. The vet must have a clear mind to perform too as diagnosis is not so simple. Long hours just cloud the mind. This would be suicidal in the long term, for the vet and for the pets. So, what to do? Be creative like the flower seller. How to do it? That's the $64-million-dollar question. Basically, read widely, associate with other industry to learn their best practices, network and know what you are doing and do it well like the flower seller who created flower arrangement so well that customers flock to her. <br />
<br />
P.S. "Cougar" is a term used to refer to an older woman befriending a younger man. <br />
<br />
STORY NO. 3<br />
The commando dwarf hamster.<br />
An undergraduate male brought 2 hamsters to me on 15.11.09.<br />
<br />
1. 4 overgrown incisor teeth diverging 45 degrees on both. This dwarf hamster, Female was just 2 months old. I clipped the teeth short. "The teeth grows normally now," the young adult said to me when he came to pick up the 2nd case.<br />
<br />
2. 2nd case. F, 1 year. Roboroskvi. 3rd litter 3 weeks ago. "The male escaped like a commando by climbing up the roof and getting down into the lower floor of the cage," the young man explained how he got the 3rd litter out of this Roboroskvi with thick matted hairs all over her body. One breast was swollen with yellow pus. I attributed the matted hairs to the male biting her during sexual performance or rejection. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiDjDix7F1_p-htB16xEMKrc6y999edG6a5DV98PV1XjK8kSV6xCTZAbIj58dAxQBU5QzKB4OACxkKCx6k2uPOAo1og4A26xQYifXZj0w5j60NTx3EF5QZof90ib30Lxceni4FStYH6Nv/s1600-h/20091156Roboroskvi_Dwarf_Hamster_Bitten_By_Male_Day1_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412606288731870562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiDjDix7F1_p-htB16xEMKrc6y999edG6a5DV98PV1XjK8kSV6xCTZAbIj58dAxQBU5QzKB4OACxkKCx6k2uPOAo1og4A26xQYifXZj0w5j60NTx3EF5QZof90ib30Lxceni4FStYH6Nv/s320/20091156Roboroskvi_Dwarf_Hamster_Bitten_By_Male_Day1_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 294px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
On Dec 2, 09 this female could go home with only a scab on her forehead. This scab would drop off. She had been warded for 17 days and it would cost the owner some $105 which is a large sum if you are calculating. Dwarf hamsters can be had for free. The young man took the trouble to e-mail camera pictures of the babies. Poor resolution but he took the trouble. He really loves his hamsters. He was pleased that the female had recovered. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUM45No2vZC3o2g5FP6GqEGoX_BRGe6jpXUIE3WffZDc6ZNweRBMyoWZXM7K5UapUg7Y_5lCZMm4_fc5JwZHftKBgOVducUaG_XaTeBNYBrK8IqTVBwByLzIKv7MLlNGoWYOwVicVWmmv/s1600-h/20091157Roboroskvi_Dwarf_Hamster_Bitten_By_Male_Day17_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412605057424884914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUM45No2vZC3o2g5FP6GqEGoX_BRGe6jpXUIE3WffZDc6ZNweRBMyoWZXM7K5UapUg7Y_5lCZMm4_fc5JwZHftKBgOVducUaG_XaTeBNYBrK8IqTVBwByLzIKv7MLlNGoWYOwVicVWmmv/s320/20091157Roboroskvi_Dwarf_Hamster_Bitten_By_Male_Day17_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 303px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
Daily cleaning with warm water to soften the matted hair and scabs. Antibiotics oral. "Be careful," I said to my assistant Mr Saw as he placed the hamster for me to take photograph on the 17th day before she goes home. "This Roboroskvi hamster can shoot off the table in the wink of an eye." This species runs faster than a Ferrari sports car from start to 100 km. He knew about he was just not quick enough. As he placed the hamster on the towel which was on top of the table, the dwarf hamster suddenly sped off in the blink of the eye and landed on the floor. No injuries. A tall tale? Never take your eyes off the Roboroskvi for one split second. I hope Mr Saw learnt from being hands on. <br />
<br />
To prevent mating, he housed the male on the lower floor of the 2-level cage. "So that he can't climb up the plastic walls to breed her." the young man said.Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-90303839644153807142009-11-05T14:42:00.001-08:002017-09-03T07:52:20.820-07:0010. Feedback from the internetE-mail Nov 6, 2009 from ...@hotmail.com<br />
<br />
To:<br />
judy@toapayohvets.com<br />
I came across your site and the stories and pictures that you share.<br />
<br />
I will try to keep this short as you are a very busy person saving animals one at a time.<br />
<br />
I want to say you are a remarkable person that knows what to do with a good talent saving animals even when it almost looks hopeless and even close. I want to say kudos and keep up the good work and when I hope you read this that you will smile knowing another person thanking you for always doing a good job. It is quite rare to see medical cases shown with a good detailed story about it and with pictures (especially with hamsters) but I am glad you do as it is a good medical tool. As I found out what my hamster has...<br />
<br />
i did come across this picture on your site<br />
http://www.kongyuensing.com/pic/20090788White_Deposit_Behind_Cornea_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg<br />
<br />
I have a syrian that has that condition in both his eyes. I have always thought he gone blind. At least I know it is white deposit in his cornea.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kongyuensing.com/pic/20090788White_Deposit_Behind_Cornea_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.kongyuensing.com/pic/20090788White_Deposit_Behind_Cornea_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 517px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a><br />
<br />
I just hope it isnt too serious or harmful.Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-27595791669384621422009-10-31T16:13:00.000-07:002017-09-03T07:58:54.996-07:009. A constipated laboratory ratCan rats be constipated? <br />
<br />
"Singapore vets don't treat rats," the slim office lady in her late 20s showed me a 2.5-year-old white rat whose girth seems to be 10X than normal rats. The lady placed on my consultation table a piece of paper, "I print out from the internet a listings for vets in Central Singapore."<br />
<br />
<br />
"I have to disagree with you," I replied. "Did you start from A to Z" in the veterinary surgeon listings in the internet? "Normally, a prospect will phone "A" listings first. <br />
<br />
"There are 2 vet practices you ticked," I pointed to the blue pen marks on her paper.<br />
<br />
"Yes, but the vets are not available.<br />
<br />
"Is your rat in poor health?"<br />
<br />
"My boss rescued this abandoned laboratory rat and kept him in the office. For the past few days, he had been eating and drinking less. Some 7 days ago, Vet 1 treated him for some skin infections behind and above his neck. The vet gave us a spray and we sprayed onto the sore wound. The skin problem is OK now. He just would not eat or drink as normal."<br />
<br />
"He looks like a miniature polar bear," I recalled seeing National Geographic Magazine pictures of well fed and thick coated polar bears in winter.<br />
<br />
"Don't worry. This rat does not bite," she said. My assistant Mr Saw took out and put on a cloth glove in his right hand, just in case. I took the owner's word and lifted the rat out of the blue plastic carrier basket. The rat looked like a gentle bear and I took my chances by handling him with my bare hand. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7ku9SJEX2a58HIQRLcCwWbN_aiR79CItT3ozG9KnETWUJJJNmDthrZLTlOoriXeoSpTByrghxmNsmjF4E4fryN-m4lbkt-8wyIv5TGs4z08CiTsqItaiOC8JJHJzC6q-GUnabOHwTlZv/s1600-h/20091030Rat_2years6months_inappetance_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398909838238281554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7ku9SJEX2a58HIQRLcCwWbN_aiR79CItT3ozG9KnETWUJJJNmDthrZLTlOoriXeoSpTByrghxmNsmjF4E4fryN-m4lbkt-8wyIv5TGs4z08CiTsqItaiOC8JJHJzC6q-GUnabOHwTlZv/s320/20091030Rat_2years6months_inappetance_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 219px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
I palpated the rat as the owner complained that he had some swellings in his flank. They were faecal lumps. "Your rat is constipated as he has not been drinking much," I could feel many small faecal lumps inside his belly. Can you give oral medication to the rat in your office?"<br />
<br />
The lady thought: "Just put the medication in the cage and the rat will eat it."<br />
<br />
This would not be so simple in reality. So I asked the lady to sit down and asked Mr Saw, my Assistant to demonstrate how to give the rat medication and electrolytes by mouth using a 1-ml syringe. The office lady was not sure that she could hand-feed the rat, saying: "The care-giver usually does this but she is overseas now."<br />
<br />
The rat was warded for two days in this case and given electrolytes, Fibreplex and antibiotics orally at least 3 times per day. <br />
<br />
On day 2, he still had not passed faecal lumps but was more lively. No stools were passed overnight. On day 3, he passed stools and had eaten. He would go home. <br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What was the problem or problems?</span><br />
<br />
Possibly, the insecticide spray and the medicated water must have had adversely affected the rat's health. He was not feeling well. By not drinking water, he became constipated. I could feel the faecal lumps occupying his abdomen.Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-29435984836549091102009-09-13T16:12:00.000-07:002017-09-03T07:58:33.593-07:008. A hamster has an inoperable tumour--- On Sun, 9/13/09, Chen Siyin <rachesplin87 gmail.com=""> wrote:<br /><br /><br /> From: ...@gmail.com<br /> Subject: Results from Monitoring Hamster's daily activities - Hamster with inoperable tumor<br /> <br /> Hi Dr. Sing,<br /> <br /> Here's the PDF attached of what I've recorded so far for the past 1 week on XXX. She seems healthier now, though she still isn't the normal XXX I used to have. I've also taken a picture of her tummy for comparison. Hope it helps.<br /> <br /> Do I still continue with the medication? Thanks.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING</span><br /><br />Sep 14, 2009<br /><br />Continue with monitoring and medication. Greyish stuff passed out fibrouds and greyish clumps of faeces - these are not normal. Most likely she ate some rubbish like grey paper bedding (if you used paper pellets) and these had caused big stomach swelling of the intestines. Your pic showed a less swollen abdominal swelling and this is good news.<br /><br />Based on your report of normal appetite and water intake and activity and abnormal stool texture, your 6-month-old hamster most likely had eaten some non-food items which impacted the large intestines and are being passed out. I expect her to recover in 2 weeks. Therefor she is unlikely to have an abdominal tumour. Wait 2 weeks.</rachesplin87>Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-46721249198656146882009-07-24T12:28:00.000-07:002017-09-03T07:51:27.451-07:007. Is euthanasia is the only option for this "tough-cookie" old hamster?Haggard-looking and old. Pus oozing out from both ears. Back quarters hairless. "This hamster ought to be put to sleep," my assistant Mr Aung said, as a strong stench of decaying flesh fouled the air of the operating room.<br />
<br />
"Your wife will not be very happy with you if you suggest euthansia," I said. "Every life is precious. It will be bad 'kharma' for you if you propose death for this hamster." Mrs Aung would never kill any creature. "Let the mosquitoes bite me if they wish to," she once told me when I asked how about the government's "kill all mosquito" campaign against denque fever. Last month, she trapped a big rat hiding in my office, put it in a cage, held it by the tail and released it in a field some distance away. Another time, I saw her picking up a fat bed bug loitering in a mattress in a room she had managed for rental to some Myanmar sailors whom she claimed were the carrier. I do have a picture of this bug but not the big white rat caught by the wife.<br />
<br />
"This old hamster can be cured," I said. "If his two large ear canal tumours can be removed, his backside alopecia would go away. He would not longer be stressed by having to scratch his ears all the time. With no stress, his backside hair will grow back." <br />
<br />
Well you may ask, "What has the backside hair loss to do with ear infections and irritation?". They are on different ends of the hamster's body. My hypothesis is that there is a nerve connection from the ears to the backside. When the ear canals are inflamed, the nerve sends sensory impulses to the side of the body and to the backside, resulting in itchiness. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPM047bnChBCHh7zIRGv3mpDlJqukHAtz0J92d1pSX65zwdQkxswFgQeLNBMAfRXwzJ9xogUkchvm5tQKoz9eM_vMzKMeLEMU5U1NJNu_vSE7ls_9yfjlVIZlD6jx2fw7QmYGhwhQcz0KG/s1600-h/20090724Day2_Ear_Tumours_Hard_Abscesses_Excised_Dwarf_Hamster.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362196691869206562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPM047bnChBCHh7zIRGv3mpDlJqukHAtz0J92d1pSX65zwdQkxswFgQeLNBMAfRXwzJ9xogUkchvm5tQKoz9eM_vMzKMeLEMU5U1NJNu_vSE7ls_9yfjlVIZlD6jx2fw7QmYGhwhQcz0KG/s320/20090724Day2_Ear_Tumours_Hard_Abscesses_Excised_Dwarf_Hamster.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 298px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-mf9UvCt22qwythxKMp-X6wuMEKsYZj2-Nm3YHK3pv2owsroEdICmqP0dPOZmKZGP2Vr4-AsUvyIoF2vVv69WE4QEWMg-ZGChLd5E1dvvzE0QZCk_n5bKvMKCnSSVBw5vBIBfumQYzdC/s1600-h/20090730Dwarf_Hamster_2nd_Ear_Surgery_Left_Vertical_Canal_Ablation_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362196687656661938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-mf9UvCt22qwythxKMp-X6wuMEKsYZj2-Nm3YHK3pv2owsroEdICmqP0dPOZmKZGP2Vr4-AsUvyIoF2vVv69WE4QEWMg-ZGChLd5E1dvvzE0QZCk_n5bKvMKCnSSVBw5vBIBfumQYzdC/s320/20090730Dwarf_Hamster_2nd_Ear_Surgery_Left_Vertical_Canal_Ablation_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 290px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ__EjBk6eltr0g-NdbNeQpcDXQ_KYo3imRbI1tTerSGASmMsdTRkYkBiCGgND6ST5A8GUbH0SOD712YplZarWThl8v8piJOOzD1tm9syT-YvZWQPMz05sE3Vp80bB_5zEHljBxB5yycO/s1600-h/20090727Dwarf_Hamster_After_lst_Ear_Surgery_Another_Tumour_Large_To_Excise_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362196678282865682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJ__EjBk6eltr0g-NdbNeQpcDXQ_KYo3imRbI1tTerSGASmMsdTRkYkBiCGgND6ST5A8GUbH0SOD712YplZarWThl8v8piJOOzD1tm9syT-YvZWQPMz05sE3Vp80bB_5zEHljBxB5yycO/s320/20090727Dwarf_Hamster_After_lst_Ear_Surgery_Another_Tumour_Large_To_Excise_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 298px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
In the dog, this can be quite obvious. Many dog owners look for skin infections in the flank of the dog with ear infections, thinking that the dog bites the flank or uses the hind legs to scratch the flank because there is skin infection in this location. If the vet cures the ear problem, this flank itchiness disappears in almost all my cases treated. <br />
<br />
OK, I agree that no dog ever had backside hair loss due to the ear infections and itchiness. In the dog, the cause is usually an infection of the anal sacs. The dog bites his backside and his anal area, resulting in alopecia and hyperpigmentation and inflammation. However, in this hamster, I doubt he has had anal sacculitis. It is just possible that his chronic ear infections lead to hair loss of his back quarters. Not everything in the dog can be attributed to another species and in this hamster, my hypothesis is that the chronic ear irritation cause him to bite his backside in an attempt to relieve the continual pain in his ears. <br />
<br />
The only way to prove my hypothesis is to cure this hamster, not to euthanase it. Mr Aung did not know that I had deep-froze the large ear tumour and given anti-inflammatory and antibiotics for the past 4 days. The ear tumour which had abscess had softened considerably and pus of the most foul smell was oozing out from the ear canal now.<br />
<br />
In the traditional veterinary thinking, this hamster would be considered inoperable. Why prolong his suffering. Put him to sleep and out of pain. Yet, this was not what the young lady owner wanted. It was logical for the vet.<br />
<br />
I looked at Mr Aung waiting for his reply to my reference to bad kharma if he suggested euthanasia. According to his wife, a person suffers in his life because he had done something wrong in the previous life. Therefore he had bad kharma. So, if the person who does something bad in his present life, he would have bad kharma when he is reincarnated. All cock and bull? Well, Mr Aung did not comment. <br />
<br />
Now, would this haggard looking oldie die during surgery? It would take a long time to operate. At least half an hour. A minute drop of Zoletil IM was insufficient as the hamster moved. Another drop was given. 1 ml of dextrose saline with baytril antibiotics had been given subcutaneously.<br />
<br />
"Is there a vertical ear canal in the hamster?" I tested the 3rd year veterinary student from Murdoch University present at my Surgery to assist me with some Excel software application. Daniel shook his head. Did that mean "no"? I doubted his professor had ever lectured on hamster anatomy. <br />
<br />
I asked Mr Saw to insert the artery forceps into the vertical canal of the hamster's ear. The scalpel cut the lateral wall's skin and cartilage. Lots of bleeding. Swabbed bleeding. The small bubbles of tumour inside the vertical canal were picked off and excised. This chronic ear infection had resulted in the formation of numerous round tumours as in the dog. <br />
<br />
"Be careful not to cut the branch of the facial nerve," I explained to the student. In such a small hamster, I could glimpse a long vein at the base of the ear. To the veterinary undergraduate, it was just blood and gore. As for the parotid salivary gland, I was careful not to cut it. Not that I could see it as in the dog. I mean, this hamster was 1000 times smaller than the chihuahua. Maybe 100,000 times and any salivary gland and nerve and blood vessel would be correspondingly reduced in size. <br />
<br />
Now you know why veterinarians in general dislike hamster surgery. There is the anaesthetic risk of the hamster dying as the surgery of these two ears took such a long time, as remarked by Daniel. <br />
<br />
Surprisingly, this hamster survived the surgery. "Is the hamster alive the next day?" Daniel asked me when he visited in the afternoon. <br />
<br />
"Yes," I said happily. "He looks so much better. He is a tough cookie."<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOqyGv0NNPMFojv5hldpGtX8tbcGdIUpHOX48EUZjRGxgLbi505RrCyD3Om3PyzEGNTeuXE_witTWwnoFuc7uENhKizRfgy7zuL9hzd29gOox9rhGCOBd021REdUDdfeNNWjijOcSUzHB/s1600-h/20090726Dwarf_Hamster_After_lst_Ear_Surgery_Smelly_Pus_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362196674938263138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOqyGv0NNPMFojv5hldpGtX8tbcGdIUpHOX48EUZjRGxgLbi505RrCyD3Om3PyzEGNTeuXE_witTWwnoFuc7uENhKizRfgy7zuL9hzd29gOox9rhGCOBd021REdUDdfeNNWjijOcSUzHB/s320/20090726Dwarf_Hamster_After_lst_Ear_Surgery_Smelly_Pus_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 302px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-60420945518469236112009-07-11T16:10:00.000-07:002017-09-03T07:50:37.257-07:006. Hamster with skin itchinessMost likely a mite infestation although the vet could not find any mites during skin scrapings. Bacterial and fungal infections come in as opportunistic invaders. Took a skin biopsy. The hamster can't sleep well as he scratches till he is bald and the skin breaks up and get infected. Eats little. Drinks little. Just want to scratch.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Below are suggested guidelines.</span> <br />
<br />
1. Therefore treatment is not so simple as just using ivomectin as anti-mite treatment.<br />
2. Skin itchiness. Need to relieve the itch.<br />
3. Skin infections. Oral antibiotics. May need anti-fungal medication. Consult vet. <br />
4. Skin infections. Wash with anti-fungal shampoo. Need to thoroughly rinse away the shampoo. Use separate and clean tissue to keep hamster skin dry. <br />
5. Feeding. Good food. Hand-feeding every hour if practical for 6-10X/day.<br />
6. Rehydration. Isotonic solution hand-feeding every hour if practical for 6-10X/day.<br />
<br />
Preventing dehydration and boosting immunity via good and regular food intake by hand-feeding is seldom done by owners during the early stages of the disease.Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-44524786229893794302009-02-23T05:16:00.001-08:002017-09-03T07:50:18.356-07:005. Hamster teethDental formula is 2(I1/1 M3/3) = 16<br />
Incisor grows continuously<br />
<br />
Cheek pouch extend to the scapulae and can be everted. When distended, it can double the width of the animal's head and shoulders. Deficient in lymphatics.Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-1761298947678221102008-11-20T14:41:00.000-08:002017-09-03T07:49:53.954-07:004. Hamster websites---------- Forwarded message ----------<br />
From: ...@gmail.com><br />
Date: Nov 18, 2008 8:32 PM<br />
Subject: Re: Babu my beloved hamster<br />
To: David Sing <99pups gmail.com=""><br /><br />Hello Dr. Sing,<br />Sorry that it took me a while to reply. I was busy confirming and arranging my flight for Australia next Feb (yes, i'm finally going) with all the accomodations, health check ups and other jests. I still read your website for interesting case studies. Sometimes I will google the clinical terms to find out more about the condition. Yes I'm such a geek! But i always found your case studies interesting, especially the dog that swallowed the chicken drumstick. I feel that you should spay it considering the owner already knew how you successfully managed to remove the drumstick without any casualities, so there's already a good impression. I'm sure she would understand if anything goes wrong due to the ongoing poor health of her dog. I really think it deserves a chance to experience it's last few years!<br /><br />I don't think any pet shops host any websites on their own. But i found a directory that lists some of the pet shops in SIngapore. http://www.singaporebusinessguide.com/category/Pet_Shops.htm<br /><br />I usually go to Serangoon North to get my pet supplies and sometimes hamsters as they have a great variety of accessories and different hamster breeds which are more affordable than Pet Lovers Centre, which operates at shopping malls and notoble landmarks. The shop that has great knowledge of rearing hamsters and has a wide variety of different breeds is The Little Pet Shop. Depending on the season, you can often find breds of Winter Whites, Syrians, Roborovskis and even Campbells which are rarely on sale these days due to their slightly aggressive behaviour and difficulty in handling and taming. However, the Little Pet Shop offers interesting colours like the Black Bear, Mottled, Opal, Beige, Sable. I found a good website that has an informative listing of the different type of colours and bandings. http://www.geocities.com/aaahamsters/<br />The shop claims to import their hamsters overseas from specialised breeders and therefore are able to offer a wide variety and colours to hamster enthusiasts.<br /><br />There is another shop called the House of Chinchillas which sells a very extensive collection of syrians, both long haired and short haired. But the cost is expensive. Around $40. Unlike most pet shops that do not offer Syrians, I think this pet shop offers the best selection and colour types.<br /><br /><br />For a normal winter white breed, the costs varies from $5-$10. The pearl winter white would cost around $15-$20. For rarer dwarf campbell breeeds such as the Black Bear, I saw it being sold at $50 at Pet Lovers Centre but the Little Pet Shop at Serangoon only sells it for $30. The rarer Syrian breeds are generally more expensive, at least 40 bucks onwards but you could get the normal coloured ones for as less as $10-$15.<br /> I bought a rare chocolate coloured dwarf from the Little Pet Shop about a year ago. His colour recessive was more much rare so it was a little pricier. Around $30. But I have never seen another hamster which has the same colour coat as the one i bought so it was a good investment. He is very aggressive despite months of taming until I deemed him untamable. but he is characterically interesting although he is such a devil! I could only hold him with gloves. He is in very good health though, very fat and cute! I have attached his picture to this email so you could see how he looks.<br /><br />I found a forum that local pet owners communicate at http://www.petschannel.com/forum/ and the singapore hamster club forum http://www.sghamsters.com/ipb/<br /><br />phew, think that was a mouthful! hope these could help you out.<br /><br /><br />On Wed, Nov 5, 2008 at 5:44 PM, David Sing <99pups gmail.com=""> wrote:<br /><br /> Thank you for detailed email reply. Babu might have middle ear infection for some time. <br /> <br /> You are a good writer and will be a good producer of movie. You can also produce a good hamster book for children on how to take care of the hamsters. Why will anybody buy a Singapore hamster book unless it is well written and the book layout designed (by you for example).<br /><br /> Lots of hamster-care stories teaching the reader what happened to other hamsters that need care. That is my concept for this book for children 8 - 12 years old (primary school). Most of the problems are due to uneducated management, disease, feeding and others. <br /><br /> Can you search the internet to locate Singapore hamster forum and give me their URLs? Where are hamsters sold? Where they come from? How much to buy one? Any more Syrian hamsters and other breeds? We can research to know what are the other owners experiencing. If you have time, let me know. <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /> On 11/5/08, ...@gmail.com> wrote:<br /><br /> Hello Dr. Sing, I just managed to view your email reply and shall post the answers to your following questions.<br /><br /> 1. Babu's head was still not upright after surgery. From the phone conversation I had with you, we speculated that he probably had an inner tumour inside his head coupled with his constant scratching that might have inflicted his wound or tumour to be much worse. He also had eczema on his joints when i consulted you earlier a few months back.<br /> 2. Just about 8 hours before his death. I saw him lying down breathing heavily.<br /> 3. Yes, he was active and busy running his wheel and climbing on bars. He even had an voracious appetite.<br /> 4. I got him last November when he was slighly bigger than the average babies seen in Pet Shop. He was around one yr old when he passed away.<br /> 7. How detailed would you like the story to be? I generally feed him with these brands of food - Marukan Japanese Food Mix, Vitakraft & Harry Hamster. And of course his beloved dried mealworms! I use recycled paper bedding that is meant for small animals and change his bedding once every one and a half or two weeks. I switched to paper towels and tissue paper as bedding promptly after his sugery though, and change his bedding every night for hygiene. <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> As for the videos, I could only procide you with those that I have captured with my previous phone once I get its virus ridden memory card working as my apple computer is not compatible with its functions.. Ill let you know as soon as I could retirve my videos! and pls tell me more about your hamster book!<br /><br /> Take care Uncle!!<br /><br /><br /><br /> On Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 3:16 PM, David Sing <99pups gmail.com=""> wrote:<br /><br /> Hello<br /><br /> I am sorry to hear the sad news. It is difficult to speculate on what's happened. <br /><br /> 1. Is his head upright after the surgery? If not, there is more tumour inside the ear canal.<br /> That may have caused him considerable ear ache.<br /><br /> 2. How long since the surgery that you discover Babu dying?<br /> 3. Is he eating and active for past few days?<br /> 4. How old is he now?<br /> 5. Babu is a beautiful creature and has given lots of laughter to you and your lady friend. <br /> 6. Your pic of Babu were excellent.<br /> 7. E-mail to me a short story of when you purchased him, what he is fed, his routine, his bath time etc. Compile a video of what you have on You Tube (if you have the time). If and when I write a story book on Singapore hamsters, I will include Babu in one of the stories.<br /><br /> Thank you for providing me the feedback.<br /> <br /> On 10/31/08, ....@gmail.com> wrote:<br /><br /> Dear Dr. Sing,<br /> I'm deeply saddened as I type this informal email to you. Babu, the white dwarf hamster with the lop-sided ear that you gave stitches to is down to its last breath right in his home. I don't know what happened but there are patches of blood stains scattered in his tissue paper bedding and the area where the stitches were seems to be the primary cause of its injury. My presumption tells me that he ripped his scab off the stitches and has caused a traumatic incision on his would that has left him gasping for life. He appeared to be normally active right after the surgery but perhaps I was too busy with work to actually properly follow up with his condition. Still, I change his bedding everyday and give him fresh new food and water with medicine. I do not know how long he has been lying as I was out before I saw his state but in this wee hours of the morning and his limp body lying listlessly, I guess that sadly, Babu has no chances of survival as we speak. Still, I would like to thank you enough for your invaluable support and treatment for Babu. Truly dear little Babu, with his mild mannerisms and love for dried mealworms would be greatly missed and loved by his owner. He is my favourite hamster, after all. I just thought that I should inform you as a follow up, despite the tragic news.<br /><br /><br /> You could call me if you need any questions with the programme cd I gave you;or any account and details following up Babu's death. And yes, I'm still helping you out with the bottle label la, no worries.<br /><br /> I'm still so upset that Babu is down and dying :(</99pups></99pups></99pups>Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-13443436288616001552008-10-17T15:26:00.000-07:002017-09-03T07:49:32.358-07:003. Ventral dermatitis in a hamster"I know it costs $10.00 to buy a new hamster," the slim lady in her 30s put the hamster with a fiery red belly on the examination table. "But I feel for my hamster's pain and discomfort for the past 4 weeks. She squeaks now and then as if screaming in pain."<br />
<br />
"There is some allergy on her belly," I said. "Something contacting her belly skin and causing itchiness. Did you change to some new bedding some 4-6 weeks ago." <br />
<br />
The slim, fair and serene lady recalled: "I change to corn bedding 4 weeks ago. I read in the internet that newspapers are toxic to my hamster." <br />
<br />
"The solution is simple," I said. "Go back to a tissue paper bedding for the next 4 weeks after I have given this hamster an anti-itchy injection." <br />
<br />
"This hamster is overweight", I said.<br />
<br />
"She just eats sunflower seeds," the lady replied. "She can eat sunflower seeds all day long. She was much fatter before and could not come out of her hamster house!"<br />
<br />
The Yoga lady took out her handphone and showed me the video of her portly hamster stuck in the door of her hamster house. Struggling to come out but unable to do so. <br />
<br />
"It is funny. I can see that her eyes pop out as she tries to squeeze out of the door." this video really brightens my day. At the expense of the poor hamster. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TydudFtgDHnaLaQzIB64y67XrVZm7kFTzwdQ6v3UrKtTDmmB5UylEuk4zA3MwVqknosfDds2co3HabdxVQM0-f9asxlbF_9yFhC_6_lcN5xJRxQCkrp2xCItv_m5G9xmu48hUJMyuUC4/s1600-h/20081030Hamster_ventral_dermatitis_itchy_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258257428854766194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TydudFtgDHnaLaQzIB64y67XrVZm7kFTzwdQ6v3UrKtTDmmB5UylEuk4zA3MwVqknosfDds2co3HabdxVQM0-f9asxlbF_9yFhC_6_lcN5xJRxQCkrp2xCItv_m5G9xmu48hUJMyuUC4/s320/20081030Hamster_ventral_dermatitis_itchy_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWQuQZ6Ui2HhLR-ExMJmk3e0BTjvRoJ8uswhyphenhyphen9S_DR7ARL3_PiQJbUQSo6Ri0HrbYgpQCGEgObnIgnZKvkeKldtWOxjnD-I64Q1o_lNjCrUYKfV1I61vad64ue3v9aCjgE-02gXkFoqVr/s1600-h/20081031Hamster_ventral_dermatitis_itchy_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258257433389875634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWQuQZ6Ui2HhLR-ExMJmk3e0BTjvRoJ8uswhyphenhyphen9S_DR7ARL3_PiQJbUQSo6Ri0HrbYgpQCGEgObnIgnZKvkeKldtWOxjnD-I64Q1o_lNjCrUYKfV1I61vad64ue3v9aCjgE-02gXkFoqVr/s320/20081031Hamster_ventral_dermatitis_itchy_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXY6Eqo9XtWBaArEsbpTuInnNpHIXQuwl9090KElagW079yxotZRh3MNJF01tLMJoKHQK10lIv28tZeEMoTDqTrVj4BjjBo9mtcqbdozdNmpvzuFqUh2uAkMXmSGnTEFt4442_RZv5oEQ/s1600-h/20081032Hamster_ventral_itchy_squeals_painful_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258257443071327106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXY6Eqo9XtWBaArEsbpTuInnNpHIXQuwl9090KElagW079yxotZRh3MNJF01tLMJoKHQK10lIv28tZeEMoTDqTrVj4BjjBo9mtcqbdozdNmpvzuFqUh2uAkMXmSGnTEFt4442_RZv5oEQ/s320/20081032Hamster_ventral_itchy_squeals_painful_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o0xV8SCyETqYNCquj2fQ52pucOmDzgAPYQLpkrJSAswPXH9bF5cZstTZ4ppdTtolptxf5KYiwc5AWQeFBLK9JMSoxbPILpZpD4F3-CQuRi1YeRHfx0mbvHS5nJSkLO9cC5zbrKKoYc-w/s1600-h/20081033Hamster_giving_medicine_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258257448056184770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9o0xV8SCyETqYNCquj2fQ52pucOmDzgAPYQLpkrJSAswPXH9bF5cZstTZ4ppdTtolptxf5KYiwc5AWQeFBLK9JMSoxbPILpZpD4F3-CQuRi1YeRHfx0mbvHS5nJSkLO9cC5zbrKKoYc-w/s320/20081033Hamster_giving_medicine_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pfs37oyzEt6U9TTbrlDWY_FoFxTdHWhshNIVzBQEGCEC7Y6LmzhC-eqrBuGMHjWH4Fp803Tj_stdYnTCl7H7BwRqVg-w_LPlRn_XLY40pAn2HWa_l_4GhS2xLMiMGu9zsX9IUEUmBxRM/s1600-h/20081041Hamster_contact_ventral_dermatitis_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258257456391805106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pfs37oyzEt6U9TTbrlDWY_FoFxTdHWhshNIVzBQEGCEC7Y6LmzhC-eqrBuGMHjWH4Fp803Tj_stdYnTCl7H7BwRqVg-w_LPlRn_XLY40pAn2HWa_l_4GhS2xLMiMGu9zsX9IUEUmBxRM/s320/20081041Hamster_contact_ventral_dermatitis_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<br />
The video always made the owner laugh. She has this serene look and so it was not stressful to talk to her. <br />
<br />
"Have you visited Myanmar?" I asked. I had a fun trip exploring the best of Myanmar in October. <br />
<br />
She shook her head: "I went to India to visit my Yoga teacher." Few Singaporeans visit Myanmar. <br />
<br />
A lady interested in yoga would explain why she looked serene. Yoga is very de-stressful or it could be her personality. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">PROCEDURE</span><br />
An anti-inflammatory injection subcutaneous was given to the overweight hamster after she has some gas anaesthesia. It was possible to restrain and inject this hamster without anaesthesia too but the catching may be too stressful. <br />
<br />
The hamster went home without complications. A follow up would be good.Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-59512546643630317832008-10-17T13:59:00.000-07:002017-09-03T07:49:16.413-07:002. Dwarf hamster walks in circles"Can the dwarf hamster hear if I cut off his cancerous right ear pinna?" I asked myself. "Is there another method to remove the fast-growing circular skin lump on the inside of his right ear without amputating his ear?" There was insufficient skin to stitch up if the 0.5 cm tumour was cut off from the ear. Besides there would be lots of bleeding into the ear canal and the hamster might not survive the bacterial infections. <br />
<br />
The time-pressed young lady in her early twenties said: "Uncle, I have been very busy working for this company shooting documentaries. So I have little time. In the last 4 weeks, the ear lump grows so big."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Keeps walking in circles to the right. Head tilt in a hamster but otherwise normal.<br />
<br />
The ear auricle has a fast growing heavy tumour<br />
Skin tumours in older hamsters are common but this one has a tumour on his ear. Some 6 weeks ago, the young lady presented him with a head tilt to the right but nothing was seen in his outer ear. The hamster did look comical to the young lady and her best friend as the hamster kept walking in circles with the head tilted right. She took some pictures for me. She and her best friend had a great laugh at the poor hamster's expense. <br />
<br />
I admit it was funny for the average person to see the hamster turning around in circles to the right and was unable to walk straight. <br />
<br />
It was not practical to examine the hamster's middle and inner ear due to its small size and I prescribed some medication. Now, the big ear tumour had manifested on the medial aspect of the ear as a crumbly angry-looking tumour. <br />
<br />
"What to do about this case?" I asked Jay Jay, a Myanmese veterinary technician who had some 10 years of experience in other small animal practices in Singapore. He was visiting me and as he was passionate about veterinary medicine and surgery, I discussed with him this unusual and uncommon case of a large tumour in the ear auricle and asked him what to do about it. <br />
<br />
"Cut off the tumour from under the ear skin," Jay Jay replied. It was an obvious solution and could possibly be performed in the dog. Dogs can be given painkillers after the surgery and post-operation nursing can be done easily. But this is a dwarf animal. A dwarf hamster with the ear barely bigger than a German Shepherd's toe. <br />
<br />
"It is easier said than done, "I said. "The tumour occupies more than 75% of the ear pinna. There will be no skin to stitch up." I said. <br />
<br />
I explained further "After cutting away the tumour, there will be a very large hole. There will be lots of bleeding after surgery. How do you control or stop the bleeding? The blood will go into the ear canal and become infected. The hamster will become sick and start rubbing his sore ear."<br />
<br />
Jay Jay shook his head. By discussion, we can learn from each other experiences. I have no doubt that he would make an excellent experienced veterinarian should he set up his veterinary hospital in Myanmar. In the meantime, it would be good to learn as much as possible from each other as veterinary medicine and surgery of various animals sometimes need solutions that are out of the box. .<br />
<br />
The removal of the ear auricle's tumour was not a problem. The challenge was the post-operation complications. The owner naturally expects improvement rather than a sickly hamster with a large infected and itchy ear should the tumour be simply removed by cutting it off. <br />
<br />
This was one of those times the vet has to draw his experiences from other species. As I used to do ear cropping in dogs till it was banned by the Veterinary Association, I thought this problem had one solution. Ear cropping. Or more precisely, ear amputation.<br />
<br />
SURGICAL PROCEDURE<br />
<br />
Gas anaesthesia. A mosquito forceps clamps the lower end of the ear auricle below the tumour. The scalpel cuts away the tumour. Below the forceps, I put 2 transfixing sutures (equivalent to a horizontal mattress suture). <br />
<br />
I have left the sutures longer than usual for vets to see in the picture. There was little bleeding when the forceps is removed. <br />
<br />
48 hours later, the busy lady owner whom all Singapore mothers will love to have as a daughter-in-law as she is has a bubbling personality, fair complexion with big-eyes and forever a chatterbox phoned me: "When will the stitches need to be removed?"<br />
<br />
2 long transfixing sutures are deliberately left longer than usual for educational purposes<br />
<br />
The owner made an Elizabeth-collar out of card herself to prevent the hamster scratching the operation site. <br />
"The stitches will dissolve by themselves in 14-28 days. You can cut the stitch shorter as I had left them long for photography. Is the hamster irritated by the stitches? Is his ear bleeding?" I asked.<br />
<br />
"I made an Elizabeth collar out of a card and he had to wear it," she replied. "He did not bother with the stitches and he has no bleeding in his operation area."<br />
<br />
"Is his head still tilted to the right?" I was happy to receive good news. <br />
<br />
"Yes, yes...yes" the girl's bubbling reply rippled over the air. "But he is much more active now that there is no heavy ear." <br />
<br />
It was great to know that this hamster had no reaction. Antibiotics were given post-operation and this lady would take time to care for the hamster. <br />
<br />
"How about doing some artwork for my anti-fungal shampoo label?" I asked her as she has experience in the graphics software and was able to perform. This would be a barter trade as I did not charge for the hamster's anaesthesia and surgery as she had just found employment and the previous photographer employer did not pay her the $500 salary for a long time. <br />
<br />
"Uncle, I know your shampoo label is so clinical. So plain and boring. I work long hours doing documentaries and advertisements for this company. When I am free, I will do it." <br />
<br />
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. There are so many more pleasant things to do with her spare time. This is my common observations of Singapore youths. <br />
<br />
Besides, she is a very busy multi-media graduate earning a living by working very long hours. She earns little and has to keep up with the high cost of living Singapore. So I did not charge her for the recent hamster surgery although she wanted to pay me some money. <br />
<br />
On my side, it is extremely difficult for me to find a graphics designer to make my anti-fungal shampoo label look well designed and good to look at. I cannot find the graphics designer and cannot afford those working in companies. <br />
<br />
Well, it is back to the simple plain and boring anti-fungal shampoo label till this girl-next-door can spare the time for me. Or she may need to barter her graphics design expertise for veterinary surgery another time.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf7bL96_LAMkk21Rix3eAbxGUHQ07yBA5juzYb_NxN3E0cVGrGGKNMiVyC1rhLwSWX2EmwfGeaIaDsLSEIhUAFTbqe-Jl8WSOjqIin1lkSMp6rzp-p8xxfJ3gldIi7vaQfx05on904F6O/s1600-h/20081015Ear_auricle_tumour_dwarf_hamster_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258251121715002290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdf7bL96_LAMkk21Rix3eAbxGUHQ07yBA5juzYb_NxN3E0cVGrGGKNMiVyC1rhLwSWX2EmwfGeaIaDsLSEIhUAFTbqe-Jl8WSOjqIin1lkSMp6rzp-p8xxfJ3gldIi7vaQfx05on904F6O/s320/20081015Ear_auricle_tumour_dwarf_hamster_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAyXa974i2NiQy3Pqdp37SRY7nsiJ2GJL2rDFj0fDNFWZLw5fOAsgkfA9iRKuLVQTzXUUY7Q1cY2sroGrvZwnF6pQc67eBf0rl5Miu5pjs5LE4x3SspYJx3GpF2qKy3m3A5V3lRfYBgw5/s1600-h/20081016Ear_auricle_tumour_dwarf_hamster_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258251122772569282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAyXa974i2NiQy3Pqdp37SRY7nsiJ2GJL2rDFj0fDNFWZLw5fOAsgkfA9iRKuLVQTzXUUY7Q1cY2sroGrvZwnF6pQc67eBf0rl5Miu5pjs5LE4x3SspYJx3GpF2qKy3m3A5V3lRfYBgw5/s320/20081016Ear_auricle_tumour_dwarf_hamster_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_pFniWcgCtXYQftfsvbWAdx9KcQIhdVBTiQQYfXSLjx990xnp0HGvl6Z7kGd9lJ058OKN8nD9b1_rSHubUreYp6wCwE6a6Hvpb-WWCPtzOFkLLF2prYKuVE8rrcx_BNYB0bC9KHC1uOs/s1600-h/20081017Ear_auricle_cut_dwarf_hamster_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258251127304365378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_pFniWcgCtXYQftfsvbWAdx9KcQIhdVBTiQQYfXSLjx990xnp0HGvl6Z7kGd9lJ058OKN8nD9b1_rSHubUreYp6wCwE6a6Hvpb-WWCPtzOFkLLF2prYKuVE8rrcx_BNYB0bC9KHC1uOs/s320/20081017Ear_auricle_cut_dwarf_hamster_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd9MSxIYKOgqJAcOWls60oQFdogzfdzI9zBbraXUZpPc66noWgo0U2ifwo_VJspoEW3-DtY1U9MFWTek6jc9xLaXlF4QI7jhjAXGsdt0GHLA1LQTy5wMcRR3HavcCYIh-wqT1_-i-NjBN/s1600-h/20081018Ear_auricle_cut_sutured_dwarf_hamster_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258251137196552722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd9MSxIYKOgqJAcOWls60oQFdogzfdzI9zBbraXUZpPc66noWgo0U2ifwo_VJspoEW3-DtY1U9MFWTek6jc9xLaXlF4QI7jhjAXGsdt0GHLA1LQTy5wMcRR3HavcCYIh-wqT1_-i-NjBN/s320/20081018Ear_auricle_cut_sutured_dwarf_hamster_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
REFERENCES:<br />
Types of hearing loss in human beings<br />
(Calls to regulate sellers of hearing devices<br />
Straits times, Oct 16, 2008, Home, Page B3)<br />
<br />
1. Conductive Hearing Loss - Blockage of sound waves to reaching the inner ear.<br />
2. Sensorineural Hearing Loss - Nerve deafness.<br />
3. Mixed Hearing Loss - Damage to outer, middle and inner ear.<br />
<br />
In this hamster, it is hard to know whether he can hear or not as it is not practical to test him. Obviously no hamster wears hearing aids.Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3017371226238339748.post-12207098640515961592008-01-24T23:39:00.000-08:002013-12-03T16:52:38.080-08:001. Hamster surgery at Toa Payoh VetsTOA PAYOH VETS - DOG NEUTER PROCEDURES<br />
toapayohvets.com<br />
Focus: Small animals - dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits<br />
Date: 18 November, 2007 <br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>REMOVAL OF SKIN TUMOURS/LUMPS IN A HAMSTER AT TOA PAYOH VETS</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>WHAT TO EXPECT.</strong> <br />
The veterinarian removes the tumours/lumps in the hamster skin. Usually the hamster needs to be anaesthesized if the tumour is large. <br />
<br />
<strong>WHAT TO DO BEFORE.</strong> <br />
Make appointment 6254-3326, 9668-6469 for surgery. The pet must be healthy and not obese (if possible). He is active and has an excellent appetite. Clean up the hamster if possible and/or let him have a sandbath 2 days before surgery. Bring the pet to the surgery at 9 a.m. <br />
<br />
Don't give food and water after 8 p.m the day before the surgery and in the morning of the surgery date. Make sure the hamster is active.<br />
<br />
<strong>WHAT TO DO DURING.</strong> <br />
The hamster is put into an anaesthetic container. General anaesthesia using gas. The skin tumours/lumps are cut off. Stitching may be done but the hamster usually bites them off. As much blood is cleaned off as possible. <br />
<br />
<strong>WHAT TO DO AFTER.</strong> <br />
The owner takes the hamster home at around 5 p.m/prior arrangement. Make sure that the hamster is kept in a clean cage with towel papers for at least 7- 14 days till the wound heals. Check the wound daily for signs of itchiness or infection. Use a facial cotton or tissue soaked in clean warm water and wipe away any blood clots. Replace the towel papers as bedding daily. <br />
<br />
The stitches on the skin, if not bitten off by the hamster, will dissolve after 14 - 30 days. There is no need to return to the surgery for stitch removal. Consult the vet promptly if the hamster is not eating or active or he keeps licking the wound from day 3. The phone number is 9668-6469.<br />
<br />
<strong>POSTPONEMENT OF SURGERY.</strong><br />
If the hamster is not in a good condition, the hamster is warded for observation and treatment for 1-3 days before surgery is done. <br />
<strong><br />DR SING'S CASE STUDIES </strong><br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://www.kongyuensing.com/animals/20080105Hamster_Skin_Tumour_ToaPayohVets.htm">http://www.kongyuensing.com/animals/20080105Hamster_Skin_Tumour_ToaPayohVets.htm</a><br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://www.toapayohvets.com/sinpets/040927hamster_risks.htm">http://www.toapayohvets.com/sinpets/040927hamster_risks.htm</a><br />
<br />
3. <a href="http://www.toapayohvets.com/sinpets/040927hamster_risks.htm">http://www.toapayohvets.com/sinpets/040927hamster_risks.htm</a><br />
<br />
4. <a href="http://www.toapayohvets.com/surgery/050609hamsters_ToaPayohVets.htm">http://www.toapayohvets.com/surgery/050609hamsters_ToaPayohVets.htm</a>Photography by Sing Kong Yuenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06445011428350860113noreply@blogger.com0