Sheltie, Female, 11 years. Head shaking and rubbing daily
"The vet advises me to keep the ears dry," the lady was often given this advice from several vets in a big practice she was referred to by her family vet. "How do I keep the ears dry? Her left " In fact, I did give such advices too by asking the owner to plug the ear opening with a piece of cloth during bath time.
The Sheltie's ears were full of dry crusts, as in a scabies mite infestation. Her eyelids were scratched bald.
I examined the dog's ears.
"Every time I see the vets, I am asked to keep the ears dry."
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
156. Tumours in older male dogs
On Aug 11, 2010. I reviewed the 3 cases to find whether they are linked to the male gender. Dogs over 6 years of age are more likely to develop tumours than younger ones. The following three cases are recorded to educate dog owners and help veterinary students in their studies.
1. Maltese, Male Dog, 18 years old
Circum-anal tumour above anus
One testicular tumour 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 2.0 cm was sent to the Laboratory for histopathology.
Due to economic reasons, I submitted the testicular tumour and not the other normal sized testicle.
Result: Malignant tumour compatible with a seminoma.
Interstitial Cell Tumours and Seminomas are reported to produce estrogen. Dog has a very good coat. Could it be due to excessive estrogen production?
The circum-anal tumour is more common in male, non-neutered dogs.
2. Labrador Retriever, Male Dog, 6 years.
Retained or undescended left testicle grew explosively to half the size of a tennis ball while the right testicle was shrunken (atrophied). Sent both for histopathology. The dog goes home tomorrow (5th day after neutering). Blood tests and histopathology in progress.
From the appearance, the testicular tumour is a Sertoli cell tumour. Sertoli cell tumours tend to grow very large. They are firm, white or greyish and multinodular. The rate of metastasis is reported to be less than 10%. Early removal will give the dog good chances of survival. I believe that this 6-year-old dog's testicular tumour had been detected at an early stage* by the father or family member. If the histopathology results show a diffuse subtype as contrasted to the intratubular subtype. We have to wait and see. A young lady owner is concerned.
* Around 1/3 of dogs with Sertoli cell tumours show signs of hyperestrogenism (feminization, gynecomastia, atrophy of the contralateral testicle, squamous metaplasia of the prostate and prostatitis, symmetrical alopecia from genital area to cranio-dorsally and bone marrow atrophy.
In bone marrow atrophy - initial transient increase in granulocytes and neutrophils followed by leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and non-regenerative anaemia and granulocytopenia. Death from overwhelming bacterial infections and bleeding.
This Labrador Retriever had atrophy of the contralateral testicle, prostatitis (ping-pong ball sized prostate and pain on digital rectal examination, takes a long time to pee). Will wait for blood test results.
A good report on testicular tumour is at: www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk_anat/sabatino/index.php
3. Miniature Schnauzer, Male Dog, 11 years.
Bad breath complaint in Jun 2010. I had excised large cheek tumour in Jun 2010. Extracted 15 teeth and dental scaling done. The case is recorded at:
toapayohvets.com/surgery/20100618cheek_tumour_old_dog_electrosurgery
_ToaPayohVets.htm
Some pictures are shown as follows:
"There is a white lump in the same area of his previous tumour," the young lady said today. "He would not allow me to open his mouth. I saw it when he yawned." The dog would not permit me and my assistant Mr Saw to open his mouth too. He jerked away suddenly when I gripped his upper jaw. No point fighting and getting bitten. I will sedate and check mouth and teeth. Recurrence of oral tumour likely. Did not send the previous tumour for histopathology to reduce the veterinary costs for the owner.
The dog had no fever but vomited and had diarrhoea 4 X yesterday. The dog will be treated for gastroenteritis first before any exploration of the mouth.
"Oral tumours are associated with the many years of poor dental hygiene," I said to the young and slim lady who does sales. "My advice to neuter him is not to prevent recurrence as this oral tumour. I have not heard of any scientific studies regarding neutering and oral tumours. However, any dog over 6 years of age is likely to develop tumours. Since your dog has a large cheek tumour, I advised neutering to prevent testicular tumours.
"it is well known that neutering of the male dogs do prevent or lower the incidence of circum-anal tumours and the development of testicular tumours in testicle that have not come down from the body into the scrotal bag."
I doubt that this young lady know what I am talking about. I elaborated: "Since this dog has developed such a large oral tumour, it is best to remove his testicles in case he develops testicular tumour. I am not guaranteeing that castration will prevent recurrence of the oral gum tumour and mouth ulcers."
The dog was warded, given the IV drip and medication for diarrhoea and vomiting.
I checked the anaesthetic records for the Jun 2010 cheek tumour (4.5 cm x 4.5 cm x 0.8cm) excised by electro-surgery for reference. Blood test normal results.
BW 12.3 kg
Domitor 0.2 ml IV
Zoletil 100 0.1 ml IV. Body tremors started. Gave Atropine 0.5 ml IV. Tremors stopped. Surgery done. Antisedan 0.2 ml IV. Dog woke up fast.
CONCLUSION
3 male dogs had tumours.
Case 1 - Maltese not neutered. Malignant Seminoma and Circum-Anal tumour. During his old age, he developed testicular tumour (malignant) seminoma and circum-anal tumour. Both were removed and the dog had no anaesthetic problems although he was 18 years old. I used isoflurane gas only. Neutering would have prevented such tumours from developing.
Case 2 - Labrador Retriever not neutered. Testicular Tumour. Surprisingly, at 6 years of age, he developed the testicular tumour so rapidly. Testicular tumours usually happens in dogs of 10 years. Studies have associated testicular tumours may form in undescended tumours (cryptorchidism) in man and male dogs.
Case 3 - Miniature Schnauzer not neutered. Oral tumour was large. Oral tumours develop due to poor oral hygiene in dogs and man, according to several medical reports. There is no association with neutering or no neutering. Teeth cleaning every alternate daily and yearly dental check up most important for your dog if you want to prevent oral tumours from developing in your dog.
goto:
http://www.asiahomes.com/angelfire/20100657testicular_tumours_oral_old_dogs_male_singapore_ToaPayohVets.htm
Latest info at www.toapayohvets.com
1. Maltese, Male Dog, 18 years old
Circum-anal tumour above anus
One testicular tumour 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 2.0 cm was sent to the Laboratory for histopathology.
Due to economic reasons, I submitted the testicular tumour and not the other normal sized testicle.
Result: Malignant tumour compatible with a seminoma.
Interstitial Cell Tumours and Seminomas are reported to produce estrogen. Dog has a very good coat. Could it be due to excessive estrogen production?
The circum-anal tumour is more common in male, non-neutered dogs.
2. Labrador Retriever, Male Dog, 6 years.
Retained or undescended left testicle grew explosively to half the size of a tennis ball while the right testicle was shrunken (atrophied). Sent both for histopathology. The dog goes home tomorrow (5th day after neutering). Blood tests and histopathology in progress.
From the appearance, the testicular tumour is a Sertoli cell tumour. Sertoli cell tumours tend to grow very large. They are firm, white or greyish and multinodular. The rate of metastasis is reported to be less than 10%. Early removal will give the dog good chances of survival. I believe that this 6-year-old dog's testicular tumour had been detected at an early stage* by the father or family member. If the histopathology results show a diffuse subtype as contrasted to the intratubular subtype. We have to wait and see. A young lady owner is concerned.
* Around 1/3 of dogs with Sertoli cell tumours show signs of hyperestrogenism (feminization, gynecomastia, atrophy of the contralateral testicle, squamous metaplasia of the prostate and prostatitis, symmetrical alopecia from genital area to cranio-dorsally and bone marrow atrophy.
In bone marrow atrophy - initial transient increase in granulocytes and neutrophils followed by leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and non-regenerative anaemia and granulocytopenia. Death from overwhelming bacterial infections and bleeding.
This Labrador Retriever had atrophy of the contralateral testicle, prostatitis (ping-pong ball sized prostate and pain on digital rectal examination, takes a long time to pee). Will wait for blood test results.
A good report on testicular tumour is at: www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk_anat/sabatino/index.php
3. Miniature Schnauzer, Male Dog, 11 years.
Bad breath complaint in Jun 2010. I had excised large cheek tumour in Jun 2010. Extracted 15 teeth and dental scaling done. The case is recorded at:
toapayohvets.com/surgery/20100618cheek_tumour_old_dog_electrosurgery
_ToaPayohVets.htm
Some pictures are shown as follows:
"There is a white lump in the same area of his previous tumour," the young lady said today. "He would not allow me to open his mouth. I saw it when he yawned." The dog would not permit me and my assistant Mr Saw to open his mouth too. He jerked away suddenly when I gripped his upper jaw. No point fighting and getting bitten. I will sedate and check mouth and teeth. Recurrence of oral tumour likely. Did not send the previous tumour for histopathology to reduce the veterinary costs for the owner.
The dog had no fever but vomited and had diarrhoea 4 X yesterday. The dog will be treated for gastroenteritis first before any exploration of the mouth.
"Oral tumours are associated with the many years of poor dental hygiene," I said to the young and slim lady who does sales. "My advice to neuter him is not to prevent recurrence as this oral tumour. I have not heard of any scientific studies regarding neutering and oral tumours. However, any dog over 6 years of age is likely to develop tumours. Since your dog has a large cheek tumour, I advised neutering to prevent testicular tumours.
"it is well known that neutering of the male dogs do prevent or lower the incidence of circum-anal tumours and the development of testicular tumours in testicle that have not come down from the body into the scrotal bag."
I doubt that this young lady know what I am talking about. I elaborated: "Since this dog has developed such a large oral tumour, it is best to remove his testicles in case he develops testicular tumour. I am not guaranteeing that castration will prevent recurrence of the oral gum tumour and mouth ulcers."
The dog was warded, given the IV drip and medication for diarrhoea and vomiting.
I checked the anaesthetic records for the Jun 2010 cheek tumour (4.5 cm x 4.5 cm x 0.8cm) excised by electro-surgery for reference. Blood test normal results.
BW 12.3 kg
Domitor 0.2 ml IV
Zoletil 100 0.1 ml IV. Body tremors started. Gave Atropine 0.5 ml IV. Tremors stopped. Surgery done. Antisedan 0.2 ml IV. Dog woke up fast.
CONCLUSION
3 male dogs had tumours.
Case 1 - Maltese not neutered. Malignant Seminoma and Circum-Anal tumour. During his old age, he developed testicular tumour (malignant) seminoma and circum-anal tumour. Both were removed and the dog had no anaesthetic problems although he was 18 years old. I used isoflurane gas only. Neutering would have prevented such tumours from developing.
Case 2 - Labrador Retriever not neutered. Testicular Tumour. Surprisingly, at 6 years of age, he developed the testicular tumour so rapidly. Testicular tumours usually happens in dogs of 10 years. Studies have associated testicular tumours may form in undescended tumours (cryptorchidism) in man and male dogs.
Case 3 - Miniature Schnauzer not neutered. Oral tumour was large. Oral tumours develop due to poor oral hygiene in dogs and man, according to several medical reports. There is no association with neutering or no neutering. Teeth cleaning every alternate daily and yearly dental check up most important for your dog if you want to prevent oral tumours from developing in your dog.
goto:
http://www.asiahomes.com/angelfire/20100657testicular_tumours_oral_old_dogs_male_singapore_ToaPayohVets.htm
Latest info at www.toapayohvets.com
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Faucitis stray cat
August 10, 2010 review of eosinophilia in a stray cat.
Salivation is the presenting sign. Ulcers in fauces and lower tongue 2 weeks ago. Treated and went home. Came back again as the cat started to salivate.
Ulcers at fauces reduced by 80% today. Cat gentle but dislikes mouth being opened. Wanted to scratch intern Ms Lai. Will the condition relapses? Is there a permanent cure? Not according to the cat experts.
August 10, 2010 review of a cat with urine all over his body.
Urinary incontinence and cystitis. Treated. Thick yellow urine. OK now. Goes home.
August 10, 2010 review of a black cat with red blood. Only 1.5 years old. Why he passes red blood? FLUTD with unknown cause usually. Treated, bladder irrigation 2 days. OK. Goes home. Neuter first.
Salivation is the presenting sign. Ulcers in fauces and lower tongue 2 weeks ago. Treated and went home. Came back again as the cat started to salivate.
Ulcers at fauces reduced by 80% today. Cat gentle but dislikes mouth being opened. Wanted to scratch intern Ms Lai. Will the condition relapses? Is there a permanent cure? Not according to the cat experts.
August 10, 2010 review of a cat with urine all over his body.
Urinary incontinence and cystitis. Treated. Thick yellow urine. OK now. Goes home.
August 10, 2010 review of a black cat with red blood. Only 1.5 years old. Why he passes red blood? FLUTD with unknown cause usually. Treated, bladder irrigation 2 days. OK. Goes home. Neuter first.
154. Undescended testicular tumour
Aug 10,2010 report
REVIEW OF A CASE OF A TESTICULAR TUMOUR
DAY 3 AFTER NEUTER
Labrador Retriever, Male, 6 years, 17 kg.
A very thin gentle dog. Poor bodily condition and anaemic. High anaesthetic risk but surgery was necessary.
Complaint 2 days ago: Large lump in the left inguinal area
Noted: Preputial opening black and much swollen. Squatted and took over 1 minute to pee (suspect urethral obstruction, cystitis or prostrate enlargement/inflamation, tumour)
Blood test: Anaemia. Low haemoglobin, red blood cells and platelets. Kidneys and livers OK. No diabetes.
Urine analysis: Wait for lab results.
Urine dipstick by intern Ms Lai who collected urine today and wrote the following: No blood. Protein 1000 mg/dl, Glucose 100 mg/dl, pH 7.0 - 7.5, SG 1.015, leucocytes 500 WBC/ul
IV drip + Vit K1 in slow IV 2 hours
Isoflurane gas mask, neutered 2 days ago.
Prostate as large as a ping pong ball (digital rectal palpation while at the end of neuter anaesthesia) and dog reacted in pain.
Undescended testicular tumour, 4"X3" with multiple yellow nodules. Descended testicle appeared shrunkened and 1/3 normal size. Both sent to the laboratory for histopathology.
"Has the testicular tumour spread inside the body?" the father asked me. "It is hard to say without further tests, scans and X-rays." I replied. "Is it a testicular cancer? I had to wait for lab report.
Undescended testicle may develop into testicular tumour in man and dog. "Have you heard of Lance Armstrong who suffered the same condition as your Labrador?" I asked the father. "No," he said.
I am glad that this dog can now pee at one go. Will review tomorrow.
I gave him an anti-androgenic injection (Tardak). After 24 hours, at 5.30 pm today, Aug 10, 2010, he could just pee normally in one go in less than a few seconds.
Aug 10, 2010
HISTOPATHOLOGY RESULTS
A testicular tumour - sertoli cell tumour.
Comment from the histopathologist: A second interstitial (Leydig) cell tumour component cannot be excluded in this tumour. Most primary testicular neoplasm in the dog are benign. The rare malignant Seretoli cell tumour has no good cytological or histological markers of malignancy. The only way to determine malignancy is to identify metastases in lymphatics, spermatic cord, lymph node or distant sites. Pl correlate with clinical features.
Aug 10, 2010
URINE ANALYSIS
pH = 7.0, SG 1.027
Abnormal findings:
Prortein 2+, glucose+, blood 4+
White Blood cells >2250/uL, red blood cells 900/uL, epithelial cells 1053/uL, bacteria 3+
nephritis? + cystitis + prostatitis
Aug 10, 2010
BLOOD TEST
Total White cell count normal with neutrophils 82% (absolute 7.96), lymphocytes 12% (absolute 1.17), monocytes 5% (absolute 0.45), eosinophils 0.5% (absolute 0.05), basophil 0.4% (absolute 0.04)
but there is bone marrow depression as evident by:
Low platelets 90 (200-500)
Low haemoglobin
Low red cell count
Aug 17, 2010
Phoned owner to check on dog and post lab reports.
1. Yes, can take out the e-collar as it is one week.
2. "The dog no longer limps. We thought he had hip problems," the owner said. "It is the pain in the undescended testicular tumour as the cells are getting necrotic and dying.
3. "Does he attract other dogs to go near him when you took him out for walk?" I asked. "Many dogs would look at home or go near him," he said. "That is the result of excessive female hormone production - estrogen that caused him to be attracted by other dogs. Now, he should be getting less attention as he longer secretes the female sex hormones."
REVIEW OF A CASE OF A TESTICULAR TUMOUR
DAY 3 AFTER NEUTER
Labrador Retriever, Male, 6 years, 17 kg.
A very thin gentle dog. Poor bodily condition and anaemic. High anaesthetic risk but surgery was necessary.
Complaint 2 days ago: Large lump in the left inguinal area
Noted: Preputial opening black and much swollen. Squatted and took over 1 minute to pee (suspect urethral obstruction, cystitis or prostrate enlargement/inflamation, tumour)
Blood test: Anaemia. Low haemoglobin, red blood cells and platelets. Kidneys and livers OK. No diabetes.
Urine analysis: Wait for lab results.
Urine dipstick by intern Ms Lai who collected urine today and wrote the following: No blood. Protein 1000 mg/dl, Glucose 100 mg/dl, pH 7.0 - 7.5, SG 1.015, leucocytes 500 WBC/ul
IV drip + Vit K1 in slow IV 2 hours
Isoflurane gas mask, neutered 2 days ago.
Prostate as large as a ping pong ball (digital rectal palpation while at the end of neuter anaesthesia) and dog reacted in pain.
Undescended testicular tumour, 4"X3" with multiple yellow nodules. Descended testicle appeared shrunkened and 1/3 normal size. Both sent to the laboratory for histopathology.
"Has the testicular tumour spread inside the body?" the father asked me. "It is hard to say without further tests, scans and X-rays." I replied. "Is it a testicular cancer? I had to wait for lab report.
Undescended testicle may develop into testicular tumour in man and dog. "Have you heard of Lance Armstrong who suffered the same condition as your Labrador?" I asked the father. "No," he said.
I am glad that this dog can now pee at one go. Will review tomorrow.
I gave him an anti-androgenic injection (Tardak). After 24 hours, at 5.30 pm today, Aug 10, 2010, he could just pee normally in one go in less than a few seconds.
Aug 10, 2010
HISTOPATHOLOGY RESULTS
A testicular tumour - sertoli cell tumour.
Comment from the histopathologist: A second interstitial (Leydig) cell tumour component cannot be excluded in this tumour. Most primary testicular neoplasm in the dog are benign. The rare malignant Seretoli cell tumour has no good cytological or histological markers of malignancy. The only way to determine malignancy is to identify metastases in lymphatics, spermatic cord, lymph node or distant sites. Pl correlate with clinical features.
Aug 10, 2010
URINE ANALYSIS
pH = 7.0, SG 1.027
Abnormal findings:
Prortein 2+, glucose+, blood 4+
White Blood cells >2250/uL, red blood cells 900/uL, epithelial cells 1053/uL, bacteria 3+
nephritis? + cystitis + prostatitis
Aug 10, 2010
BLOOD TEST
Total White cell count normal with neutrophils 82% (absolute 7.96), lymphocytes 12% (absolute 1.17), monocytes 5% (absolute 0.45), eosinophils 0.5% (absolute 0.05), basophil 0.4% (absolute 0.04)
but there is bone marrow depression as evident by:
Low platelets 90 (200-500)
Low haemoglobin
Low red cell count
Aug 17, 2010
Phoned owner to check on dog and post lab reports.
1. Yes, can take out the e-collar as it is one week.
2. "The dog no longer limps. We thought he had hip problems," the owner said. "It is the pain in the undescended testicular tumour as the cells are getting necrotic and dying.
3. "Does he attract other dogs to go near him when you took him out for walk?" I asked. "Many dogs would look at home or go near him," he said. "That is the result of excessive female hormone production - estrogen that caused him to be attracted by other dogs. Now, he should be getting less attention as he longer secretes the female sex hormones."
Friday, August 6, 2010
153. Fractured nail in Silkie (2nd case)
"It is uncommon for a dog that is groomed regularly to have fractured toe nails," I said. "Yours is the 2nd Silkie with the same problem in this week. I don't get such cases during the whole year and now there are two."
"Why didn't the groomer clip the nails short so that my dog will not have his nail caught inside the office carpet? He was suffering great pain and was bleeding." The husband took time off to phone me (apparently referred by his groomer who lives nearby his condo) to get his baby treated urgently.
As he wanted to be present, I did not object. He was bigger and more handsome than myself and my assistant and we squeezed inside the small operating room. Normally I disallow owners to view as they distract and disrupt.
Sedation:
Domitor 0.2 IV. Waited 2 minutes and then my assistant put the dog on the gas mask to give the isoflurane gas. "Take away the mask," I said when I saw the dog gurgling. He was about to vomit. Dogs seldom vomit when given Domitor IV but some do.
"I have to change groomer," the husband was upset.
"You can see that the groomer did clip all the nails properly," I showed the husband the other nails including the dew claws. There is no need to change groomers. You can trim the nails yourself in between the grooming session or teach the groomer how to do it."
As I type this record at 6.35 pm, Friday, Aug 6, 2010, I have this hypothesis: The deviated D3 and D4 claws had grown longer as they were not in contact with the ground and probably grew longer since there was no wear and tear. I did not ask when was the last grooming as I did not have time to consolidate my hypothesis.
I did not have time to explain this possibility as the husband appeared to be in a hurry. "Family comes first," he said to his wife. "The dog is the de-stressor in the office and so he is more like a child," the wife explained. When a child is in pain, emergency attention is required.
Dog vomited his food 5 minutes later.
"The dog should be on empty stomach but this is an emergency and he vomited his yellow food and water," I explained. Having a husband inside the operation room took up some time. "Do you advise cutting off the deviated D4 claw? After all, the dog already has fractured stump of D3. What is your advice?"
"Just trim it for the time being," I showed how it is done. Imagine a line across the lower level of the pad when placed on the ground. Any claw longer and below this horizontal line (90 degrees to the pad) should be trimmed without pain or bleeding from the quick." I demonstrated by cutting. There was no blood.
I illustrate for readers' benefit (see picture at www.toapayohvets.com, goto DOGS).
If the two deviated claws persist to deviate some 6 months later, I will remove them if you have thought over the matter. For the husband, nails are useless and if they cause problems, may as well remove both of them. That means no more overgrown nails and no more fractured nails. I advised waiting although I could have had done it on the spot as the dog was under anaesthesia and the owner was willing.
Dog: Teeth scaling and follow-up on an abscessed carnaissal tooth chihuahua
CASE 1. PREVENTING TARTAR BUILD UP IN THE DOG'S TEETH
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
First written: 06 August, 2010
toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129
A mother with four children - 12 years, 15 years, 19 years and 23 years brought 2 Malteses that are 2 years old for their annual vaccination. She made an appointment for dental scaling. Dental scaling was done under anaesthesia. Lots of brown tartar in the canine and back teeth, but the teeth are still solid and strong.
Questions asked by the mum:
1. Yearly dental scaling? Not necessary if there is no tartar. Just ask the vet to check the teeth.
2. Must brush teeth daily? Yes, if practical. If not, every 3 days.
3. Dog does not like brushing. What to do? Use thumb brush or rag to rub back teeth. Use treats to motivate.
4. How to prevent tartar build up on the teeth? Presently the dogs eat chicken meat mainly. "Add dry dog food for the dog to chew," I said. "There are also chew ropes, but one way is to feed dry dog food and brushing of the teeth."
"My dogs will never eat dry food," the mother said.
"Even you will never eat biscuits if forced to," I said to the caring mother. "The trick is to add 5% to chicken meat, gradually increasing to 50% after one month. Delay dinner as the dog eats once a day."
As I had time, we talked about our experiences in bringing up children and she had four of them. "My 15-year-old is the naughtiest and always wants to go out."
"That's due to her hormones", I said. "She wants to meet boys. You need to spend some time with her, for example. exercising the two dogs together with her. Bonding with her, getting to know her better." I had thought that the 12-year-old daughter would be harder to manage as she should be having hormonal changes to become a woman. Yet it was the 15-year-old. I don't know much about daughters as I don't have any.
The mum said she used to take half-hourly walks when first diagnosed with Diabetes Type II. Now, she gave up exercising. "You need company," I said. "It is just too boring to walk by yourself and spouses are usually not available or interested.
"You have two dogs. Just take one dog down at a time since two dogs are noisy. If you don't take care, you may get diabetes Type I and then you will need to inject yourself everyday ", I advised the mum. She has to take care of herself as she has 4 children and 2 dogs and that is a heavy responsibility.
CASE 2. FOLLOW-UP 7 MONTHS AFTER I EXTRACTED THE ABSCESSED CARNAISSAL TOOTH
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
06 August, 2010
toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129
What to do if you, as a vet do not feel comfortable in performing anaesthesia in old dogs which may only be cured if surgery is done?
I know of one vet who just simply refers all cases to another practice. "At least I don't lose clientele when I refer to this practice," the vet told me. This practice has several vets and if this vet believes that referring her difficult cases to this practice will not cause her loss of clientele, I find it hard to believe. I reserved comments. A practice with more vets has higher overheads and therefore needs the caseload to sustain the profitability of the big operation. Recently I asked my mentor about this vet's comments. My mentor who is in his late 60s said: "Once you refer a case, you lose your client."
Referring to other practices means losing clientele. There is no way to stem such losses if the vet does not want to perform risky surgeries that will harm his or her professional reputation.
Deaths on the operating table are very emotional and unpleasant issues. In this Chihuahua with an abscessed carnaissal tooth, the vet just advised conservative treatment for 12 months. This vet would not perform surgery knowing that it would be very risky. Anaesthesia in old dogs is going into areas where angels fear to thread as it is high risk. Yet, some surgeries cure the dog promptly. There is always a big dilemma for vets encountering such situations.
It was a joy to see this Chihuahua some 7 months after I extracted her abscessed carnaissal tooth and many other teeth. I tried my hand at making a short video with the help of an intern at: Abscessed Carnaissal Tooth Diagnosis and Treatment Video Education For Vet Students. Three follow-up pictures of the pretty Chihuahua are taken for viewers:
7 months ago
Dirty, wet itchy left facial area below the eye. The mum had to clean the non-healing wound for the previous 12 months. It was a daily chore for the old mother for 12 solid months.
7 months later
No pain and good looking and a happy mum. The grown up son had to seek a vet who would operate on the dog but he knew it was a high risk anaesthesia. It is not always a happy ending. Yearly dental check up by your vet will prevent so much dramas and worries for the family members who are care-givers to the dog.
More info at: Dogs or Cats
To make an appointment: e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com
tel: +65 9668-6469, 6254-3326
toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129
Pictures are at www.toapayohvets.com.
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
First written: 06 August, 2010
toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129
A mother with four children - 12 years, 15 years, 19 years and 23 years brought 2 Malteses that are 2 years old for their annual vaccination. She made an appointment for dental scaling. Dental scaling was done under anaesthesia. Lots of brown tartar in the canine and back teeth, but the teeth are still solid and strong.
Questions asked by the mum:
1. Yearly dental scaling? Not necessary if there is no tartar. Just ask the vet to check the teeth.
2. Must brush teeth daily? Yes, if practical. If not, every 3 days.
3. Dog does not like brushing. What to do? Use thumb brush or rag to rub back teeth. Use treats to motivate.
4. How to prevent tartar build up on the teeth? Presently the dogs eat chicken meat mainly. "Add dry dog food for the dog to chew," I said. "There are also chew ropes, but one way is to feed dry dog food and brushing of the teeth."
"My dogs will never eat dry food," the mother said.
"Even you will never eat biscuits if forced to," I said to the caring mother. "The trick is to add 5% to chicken meat, gradually increasing to 50% after one month. Delay dinner as the dog eats once a day."
As I had time, we talked about our experiences in bringing up children and she had four of them. "My 15-year-old is the naughtiest and always wants to go out."
"That's due to her hormones", I said. "She wants to meet boys. You need to spend some time with her, for example. exercising the two dogs together with her. Bonding with her, getting to know her better." I had thought that the 12-year-old daughter would be harder to manage as she should be having hormonal changes to become a woman. Yet it was the 15-year-old. I don't know much about daughters as I don't have any.
The mum said she used to take half-hourly walks when first diagnosed with Diabetes Type II. Now, she gave up exercising. "You need company," I said. "It is just too boring to walk by yourself and spouses are usually not available or interested.
"You have two dogs. Just take one dog down at a time since two dogs are noisy. If you don't take care, you may get diabetes Type I and then you will need to inject yourself everyday ", I advised the mum. She has to take care of herself as she has 4 children and 2 dogs and that is a heavy responsibility.
CASE 2. FOLLOW-UP 7 MONTHS AFTER I EXTRACTED THE ABSCESSED CARNAISSAL TOOTH
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
06 August, 2010
toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129
What to do if you, as a vet do not feel comfortable in performing anaesthesia in old dogs which may only be cured if surgery is done?
I know of one vet who just simply refers all cases to another practice. "At least I don't lose clientele when I refer to this practice," the vet told me. This practice has several vets and if this vet believes that referring her difficult cases to this practice will not cause her loss of clientele, I find it hard to believe. I reserved comments. A practice with more vets has higher overheads and therefore needs the caseload to sustain the profitability of the big operation. Recently I asked my mentor about this vet's comments. My mentor who is in his late 60s said: "Once you refer a case, you lose your client."
Referring to other practices means losing clientele. There is no way to stem such losses if the vet does not want to perform risky surgeries that will harm his or her professional reputation.
Deaths on the operating table are very emotional and unpleasant issues. In this Chihuahua with an abscessed carnaissal tooth, the vet just advised conservative treatment for 12 months. This vet would not perform surgery knowing that it would be very risky. Anaesthesia in old dogs is going into areas where angels fear to thread as it is high risk. Yet, some surgeries cure the dog promptly. There is always a big dilemma for vets encountering such situations.
It was a joy to see this Chihuahua some 7 months after I extracted her abscessed carnaissal tooth and many other teeth. I tried my hand at making a short video with the help of an intern at: Abscessed Carnaissal Tooth Diagnosis and Treatment Video Education For Vet Students. Three follow-up pictures of the pretty Chihuahua are taken for viewers:
7 months ago
Dirty, wet itchy left facial area below the eye. The mum had to clean the non-healing wound for the previous 12 months. It was a daily chore for the old mother for 12 solid months.
7 months later
No pain and good looking and a happy mum. The grown up son had to seek a vet who would operate on the dog but he knew it was a high risk anaesthesia. It is not always a happy ending. Yearly dental check up by your vet will prevent so much dramas and worries for the family members who are care-givers to the dog.
More info at: Dogs or Cats
To make an appointment: e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com
tel: +65 9668-6469, 6254-3326
toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129
Pictures are at www.toapayohvets.com.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
151. How to help search engines find your website
Pcworld.com Mar 2010
1. Determine priorities
Develop measurable goals and priorities
What you want visitors to do, buy or learn (products and services more important to promote). Google Analytics reveals which keywords visitors used and more.
2. Research keywords. Free Google AdWords Keyword Tool useful. How often keywords ae searched. Other paid tools offer Keyword Effectiveness Index (KEI)
3. Use keywords judiciously.
3.1 One page on a single subject
3.2 Use keywords in the page's HTML itle tage <65 characters incl spaces and punctuation
3.3 Add keywords in HTML h1 and h2 headings and in the body copy several times
3.4 Create a keyword-rich link elsewhere to each optimised page.
3.5 Add keywords to your site's URLs
4. Create "Linkbait"
from soomeone else endorsing your product or service. Useful if they include a keyword-rich link o your company's relevant page
Ensure your pages have exgtremely useful content (link-bai). Spread the word about a new blog post, page or article via social networks (search engines love blogs.
5. Make website search engine friendly. Bots primarily index text and follows links.
5.1 use a textg browser eg. Lynx to see how mosgt search engine bots see your site. Paste a URL into the Lynx viewer to find out how the page looked.
5.2 No duplicate content or multiple URLs pointing to the same page.
5.3 Creae an XML sitemap. Submit it to search engines.
Keep Going. Review.
1. Determine priorities
Develop measurable goals and priorities
What you want visitors to do, buy or learn (products and services more important to promote). Google Analytics reveals which keywords visitors used and more.
2. Research keywords. Free Google AdWords Keyword Tool useful. How often keywords ae searched. Other paid tools offer Keyword Effectiveness Index (KEI)
3. Use keywords judiciously.
3.1 One page on a single subject
3.2 Use keywords in the page's HTML itle tage <65 characters incl spaces and punctuation
3.3 Add keywords in HTML h1 and h2 headings and in the body copy several times
3.4 Create a keyword-rich link elsewhere to each optimised page.
3.5 Add keywords to your site's URLs
4. Create "Linkbait"
from soomeone else endorsing your product or service. Useful if they include a keyword-rich link o your company's relevant page
Ensure your pages have exgtremely useful content (link-bai). Spread the word about a new blog post, page or article via social networks (search engines love blogs.
5. Make website search engine friendly. Bots primarily index text and follows links.
5.1 use a textg browser eg. Lynx to see how mosgt search engine bots see your site. Paste a URL into the Lynx viewer to find out how the page looked.
5.2 No duplicate content or multiple URLs pointing to the same page.
5.3 Creae an XML sitemap. Submit it to search engines.
Keep Going. Review.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
150. Cat scratched the vet
White cat. 13-year-old. Not eating for past 2 days. Owner was free at 7 pm, so I waited for him.
"Open your mouth," the man in his 50s shouted at the cat. "Some bad breath". Surprisingly this cat growled and hissed but did not scratch him.
I open her mouth to examine for ulcers. No tongue ulcers. Gingivitis. In an instant the cat sunk her claws into my left middle finger. 2 deep wounds. My assistant got me the swab and tissue. I washed the wound well as some people do get cat scratch fever.
The claw outer sheath fell on the consultation table as the cat withdrew her claw. This was a cat that had given warnings but I had to open her mouth to check why she was not eating.
Dehydrated as neck skin stood up 30%. Gave IV drip. Will do dental tomorrow.
"Open your mouth," the man in his 50s shouted at the cat. "Some bad breath". Surprisingly this cat growled and hissed but did not scratch him.
I open her mouth to examine for ulcers. No tongue ulcers. Gingivitis. In an instant the cat sunk her claws into my left middle finger. 2 deep wounds. My assistant got me the swab and tissue. I washed the wound well as some people do get cat scratch fever.
The claw outer sheath fell on the consultation table as the cat withdrew her claw. This was a cat that had given warnings but I had to open her mouth to check why she was not eating.
Dehydrated as neck skin stood up 30%. Gave IV drip. Will do dental tomorrow.
149. Rabbit with matted anal hairs and stools, eye discharge
5-year old dwarf rabbit
"Rabbit bites," the young lady warned me. She wanted the rabbit in a one-stop shop with vet and rabbit groomer.
My assistant held the rabbit's head in between the towel while the rabbit groomer clipped the hairs carefully. My intern Ms Lai held on to one leg to assist the groomer. The rabbit seemed quiet. Eye discharge removed. Paw hairs trimmed. "Trim the belly and scrotal area," I asked the groomer. Matted hair and big stool in hair clipped off.
Warm water in bath tub. Rabbit bathed. "The owner said that the noise of the hair dryer upsets the rabbit." So the groomer blew dry from far away. The rabbit did not panic.
Only the lower left incisor was normal size and overgrown. The other three were around 2 mm long. Why?
"Vet 1 clipped the two top teeth some months ago. The two teeth just fell off. This rabbit had no teeth problems in the past years."
Rabbit looked good. If the rabbit does not bite the family members, the rabbit can be groomed at home. Eye cleaning is important. Easily said than done.
"Rabbit bites," the young lady warned me. She wanted the rabbit in a one-stop shop with vet and rabbit groomer.
My assistant held the rabbit's head in between the towel while the rabbit groomer clipped the hairs carefully. My intern Ms Lai held on to one leg to assist the groomer. The rabbit seemed quiet. Eye discharge removed. Paw hairs trimmed. "Trim the belly and scrotal area," I asked the groomer. Matted hair and big stool in hair clipped off.
Warm water in bath tub. Rabbit bathed. "The owner said that the noise of the hair dryer upsets the rabbit." So the groomer blew dry from far away. The rabbit did not panic.
Only the lower left incisor was normal size and overgrown. The other three were around 2 mm long. Why?
"Vet 1 clipped the two top teeth some months ago. The two teeth just fell off. This rabbit had no teeth problems in the past years."
Rabbit looked good. If the rabbit does not bite the family members, the rabbit can be groomed at home. Eye cleaning is important. Easily said than done.
148. Weighing hamsters
"It is important to weigh hospitalised hamsters daily," I explained to Ms Lai. The dwarf hamster with cellulitis had lost 4 grams since admission with a foul stench. A rotting flesh smell permeated the consultation room. On Day 1, 48g bodyweight , it was bathed.
Still has bad body smell. Now 44g. Lost 4g. Bathed on Day 3 (I took pictures of bathing hamster. He seemed traumatised but had to bathe him as he was very dirty and infected).
1.We bathed the hamster in warm water as he was still active. No cold water. A lot of dirty white flakes and hairs washed away.
2. Dried with tissue gently on ventral aspect. Do not be too heavy-handed as lower body skin is infected badly
3. Baytril and pred oral. Electrolytes.
4. Need to hand-feed.
5. Hamster ate the next day.
Day 4. Felt better. Given electrolytes every hour or so. Ate. Passed stools.
Day 5. More active. Liked to eat golden yellow flakes. Passed stools. Skin on shoulder not so red. Picture taken. Loose yellowish brown stools observed on photograph. Stop electrolytes. Now 41 g.
Got to hand feed him ground pellets every hour or so but he is eating too.
Still has bad body smell. Now 44g. Lost 4g. Bathed on Day 3 (I took pictures of bathing hamster. He seemed traumatised but had to bathe him as he was very dirty and infected).
1.We bathed the hamster in warm water as he was still active. No cold water. A lot of dirty white flakes and hairs washed away.
2. Dried with tissue gently on ventral aspect. Do not be too heavy-handed as lower body skin is infected badly
3. Baytril and pred oral. Electrolytes.
4. Need to hand-feed.
5. Hamster ate the next day.
Day 4. Felt better. Given electrolytes every hour or so. Ate. Passed stools.
Day 5. More active. Liked to eat golden yellow flakes. Passed stools. Skin on shoulder not so red. Picture taken. Loose yellowish brown stools observed on photograph. Stop electrolytes. Now 41 g.
Got to hand feed him ground pellets every hour or so but he is eating too.
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