This article contains details that may upset sensitive readers:
A tiny two-year-old female hamster from Mitchells Plain named Lexi had her left eyeball surgically removed after she was improperly handled and squeezed by a minor.
Exophthalmos or proptosis (the bulging of one or both eyeballs from the socket due to trauma and improper handling) is common in hamsters, but the risk can be effectively mitigated by learning the proper way to handle these small animals.
The condition left the hamster in excruciating pain, and unfortunately for Lexi, her owner only became aware of the situation a few days after the rough-play that caused her eyeball to pop out of its socket.
“This delay limited our options and it was ultimately decided to surgically remove the infected eyeball in the knowledge that it would ease her pain and discomfort and hope that she would be strong enough to survive the intricate operation,” says the Animal Welfare Society of SA.
“Thankfully Lexi survived the operation that was brilliantly executed by our Hospital Team and appears to have regained her feisty composure with no lasting negative effects other than having to adapt to being partially sighted,” the Animal Welfare Society of SA added.
Lexi went for her final check-up and she looked remarkably well and alert after she was given her medication in the tiniest syringe ever.
“We took the opportunity to re-emphasise just how lucky the family was that we could save her and re-iterated that they should never allow young children or anyone heavy-handed to “play” with her unsupervised – and we are confident that they took our advice to heart,” concluded the Animal Welfare Society of SA.
Picture: Facebook / The Animal Welfare Society of SA
