Leg amputation in Russian Dwarf Hamster

RE: Leg amputation in Russian Dwarf Hamster

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 23:25:48 GMT

Bugger. These little things are so delicate.

RE: Leg amputation in Russian Dwarf Hamster

Luciano Nebiante PGCertSAS — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 23:05:36 GMT

Well thanks everyone for your replies.

The operation was done before I received your answers. So in the end I went for ketamine only, and maintained on ISO.

The femur was exposed after a previous surgery which was done as most of you describe, by simple amputation proximal to injury and closure of the skin.

So the client was disappointed, and therefore the longer procedure of coxo-femuarl disarticulation was discussed.

The surgery went all well, and I also injected a small amount of Mepivacaine at site of sciatic nerve. Then I was just closing the skin and the little fellow went in respiratory arrest!!

We attempted CPR, but his heart also stopped!

It was a sad day. And it is even more sad when it happens so near to the end of the operation!

Anyway thank you all.

RE: Leg amputation in Russian Dwarf Hamster

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 13:08:34 GMT

[quote user="Luciano Nebiante"]

this little guy has had an injury to his left hind, and his femur is exposed out of the skin.

So I have discussed amputation with coxo-femural disarticulation.

[/quote]

My approach in such a tiny beast would be that I need to get it over and done sharpish. So I'd amputate it at the injury site.

Methadone? I assume that if I use 0.3mg/kg (with dilution if necessary) at least I won't be overdosing in a smaller animal. So, dilute Comfortan x10 then one-hundredth ml. of the dilute solution would be my dose for a 28gm russian hamster. (But don't take my word for it and please check my arithmetic!)

RE: Leg amputation in Russian Dwarf Hamster

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 13:06:02 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"] How on earth do youmeasure the triple accurately in such a tiny guy? I'd put him in a clear sweet jar, feed the sevo in untilhe keels over, then use my tiniest mask to maintain. [/quote]Well my nurses manage. It is a very safe combo so there is a big margin for error anyway and it gives for a much more stable plain of anaesthesia than gaseous alone as well as the analgesia it provides.

RE: Leg amputation in Russian Dwarf Hamster

Dagmar Steele — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 11:15:17 GMT

I regularly do hamsters and gerbils with injectables, triple shot butorphanole, medetomidine and midazolam, diluted as needed, haven't lost one so far.

RE: Leg amputation in Russian Dwarf Hamster

Stephanie Wellings — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 11:07:45 GMT

I have also only gassed them down, I don't have confidence in measuring a dose accurately with anything injectable - they just have metacam orally for pain relief.

During the anesthetic we lie them with their chest on the blood pressure probe (sometimes gently tape them on) so you can hear the heart and have some semblance of GA monitoring!

RE: Leg amputation in Russian Dwarf Hamster

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 11:03:13 GMT

How on earth do youmeasure the triple accurately in such a tiny guy? I'd put him in a clear sweet jar, feed the sevo in untilhe keels over, then use my tiniest mask to maintain. The good news is they heal remarkably quickly, and are sitting up post-op when youand your nurse are both still feeling floppy from the stress of operating on such a little fellow

RE: Leg amputation in Russian Dwarf Hamster

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 09:24:09 GMT

I would use triple combo (torbugesic/medetomidine/ketamine) and maintain on Isoflurane through a tiny mask - well the end of the hose actually!. I wouldn't bother with any fancy technique just amputate above the affected area and suture the muscle/skin over. Its a 5-10 minute job and they do very well.