A Be Kind To Pets Veterinary Educational Video, sponsored by Toa Payoh Vets.
EAR WARTS IN YOUR DWARF HAMSTER.
Hi Doc, Is my hamster’s ear growth worrying?
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow) 5 Feb 2022.
A young lady WhatsApp to me with an image of ear warts in her dwarf hamster. “Hi Doc, Happy CNY!! Is my hamster’s ear growth worrying?” The short practical answer is “Yes” as it keeps growing and dangling on the ear. It is so irritating, yet the hamster can’t rub it off.
A recent case study will speak better than words.
This case is a very old 31-month-old female dwarf hamster who has more warts than any I had seen in Toa Payoh Vets over the last 40 years of my practice. Surgical removal is the only option as no drugs will make them disappear. As they grow bigger, they cause itchiness and irritate the hamster all day long. The hamster tries to rub them away, causing more traumatic inflammation and infection. In this case, the right eyelids got rubbed, became infected and swollen. Now, the hamster has eye infections as well as ear infections.
The owner wanted to try drugs from 19 Jan 2022, as she worried about death on the operating table during anaesthesia of the old companion. But the pet kept rubbing the right ear warts and the eyes during medication.
After surgery on 29 Jan 2022, I followed up on 5 Feb. The old balding pet leads a normal life. Sleeps a lot but now, without having to scratch the right ear and eye to relieve her itchiness, distressing the owners. They are happy now as they have peace of mind. In conclusion to the WhatsApp girl: “Hi Doc, Is my hamster’s ear growth worrying?”. My answer is “Yes.” There is cause for worry if your dwarf hamster has ear warts. The common drugs applied to warts will not eliminate them. Consult your hamster vet to surgically remove them once and for all, so that your hamster leads a normal life free from pain and infections of the ear and eye. MORE INFO AT: https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2022/02/4087-is-my-hamsters-ear-growth-cause.html
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ABLE TO SURVIVE ANAESTHESIA AND OP. ALTHOUGH HAMSTER IS 31 MONTHS OLD.
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HISTORY as at 2 Feb 2022.
Dwarf hamster, F, born Jun 2019.
29 Jun 2021. Left neck wart excised.
8 Sep 2021. Left ear canal lump excised.
19 Jan 2022. Right ear canal has multiple warts. Left ear canal has lump. Wart below Right eyelid. Subconjunctival eyelid abscess (R eye). Declined surgery to excise ear warts. Worried about death from anaesthesia. Wanted to try medication to reduce it although advised that surgery is the only treatment. Dwarf hamster irritated by the warts which had reduced in size a bit after application of medicine, but still itchy to her.
29 Jan 2022. Anaesthesia. R ear canal resected to remove canal ear warts. Lower right eyelid wart excised. Left ear canal lump not removed as instructed.
5 Feb 2022. Dr Sing K Y phoned to follow up: Hamster eats and likes the nutritional gel. Sleeps most of the time but will come when given food she likes. She lives alone. Hamster no longer irritated by scratching R eye. Occasional rubbing right eye. Stitches holding on R ear canal and below R eyelid.
Nearly 3 years old. Geriatric. Seldom exercise on wheel. Does not climb up to level two of house. Could have joint pain. A dwarf hamster’s life span said to be up to 2.5 - 3 years.
Backside has bilateral alopecia. The hair loss on back half of body. At one time, hair grew back and then lost. A streak of hair grows now. Cause is said to be due to hormonal.
FOLLOW UP BY DR SING K Y ON 5 FEB 2022 - 7 DAYS POST OP.
1. Image 1
DAY 7 AFTER WART REMOVALX= Stitched lateral ear canal
Y= Stitched skin below eyelid
Dwarf Hamster, F, 31 mthstoapayohvets.com 5 Feb 2022
MORE INFO AT:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2022/02/4087-is-my-hamsters-ear-growth-cause.html
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Ear warts are common in some older dwarf hamsters. They occur in any part of the body. This 2-year-8-month-old dwarf hamster has more warts than any we had seen in Toa Payoh Vets over the years.
HISTORY as at 2 Feb 2022.
Dwarf hamster, F, born Jun 2019.
29 Jun 2021. Left neck wart excised.
8 Sep 2021. Left ear canal lump excised.
19 Jan 2022. Right ear canal has multiple warts. Left ear canal has lump. Wart below Right eyelid.
Subconjunctival eyelid abscess (R eye).
Declined surgery to excise ear warts. Wanted to try medication to reduce it although advised that surgery is the only treatment. Dwarf hamster irritated by the warts which had reduced in size a bit after application of medicine.
29 Jan 2022. Anaesthesia. R ear canal resected to remove canal ear warts. Lower right eyelid wart excised. Left ear canal lump not removed as instructed.
5 Feb 2022. Dr Sing K Y phoned.
Hamster eats and likes the nutritional gel. Sleeps most of the time but will come when given food she likes. She lives alone.
Hamster no longer irritated by scratching R eye.
Occasional rubbing right eye.
Stitches holding on R ear canal and below R eyelid.
Nearly 3 years old. Geriatric. Seldom exercise on wheel. Does not climb up to level two of house. Could have joint pain.
Backside has bilateral alopecia. The hair loss on back half of body. At one time, hair grew back and then lost. A streak of hair grows now. Cause is said to be due to hormonal.
MORE INFO AT:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2022/02/4087-is-my-hamsters-ear-growth-cause.html
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27 Jan 2022. WARTS
Dwarf hamster, F, 2 years 7 months at Toa Payoh Vets.Right ear canal warts, wart below right eyelid and right lower subconjunctival abscess (arrows). On 29 Jan 2022, owner decided on surgical excision as the hamster rubs his warts frequently.
Owner wanted to try drugsto reduce wart size from a 19 Jan2022 consultation. Did not want surgery.
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