The key facts
- Hamster Tishka's upper incisor, which had grown through his cheek, was removed in a repeat operation
- Four months ago the tooth was only shortened, but without regular correction the situation recurred
- The state veterinary service reminds owners that rodents are treated by specialist ratologists at several clinics in Moscow
A Repeat Operation
Veterinarians in Moscow have operated for a second time on a hamster named Tishka: his upper incisor had grown through his cheek once again, and this time the doctors had to remove the problem tooth entirely. This was reported by the Mosvetobedinenie State Budgetary Institution (according to Life.ru).
Why the Situation Recurred
The pet was found to have an abnormality in the growth of his upper incisor: the tooth pointed upward and did not wear down naturally, so it kept growing and injured the soft tissue. Four months earlier, specialists at the Tushino veterinary clinic had already helped Tishka — at that time the doctors shortened the incisor that had grown through the cheek and removed food that had accumulated in the cheek pouch. After the first operation, the tooth needed regular correction, but the owners failed to keep up with its growth, the situation recurred, and the veterinarians decided to remove the incisor entirely in order to spare the hamster constant pain.
How the Operation Went and Where Rodent Owners Should Turn
The procedure was performed under a special gas anesthesia, and after the operation the animal was brought out of anesthesia in an oxygen chamber. Tishka came through the procedure well and returned home without pain or eating problems. Mosvetobedinenie reminded owners that rodents and lagomorphs are treated by veterinary specialists called ratologists: such doctors see patients at several state clinics in Moscow, and appointments with them can be booked around the clock through the contact center of the city's state veterinary service.
