4792. VET CASE. Large ear canal abscess and/or tumour in a 17-month-old female Syrian hamster

 

 

VET CASE STUDY: PROMPT VETERINARY TREATMENT SAVES LIVES. 

A GIGANTIC EAR ABSCESS IN A SYRIAN HAMSTER.
EAR CANAL TUMOUR AND INFECTIONS. WHAT TO DO?
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow). 21 Jan 2026. 

BE KIND TO PETS VETERINARY EDUCATIONAL VIDEO
sponsored by Toa Payoh Vets 

SINGAPORE - 14 JAN 2026: A 16-month-old female Syrian hamster has a large swelling below the left ear. "It is quite soft," Jasmine texted to me. "The cause is likely to be an abscess with or without left lateral ear canal tumours," I replied. "Prompt veterinary treatment is needed."

ANAESTHESIA. "All anaesthesia carries risk of death," said Dr Daniel. "Hence you have been briefed about the risks and sign the Anaesthetic Consent form."

"As the hamster is eating, she will likely survive the anaesthesia and surgery. The later the surgery is done, the higher the risk of death as the hamster will become weaker due to bacterial infections."

SURGERY will be two procedures:
1. Ear Amputation: Removal of the lateral ear canal (brown rectangle). It will likely have ear canal tumours and pus.
2. Lance and drain the giant skin abscess below the ear (yellow oval).
After thorough cleaning of the wound, the skin is stitched up (blue crosses).

PROGNOSIS:
The Syrian hamster will lead a normal life. Its life span is 2.5 to 3 years. Therefore, this
AMPUTATION of the lateral ear canal with tumours SAVES HER LIFE.

NO SURGERY DONE:
Some owners may prefer no surgery to avoid ear canal amputation.
Abscess gets larger and larger. The hamster scratches it to relieve her pain and itchiness.  The bacterial infection will likely spread to the eye, nose, gums, brain, internal organs. It ruptures due to scratching (red bars), spilling tattered rotting tissues and pus. The hamster stops eating and dies of sepsis.
Euthanaisa. Death before her time.   

CONCLUSION:
Prompt veterinary treatment saves lives, in this case. Amputation of the lateral ear canal, likely with ear tumours inside, will NOT affect the quality of life of this Syrian hamster. She will lead a normal life as she has around 8 - 14 months to live, assuming a life span of 2.5 to 3 years.   

 
UPDATE: 

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2026/01/4792-vet-case-large-ear-canal-abscess.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canon R5  24-105mm lens

103mm, 1/3200 sec, f/4, iso 180. AV mode
paper on sunlight on road outside gate
21 Jan 2026. 11.08 am

handheld

 

 

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4791. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300 mm. The white-breasted waterhen

 

 

12 Jan 2026. 4.32pm
Canon R5, 75mm, 1/2000 sec, f/4.5, ISO 1000, tv mode 

 

 

Normally shy, avoiding humans, this white-breasted waterhen makes a few trips to the outdoor dining areasof the Kopitiam food centre in Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, foraging for human food very cautiously.

TO BUY PHOTO:shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets

 

 

 

 

4790. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300 mm lens. The Pieris plant.

 SINGAPORE – 14 JAN 2026: Yishun Pond shores opposite Khoo Teck Puat Hospital is planted with PIERIS which is a genus of 7 species of evergreen shrubs. The new glossy red leaves turn green when mature. It is also known as forest flame bush. It is a popular ornamental roadside plant and hedge that has been cultivated by NParks nowadays.

14 Jan 2026. 10.12am
Canon R5 75mm
1/1600 sec

f/4
iso 640

4789. PHOTOGRAPHY - 75 - 300mm lens. The female Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital on 12 January 2026.

 

The female Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital's Botanic Garden.
12 January 2026. 4.09pm
Canon R5, 210mm, 1/2000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 5000

The female's pattern appearance is in stark contrast to the male's entirely glossy black plumage.

 

  [12:27, 17/01/2026] Dr David Sing: Good afternoon. This bird appeared twice on the same tree to give me a 2nd chance to take her photo.

[12:27, 17/01/2026] Dr David Sing: The female Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital's Botanic Garden.
12 January 2026. 4.09pm
Canon R5, 210mm, 1/2000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 5000. tv mode. 

The female's pattern appearance is in stark contrast to the male's entirely glossy black plumage

 

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 12 January 2026. 4.15pm
Canon R5, 250mm, 1/2000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 10000. tv mode. 

 

 

 

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WILDLIFE SINGAPORE STORIES - Video - Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow). SECOND CHANCES.

Wild birds rarely linger for more than 60 seconds and present a full-body view prized by photographers. 

This case is named SECOND CHANCES for the following reasons:   

On 12 January 2026, I visited my hospitalised wife at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH). In the afternoon,

I tried my luck taking the few wild birds at KTPH. A large spotted bird appeared hidden inside

the leaves of the trees inside the small Botanic Gardens opposite the Kopitiam food court.

It was difficult to take a full-body view of the female Asian Koel hidden inside the leaves

The bird stayed less a minute perched among the leaves. I was happy to get a full-body view. Almost full body! 

The bird re-appeared later for me to take another photo some minutes later. Hence you can see my two photos. 

In real life, one may get a second chance, but one must be prepared to receive it. For a photographer, he must have his camera at hand! 

UPDATES AT:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2026/01/4789-female-asian-koel-eudynamys.html

4788. PHOTOGRAPHY Magpie Goose

 Magpie Geese and chick

 

 

 

 

4787. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300 mm. Electus parrots. The correct moments came.

A green male eclectus parrot and a crimson female eclectus parrot.

 

 

Sometimes the correct moments never arrive. In this case, I was present at the Bird Paradise after an employee had placed food on the feeder.

The crimson female electus parrot and the green male electus parrot were present together for breakfast at the same time for a brief moment.

Canon R5, lens 75 - 300mm
95mm, 1/500 sec, f/5, iso 1600
13 Jan 2026, 10.03am 

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Canon R5, lens 75 - 300mm
75mm, 1/500 sec, f/4,5, iso 1000
13 Jan 2026, 9.58am

male green Electus parrot (L) 

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Heinsohn began studying these shy parrots in the remote northern rainforests of the Cape York Peninsular, Australia. This took some serious climbing skills as the parrots only nest in tree hollows 20-30m up.

Females do all the brooding and rarely leave the hollow, even after the chicks have fledged. This is highly unusual, but a good hollow is hard to find. The right species of nest tree is rare – just one per square kilometre – and cavities prone to flooding, which can drown the chicks.

So females in possession of lofty, dry hollows will guard their prime real estate with their life. Contests are frequent and can be fatal. Females are forced to stay put and defend their coveted hollows for 11 months of the year.

 The only way a female avoids starvation is by being fed by males hoping to mate with her. Females might have up to five males in attendance, feeding chicks that aren’t even theirs. So, males spread their bets by servicing several females, giving the eclectus a curious polygynandrous mating system very different to most monogamous parrots.

 

4786. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300mm Eurasian Tree Sparrow

 SINGAPORE - 11 JAN 2026: 3.31pm. Yishun Pond Park.
Canon R5 300mm 1/2000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 8000


The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) has a rich chestnut crown and a black patch on each pure white cheek. It prefers woodland and farmland areas rather than dense cities. 

 

 

4785. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300 mm lens

 LENS 75 - 300mm

The feeder tray was filled with fruit pieces.
Three big birds feed on the tray at one time. I quickly snapped a photo as the two on the right flew away soon.

Male Electus parrot (Electus rotarus) which is primarily bright emerald green with some red and blue markings. The female has vivid ruby red and purple/blue.

male Red-tailed Black Cockatoo has bright red panels on the tail.

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo has pink and white plumage with a prominent red and yellow crest. Medium-sized bird from Australia. Primarily granivorous (grass seeds mainly), wattle seeds, fruits and nuts.

 

13 Jan 2026. 9.58am
Canon R5, 75mm, 1/500 sec, f/4.5, ISO 1000

 

 

 

 

 

4784. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300 mm lens.

 

 11 Jan 2026. 3.07pm. A zebra dove (Geopelia striata) is spotted at Yishun Pond Park. It looks very healthy, bright eyed and in good bodily condition as if she had excellent nutrition. Has it got any stress from predator birds?

11 Jan 2026. 3.07pm.  Canon R5 260mm, 1/2000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 3200. tv mode.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 TO BUY PHOTO:
www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets

4782. PHOTOGRAPHY USING 75 - 300 mm lens. Pink-necked green pigeon - adult male

SINGAPORE - 12 JAN 2026: This healthy adult male pink-necked green pigeon (Treron vernans) is spotted in the small Botanic Garden of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. He has the distinctive powder-pink neck, grey-blue head and a vibrant orange patch on his neck. The female is primarily green above and yellowish-grey below with NO vibrant neck and breast coloration. 

This image is taken by Canon R5 220 mm, 1 over 2000 sec, f over 5.6, iso 2500 in tv mode.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SINGAPORE - 12 JAN 2026: 3.49pm. The back view of the male Pink-necked Green Pigeon perched on a branch in the small Botanic Garden of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

Canon R5 300mm, 1/2000 sec, f/5.6, iso 5000