4031. FINAL VIDEO. A hamster's right ear is itchy after wart removal. Why?

Thursday consultation
Dec 19, 2019
Dr Sing Kong Yuen - The hamster keeps scratching his very itchy right ear

SCRIPT FOR INTERN TO CREATE THE FINAL VIDEO

NINE days ago, Dr Daniel excised a large ear wart and stitched up the wound. (Image below). A skin wart was not cut away at that time. The owner came today as the hamster keeps scratching his right ear obsessively.

Ear wart was excised by Dr Daniel 9 days ago

The two stitches had disappeared now. The hamster keeps scratching his right ear.
"Is it possible that the stitches had got into the ear canal?" the owner asked.

BE KIND TO PETS
The hamster has a very itchy right ear. What is the problem?

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

VIDEO 1

ELECTROSURGERY
1. Open up the right vertical ear canal by electro-incision.

The hamster is examined. There was fluid inside the ear canal.  Under general anaesthesia using isoflurane and oxygen, electrosurgery is used to cut open the ear canal vertically. Ear drops are used to drain out any stitch remnants.

2.  The hamster's other large wart lower down the face is cut off and stitched up with 5/0 absorbable sutures.

VIDEO 2
The hamster has recovered fully from gas anaesthesia within 5 minutes of completion of stitching.
He will go home tomorrow.

Conclusion.
As you can see in the video, electrosurgery is effective in preventing bleeding after excision of the wart and also in opening up the ear canal. A scapel blade can be used as an alternative. But there will be profuse bleeding from the skin vessels.  Follow up 2 weeks later. The owner is happy that the hamster is not itchy anymore.


FINAL VIDEO

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