5014. Vet Case. The Drooling Syrian Dwarf Hamster. Pre-anaesthetic consultation.

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Vet Case Study by BE KIND TO PETS. A drooling Syrian hamster. Wetness around this hamster's mouth and neck for several weeks is due to excessive salivation. What is the cause?

"Excessive salivation in hamsters is usually due to overgrown teeth," I said to the lady owner. "Such teeth pierce the mouth causing ulcers and pain. This leads to drooling." 

"My vet had clipped his front teeth some 2 weeks ago," the owner said. "My hamster still has wet mouth and neck! Why?"

 "Your hamster also has cheek teeth called molars," I explained. "Overgrown molars can cause oral ulcers leading to drooling."

"Your vet had advised anaesthesia to enable him to check the inside of the hamster's mouth, but you didn't accept his advice because he had forewarned that this old hamster may die under anaesthesia."

Conclusion. Anaesthesia is needed to treat this case as the oral problem is inside the mouth.

Case study by Dr Sing K Y, Toa Payoh Vets, Singapore. Phone 6254-3326, 9668-6468 for appointments. 

 

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VET CASE STUDY. 15 Dec 2023 CONSULTATION. Video in instagram.

A SYRIAN HAMSTER HAD A WET NECK DUE TO DROOLING.
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow)

Some 2 weeks before 15 Dec 2023, Vet 1 had advised anaesthesia to check the inside of the mouth should medication fail to stop the drooling. The owner didn’t accept this advice as anaesthesia may kill this over 2-year-old. 

One of my 4 opinions is that this hamster may have ‘overgrown’ cheek tooth or teeth. The sharp ends cut the insides of the cheek. This leads to painful oral ulcers which lead to profuse salivation. The hamster drools, dampening the neck all the time and stinking the hamster. 

“I felt his cheeks and did not feel anything!”, the lady already confirmed that the hamster's front teeth were not overgrown and therefore not the cause of drooling. “He is over 2 years old, can still eat and run on his exercise wheel, so I leave him alone!". 

My four main possible causes of drooling - molar spurs, impacted cheek pouch, embedded seeds inside the cheek and oral tumours, causing inflammation and ulcerations.

“Anaesthesia is needed to treat the problem. It will be short duration,” I explained.”No vets can guarantee no anaesthetic risk," I said to the lady owner. She decided to wait and see.

Her mum who dislikes hamsters had been present on 15 December. She asked me on 19 Dec about the outcome of this case. She dislikes companion animals. "I can't stand the smells. A waste of  money to have them as pets and to spend time to care for them!" were her mantra whenever she talked to me.

“Nothing has been done,” was my answer to the 75-year-old  mom. She followed up, showing her concern for the poor old Syrian hamster.

UPDATE:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2023/12/5014-vet-case-drooling-syrian-dwarf.html

 

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Vet Case Study by BE KIND TO PETS. A drooling Syrian hamster. Wetness around this hamster's mouth and neck for several weeks is due to excessive salivation. What is the cause?

 

 

 

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 Wetness around a hamster's mouth could be a result of drooling

 

 Excessive salivation is a common indication of a hamster with teeth woes, often overgrowth. Hamster teeth continue growing throughout the life of the hamster, unlike adult people. Their teeth will overgrow if they are not worn down by chewing on food or wood.

Many hamsters with teeth overgrowth refrain from eating because they find the action extremely uncomfortable.

Overgrown teeth cause excessive salivation as the sharp ends poke the gums or inside of the mouth. Two types of teeth can overgrow. They are:
1. Front incisor teeth
2. Side cheek or molar teeth.