2010 CASE: THE 6-MONTH-OLD BICHON FRISE HAS A VERY PAINFUL MOUTH AND SEPARATION ANXIETY
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
20 July, 2010 toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129
SEPARATION ANXIETY.
A young couple purchased a Bichon Frise at around 2 days ago. The dog barked a lot when the couple went to work. He has "separation anxiety," I said. The couple had tried all solutions from the internet including placing a clock. "The neighbour downstairs now close their windows. They do not do that," the wife said. How to solve the problem?
1. Spend time with the dog but this was not possible. Spending time means changing clothes to go out to work but comes back in 5 minutes, then 15 minutes and gradually increase the time of outing. These need several days to be effective.
2. Bring dog outdoors more often. Not practical advice. "The dog seemed afraid of going out, afraid of the drain grates and just wanted to sniff around," the man said.
3. Get another puppy. Not practical as the HDB apartment regulations prohibit more than one.
4. "Get a rabbit," I wanted to let him adopt a rabbit on a trial basis as I have one. "The dog will kill him," the man said. "Put the rabbit inside the cage," I said. The couple rejected this idea.
5. "Come back for lunch daily," I said. This was not practical.
6. "There is no solution," Mr Aung said when I asked him. "De-bark the dog." This was not acceptable by the owner.
7. "Give Kong balls with dog treats inside the holes," I suggested this method to occupy the dog's attention while the owners are at work. In theory, the dog tries to pull out the favourite treats hidden inside the holes of the Kong balls." The couple had tried but the dog was not interested. This was before I examined the dog's mouth and found that he had this rare gum abnormality. His gums practically cover all his back teeth from the four sides of the jaws. So, how could he shear or chew on dog treats? See pictures at:
http://www.asiahomes.com/singaporeaur/0703hunting_4_5k.htm
8. There is one impractical solution. Place the dog with a house-hold where there is always somebody at home. But this is not a practical solution as the couple will have to give away this dog free of charge to a friend.
In any case, I had just excise the enveloped gingival epithelium of this quiet Bichon Frise so that his covered back teeth are now exposed. We will wait and see whether he is happier now as he can eat hard food and now ignore his chew toys or treats.
Pictures of my gingiva (gum) electro-excision is at:
http://www.asiahomes.com/singaporeaur/0703hunting_4_5k.htm
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
137. BEHAVIOUR. Golden Retriever is frightened when it rains
July 20, 2010
I went to the National Library, Victoria St to research on bird nest production. It is a secretive business apparently as demand for high quality bird nests is great, sales of which can be as much as RM$4,000/kg or S$2000/kg.
One officer suggested checking out nature.com. "How's your abalone book?" he asked and encouraged me to use the internet. "Not much info about the hundreds of species in this world in the internet," I said. I expect the same paucity of information from the internet with the technical aspects of bird nest production.
BEHAVIOUR OF DOG
I asked about his dog. "Still the same behaviour. My main door has a big hole now. I have to board it up." For the past 6 years, whenever there is rain, lightning or thunderstorm, this 6-year-old female spayed Golden Retriever will paw at the main door to be let inside the house. Once inside, she will pace up and down.
SOLUTIONS
1. Play CDs of thunderstorm and lightning. One Filipino vet technician advised him to download from the internet .wav files. He went to google, type ".wav + lightning." Then he would play the CD which lasts about 10 minutes for one hour per day for 7 days.
"Any success?" I asked him.
"The Golden Retriever just listened in boredom."
"So, it is a failure?" I said.
"Yes," the man with greyish hair said. "There needs to be the environment - the change of temperature before the thunderstorm. I don't have time to wait for such ambience to play the CD."
There is never any time for working adults to train a dog not to be afraid of thunderstorms and lightning. In any case, the total experience of climate changes was not produced. So, now the owner is resigned to the door damage.
2. SPECIFIC TREATS TO BE ADDED INTO THE FOOD. "It costs me $25.00 to buy the treats from ... (a dog farm in Pasir Ris) and this product was on sale. It would cost $40.00normally.
"Does it work?" I asked.
"No," he said. "The dog appears drowsy. I must feed it with this product every day."
So, it was money down the drain.
3. DOG PHEROMONES. I mentioned that there is one product which I believe has been used in the UK for the past few years and not available in Singapore. But how effective dog pheromones are to calm dogs during thunderstorm, I do not know. So, I dare not advise him to spray it onto the dog's nose prior to thunderstorms.
It seems that this poor owner would have to replace several main doors as the Golden Retriever is outdoors and rain is quite common in Singapore nowadays.
Readers who have successful solutions, please e-mail to me at judy@toapayohvets.com
I went to the National Library, Victoria St to research on bird nest production. It is a secretive business apparently as demand for high quality bird nests is great, sales of which can be as much as RM$4,000/kg or S$2000/kg.
One officer suggested checking out nature.com. "How's your abalone book?" he asked and encouraged me to use the internet. "Not much info about the hundreds of species in this world in the internet," I said. I expect the same paucity of information from the internet with the technical aspects of bird nest production.
BEHAVIOUR OF DOG
I asked about his dog. "Still the same behaviour. My main door has a big hole now. I have to board it up." For the past 6 years, whenever there is rain, lightning or thunderstorm, this 6-year-old female spayed Golden Retriever will paw at the main door to be let inside the house. Once inside, she will pace up and down.
SOLUTIONS
1. Play CDs of thunderstorm and lightning. One Filipino vet technician advised him to download from the internet .wav files. He went to google, type ".wav + lightning." Then he would play the CD which lasts about 10 minutes for one hour per day for 7 days.
"Any success?" I asked him.
"The Golden Retriever just listened in boredom."
"So, it is a failure?" I said.
"Yes," the man with greyish hair said. "There needs to be the environment - the change of temperature before the thunderstorm. I don't have time to wait for such ambience to play the CD."
There is never any time for working adults to train a dog not to be afraid of thunderstorms and lightning. In any case, the total experience of climate changes was not produced. So, now the owner is resigned to the door damage.
2. SPECIFIC TREATS TO BE ADDED INTO THE FOOD. "It costs me $25.00 to buy the treats from ... (a dog farm in Pasir Ris) and this product was on sale. It would cost $40.00normally.
"Does it work?" I asked.
"No," he said. "The dog appears drowsy. I must feed it with this product every day."
So, it was money down the drain.
3. DOG PHEROMONES. I mentioned that there is one product which I believe has been used in the UK for the past few years and not available in Singapore. But how effective dog pheromones are to calm dogs during thunderstorm, I do not know. So, I dare not advise him to spray it onto the dog's nose prior to thunderstorms.
It seems that this poor owner would have to replace several main doors as the Golden Retriever is outdoors and rain is quite common in Singapore nowadays.
Readers who have successful solutions, please e-mail to me at judy@toapayohvets.com
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Success factors in a fashion business
Saturday July 17, 2010 10 p.m Cathay Cineplex
It was nearly 10 pm on a Saturday which was my day off. Most senior citizen mothers in the middle class would be enjoying themselves, playing mahjong, singing at karaoke or entertaining.
I had come back from the National Day Parade Rehearsal at the Padang to get my car at the Cathay Cineplex car park.
Earlier, a kind lady had given me a red entry ticket to view the rehearsal from the Padang. She approached me as I was standing on the ledge of the fencing of St Andrew's Cathedral at 5.30 pm dangerously with one hand grabbing the railing and the other hand taking pictures. She asked me if I wanted a spare red ticket she had. I said yes. I did not apply for such rehearsal tickets as they were in great demand and I could not be bothered. With this ticket, I was near the centre of action and could take some good pictures in this bright evening
I was surprised that this mother was still manning her son's small fashion retail shop. She worked 7 days a week. Push-carts at the ground floor would have changes of shift workers but for her, she was the only saleswoman as the previous employee had not be honest.
Her eyes were about to close as she sat behind the counter. Julia had bought some T-shirts from her previously but could not find any interesting apparel in her shop. "Just
It was nearly 10 pm on a Saturday which was my day off. Most senior citizen mothers in the middle class would be enjoying themselves, playing mahjong, singing at karaoke or entertaining.
I had come back from the National Day Parade Rehearsal at the Padang to get my car at the Cathay Cineplex car park.
Earlier, a kind lady had given me a red entry ticket to view the rehearsal from the Padang. She approached me as I was standing on the ledge of the fencing of St Andrew's Cathedral at 5.30 pm dangerously with one hand grabbing the railing and the other hand taking pictures. She asked me if I wanted a spare red ticket she had. I said yes. I did not apply for such rehearsal tickets as they were in great demand and I could not be bothered. With this ticket, I was near the centre of action and could take some good pictures in this bright evening
I was surprised that this mother was still manning her son's small fashion retail shop. She worked 7 days a week. Push-carts at the ground floor would have changes of shift workers but for her, she was the only saleswoman as the previous employee had not be honest.
Her eyes were about to close as she sat behind the counter. Julia had bought some T-shirts from her previously but could not find any interesting apparel in her shop. "Just
135. Sunday Case: Stray cat salivates and has bad breath
"Like some people, this cat looks haggard due to his lifestyle. He may be younger than 5 years of age," Mrs Bell said when I estimated the thin stray cat as 5 years but probably older. Most of his teeth had fallen out. This male neutered cat would not permit me to open his mouth without showing his claws.
My groomer Mr Aung wrapped the cat in a white towel and put the cat on the consultation table. I did not think of using the towel at that moment. I presumed Mr Aung remembered the house-call he attended with me very well as I had suggested a white towel to wrap a house cat. The fortunate well cared for cat adopted by a Caucasian expatriate in this case is recorded at:
Going inside a lion's den
The stray cat was not fortunate as he has lost so many teeth. Now he was very weak and Mr Aung used a string to anchor to his lower jaw to pry open his saliva-stained mouth.
I found ulcers in the middle and both lower sides of his tongue, on his hard palate and in his upper front gums.
"This cat had been living in my neighbourhood for a long time," Mrs Bell said. "He has this salivation for the past two months or so." Mrs Bell phoned me to make an appointment. Should she put the cat to sleep as the cat was in a bad shape.
He was not well and thus he was unable to groom himself. The saliva stained and dried up on his front paws as he tried to clean himself. He was dehydrated. Dull and lethargic. He was neutered by somebody in the community or most likely he was an abandoned cat.
"How do you know he is suffering from feline AIDS?" I asked Mrs Bell as I examined this dehydrated dirty cat with lots of black specks of flea dirt falling onto the consultation table. "A friend told me," she said.
"Are you sure you want to spend money treating a stray cat?" I asked Mrs Bell after I estimated the costs to be more than $500. "Most locals don't even want to spend ten dollars to treat a sick stray cat. This is a part of the Singaporean culture." But Mrs Bell is not a local. "Yes, treat the cat." Mrs Bell said. "I know the English is well known for loving their dogs and cats more than their children."
The cat was warded for a few days for treatment.
1. Blood test showed high blood urea and eosinophilia but no feline aids.
2. IV drip of glucose saline strengthen the cat. He would not permit me to open his mouth on Day 2. He even growled at me.
3. Pain-killers and antibiotics by IV and injection reduced his mouth pain. He could eat on Day 2.
4. He looked quite handsome after Groomer Aung bathed him. He would need a second bath.
5. On Day 2, I e-mailed Mrs Bell to phone me as her phone seemed engaged for a long time. She must have those instant e-mail Blackberries as she phoned me within 10 minutes. She gave permission for dental work for this cat.
"The cat may be toothless," I warned Mrs Bell. "Has he got feline AIDS?" she did not mind the cat being toothless and asked. "No," I said. "He is doing well and will be able to go home after a few days. He should not be out in the streets anymore." Mrs Bell said she would keep the cat indoors with her two cats. That was great news for this vagabond.
"There is no point sending the cat home without dental work," I explained to my assistant Mr Saw who was worried that the English lady may complain about the additional cost for anaesthesia and dental work. "The mouth ulcers will come back again. The cat will salivate again and will cost the owner more money."
"This cat has a disease that causes eosinophils to increase in large numbers," I showed Mrs Lai the blood test result of 6% for eosinophils. She wrote down the word in her book. Ms Lai has so much to do and works from 8 am to 10 pm, 5 days a week to gain the maximum exposure to veterinary medicine for the next two months. "Unfortunately the cause of eosinophilia is unknown," I told Ms Lai. "Extraction of all rotten teeth resolve the problem."
"Go and get the blood results of other cats for comparison," I asked Ms Lai. She brought me a blood test report which showed zero eosinophils in the blood test.
"Do you know how old is the cat in this report?" I asked the young and slim lady.|
"This cat is 18 years old while the case is around 5 years old."
Mr Saw said: "This old cat is dying." My associate is treating the 18-year-old cat which is in her last stage of her life.
Poor Ms Lai has lots to learn about veterinary medicine. That is the purpose of doing internship and I hope she gets accepted in one of the vet schools in Australia in 2011.
My groomer Mr Aung wrapped the cat in a white towel and put the cat on the consultation table. I did not think of using the towel at that moment. I presumed Mr Aung remembered the house-call he attended with me very well as I had suggested a white towel to wrap a house cat. The fortunate well cared for cat adopted by a Caucasian expatriate in this case is recorded at:
Going inside a lion's den
The stray cat was not fortunate as he has lost so many teeth. Now he was very weak and Mr Aung used a string to anchor to his lower jaw to pry open his saliva-stained mouth.
I found ulcers in the middle and both lower sides of his tongue, on his hard palate and in his upper front gums.
"This cat had been living in my neighbourhood for a long time," Mrs Bell said. "He has this salivation for the past two months or so." Mrs Bell phoned me to make an appointment. Should she put the cat to sleep as the cat was in a bad shape.
He was not well and thus he was unable to groom himself. The saliva stained and dried up on his front paws as he tried to clean himself. He was dehydrated. Dull and lethargic. He was neutered by somebody in the community or most likely he was an abandoned cat.
"How do you know he is suffering from feline AIDS?" I asked Mrs Bell as I examined this dehydrated dirty cat with lots of black specks of flea dirt falling onto the consultation table. "A friend told me," she said.
"Are you sure you want to spend money treating a stray cat?" I asked Mrs Bell after I estimated the costs to be more than $500. "Most locals don't even want to spend ten dollars to treat a sick stray cat. This is a part of the Singaporean culture." But Mrs Bell is not a local. "Yes, treat the cat." Mrs Bell said. "I know the English is well known for loving their dogs and cats more than their children."
The cat was warded for a few days for treatment.
1. Blood test showed high blood urea and eosinophilia but no feline aids.
2. IV drip of glucose saline strengthen the cat. He would not permit me to open his mouth on Day 2. He even growled at me.
3. Pain-killers and antibiotics by IV and injection reduced his mouth pain. He could eat on Day 2.
4. He looked quite handsome after Groomer Aung bathed him. He would need a second bath.
5. On Day 2, I e-mailed Mrs Bell to phone me as her phone seemed engaged for a long time. She must have those instant e-mail Blackberries as she phoned me within 10 minutes. She gave permission for dental work for this cat.
"The cat may be toothless," I warned Mrs Bell. "Has he got feline AIDS?" she did not mind the cat being toothless and asked. "No," I said. "He is doing well and will be able to go home after a few days. He should not be out in the streets anymore." Mrs Bell said she would keep the cat indoors with her two cats. That was great news for this vagabond.
"There is no point sending the cat home without dental work," I explained to my assistant Mr Saw who was worried that the English lady may complain about the additional cost for anaesthesia and dental work. "The mouth ulcers will come back again. The cat will salivate again and will cost the owner more money."
"This cat has a disease that causes eosinophils to increase in large numbers," I showed Mrs Lai the blood test result of 6% for eosinophils. She wrote down the word in her book. Ms Lai has so much to do and works from 8 am to 10 pm, 5 days a week to gain the maximum exposure to veterinary medicine for the next two months. "Unfortunately the cause of eosinophilia is unknown," I told Ms Lai. "Extraction of all rotten teeth resolve the problem."
"Go and get the blood results of other cats for comparison," I asked Ms Lai. She brought me a blood test report which showed zero eosinophils in the blood test.
"Do you know how old is the cat in this report?" I asked the young and slim lady.|
"This cat is 18 years old while the case is around 5 years old."
Mr Saw said: "This old cat is dying." My associate is treating the 18-year-old cat which is in her last stage of her life.
Poor Ms Lai has lots to learn about veterinary medicine. That is the purpose of doing internship and I hope she gets accepted in one of the vet schools in Australia in 2011.
134. 3 cases reviewed - lateral ear resection by Dr Sing
CASE 1.
Cavalier King Charles, Male, Blenheim, 2years 3 months
Left ear scratching all the time
July 5, 2010 - Left ear canal resection. 9.7kg
Electrosurgery
Domitor 0.1 ml IV, Zoletil 0.1 ml IV, isoflurane gas
Surgery. Tolfedine 60mg 1/2 tab/day 5 days, antibiotics, panalog
Goes home Jul 11, 2010
July 12, 2010 - back to Surgery. Cannot handle nursing.
Stitch out July 15, 2010. Wet area.
July 18, 2010 - goes home. With e-collar. Pic taken.
CASE 2. Cocker Spaniel, Male, Brown, 5 years
Ear scratching both years
Jun 21, 2010 Surgery 14.7 kg
Domitor 0.2 ml IV, Isoflurane gas
Electro-surgery both ears
Tolfedine inj and baytril inj post-op
Goes home on Jun 25, 2010
Back to Surgery on Jul 9, 2010. Complaint bleeding and smelly
35 maggots removed.
July 12, 2010. Re-stitch under anaesthesia.
Domitor + Isoflurane gas
Tolfedine and Baytril inj. Tolfedine 3 days.
July 17, 2010. Stitch removed.
July 18, 2010. Can't go home. Wound not fully closed. Pic taken.
CASE 3.
Cocker Spaniel, Male, 12 years. Right ear shaking. rotten smell
July 12, 2010 ear surgery
Domitor 0.2 ml IV, Zoletil 0.1 ml IV, Atropine 1.0 ml IV, isoflurane gas
IV drip saline
Post-op rimadyrl 1.0 ml and baytril 1.3 ml, antibiotics.
Goes home Jul 16, 2010. No electro-surgery.
Cavalier King Charles, Male, Blenheim, 2years 3 months
Left ear scratching all the time
July 5, 2010 - Left ear canal resection. 9.7kg
Electrosurgery
Domitor 0.1 ml IV, Zoletil 0.1 ml IV, isoflurane gas
Surgery. Tolfedine 60mg 1/2 tab/day 5 days, antibiotics, panalog
Goes home Jul 11, 2010
July 12, 2010 - back to Surgery. Cannot handle nursing.
Stitch out July 15, 2010. Wet area.
July 18, 2010 - goes home. With e-collar. Pic taken.
CASE 2. Cocker Spaniel, Male, Brown, 5 years
Ear scratching both years
Jun 21, 2010 Surgery 14.7 kg
Domitor 0.2 ml IV, Isoflurane gas
Electro-surgery both ears
Tolfedine inj and baytril inj post-op
Goes home on Jun 25, 2010
Back to Surgery on Jul 9, 2010. Complaint bleeding and smelly
35 maggots removed.
July 12, 2010. Re-stitch under anaesthesia.
Domitor + Isoflurane gas
Tolfedine and Baytril inj. Tolfedine 3 days.
July 17, 2010. Stitch removed.
July 18, 2010. Can't go home. Wound not fully closed. Pic taken.
CASE 3.
Cocker Spaniel, Male, 12 years. Right ear shaking. rotten smell
July 12, 2010 ear surgery
Domitor 0.2 ml IV, Zoletil 0.1 ml IV, Atropine 1.0 ml IV, isoflurane gas
IV drip saline
Post-op rimadyrl 1.0 ml and baytril 1.3 ml, antibiotics.
Goes home Jul 16, 2010. No electro-surgery.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Beagle puppy steps on poop and urine
Young couple from Australia
Beagle, Male, April 8, 2010: Bought from big puppy farm and kennels in Pasir Ris 4 weeks ago
Miniature Schnauzer, Female, March 4, 2010:
Paper-trained fast. Bought from small breeder husband and wife, small operation in Pasir Ris.
4 weeks. Now come for 3rd vaccination.
PROBLEM IS WITH BEAGLE:
1. Watery stools for many days and this meant special attention. Freedom to roam. I treated. Stools better formed.
Beagle, Male, April 8, 2010: Bought from big puppy farm and kennels in Pasir Ris 4 weeks ago
Miniature Schnauzer, Female, March 4, 2010:
Paper-trained fast. Bought from small breeder husband and wife, small operation in Pasir Ris.
4 weeks. Now come for 3rd vaccination.
PROBLEM IS WITH BEAGLE:
1. Watery stools for many days and this meant special attention. Freedom to roam. I treated. Stools better formed.
131. Epileptic fits after 6 months and hypersexuality after fits
Shih Tzu, Male, Not neutered, Born 28 Sep 2005
July 15, 2010. 7.8kg 38.6 degrees C. Acute conjunctivitis both eyes. The groomer had commented on the red eyes.
Has fits for 10 X since 2 days ago. Wanted to hump with objects after recovery from fits. Daughter had given phenomav 30mg (1/2 tab per day), but once a day. No fits for the last 6 months. The dog was on K/D diet but also ate children's food given by the children. He had put on weight, now weighing 7.8 kg. "More alert," the mother said.
"Is the anti-fit tablet given the same time every day?" I asked the daughter. The mother had presumed this to be done as there were no fits for the last 6 months.
"No," the daughter said.
"In this case, the dosage is not effective. Sometimes you forget to give, sometimes you give at different times."
HISTORY
Fits started on Jul 28, 2008. Consulted Vet 1. Blood test OK.
Phenomav 30mg at 1/2 tab/day but not given regularly from 2008 - now.
Urine test: Aug 14, 2008.
pH = 9.0, SG 1.048.
crystals: triple phosphate ++
spermatozoa +++
TREATMENT Aug 18, 2008
acidify urine, C/D diet. Owner did not follow up.
NOW, 5 years old. Fits recently in July 2010.
To review blood, urine again. Daughter agreed to neuter to reduce humping behaviour. What's the cause of the fits? Usually the cause is unknown.
July 15, 2010. 7.8kg 38.6 degrees C. Acute conjunctivitis both eyes. The groomer had commented on the red eyes.
Has fits for 10 X since 2 days ago. Wanted to hump with objects after recovery from fits. Daughter had given phenomav 30mg (1/2 tab per day), but once a day. No fits for the last 6 months. The dog was on K/D diet but also ate children's food given by the children. He had put on weight, now weighing 7.8 kg. "More alert," the mother said.
"Is the anti-fit tablet given the same time every day?" I asked the daughter. The mother had presumed this to be done as there were no fits for the last 6 months.
"No," the daughter said.
"In this case, the dosage is not effective. Sometimes you forget to give, sometimes you give at different times."
HISTORY
Fits started on Jul 28, 2008. Consulted Vet 1. Blood test OK.
Phenomav 30mg at 1/2 tab/day but not given regularly from 2008 - now.
Urine test: Aug 14, 2008.
pH = 9.0, SG 1.048.
crystals: triple phosphate ++
spermatozoa +++
TREATMENT Aug 18, 2008
acidify urine, C/D diet. Owner did not follow up.
NOW, 5 years old. Fits recently in July 2010.
To review blood, urine again. Daughter agreed to neuter to reduce humping behaviour. What's the cause of the fits? Usually the cause is unknown.
131. Lateral ear resection observations
As at July 15, 2010
1. Cavalier King Charles. The wound is wet. The dog feels the pain when the horizontal canal is checked. Panalog ear ointment was applied inside the horizontal canal on July 14, 2010. Why is there wetness around the area of the horizontal canal? Is the fluid from the middle ear? I need to investigate further. No more head shaking seen. If you look at his pre-op picture, he had been using his left back paw to scratch the area whee the middle canal is located.
2. Cocker Spaniel. 12 years. Wound heals well. Should be able to go home 3 more days. This dog has no more urinary problems after I removed 31 stones in the bladder last year. Owner feeds home-cooked food, mainly vegetables with a bit of chicken meat.
3. Cocker Spaniel with maggot wounds on left ear. Wound healing well. Drainage tube removed.
1. Cavalier King Charles. The wound is wet. The dog feels the pain when the horizontal canal is checked. Panalog ear ointment was applied inside the horizontal canal on July 14, 2010. Why is there wetness around the area of the horizontal canal? Is the fluid from the middle ear? I need to investigate further. No more head shaking seen. If you look at his pre-op picture, he had been using his left back paw to scratch the area whee the middle canal is located.
2. Cocker Spaniel. 12 years. Wound heals well. Should be able to go home 3 more days. This dog has no more urinary problems after I removed 31 stones in the bladder last year. Owner feeds home-cooked food, mainly vegetables with a bit of chicken meat.
3. Cocker Spaniel with maggot wounds on left ear. Wound healing well. Drainage tube removed.
130. Working couple, 1 puppy, condo - grate toilet training
Miniature Pinscher, Female, 3 months. Came for 3rd vaccination.
Confined to balcony when owner is working. Grate + Pee Pan.
Two weeks with expatriate couple, both working.
Feeding: 10 minutes. Recently eating 50%.
Pooping: Around 20 minutes after eating. How many times does a puppy poop? "2-4 x per day," I said.
Peeing: Many times. Using the n-1 formula as a guideline where n=age in months, the 3-month-old puppy is expected to pee 2 hourly.
Problem: "She pees on the grate and pee pan mostly but sometimes outside it," the gentleman wanted the dog to pee inside the bathroom next to the balcony (utility area).
Solution: Confine to bathroom with baby gates at the door for 2-4 weeks. Put grate + pee pan inside the bathroom. Observe where the puppy eliminate. Keep grate cover clean from urine and poo. As the couple works, it will be difficult to use positive reinforcement consistently.
Conclusion:
The puppy may be trained to eliminate on the bathroom floor if that is what the owner wants.
Best time to Spaying
I advise 3 months after the first heat so that the female private parts are fully developed. If the owner does not want blood staining the condo floor, spay at 6 months of age.
Confined to balcony when owner is working. Grate + Pee Pan.
Two weeks with expatriate couple, both working.
Feeding: 10 minutes. Recently eating 50%.
Pooping: Around 20 minutes after eating. How many times does a puppy poop? "2-4 x per day," I said.
Peeing: Many times. Using the n-1 formula as a guideline where n=age in months, the 3-month-old puppy is expected to pee 2 hourly.
Problem: "She pees on the grate and pee pan mostly but sometimes outside it," the gentleman wanted the dog to pee inside the bathroom next to the balcony (utility area).
Solution: Confine to bathroom with baby gates at the door for 2-4 weeks. Put grate + pee pan inside the bathroom. Observe where the puppy eliminate. Keep grate cover clean from urine and poo. As the couple works, it will be difficult to use positive reinforcement consistently.
Conclusion:
The puppy may be trained to eliminate on the bathroom floor if that is what the owner wants.
Best time to Spaying
I advise 3 months after the first heat so that the female private parts are fully developed. If the owner does not want blood staining the condo floor, spay at 6 months of age.
129, Air-con for the Chow Chow After Spay?
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 inspection
Dusk fell fast in July. The waiting room was pitch dark as my assistant was at the back feeding the dog while the intern had just gone for her dinner. I was in the consultation room typing up my ear canal resection observations for my record and experience. Delays in writing mean never writing them up as every day seems to fly by so fast.
I noticed a young lady in black spectacle frames coming into the waiting area at 6.30 pm on July 14, 2010 as my consultation room door has a glass window on the top half.
I thought she was going to pick up her dog, cat or hamster as my associate Dr Teo has several in-patients. 3 cat fight wounds and 3 other dogs and two hamsters. I had two ear canal resection cases, a motorbike abrasion trauma case and 4 hamsters from one owner and two young rabbits nobody wanted to adopt. The kennel at Toa Payoh Vets was full house today.
After a while, I left my computer to speak to her. She had made appointment to inspect the Surgery prior to spaying her dog on Sunday. This was the first time I get an inspection from the non-regulatory veterinary authorities and I showed her the premises and answered all her queries.
The following queries regarding the spay of her Chow Chow this Sunday are recorded for the benefit of dog owners and for my knowledge management archives.
Dear Ms ....
1. No food and water 10 hours before arrival at the Surgery.
2. Your Chow Chow will arrive at 12 noon on Sunday and surgery will be performed around 1-2 hours later depending on my caseload.
3. Bathe your dog before coming to the Surgery and check that she has no skin disease on her belly area.
4. She should be active and has had normal appetite on Saturday. If she has vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite or is inactive, do not bring her for spay. Let us know when you cancel the appointment.
5. At the Surgery, she will examined and if she has no fever or heart problems, spaying will be done by me.
6. Belly hair will be clipped. Dog goes to Operation Room. Surgery takes around 15 minutes.
7. Anaesthesia domitor IV and isoflurane gas will be given.
8. An IV saline drip will be set up.
9. An antidote to domitor called Antisedan will be injected post-operation. This injection wakes up the dog in a few seconds as if from a short nap.
10. Post-op tolfedine and baytril antibiotic injection will be given.
11. The dog can go home 2 hours later with antibiotics and tolfedine pain-killers for the next 4 days. We will phone you.
12. For the first 2 days, the dog may or may not be active or eating much. It will be good if you take leave on Monday. If not, ensure that the dog is crated or in a small room.
13. Check the surgical area daily for pus or abnormal bleeding. Replace the plaster 2 days later after using a piece of facial cotton with clean warm water to wash away the blood clots. Dry the wound after washing. Then put on the new plaster.
14. No e-collar will be used in your dog although I do recommend in many female dogs. Your Chow Chow may not like it.
The plaster usually protects the wound. Usually the dog does not lick the wound if the painkillers are given as instructed. Some owners are unable to give the tablets directly onto the back of the tongue, close the mouth, stroke the neck while lifting up the head. Some dogs are too smart and just spit out the tablets and therefore do not get the pain-killing effect. They start to lick the operation wound.
Therefore, an alternative method is to conceal the tablets in cheese or meat balls. The first two ball given will not contain the drug. The third will contain the drug. Delay the meal time by one hour as an example. Usually the dog just swallow her favourite food quickly.
15. The absorbable skin stitches will dissolve in 21 -28 days. So you need not come for stitch removal unless you want to get the stitches removed in 14 days as some dogs do get irritated by the stitches. Stitch abscesses form and are irritating. Observe daily and you can use clean scissors to cut off the knots on Day 14. Usually I stitch 2 skin stitches and they can be cut off easily 14 days after surgery.
16. If possible don't let the dog walk up and down slopes or stairs in the first 7 days. As the wound is 2 cm long (if there is no complications), this will not be a big problem with stitch breakdown. However, try not to let the dog jump and run around as she will feel active by Day 2 as the painkillers mask the pain.
17. Air-condition post-operation for the Chow Chow with her thick coat. In my experience, the body temperature after surgery drops due to the sedation and anaesthetic. No air condition is necessary and no Alaskan malamute, Siberian Huskies or Chow Chow have suffered from heat stress due to the lack of air conditioning post-operation. In your case, the dog goes home two hours post-operation and therefore she should be OK with you.
18. During the past years, I seldom get post-operation infections and complications after the spay if the owner nurses the dog well. Some 10-15 years ago, I did not give pain-killers post-surgery and the dog may howl in pain at home and during the first night. With pain-killers and antibiotics properly taken, no spayed dog will howl at home 24 hours after spay.
19. I hope all the questions are answered. E-mail your questions if there are more. Best wishes.
Dusk fell fast in July. The waiting room was pitch dark as my assistant was at the back feeding the dog while the intern had just gone for her dinner. I was in the consultation room typing up my ear canal resection observations for my record and experience. Delays in writing mean never writing them up as every day seems to fly by so fast.
I noticed a young lady in black spectacle frames coming into the waiting area at 6.30 pm on July 14, 2010 as my consultation room door has a glass window on the top half.
I thought she was going to pick up her dog, cat or hamster as my associate Dr Teo has several in-patients. 3 cat fight wounds and 3 other dogs and two hamsters. I had two ear canal resection cases, a motorbike abrasion trauma case and 4 hamsters from one owner and two young rabbits nobody wanted to adopt. The kennel at Toa Payoh Vets was full house today.
After a while, I left my computer to speak to her. She had made appointment to inspect the Surgery prior to spaying her dog on Sunday. This was the first time I get an inspection from the non-regulatory veterinary authorities and I showed her the premises and answered all her queries.
The following queries regarding the spay of her Chow Chow this Sunday are recorded for the benefit of dog owners and for my knowledge management archives.
Dear Ms ....
1. No food and water 10 hours before arrival at the Surgery.
2. Your Chow Chow will arrive at 12 noon on Sunday and surgery will be performed around 1-2 hours later depending on my caseload.
3. Bathe your dog before coming to the Surgery and check that she has no skin disease on her belly area.
4. She should be active and has had normal appetite on Saturday. If she has vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite or is inactive, do not bring her for spay. Let us know when you cancel the appointment.
5. At the Surgery, she will examined and if she has no fever or heart problems, spaying will be done by me.
6. Belly hair will be clipped. Dog goes to Operation Room. Surgery takes around 15 minutes.
7. Anaesthesia domitor IV and isoflurane gas will be given.
8. An IV saline drip will be set up.
9. An antidote to domitor called Antisedan will be injected post-operation. This injection wakes up the dog in a few seconds as if from a short nap.
10. Post-op tolfedine and baytril antibiotic injection will be given.
11. The dog can go home 2 hours later with antibiotics and tolfedine pain-killers for the next 4 days. We will phone you.
12. For the first 2 days, the dog may or may not be active or eating much. It will be good if you take leave on Monday. If not, ensure that the dog is crated or in a small room.
13. Check the surgical area daily for pus or abnormal bleeding. Replace the plaster 2 days later after using a piece of facial cotton with clean warm water to wash away the blood clots. Dry the wound after washing. Then put on the new plaster.
14. No e-collar will be used in your dog although I do recommend in many female dogs. Your Chow Chow may not like it.
The plaster usually protects the wound. Usually the dog does not lick the wound if the painkillers are given as instructed. Some owners are unable to give the tablets directly onto the back of the tongue, close the mouth, stroke the neck while lifting up the head. Some dogs are too smart and just spit out the tablets and therefore do not get the pain-killing effect. They start to lick the operation wound.
Therefore, an alternative method is to conceal the tablets in cheese or meat balls. The first two ball given will not contain the drug. The third will contain the drug. Delay the meal time by one hour as an example. Usually the dog just swallow her favourite food quickly.
15. The absorbable skin stitches will dissolve in 21 -28 days. So you need not come for stitch removal unless you want to get the stitches removed in 14 days as some dogs do get irritated by the stitches. Stitch abscesses form and are irritating. Observe daily and you can use clean scissors to cut off the knots on Day 14. Usually I stitch 2 skin stitches and they can be cut off easily 14 days after surgery.
16. If possible don't let the dog walk up and down slopes or stairs in the first 7 days. As the wound is 2 cm long (if there is no complications), this will not be a big problem with stitch breakdown. However, try not to let the dog jump and run around as she will feel active by Day 2 as the painkillers mask the pain.
17. Air-condition post-operation for the Chow Chow with her thick coat. In my experience, the body temperature after surgery drops due to the sedation and anaesthetic. No air condition is necessary and no Alaskan malamute, Siberian Huskies or Chow Chow have suffered from heat stress due to the lack of air conditioning post-operation. In your case, the dog goes home two hours post-operation and therefore she should be OK with you.
18. During the past years, I seldom get post-operation infections and complications after the spay if the owner nurses the dog well. Some 10-15 years ago, I did not give pain-killers post-surgery and the dog may howl in pain at home and during the first night. With pain-killers and antibiotics properly taken, no spayed dog will howl at home 24 hours after spay.
19. I hope all the questions are answered. E-mail your questions if there are more. Best wishes.
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