2502. The dwarf hamster. Impacted cheek pouch and eye abscess/head tilt (2 cases). Everted cheek pouch.

CASE 1. IMPACTED CHEEK POUCH AND EYELID ABSCESS
July 19, 2015
Butter. Dwarf hamster. F, 2 yrs

Scratching right eye and lame RH - looked like dragging his right hind foot. Some time.
1. R lower eyelid much swollen  - diagnosed subconjunctival abscess. To lance and drain. Owner to nurse it at home with opening the incision wound, cotton bud to express the pus, daily.

2. Left cheek pouch hairless area nearer to the face - diagnosed impacted cheek pouch. irritation. rubs till hairless (see video).  To excise.

TREATMENT
1. V. thin. 30 g.  Informed consent. anaesthetic death likely.  Zoletil 100 IM. (video).
2. Surgery  (video). Hamster took >1 hour to recover and walk. Sent home.  Owner to express pus from eyelid daily without fail. Wound will close. Must keep it open to express the pus. Medication for 7 days.

3.  FOLLOW UP
July 24, 2015  phone
Tone of voice of owner seems happier.
Hamster more active.
Eyelid abscess - still has pus coming out. Expressed pus.

Left cheek pouch. No more swelling.
RH leg still dragging. Been like that for some time.
Owner gave smaller pieces of seeds, vegetables. hamster is very thin now.
"Stool pellets more now?" I asked.  Can't say.

Advised exercise wheel and stop  medication at 7th day (this Sunday)

4.  FINAL VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaADnNrC_PM&t=7s

Asked her to email me a video clip of hamster. Will do.   

PREVIOUS VIDEO.
Right cheek pouch impaction 3 times. Excised.
seems to be an obsessive hoarder of food inside cheek pouch. Much loved by the lady owner.

Outcome Good.
Case closed.

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CASE 1. IMPACTED CHEEK POUCH AND HEAD TILT

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CASE 3. EVERTED CHEEK POUCH IN A DWARF HAMSTER

Like a grocery bag (image), the hamster can hoard his food inside this expandable thin bag inside his cheek. This is called cheek pouch. Similarly to a money pouch (image) for travellers. 

The cheek pouch can be a liability if it everts and hangs loose as in this dwarf hamster.
It is painful and irritating to the hamster. The hamster tries to pull the dangling pouch away but it cannot do it.

VIDEO

https://youtu.be/0F4mzWrzSkM

CASE 4. EVERTED CHEEK POUCH IN A DWARF HAMSTER
VIDEO
https://youtu.be/Abp4Dd5ZLyQ


CASE 5. EVERTED CHEEK POUCH IN A DWARF HAMSTER
VIDEO SHOWING CHEEK POUCH EXCISED

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wLvKaPKq8E

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The treatment is surgery. A hamster vet will anaesthesize your hamster and cut it away.