1147. Three Singapore dogs have urinary stones

TOA PAYOH VETS toapayohvets.com Date:   04 November, 2013   Focus: Small animals - dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles & rabbits 1.  A young Shih Tzu cannot pee   2.  A Miniature Schnauzer pees blood 3.  An older Bichon Frise cannot pee 3 bladder stone case studies toapayohvets.com  Be Kind To Pets Veterinary Education Project 2010-0129. Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS Date:   04 November, 2013   A young Shih Tzu cannot pee   The owner had the Shih Tzu x-rayed at another practice. 3 X-rays were taken. One of them showed the spikes.  However, the images needed imagination and Photoshopping.It is not usual for vets to drain the bladder of urine via a catheter and pump in 20 ml of air to provide a good contrast. This is because the vet believes bacteria will be introduced into the bladder via the air. During surgery by Dr Daniel, the large beautiful stone looks so much like a lady's precious stone. FOLLOW UP ON NOV 3, 2013 9.50 AM SUNDAY Around 42 hours post-cystotomy,  on this bright sunshine Sunday, my assistant walked the dog at 9 am. I checked the wound.  The size 15 e-collar prevented direct licking of the surgical stitches but bruised the surrounding areas. There is no commercially available size 18. Size 20 will be too big. The dog is extremely active and is normal. He urine-marked the clinic floor. I noticed some discoloured urine. 3 rows of sutures were placed on the bladder according to Dr Daniel as the bladder was bleeding (a blood vessel was nearby and stitched). Usually, I place 2 rows of sutures and there will be bladder wall bleeding. Each vet has his or her own assessment on the spot and each case differs. Urine test 42 hrs post surgery. dipstick. Fed dry food from owner. Blood 4+  pH 5, SG 1.04, WBC +,  protein 2+. The dog should recover well and go home. Stone analysis is being done by the lab.   Stone analysis is being done.     Case 2.  A young Schnauzer pees blood"The urine test on Oct 2, 2013 shows the presence of occasional numbers of calcium oxalate and triple phosphate crystals," Dr Daniel said to me when I asked him about the urine test after he had completed the bladder stone removal surgery. He could see that the few numbers of crystals in the urine does not co-relate with the number of formed stones which exceeded 20 big and small ones in this case. "Absence of crystals in the urine" does not mean there is no bladder stone. X-rays will be best. Each vet has his own approach to this type of surgery.  He had injected saline into the bladder to check for leaks and there was none. "A fine needle was used," he said to me. I am aware of this way of checking for leakage. Usually I inject saline via the urinary catheter in the female dog. I did a video of the stones being taken out as there were numerous. I had done videos of bladder stone removal and so I do not video this type of surgery as it takes a lot of time to produce a video. AUDIT OF THIS CASE tp 42373 Miniature Schnauzer, White, Female, 3 years old. Born Nov 4, 2010. Significant time-lines Feb 24, 2012. I spayed the dog. Uterus was enlarged but not from pregnancy.  Blood test normal. Nov 30, 2012. Blood in the urine. I advised urine test and no dry food. Urinary tract infection. Jul 14, 2013.  During annual vaccination, I palpated the bladder and felt "crepitus" - feeling of gas and bladder stones rubbing against each other inside the bladder. I advised X-rays as I was quite sure these were bladder stones. Interestingly, I recorded the following 4 words "Dr Daniel said no." I had asked his opinion and he had palpated the bladder. Sometimes I would be present during his consultations as a mentor. Palpation of the bladder for crepitus is not as convincing to the owner as X-rays. Therefore, X-rays must be advised. Every vet has his or her own opinions and each vet, after palpation of the bladder may give different points of view as in this case and that does not reflect on the vet's competence. X-rays will be most helpful but the owner came for vaccination and not for urinary tract problems like blood in the urine in this case. So the owner does not want to incur "unnecessary" medical costs of X-rays. Oct 1, 2013. Dr Daniel was consulted for decreased in appetite of the dog and vomiting of digested food. He advised X-rays and urine tests. Urine tests showed pH 8.0, USG 1.020, bacteria 3+, blood 4+, calcium oxalate and triple phosphate occasional. X-rays showed numerous large stones. Dr Daniel opened up the bladder and removed the stones. FOLLOW UP WITH OWNER ON OCT 3, 2013. The owner said that he had given canned food since my advice to cut out the dry food in Nov 2012. He said that his relative's Shih Tzu called Mikki also had similar problems and eating the same brand of wet food called "Burp". I remember Mikki. He had difficulty in urination and urine tests showed triple phosphate. X-rays showed no stones and the dog is on S/D diet for the time being till the urine test is negative. It is important to follow up with the owner but this takes time and some vets may not want to do it. As to what to do now after the operation, the stone analysis will need to be known first. From appearance, I would say they are struvite stones. S/D canned diet for 1-3 months and urine test 3 monthly will be my advice but many owners have their own ideas. It is my opinion that the stones were formed much earlier and the changing to "Burp" canned food was too late and probably does not contribute to the struvite stone formation unless it alkalinises the urine. The bacterial infection of the bladder in an alkaline urine causes triple phosphates and struvites to form. It is inconclusive evidence that "Burp" cause the formation of stones. "Miniature Schnauzers are one breed famous for bladder stones," I said to the owner. Circumstantial evidence of "Burp" causing bladder stones in this Schnauzer is made because  Mikki had similar difficulty in urination problems too when fed on "Burp". But no stones were seen in Mikki's X-rays. I remember this Mikki very well since this Shih Tzu's owner had two episodes of urination difficulties in Mikki. In the 2nd episode, the couple had the X-rays done and no stones were seen. Now the dog is on S/D diet and so far, no more dysuria problems. Mikki is another story. Struvite stones confirmed by laboratory analysis FOLLOW UP ON OCT 7, 2013 BY PHONE AT 8.05 pm, 5 days post-removal of bladder stones by Dr Daniel. Owner is satisfied today as the dog is active, eats and drinks. Urine no blood. Stools are normal. As at November 4, 2013, no complaints from the owner.   3.  An older Bichon Frise cannot pee Medical dissolution of the stones is in progress. Final report to be written.       3827 - 3828. A Bichon Frise has difficulty in peeing (blog) Updates will be on this webpage: www.sinpets.com/F5/20131104 Singapore_dog_bladder_stones.htm More info at: Dogs or Cats To make an appointment: e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com tel: +65 9668-6469, 6254-3326 Toa Payoh Vets Clinical Research

Copyright © Asiahomes All rights reserved. Revised: November 04, 2013 Toa Payoh Vets