May 29, 2013
"Do you remember you
operated on his
ears?" the mother
and daughter brought
in a white Schnauzer
that had fits and
collapsed just over
one hour ago. The
dog had white and
cyanotic tongue and
was breathing fast.
I put him on oxygen
therapy first as he
had insufficient
oxygen for his red
blood cells, leading
to purplish tongue
and mucous
membranes.
I reviewed the
medical records and
said: "Yes, he had
very painful and
itchy right ear and
his ear canal was
opened up. How's the
ear?"
"No more problem,"
the mother said.
"Could the dog be
suffering from a
stroke?"
"Hard to say at the
moment, I need a
blood test and
examination. It is
possible there is a
brain abnormality
e.g. tumours,
infection or
bleeding or a
systemic infection.
I advised a brain
scan but that would
be costly and so the
owners wanted the
basic treatment to
be done. That
included a blood and
urine test.
The veins were
collapsed too. Dr
Daniel had to
collect blood from
the jugular vein. It
was not a good sign.
Despite intensive
treatment, the dog
passed away 2 hours
later.
BLOOD TEST
Significant findings
are:
1. Total white cell
count 18.3 (6-17). N
90% Absolute 16. L
9% Absolute 1.7
2.
Red cell count
5 (5.5 - 8.5)
3.
Haemoglobin 11
(12-18).
4.
Platelets 108
(200-500). Few
giant platelets
present. No platelet
clumps.
5. Uric acid 0.27
(<0 .13="" br="">
6. SGOT/AST 129
(<81 br="">
7. Urea 3.4 (4.2 -
6.3). Creatinine
levels were normal.
The blood was taken
from the jugular
vein. The dog had
around 30 minutes of
oxygen therapy by
mask before the
blood and urine were
collected.
URINE TEST
pH 5.0 (5-8), SG
1.020 (1.005-1.030),
urobilinogen +,
blood 4+,
bacteria 3+,
white blood cells
>2250, red blood
cells 315.
It is important to
practise
evidence-based
medicine. In this
case, the dog could
have a septicaemia.
There could be a
pathogenic type of
bacteria picked from
sniffing the grass
or consuming some
poisonous food or
treats.
The onset was
"sudden" fits and
recumbency. There
could also be an
internal bleeding
and breakdown of
capillaries. A
post-mortem may give
a definitive
diagnosis as to the
cause of death. As
it would be costly,
this was not
advocated by me.
A simple blood and
urine test provide
some clues of
illness at the most
economic rates as
compared to brain
scanning and more
tests. In any case,
the dog was
breathing fast and
had white and
purplish tongue,
indicating a very
poor prognosis.
However, other tests
like brain scan
needs to be advised.
This Schnauzer has
been well cared for
as evident by his
good size and body
condition as so the
death was a "sudden"
loss to the family.
No poisonous food or
drink was consumed
according to the
mother.
The dog's ears were
normal after the
surgery as there was
no more intense and
continuous ear
scratching. The case
study and lateral
ear canal resection
surgery is at:
http://www.asiahomes.com/singaporetpvet/dogs/
0750Schnauzer_lateral_ear_resection_Singapore.htm
TOA
PAYOH VETS
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