4536. Tips to save money on vet expenses. Eye and coat.

1 Jan 2023.
Tips to save money on vet expenses
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow)

 

Two vet cases seen by me in 2013 were: 1. Eye ulcers in a Terrier X - Fluorescein eye stain test. 2. Whole body itchy skin in a Golden Retriever. Clipping bald and anal sac check up 

 

Case 1. The long eyebrow hairs of the Terrier X irritated the cornea of the dog's ears regularly. The dog rubbed the eye a lot of times. The paw irritated the cornea which breaks into ulcers. These are corneal ulcers which are painful and light sensitive. The green ulcers can be seen in the left eye especially. 

 

The solution is to shorten the eyebrow hairs frequently and also to cut away the eyelid hairs, if any. No eye irritation, no corneal ulcers and lots of tears. No vet expenses. 

 

Case 2. The whole body itchiness of the Golden Retriever was due to skin rashes from bacterial infections under the thick coat. The itchy anus could be a cause of backside itchiness. The anal sacs were expressed at Toa Payoh Vets and cleared. There was little anal sac impaction as the oil was relatively clear and free of particles. The body showed multiple rashes after clipping. 

 

The solution. For thick coated dog breeds, brush their hair daily to remove any broken hairs and scales. Bathe weekly. Check for rashes. This home grooming care ensures no itchy bacterial infections of the underpart of the long coat. 

 

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