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HAMSTER
MEDICINE & SURGERY AT TOA PAYOH VETS
MULTIPLE WARTS IN A HAMSTER'S FOOT
Dr Sing
Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Case written: Oct 18, 2008.
Updated: Apr 16, 2009
Multiple
warts proliferated in the right fore paw (foot) of
this dwarf hamster. The hamster
started to bite
this hideous mass which he just could not get rid of
by shaking.
The busy owner took him to a vet some months ago
when he had a small foot swelling. She could not
remember how this swelling looked like. However, she did not
consult any vet when the warts started to multiply and
grow bigger and bigger. Now, is it too late to help
this poor hamster in the prime of his life?
What is the veterinary solution to this
problem?
"Amputate the
foot," my assistant Aung said. "How is this young
hamster going to grasp his seeds to eat to live if
he has only one front paw?" I asked my assistant. He
shook his head. "Maybe deep freezing."
The deep freezing
can was taken out. The nozzle sprayed freezing
liquid into the warts at the top and bottom of the
foot on Day 1 and Day 3. Would this method work?
On Day 3 and 4, I gave anti-inflammatory and antibiotics
orally and waited. This was a very rare case
although individual small warts in hamsters are
commonly seen at Toa Payoh Vets.
The paw warts
appeared to have "melted" away around Day
6. The raw area was wet
as
the hamster licked the paw to clean himself. He was
nervous on seeing me as I had to catch him from
sprinting away so as to examine his small foot
daily. Sometimes he would squeak in great protest at
this indignity of being pressed onto the ground
by my hand so that he could be examined.
Nursing
was especially
important in this case. I instructed my assistant to
dip the paw in clean warm water daily to soften the
matted hairs at the nail area and to remove cell
debris. This helped the hamster in grooming too as
he could not get rid of the sticky matted hairs at
the end of his foot.
Healing areas in
the right paw with no
visible warts seen after 14
days. The hamster was not so nervous in seeing me
but he still dashed here and there to avoid me
The owner
held him in her hand before going home for one last
picture. Not easy to photograph a fast
moving dwarf hamster with 2 front legs for
comparison. His right fore paw had shrunk to a much
smaller size with warts gone.
No stress for
this hamster at Toa Payoh Vets. He squeaked and ran
away in protest when I held him for photography.
Otherwise he ate, slept hidden under the bedding of
tissue paper and exercised alone. Sometimes he slept
in his exercise wheel. No fragrant sand bath or wood
shavings. Clean environment. Plenty of rest and
food.
"He has put on weight," the delighted owner
commented on Day 21 when went home with an almost
normal foot without warts. "What type of hamster
food you give him?"
"How can a hamster be stressed?" you may think that
the dwarf hamster has no worries about having to
study for examinations or work long hours to earn a
living. Well, stress comes from poor quality food,
lack of hygiene in the cage and sand bath chemicals.
Of course, the increasing number of warts which
became infected would be very itchy and painful.
That alone would be very stressful to the hamster.
"No more fragrant sand bath," I advised the lady in
her 30s. Good food, clean cage and daily examination
will be best for this hamster.
As at April 16, 2009, no news from the owner. I
presume the hamster is back to normal.
What can we
learn from this hamster with multiple warts in
his foot?
Does stress cause warts to form in a young
adult?
I believe it is one of the causes and a main
contributing factor in a youth whom I know.
He has warts in
his feet and hand because his life-style is
hedonistic.
On-line gaming is his sole pleasure in life.
Addiction to online gaming past midnight to
dawn caused insufficient hours of deep sleep.
Instant noodles provided instant poor
nutrition and possible intoxication from
chemicals present in the manufacture of
instant cup noodles consumed in large amounts.
The body's immune system is weakened as it
does not receive the natural multi-vitamins
from green vegetables and fruits, high quality
protein from appropriate meats and fresh air
and exercise.
The wart agent (believed to be a skin virus)
gains a foothold. First one wart in the foot.
One wart in the hand. Then more and more
warts. The young man must seek knowledge
by doing research. Doctors can only help a
little.
A drastic change his life-style to give
himself sufficient 8-hour sleep and rest.
Explore other hobbies. Otherwise, his warts
proliferate and merge to a hideous mass. By
then, it is hard to get rid of them as they
appear all over the body and face. The immune
system simply has been weakened considerably
and can't fight the viral multiplication.
TOA
PAYOH VETS
