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Brain tumor removed from Australian goldfish

Dr. Tristan Rich of the Lort Smith Animal Hospital says George the goldfish is doing well following a 45-minute surgery to remove a brain tumor.

By Ben Hooper
George the goldfish undergoes surgery for a brain tumor at Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. (Nicole Dorling/Lort Smith Animal Hospital)
George the goldfish undergoes surgery for a brain tumor at Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. (Nicole Dorling/Lort Smith Animal Hospital)

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MELBOURNE, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- An Australian veterinary surgeon said a surgery to remove a brain tumor from a 10-year-old goldfish was a complete success.

George the goldfish undergoes surgery for a brain tumor at Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. (Nicole Dorling/Lort Smith Animal Hospital)

Dr. Tristan Rich of the Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne said George, a 10-year-old goldfish, underwent surgery last week to remove a brain tumor that was "affecting his quality of life" and the fish is now "swimming happily in the pond."

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Rich said the 45-minute procedure, which cost the fish's owner about $180, was tricky because he had to be "very careful about blood loss," with the fish only able to lose about half a milliliter of blood -- about .02 of an ounce -- safely.

Rich said goldfish surgeries are uncommon, but he has performed about 10 similar procedures in his career. He said veterinarians do not discriminate between species when it comes to saving the lives of beloved pets.

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