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Monday 15 September 2014

Would you perform life-saving surgery on your GOLDFISH? George the carp goes under the knife to remove a deadly tumour

Dr. Tristan Rich with George the goldfish, pre-surgery last weekGeorge under sedation at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital last week
A Melbourne veterinarian has performed pioneering surgery on the beloved pet of a local resident.
Dr. Tristan Rich, head of exotics and wildlife medicine at Lort Smith Animal Hospital, performed micro-surgery on scaled but treasured George the Goldfish last week.
A large tumour had grown on the head of the 80-gram fish, causing distress for the creature and his owner, and impacting on George's quality of life.

George under sedation at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital last weekDr. Rich holding the tumor he removed from George's body
Ten-year-old George found it difficult to breathe and swim, and was being bullied by the other in his tank. He was unable to eat properly, and the tumour was affecting his ability to see.
His owners had been monitoring the growth of the tumour which was sprouting from his head, and decided to bring him in to the Lort Smith Animal Hospital for a check up.
When presented with the options of undergoing surgery or putting him to sleep, George's owners decided to take the expensive step of surgery.
The surgery, costs close to $200, was quite an intricate process, Dr. Rich told Daily Mail Australia.
There were three buckets- one filled with water and strong anaesthetic, one filled with water, a mild dose of anaesthetic and oxygen, and the last with water and oxygen.
The fish was sedated, with water trickling over his gills, 'to keep him asleep and alive' said Dr. Rich.
Dr. Rich holding the tumor he removed from George's bodyWhilst uncommon, the procedure had been performed before. Dr. Rich said that he had performed the 'fiddly' surgery a few times over the years.
'It has always been on quite old fish, whose owners had grown to love them.' 


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