E-mail to toapayohvets 12/9/12   Dear Sir/Mdm, I have just discovered a tiny growth on the ear of my hamster. Attached are the pictures for your reference. I would like to know if there is any treatment for my hamster and the cost of it. If so, pls advise on an appointment date and time. Thank you. Regards, Name of owner

Email reply from Dr Sing <99pups@gmail.com> 12/9/12         I am Dr Sing from Toa Payoh Vets. Thank you for your email. The "tiny" ear tumour needs to be removed by surgery and under anaesthesia. The ear canals need to be examined for other growths. The approximate cost is $150-$200 for consultation, anaesthesia, surgery (+/- stitching) and medication. Appointment is by phone 6254-3326. Bring hamster at 9.30 am and it goes home by 4 pm usually. Best wishes.     Sent from my iPhone

Although it is troublesome to set up the electro-surgery equipment just to excise a "small" ear wart, I am in favour of using electro-excision as the cutting needle is much more precise in cutting the skin. It takes time to sell my idea to Dr Daniel as he said it would be easier to snip off the wart with a scalpel. We did electro-excision and he is quite convinced it is a useful method as bleeding is minimal.

In retrospect, I would have used the circular electrode needle to go under the ear wart and slice it away. The straight needle electrode was used in this case but both achieved the same results in taking out the "small" ear tumour.

Image from hamster owner in the e-mail		Remove distracting objects (right) to avoid wasting time on cropping the image		Cropping required to take out the distracting object
The rule of thirds for better image. The hamster's eyes or body should be at the intersection of 1/3 of 3 horizontal and vertical lines to produce interesting images for the viewer
Straight needle electrode used. I should have recommended a  circular one to loop off the tumour		Very little bleeding and more precise cut when electricity has been use to cut off the ear tumour

Name of webpage:
http://www.kongyuensing.com/folder7/
201301117electro_surgery_hamster_toapayohvets.htm