FINAL VIDEO AT:
---------------------------------
FOR INSTAGRAM
22 MAY 2021. DR SING'S VETERINARY STORIES - HOW TO TREAT A HAMSTER'S GIGANTIC HAEMATOMA? 24 IMAGES.
The 2-year-old female dwarf hamster’s chest had a big swollen bag of reddish-brown fluid. Ms Chong’s vet doesn’t perform hamster surgery. "I saw another hamster with a similar swelling," she told me that had surfed the internet. "The hamster was Pigu, treated at your surgery."
"Pigu's owner did not want any surgery as her hamster might die on the operating table. I had earlier advised surgery. Soon the bulging haematoma ruptured. Blood and tissues splattered on the hamster's face and body, like gunk. She rushed to an emergency vet and came to me the next day.”
Death on the operating table worried Ms Chong too. "What if she dies under anaesthesia?" Ms Chong was aware of the high risks involved in operations. "What if she dies of bleeding under surgery?"
The skin of the haematoma had stretched to the limit. It would break soon. Ms Chong opted for the surgery. Under gas anaesthesia, I aspirated around 2.0 ml of dark blood in a syringe. Then I used electricity to incise a 5-mm skin cut on the normal skin, distant from the stretched-out skin of the haematoma. From this incision, I drained all residual blood and extracted several small nodules wth forceps.
The hamster was wide awake within 10 minutes and went home the next day. 3 days later, Ms Chong WhatsApp to me a video showing the electro-incision wound was clean and healing well. She did not want histology to check whether the nodules were cancerous or not.
Early surgery is important as a gigantic haematoma may thin out, burst and smear the hamster with blood and gunk, stressing her badly, if the owner, fearing death on the operating table, procrastinates.
@toapayohvets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR VIDEO CREATION
Ms Chong's hamster, Mini
The 2-year-old male dwarf hamster’s chest had a big swollen bag of reddish-brown fluid. Her vet did not want to perform hamster surgery. So Ms Chong surfed YouTube. "I saw another hamster with the similar condition," she told me. "The hamster's name was Pigu."
*(Video footage of Pigu before and after rupture of haematoma). The owner had created a memorial video for Pigu. It is at:
"Pigu's owner did not want any surgery as her hamster might die on the operating table. I had earlier advised surgery.
"Soon the bulging haematoma ruptured. Blood and tumour tissues splattered on the hamster's face and body, like gunk. She rushed to an emergency vet and came to me the next day."
"Soon the bulging haematoma ruptured. Blood and tumour tissues splattered on the hamster's face and body, like gunk. She rushed to an emergency vet and came to me the next day."
Death on the operating table worried Ms Chong too. "What if he dies under anaesthesia?" Ms Chong was aware of the high risks involved in operations. "What if he dies of bleeding under surgery?"
I asked her to wait at the safe-distancing chair outside the clinic to think what she should do.
The skin of the haematoma had stretched to the limit. It would rupture soon. Blood would splatter all over the face and body.
I asked her to wait at the safe-distancing chair outside the clinic to think what she should do.
The skin of the haematoma had stretched to the limit. It would rupture soon. Blood would splatter all over the face and body.
*(Video of chairs with safe distancing and thermal scanner inside the clinic).
This video shows
How does Toa Payoh Vets treat a hamster's gigantic haematoma?
VIEWER DISCRETION
Ms Chong lives in a high-rise apartment in Singapore. As hamsters need little living space, she has two or more of them as pets. She hopes they can live more than 2.5 to 3 years which is the life span of the hamster. But some do develop tumours after one year old and need veterinary surgery.
Ms Chong is a creative woman in her late 30s. She handcrafts unique products such as TraceTogether token pouches for sale at Shopee.sg.
TraceTogether tokens are used to do SafeEntry check-in at public places to monitor Covid-19 infections in people.
Ms Chong decided on surgery and signed the anaesthetic consent form.
Back to the dwarf hamster.
PLANNING THE SURGERY
GASEOUS ANAESTHESIA, OXYGEN GENERATOR
AND ELECTRO-SURGERY EQUIPMENT
AND ELECTRO-SURGERY EQUIPMENT
oxygen generator
GASEOUS ANAESTHESIA
Zoletil injection was not used in this case, but may be used in some cases of large tumours
SURGERY
HISTOLOGY
is advised to check whether the nodules are cancerous or not..
POST OP AS IN-PATIENT FOR ONE DAY
FOLLOW UP 3 DAYS LATER
Video from owner.
Ms Chong WhatsApp to me the following:
"Mini happens to be sleeping like this, so you can see (the electro-incised red skin wound) from the video. The surrounding area seems ok.
Just the red wound which is still healing".
The red wound is the 5mm electro-incision I did to drain out the fluid
and remove the nodules of tumours. I am happy that Ms Chong permitted anaesthesia and surgery to prevent blood smeared over the hamster's head and body from the rupture.
As at 2 weeks post-surgery, the hamster leads a normal life looking forward to the meal worm treat from Ms Chong daily. (Image of meal worms).
As at 2 weeks post-surgery, the hamster leads a normal life looking forward to the meal worm treat from Ms Chong daily. (Image of meal worms).
CREDITS
FINAL VIDEO:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 may 2021.
Script from intern
HOOK:
"Hello doctor, I've brought my hamster to see you because of a strange-looking lump on his underside," said Miss Chong. "It has been there for a few weeks."
"Good morning, how is the hamster's appetite and activity level?
Is his urine and stools normal?" asked Dr Sing as he examined the hamster.
"Yea," Miss Chong said worriedly. "His appetite is normal but has smaller stools.
Mini is active and eating, but drinks less water."
Miss Chong is a 25-year-old accountant.
During her adolescence, she worked part-time at a pet shop.
Ever since, she developed great fondness for these small rodents.
Miss Chong is now a proud owner of three dwarf hamsters.
Mini, the eldest, stood out from his siblings.
He was ever-ready to greet and show his affection to Miss Chong.
While the other hamsters shy away sometimes, Mini never did.
In the beginning of April 2021, Miss Chong noticed a small black lump on Mini's chest.
The lump was not affecting the hamster
as he seemed to pay it no notice.
Weeks passed by and as the black lump rapidly grew in size,
so did Miss Chong's worry.
She brought Mini to the nearby vet
but was told that the lump was too big to operate on.
Distraught, she searched the web for alternatives and found Toa Payoh Vets,
a clinic ran by veterinarians adept at surgery for hamsters.
During the consultation, Dr Sing palpated the lump on the hamster's chest.
The lump was 2cm x 2cm and soft on palpation.
Mini was rather thin with a prominent backbone and weighed only 51g.
"This is likely to be a haematoma, a blood-filled lump caused by blood vessel tumours.
The size of this large lump causes considerable discomfort and hinders movement.
Hence, it is affecting the hamster's daily activities."
"Oh my, I didn't know Mini was in so much agony.
What can I do to help him now?"
"Surgery is necessary for a lump of this size.
But it is not without anaesthetic and surgical risks," Dr Sing explained.
"What are Mini's chances of recovery from surgery?
If we do without surgery, how long does Mini have left to live?"
"He is still active and eating well but he is quite old.
Considering that the lump is about the size of his head,
his true body weight is very low."
Dr Sing paused, "I would say his chances are 50%."
"That is a hard decision.
Please give me some time to consider."
"Take your time.
Ask me about anything if you'd like."
Miss Chong was faced with a decision that could mean life and death for her beloved hamster.
Her hamster was suffering and she just wanted the best possible outcome for him.
What was the treatment that she decided on?
Keep watching this video to find out more.
======
INTRO:
This is a BKTP veterinary educational video,
sponsored by TPV and is set in Singapore.
This video will show how haematoma in hamsters is being treated at TPV.
Singapore has a reputation as a Garden City, with bustling streets and busy people.
Hamsters are popular pets as they require little attention and space to keep.
Despite this, they do occasionally fall sick and require veterinary attention.
======
CONSULTATION:
On 29 April 2021, Miss Chong brought her 2-year-old male dwarf hamster to TPV for the lump on his chest.
This lump was diagnosed as a haematoma.
Surgery was an option, but the risks were high.
Miss Chong was determined to help her hamster.
"I would like to know how long Mini can wait before surgery.
I would like to spend more time with him before he takes the risk," she said.
"This varies from the individual.
For the size of this haematoma,
it is advisable to do the surgery as soon as possible.
Delays may lead to eventual rupture of the haematoma soon.
When the blood-filled lump ruptures,
infections can enter the bloodstream directly.
Perhaps his body will also be weaker then.
The surgical risks will become much higher."
"I understand.
I also really hate to see him suffer,"
Miss Chong sighed.
"Thank you, doctor.
I'll leave him in your hands."
Miss Chong signed the surgery and anaesthesia consent form.
She went home and waited for the good news.
==============
To be written:
Brief summary of surgery: aspiration + electrosurgery
Post-op condition + medicine
Advice to hamster owners: find hamster vet, consult early
==============
Surgical details in another video
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.