An 18-month-old dwarf hamster has multiple skin warts. 1/3
Channel: Dr David Sing
Date: 26/07/2018

This is the lst part of the veterinary educational video to educate hamster owners that it is important to examine your hamster daily for early detection of skin growths or warts.

The owner noticed the warts in the chin and left elbow and armpit. As the internet had referred around 5 hamster cases/week to Toa Payoh Vets in the last 3 years, I (Dr Sing Kong Yuen) noted that many older hamsters have ear warts or growths. The owner had not thought of checking the ears. I did ask her and a large ear growth of 4mm x 3mm was seen!   

"This gentle hamster does not know how to roll in a sand bath," the owner laughed when I asked as many Singapore hamster owners provide sand bath. He had two large pimples on both lip commissures (see this video) probably due to biting large seeds and getting ulcerated. Some weeks ago, he had come to Dr Daniel to clean up the scent gland which emitted a "urine smell". Today, it was the skin warts. 

These were removed by electro-excision under isoflurane gas and 0.01 ml Zoletil 100 injection IM anaesthesia. The hamster is OK and the owner is happy with the outcome.