1. INSTAGRAM @toapayohvets
1 JUN 2021. BE KIND TO PETS VETERINARY STORIES. .
THE CASE OF THE SQUEAKING HAMSTER --- SHOW AND TELL
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow)
This 2-month-old male dwarf hamster’s fractured left hind leg was amputated at the knee level at Toa Payoh Vet 3 weeks ago. She consulted me on 27 May, as tele-consultations & photos were not as good as a proper physical examination.
"Now Hammie has two unusual behaviours," Ms Thompson said. “Firstly, he squeaked loudly for some time on two occasions. Secondly, he used his right hind paw or both front paws to scratch his left ear vigorously every day!"
"The intense squeaking suggested pain," I pointed to the bruised brown patch on the left scrotum. "Self-inflicted biting and friction on the bedding led to bruised genital and pain." Ms Thompson was satisfied with my cause and effect explanation.
“As for the inflamed left ear, frequent scratchings with the right hind paw to relieve ear itchiness were the cause,” I explained. “Some dirt or sand had lodged deep inside the left ear canal. I showed her the close-up digital photos of the affected areas to account for the behaviours after I treated the itchy left ear via ear irrigation.
SHOW AND TELL using CLOSE-UP PHOTOS gain the trust of the owner as the dwarf hamster's ear and scrotum are relatively small in area. Ms Thompson could see the inflamed areas clearly and she felt much happier after viewing the close-ups. “Please WhatsApp the photos to me,” she reminded me as she boarded her GrabRental taxi home to her Orchard Road condo to continue her work from home after lunch.
UPDATES AND MORE INFORMATION AT:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2021/05/3597-case-of-squeaky-dwarf-hamster.html
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.