TO OPERATE OR NOT TO OPERATE?
The dwarf hamster has infected and swollen private parts. What to do?
Veterinary Stories by Dr
Sing Kong Yuen from Toa Payoh Vets
OCTOBER 14, 2022.
A hamster owner WhatsApp me a video of her sick hamster. He was a one-year-old dwarf hamster. "He keeps licking his private parts," she said over the phone. "The area becomes wet. He eats much less nowadays."
"Your hamster has a swollen right testes," I said. "The causes may be the wound due to injury or the testes may have rotated and become twisted. "In any case, bring the hamster for treatment early."
OCTOBER 16 - 19, 2022.
For 3 days as an inpatient at Toa Payoh Vets, the hamster was given medication and the wound
was cleaned.
OCTOBER
19, 2022. He was active and eating more, but his poo was less. The
owner brings the hamster home. "Continue the antibiotics and
pain-killer for the next 7 days," I said.
OCTOBER 21, 2022.
"The
hamster is not feeling well," the owner said. "He has no appetite and
is sleepy." She brought the hamster to the Surgery. He passed away in
the afternoon.
CONCLUSION.
The
right testes had been infected via the wound. He had been licking the
scrotal area to relieve himself of the itchiness and pain. The area was
damp with his saliva. On the Day 3 of inpatient treatment, the area was
dry as he was not licking. Hence, the owner would give him medication at
home.
Did the owner give him the medication or the correct
dosage? The bacterial infection had returned or had become resistant to
the antibiotics. It is hard to say. Should I have operated on Day 3 to remove the infected testicle?
TO OPERATE OR NOT ON DAY 3 OF INPATIENT STAY?
The
operation is called NEUTER which is to remove the two testes. In
healthy hamsters, there is practically no anaesthetic risk of death on
the operating table. There was a high risk as this hamster was not 100%
healthy.
CONCLUSION.
The
hamster was active as a normal dwarf hamster, hence he was sent home on
Day 3 of inpatient to be nursed by the owner. This would save her
veterinary expenses.This case shows that it is hard to advise neuter
after 3 days days of inpatient treatment. From this experience, I will
advise neuter after 3 days of inpatient treatment preferably. Or ward
the hamster for 10 days to observe and operate later.
UPDATES
AT:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2022/12/4184-to-operate-or-not-to-operate.html
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VIDEO 3
VIDEO 4.
