Octr 26, 2015
Maltese X, F, Not spayed, 14 years.
Not eating 2 days, lethargic, fever at 39.7C.
Watery stools and anorexia 2 days on Oct 21, 2015. Saw groomer who came with transport vehicle and had been grooming this dog for last 10 years.
"Harsh lung sounds," I had elicited coughing from this old dog much loved by the lady. "Possible viral infection at the groomer's 4 days ago. I need a blood test to be done."
Blood test on Oct 23, 2015.
Glucose 2 (3.9-6)
Total WCC 2.1 (6-17)
N = 1.7% (60-70%) Abso. 0.04 (3 to 11.5.)
L 29.3 (12-30%) Abso 0.61
M 68.4% (3-10%) Abso 1.44 (0.15 to 1.35)
E = 0.5%
B = 0.1%
The blood test indicated viral pneumonia. The owner came early. An IV drip with antibiotic and tolfedine.
Dog recovered on Oct 25 but not 100%. Recovery meant 80% appetite and up to her nonsense.
The other dog was lethargic for 2 days and had recovered earlier. Both went for grooming. It was great that the pneumonic dog did not deteriorate in health and had become more active after treatment.
This case shows that old dogs do get viral infection. Most Singapore owners do not bother to vaccinate their older dogs. It is surprising that this dog had a good outcome.
The dog was very thin and could have pyometra as her vulval area was swollen on Oct 23 (pus dripping, licking). Good ending.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Sunday, October 25, 2015
2341. A coincidence - circum-anal tumour in a 12-year-old English Cocker Spaniel and a 13-year-old Siberian Husky
Sunday Oct 24, 2015
The active Blenheim English Cocker Spaniel looks larger than the average seen. He has the face of a Basset Hound. Male, not neutered, 12 years old came in as he had passed red blood in the urine yesterday.
"I palpated a golf-ball sized lump in the bladder area. It could also be an enlarged prostate" I said to the husband. "It is painless and an X-ray will be advised."
"However, the more important issue is that he has one small circum anal tumour. It measures 3 cm across below the right side of his anal area.
"No wonder he takes a long time to sit down recently," the wife said. The husband said: "We don't want to take the risk of him dying under anaesthesia. Is there an alternative treatment like medicine?"
So I gave Tardak 2.5 ml SC to bring down the size of this small tumour.Will it disappear since it is detected early?
By coincidence, yesterday, I had another case of 3 circum-anal tumours in a Siberian Husky, Male, 13 years/ The owner decided to operate it but the whole area is infected. The owner had consulted 3 vets before me. The 3rd vet did a biopsy which showed hepatoid adenoma. This test and surgery cost her $1,000. He quoted $2,000 for surgery. The owner consulted me. I told her that the tumours needed to be clean before surgery and there would be no skin to close up the anal wounds as there were 3 large tumours - two on the left and one on the right upper area of the anus, very close to the anal opening. Tardak and painkillers were effective for the past 3 days as the dog did not bite the tumours closing bleeding.
The active Blenheim English Cocker Spaniel looks larger than the average seen. He has the face of a Basset Hound. Male, not neutered, 12 years old came in as he had passed red blood in the urine yesterday.
"I palpated a golf-ball sized lump in the bladder area. It could also be an enlarged prostate" I said to the husband. "It is painless and an X-ray will be advised."
"However, the more important issue is that he has one small circum anal tumour. It measures 3 cm across below the right side of his anal area.
"No wonder he takes a long time to sit down recently," the wife said. The husband said: "We don't want to take the risk of him dying under anaesthesia. Is there an alternative treatment like medicine?"
So I gave Tardak 2.5 ml SC to bring down the size of this small tumour.Will it disappear since it is detected early?
By coincidence, yesterday, I had another case of 3 circum-anal tumours in a Siberian Husky, Male, 13 years/ The owner decided to operate it but the whole area is infected. The owner had consulted 3 vets before me. The 3rd vet did a biopsy which showed hepatoid adenoma. This test and surgery cost her $1,000. He quoted $2,000 for surgery. The owner consulted me. I told her that the tumours needed to be clean before surgery and there would be no skin to close up the anal wounds as there were 3 large tumours - two on the left and one on the right upper area of the anus, very close to the anal opening. Tardak and painkillers were effective for the past 3 days as the dog did not bite the tumours closing bleeding.
2340. The Husky has 3 circum-anal tumours
Oct 24, 2015
Husky, Male, 11 years, 17kg.
According to the owner
lst vet did not "diagnose" it. It was a small tumour.
"Inexperienced and young," the owner said.
2nd vet did not want to operate on it as the tumours had ballooned. So he refer to the 3rd vet.
3rd vet cut a portion and sent it to the histology lab for analysis. Circum-anal tumour, hepatoid adenoma. This cost $1,000. The surgery estimated to be $2,000. The biopsied tumour became inflamed and itchy.
That is how I became the 4th vet as the backside tumours were bleeding profusely all over the house. The owner came with the Clara, the pet transport lady to get the surgery done. The 3 tumours were infected and so the owners thought it was a simple surgery to cut them off.
"The tumours are large and very close to the anal opening," I advised operation and neutering to be 10 days later after a Tardak injection to shrink the tumours and medication for the infections. "It is not good for the dog to operate today as the bacteria will spread to the surgical wound, leading to stitch breakdown and a big skin hole hard to heal. You will have more medical costs and stress if the wound cannot close."
The owners wanted both neuter and circum-anal tumour removal today. The right undescended testicle was painful on palpation.
Tardak did reduce the bleeding. Tardak is an anti-androgen used totreat canine prostatic hypertrophy, circumanal tumours and modification of hypersexuality in the male dog. Some neutered male dogs still show hypersexuality. It is delmadinone acetate and acts in at least 2 modes of acgtion:
1. by the inhibition of pituitary gonadotrophin release. The inhibition of ICSH (Intersittial Cell STimulating Hormone) restrains testes interstitial cell function and hence testosterone production.
2. by possibly affection the "behavioural sex centre."
Tardak given at 2 ml SC caused the tumours to shrink a bit overnight. The dog was sent home to save on medical costs. Wound cleaning and anti-fly powder need to be done at home. 10 days later, the owner will WhatsApp the image to me to see whether the dog can undergo circum anal surgery.
Husky, Male, 11 years, 17kg.
According to the owner
lst vet did not "diagnose" it. It was a small tumour.
"Inexperienced and young," the owner said.
2nd vet did not want to operate on it as the tumours had ballooned. So he refer to the 3rd vet.
3rd vet cut a portion and sent it to the histology lab for analysis. Circum-anal tumour, hepatoid adenoma. This cost $1,000. The surgery estimated to be $2,000. The biopsied tumour became inflamed and itchy.
Before Tardak injection. Inoperable now.
That is how I became the 4th vet as the backside tumours were bleeding profusely all over the house. The owner came with the Clara, the pet transport lady to get the surgery done. The 3 tumours were infected and so the owners thought it was a simple surgery to cut them off.
"The tumours are large and very close to the anal opening," I advised operation and neutering to be 10 days later after a Tardak injection to shrink the tumours and medication for the infections. "It is not good for the dog to operate today as the bacteria will spread to the surgical wound, leading to stitch breakdown and a big skin hole hard to heal. You will have more medical costs and stress if the wound cannot close."
The owners wanted both neuter and circum-anal tumour removal today. The right undescended testicle was painful on palpation.
Tardak did reduce the bleeding. Tardak is an anti-androgen used totreat canine prostatic hypertrophy, circumanal tumours and modification of hypersexuality in the male dog. Some neutered male dogs still show hypersexuality. It is delmadinone acetate and acts in at least 2 modes of acgtion:
1. by the inhibition of pituitary gonadotrophin release. The inhibition of ICSH (Intersittial Cell STimulating Hormone) restrains testes interstitial cell function and hence testosterone production.
2. by possibly affection the "behavioural sex centre."
Tardak given at 2 ml SC caused the tumours to shrink a bit overnight. The dog was sent home to save on medical costs. Wound cleaning and anti-fly powder need to be done at home. 10 days later, the owner will WhatsApp the image to me to see whether the dog can undergo circum anal surgery.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
2339. An owner's intuition that her dog's anorexia is not due to heart disease
Drinks a lot. Not eating for 4 days. 14-year-old male Cavalier King Charles.
"I don't think that the cause of my dog not eating for the past 4 days is due to his heart disease," the working lady had been giving her 14-year-old Cavalier King Charles Vetmedin and furosemide for the past 10 months. "My dog's breathing rate is normal."
This dog had an unusually gigantic submandibular lymph nodes of around 5 cm across. Normal ones are not palpable. So, was there some bacterial infection of the mouth?
BLOOD TEST
Urea 68.2 (4.2-6.3)
Creatinine 511 (89-177)
suggestive of kidney failure
Haemoglobin 9.2 (12-18)
Red cell count 3.9 (5.5 - 8.5)
suggestive of anaemia
Total white cell count 35.5 (6. - 17) leucocytosis.
N 43.7% (60-70). Unusually low. Abs 15.5 (3-11.5)
L 49.6% Abs 17.6
PCV 0.26 (0.37-0.55)
X rays showed enlarged left heart.
So, the owner's intuition is correct. The dog has kidney failure, accounting for thirst and anaemia.
For the past months, no blood tests were done as the owner came for repeat heart disease medication and wants least medical costs.
Oct 23, 2015
The dog had vomited and had diarrhea yesterday. He was very weak and was unable to stand up.
At 9 am, the owner came as a housecall would not be of any help to the dog as he needed an IV drip. He was not able to stand up. "Your dog is very old at 14 years of age. He has heart and kidney disease and septicaemia. Hence there was vomiting and diarrhea. The chances of survival are very slim."
The owner decided to take the dog home after the IV drip. The dog was not able to stand. As she held the dog home in her arms to cross over the overhead bridge to Potong Pasir, the dog had a heart attack and passed away in her arms literally.
She thanked me and Dr Daniel for the efforts in saving her dog.
"I don't think that the cause of my dog not eating for the past 4 days is due to his heart disease," the working lady had been giving her 14-year-old Cavalier King Charles Vetmedin and furosemide for the past 10 months. "My dog's breathing rate is normal."
This dog had an unusually gigantic submandibular lymph nodes of around 5 cm across. Normal ones are not palpable. So, was there some bacterial infection of the mouth?
BLOOD TEST
Urea 68.2 (4.2-6.3)
Creatinine 511 (89-177)
suggestive of kidney failure
Haemoglobin 9.2 (12-18)
Red cell count 3.9 (5.5 - 8.5)
suggestive of anaemia
Total white cell count 35.5 (6. - 17) leucocytosis.
N 43.7% (60-70). Unusually low. Abs 15.5 (3-11.5)
L 49.6% Abs 17.6
PCV 0.26 (0.37-0.55)
X rays showed enlarged left heart.
So, the owner's intuition is correct. The dog has kidney failure, accounting for thirst and anaemia.
For the past months, no blood tests were done as the owner came for repeat heart disease medication and wants least medical costs.
Oct 23, 2015
The dog had vomited and had diarrhea yesterday. He was very weak and was unable to stand up.
At 9 am, the owner came as a housecall would not be of any help to the dog as he needed an IV drip. He was not able to stand up. "Your dog is very old at 14 years of age. He has heart and kidney disease and septicaemia. Hence there was vomiting and diarrhea. The chances of survival are very slim."
The owner decided to take the dog home after the IV drip. The dog was not able to stand. As she held the dog home in her arms to cross over the overhead bridge to Potong Pasir, the dog had a heart attack and passed away in her arms literally.
She thanked me and Dr Daniel for the efforts in saving her dog.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
2338. A separate waiting area for cats and for dogs in a vet clinic
Oct 21, 2015
Recently I spoke to Dr Daniel about the concept of a separate waiting area for dog and cat owners. When I review the travel pics of a vet clinic in Gap, South France, it has implemented this concept.
2337. A gentle 6-year-old female guinea pig has a doublel chin?
Oct 20, 2015
The busy working couple came at 6 pm with this 6-year-old guinea pig after making an appointment yesterday. I was talking to a dog owner who came to buy the L/D diet for his old female dog with liver disease and breast tumour.
For this dog owner, he had not wanted surgery when his old dog had a small breast tumour. He said he worried that the dog would feel very painful after the surgery.
"There are pain-killer drugs after surgery," I said frankly. "You were able to afford the surgery which cost around $300 to remove a small breast lump, but you proscrastinate." Sometimes, it is possible to be blunt if the vet knows the client well. It was just a fatal decision as the dog's breast tumours had grown and spread but no surgery could be done now as there was liver disease leading to very high anaesthetic risk.
Blood test had revealed liver disorder and so the dog was given the special liver diet L/D to prevent further liver damage. This dog had a very high anaesthetic risk as her liver was not normal and so no surgery to remove the breast tumour and spay was to be done.
As for this old guinea pig, the owners had to decide on operation. There is excess skin hanging down and the lump was soft. It could be a tumour or consolidated abscess. I will do the surgery today Oct 22, 2015 to incise and check what was inside this left chin swelling with loose skin.
TREATMENT
Isoflurane gas only.Large lipoma excised electro-surgery by Dr Daniel. No histology.
The busy working couple came at 6 pm with this 6-year-old guinea pig after making an appointment yesterday. I was talking to a dog owner who came to buy the L/D diet for his old female dog with liver disease and breast tumour.
For this dog owner, he had not wanted surgery when his old dog had a small breast tumour. He said he worried that the dog would feel very painful after the surgery.
"There are pain-killer drugs after surgery," I said frankly. "You were able to afford the surgery which cost around $300 to remove a small breast lump, but you proscrastinate." Sometimes, it is possible to be blunt if the vet knows the client well. It was just a fatal decision as the dog's breast tumours had grown and spread but no surgery could be done now as there was liver disease leading to very high anaesthetic risk.
Blood test had revealed liver disorder and so the dog was given the special liver diet L/D to prevent further liver damage. This dog had a very high anaesthetic risk as her liver was not normal and so no surgery to remove the breast tumour and spay was to be done.
As for this old guinea pig, the owners had to decide on operation. There is excess skin hanging down and the lump was soft. It could be a tumour or consolidated abscess. I will do the surgery today Oct 22, 2015 to incise and check what was inside this left chin swelling with loose skin.
TREATMENT
Isoflurane gas only.Large lipoma excised electro-surgery by Dr Daniel. No histology.
2336. An 11-year-old Golden Retriever has a large ear tumour
Monday, October 19, 2015
54. An old Golden Retriever has a fast-growing ear tumour. What to do?
Oct 19, 2015 I got an email today. Dear Judy, Thank you for taking time off your busy schedule to look at this email. I am writing to understand about the possible procedure that can be administered on my golden retriever.
He is a 11 year old boy and has got a large cyst/growth on his right head, near to the ear area (3cm In diameter). I understand from another vet that his condition will require him going through GA and he might not wake up due to his age. Therefore the vet suggested us to not do anything. However, the growth has been growing day by day and it is a worrying scene. I am hoping that you guys can assist to see if there are any possible medical treatment for him. Please see attached photographs for his Cyst/growth.
He is a 11 year old boy and has got a large cyst/growth on his right head, near to the ear area (3cm In diameter). I understand from another vet that his condition will require him going through GA and he might not wake up due to his age. Therefore the vet suggested us to not do anything. However, the growth has been growing day by day and it is a worrying scene. I am hoping that you guys can assist to see if there are any possible medical treatment for him. Please see attached photographs for his Cyst/growth.
--------------------------------------------
The young man's 11-year-old Golden Retriever has a large growing ear tumour. His family vet said that the dog was too risky to operate when consulted one month ago. "In my experience," he said, "Golden Retrievers live up to 15 year at the most. So risky to operate as the dog may die under anaesthestic." But the ear tumour doubled its size to a fish-ball now. The young man googled "veterinary surgery Singapore" or some words and consulted me. "It is risky if the dog is in poor health," I said. "If not, short surgeries are safe. Have you done as blood test?" "Yes," he said. "One year ago by this vet. Nothing abnormal." There is no guarantee of no-death anaesthesia in old dogs. So, he has to decide. "Presently, the ear tumour does not bother the dog," he said. "When it grows much bigger and ulcerated," I said. "The irritation and inflammation will cause the flies to buzz onto it and lay eggs forming maggots. The dog will be bothered."
I met the young man on Oct 19, 2015.
The family vet had warned him about death of old dogs on the op table and so the tumour, from a small pea size became a golf-ball size and he sought other vets via the internet and chanced upon Toa Payoh Vets.
"There are anaesthetic risks for old dog surgeries," I said. "However, old dogs with good health do not die from this short anaesthesia to remove the ear tumour. No vet can guarantee no death on the operating table. The owner has to make the decision."
The alert and active dog was small sized but his heart was good and his femoral pulses were strong. The rectal temp was 39.9 which was slightly higher
He decided on the surgery to be done today Oct 21, 2015. I operated on the dog after 2 days of antibiotics. 0.1 ml domitor + 0.15 ml ketamine IV and isoflurane gas maintenance. The surgery took around 17 minutes and the dog was smoothly anaesthesized.
Electro-surgery sliced off the big tumour measuring at least 5 cm x 5 cm x 4 cm. The owner did not want histology.
Antisedan 0.1 ml was given to reverse th e effect of domitor. The dog woke up.The ear was bandaged and the dog went home with medication and painkillers.
FOLLOW UP
Sunday Oct 25, 2015
I tel the owner. "Everything is fine," he said. "The bandage of the ear came loose on the evening of the day of discharge." He will email to me the image.
I met the young man on Oct 19, 2015.
The family vet had warned him about death of old dogs on the op table and so the tumour, from a small pea size became a golf-ball size and he sought other vets via the internet and chanced upon Toa Payoh Vets.
"There are anaesthetic risks for old dog surgeries," I said. "However, old dogs with good health do not die from this short anaesthesia to remove the ear tumour. No vet can guarantee no death on the operating table. The owner has to make the decision."
The alert and active dog was small sized but his heart was good and his femoral pulses were strong. The rectal temp was 39.9 which was slightly higher
He decided on the surgery to be done today Oct 21, 2015. I operated on the dog after 2 days of antibiotics. 0.1 ml domitor + 0.15 ml ketamine IV and isoflurane gas maintenance. The surgery took around 17 minutes and the dog was smoothly anaesthesized.
Electro-surgery sliced off the big tumour measuring at least 5 cm x 5 cm x 4 cm. The owner did not want histology.
Antisedan 0.1 ml was given to reverse th e effect of domitor. The dog woke up.The ear was bandaged and the dog went home with medication and painkillers.
FOLLOW UP
Sunday Oct 25, 2015
I tel the owner. "Everything is fine," he said. "The bandage of the ear came loose on the evening of the day of discharge." He will email to me the image.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
2335. Daniel's images photoshopped
It took 2.5 hours just to edit and touch up the images. The time taken by non-experienced digital photographer will be terribly long.
Oct 19, 2105. Tripod stand took the images with late afternoon sun onto the actual prints.
Young people should learn digital photography seriously as memories once gone are lost forever if not captured digitally and posted in the cloud. Hard disk storage unreliable as they need to be warmed up and deteriorate over the years.
Only cloud storage in google and you tube are likely to last longer, in my opinion. I was surprised that the mummy had not thrown out the photo albums during the recent house-keeping .
Monday, October 19, 2015
Sunday's rare pets - A Chinese soft-shelled turtle and a pet fancy mouse as patients
Sunday Oct 18, 2015. Still hazy with sun obscured by grey clouds.
2 rare pets in Singapore seen today at Toa Payoh Vets.
The younger generation in their 30s were the pet owners. It was fun talking to the two types of owners and knowing more about the lifestyle of the pets. The information is shared in the images below and in the you tube videos.
Pet Fancy Mouse has swollen upper eyelid of the left eye. Why?
Hard to say but there was a much bigger room mate at 4 months of age and mature.
A territorial fight or accidental injury during grooming by the bigger mouse? I had the video of the bigger grooming the smaller one after the examination. The smaller one just kept still. So, was there bullying or not as the older one matures at 3 months and is now 4 months and will want
more territory.
One week ago, the tank water was very smelly and probably had much fetid gas. The water was usually changed every 3 days. So this Chinese Soft-shelled turtle could have been badly infected. He stopped eating. When given new brands of pellets, he ate but then stopped eating.
From the history, I suspected it was acute gastroenteritis, probably from poor pellet quality as Taiwan had a series of bad quality food scares last year, with re-cycled oil being used for sale as cooking oil.
"Are the stool quality and colour back to normal?" I asked.
"Yes," the young man said. "But very little."
This turtle dislikes being handled and splashed about. I could not see his small eyes since he usually hides his head showing his nose.
2 rare pets in Singapore seen today at Toa Payoh Vets.
The younger generation in their 30s were the pet owners. It was fun talking to the two types of owners and knowing more about the lifestyle of the pets. The information is shared in the images below and in the you tube videos.
Pet Fancy Mouse has swollen upper eyelid of the left eye. Why?
Hard to say but there was a much bigger room mate at 4 months of age and mature.
A territorial fight or accidental injury during grooming by the bigger mouse? I had the video of the bigger grooming the smaller one after the examination. The smaller one just kept still. So, was there bullying or not as the older one matures at 3 months and is now 4 months and will want
more territory.
One week ago, the tank water was very smelly and probably had much fetid gas. The water was usually changed every 3 days. So this Chinese Soft-shelled turtle could have been badly infected. He stopped eating. When given new brands of pellets, he ate but then stopped eating.
From the history, I suspected it was acute gastroenteritis, probably from poor pellet quality as Taiwan had a series of bad quality food scares last year, with re-cycled oil being used for sale as cooking oil.
"Are the stool quality and colour back to normal?" I asked.
"Yes," the young man said. "But very little."
This turtle dislikes being handled and splashed about. I could not see his small eyes since he usually hides his head showing his nose.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
2333. A tumour 3 times larger than the hamster's head
Saturday Oct 17, 2015 morning.
"Think about the high anaesthetic risk resulting in death on the operating table," I advised the father who brought in a 1.5-year-old Winter White dwarf hamster with a left chest subcutaneous tumour as big as a golf ball. Its size was 3 times the size of his head.
Such gigantic tumours send shivers down my spine if surgery is to be done as the death rate exceeds 90% in such cases, in my experience. Death could be post-operation as the hamster might not recover from the anaesthetic drug Zoletil given IM.
"What would you advise?" the father of the 10-year-old girl asked me. "To operate may lead to death. If no operation, the hamster will die of infection and breathing difficulty."
"I would have got the lump removed when it is very small," I said. "For now, surgical removal is the only option as drugs will not shrink the tumour."
"The lump was small, but 2 months ago, it ballooned and grew bigger and bigger!"
The parents and the little girl sat in the waiting room to ponder over the fate of this hamster.
They decided to go for the operattion. Dr Daniel operated. The hamster had a large stitched area on the left chest to neck over 4 cm long!
Bleeding and more bleeding from the wound post operation. The hamster was barely awake when he went home to Pasir Ris in North Singapore as this was a day surgery.
FOLLOW UP ON OCT 18, 2015 11.30 AM
"The hamster slept the whole night," the mother answered my phone call. "Now he is running around, trying to scratch his itchy left neck. He could not reach the stitches as the loose neck skin prevented him from doing it!"
"Keep the wound very clean and give the medication," I advised. "It may recur as it is likely to be cancerous since it grows so fast in the last 2 months."
"Where will the tumour exist?" the mother asked.
"In the same area."
"When?" she asked again.
"As early as 2 months after surgery. Observe for any small lumps."
"Pasir Ris is distant from Toa Payoh. Is there a vet clinic nearby?"
"No," the mother said. "We googled hamster tumour surgery and found Toa Payoh Vets' you tube video of a similar case of hamster tumour operated. That is why we went to you."
This hamster is carefully and daily cared for by the little girl who is only 10 years old. Every day, she will clean up the cage and ensure that the hamster has food. This will be the reason that the parents decide to get the hamster operated.
Oct 19, 2015
I googled "hamster tumour surgery" and found the following:
YOUTUBE VIDEO SEEN BY THE FAMILY OF A DWARF HAMSTER WITH A GIGANTIC TUMOUR EXCISED AT TOA PAYOH VETS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVD1SMDzAFw&feature=youtu.be
OTHER CASES
http://www.asiahomes.com/singaporetpvet/misc/0721hamster_tumour.htm
http://www.toapayohvets.com/surgery/050609PAGE1_hamsters_ToaPayohVets.htm
http://www.sinpets.com/F6/20111009unacceptable-veterinary-advices-hamster-tumouors-singapore_ToaPayohVets.htm
"Think about the high anaesthetic risk resulting in death on the operating table," I advised the father who brought in a 1.5-year-old Winter White dwarf hamster with a left chest subcutaneous tumour as big as a golf ball. Its size was 3 times the size of his head.
Such gigantic tumours send shivers down my spine if surgery is to be done as the death rate exceeds 90% in such cases, in my experience. Death could be post-operation as the hamster might not recover from the anaesthetic drug Zoletil given IM.
"What would you advise?" the father of the 10-year-old girl asked me. "To operate may lead to death. If no operation, the hamster will die of infection and breathing difficulty."
"I would have got the lump removed when it is very small," I said. "For now, surgical removal is the only option as drugs will not shrink the tumour."
"The lump was small, but 2 months ago, it ballooned and grew bigger and bigger!"
The parents and the little girl sat in the waiting room to ponder over the fate of this hamster.
They decided to go for the operattion. Dr Daniel operated. The hamster had a large stitched area on the left chest to neck over 4 cm long!
Bleeding and more bleeding from the wound post operation. The hamster was barely awake when he went home to Pasir Ris in North Singapore as this was a day surgery.
FOLLOW UP ON OCT 18, 2015 11.30 AM
"The hamster slept the whole night," the mother answered my phone call. "Now he is running around, trying to scratch his itchy left neck. He could not reach the stitches as the loose neck skin prevented him from doing it!"
"Keep the wound very clean and give the medication," I advised. "It may recur as it is likely to be cancerous since it grows so fast in the last 2 months."
"Where will the tumour exist?" the mother asked.
"In the same area."
"When?" she asked again.
"As early as 2 months after surgery. Observe for any small lumps."
"Pasir Ris is distant from Toa Payoh. Is there a vet clinic nearby?"
"No," the mother said. "We googled hamster tumour surgery and found Toa Payoh Vets' you tube video of a similar case of hamster tumour operated. That is why we went to you."
This hamster is carefully and daily cared for by the little girl who is only 10 years old. Every day, she will clean up the cage and ensure that the hamster has food. This will be the reason that the parents decide to get the hamster operated.
Oct 19, 2015
I googled "hamster tumour surgery" and found the following:
YOUTUBE VIDEO SEEN BY THE FAMILY OF A DWARF HAMSTER WITH A GIGANTIC TUMOUR EXCISED AT TOA PAYOH VETS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVD1SMDzAFw&feature=youtu.be
OTHER CASES
http://www.asiahomes.com/singaporetpvet/misc/0721hamster_tumour.htm
http://www.toapayohvets.com/surgery/050609PAGE1_hamsters_ToaPayohVets.htm
http://www.sinpets.com/F6/20111009unacceptable-veterinary-advices-hamster-tumouors-singapore_ToaPayohVets.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)