4419. Vet Case Study: A very itchy hamster.

VET CASE STUDY: A very itchy hamster.

31 DEC 2024
WHATSAPP TO DR SING KONG YUEN

 

I brought my hamster (Tee Tee) to your vet on 8 December to be treated for a wound at her belly. It was healing till she bit another wound.

I know she bit it as her cage is clear of any sharp objects that might cause another wound) so I continued to apply the medications given and keep her cage bedding free and clear of sharp objects.

That wound was starting to heal until I saw another fresh wound (still bleeding as the paper towels have fresh blood) just now so I’m starting to get worried now as once a wound heals she bites herself again and another wound forms. 

I also noticed some sort of lump at the wound area which I’m afraid might be cancerous. Please advise me on what to do, I don’t mind making another trip to the vet if necessary. Thank you.

This is her right now. Her fur already grew back a week ago but now her wound is stopping her fur from growing. 

This was how it was before we brought her to your vet
The medicine given helped tremendously but it’s because of her constant biting new spots

This was when her fur was growing back and she was free from wounds after giving the medications

This was awhile after the first photo (a lump?).

And this photo shows her wound area getting a little red but no wound then awhile (about a week) after this photo I found another wound and treated it and now that wound has healed but another has formed. 

I’m so sorry for the late messages but I’m quite worried for her as she is constantly biting the wound and I have to keep stopping her so I would like advice. Thank you so much.

Good morning. Please phone 62543326 today for appointment with Dr Daniel. I am Dr Sing K Y. Ask them to clip hamster bald to clear infection of hairs, in my opinion. Please phone me 96686468 as soon as possible

 

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I brought my hamster (Tee Tee) to your vet on 8 December to be treated for a wound at her belly. It was healing till she bit another wound (I know she bit it as her cage is clear of any sharp objects that might cause another wound) so I continued to apply the medications given and keep her cage bedding free and clear of sharp objects.

That wound was starting to heal until I saw another fresh wound (still bleeding as the paper towels have fresh blood) just now so I’m starting to get worried now as once a wound heals she bites herself again and another wound forms. 

I also noticed some sort of lump at the wound area which I’m afraid might be cancerous. Please advise me on what to do, I don’t mind making another trip to the vet if necessary. Thank you.

 

 

This is her right now
Her fur already grew back a week ago but now her wound is stopping her fur from growing. 

 

 

This was how it was before we brought her to your vet
The medicine given helped tremendously but it’s because of her constant biting new spots

 

 

This was when her fur was growing back and she was free from wounds after giving the medications

 

 

 

This was awhile after the first photo (a lump?). 

And this photo shows her wound area getting a little red but no wound then awhile (about a week) after this photo I found another wound and treated it and now that wound has healed but another has formed
I’m so sorry for the late messages but I’m quite worried for her as she is constantly biting the wound and I have to keep stopping her so I would like advice. Thank you so much.

Good morning. Please phone 62543326 today for appointment with Dr Daniel. I am Dr Sing K Y. Ask them to clip hamster bald to clear infection of hairs, in my opinion
Please phone me 96686468 as soon as possible.

 

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31 DEC 2024:

I brought my hamster (Tee Tee) to your vet on 8 December to be treated for a wound at her belly. It was healing till she bit another wound (I know she bit it as her cage is clear of any sharp objects that might cause another wound) so I continued to apply the medications given and keep her cage bedding free and clear of sharp objects.

That wound was starting to heal until I saw another fresh wound (still bleeding as the paper towels have fresh blood) just now so I’m starting to get worried now as once a wound heals she bites herself again and another wound forms. 

I also noticed some sort of lump at the wound area which I’m afraid might be cancerous. Please advise me on what to do, I don’t mind making another trip to the vet if necessary. Thank you.

 

 

 TELE-CONSULTATION ADVICES:

1. Make an appointment to consult the vet at Toa Payoh Vets as soon as possible as it is hard to diagnose based on some images.

2. Bathe the hamster in warm  water with anti-septic soap, but the owner is unlikely to know how to do it properly. The hamster's thick coat needs to be properly dried after bathing.

3. Diet. Possible allergy to food. Feed approved hamster food and fewer items e.g. sunflower seed plus four other types seeds for the next two weeks.

4. Hygiene of housing. Dampness near the water bottle. Scattered pieces of food on litter and in hamster wheel, evident in the owner's photo. Clean housing daily.

5. Floor litter. No chips. The owner has used paper.


6. Likely infections of skin under the thick coat, hence more wounds appear. Best is to get the hamster clipped bald by Toa Payoh Vets to show the extent of the infected skin areas.

 

UPDATES:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/01/4419-vet-case-study-itchy-hamster.html