Monday, August 12, 2013

1070. Follow-up. Blood test - Maine Coon with white gums and back ache

Aug 10, 2013

Aug 10, 2013   Blood test
Maine Coon, F, 5 years
Fell when carried around 3 days ago. Owner observed limping left hind. Not usual self.
Pain +++    Vertebral C4-8, T/L, L/S areas. Growls when palpated.
White gums seen on first visit. Given Vit K1 injection SC

Aug 12, 2013
Gums slightly pink.
More painful on spinal areas as above.
Only left hind paw shows positive pedal reflex. Others none. But cat can walk, pee and poop.  



Abnormal results for Aug 10, 2013 blood test

Ca  3.43 (1.5-2.6)
Creatinine  178  (71-160)
Hb 7.2 (8-15)
RBC 4.6 (5-10)
Platelets 61  (300-800).

Internal bleeding from fall +/or toxic chemicals ingested. Should recover with time. To follow up.







1069. Follow up: A 7-year-old old female cat passes blood in the urine

TOA PAYOH VETS
toapayohvets.com

Date:   13 August, 2013  
 

Focus: Small animals - dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles & rabbits
Blood in the cat's urine for the 8th time - FLUTD?  
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Date:   13 August, 2013  
toapayohvets.com 
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129
"Have you heard of FLUTD?" I asked the young couple who showed me a large pool of blood-tinged urine on the wooden floor of the room in which the 7-year-old female spayed gentle cat was locked in. The cat peed on the floor as she did not have access to the litter box.  There were two other cats in the house.
"No," the wife said. "We were informed that our cat had a urinary tract infection."
Their vet was fully booked on the 4th of August and so they consulted me. Their vet had diagnosed polycystic kidneys based on ultrasound and had been consulted 7 times for haematuria in the past 2 years. The couple had the medical records from the vet and showed them to me. A blood test showed high creatinine levels. A urine test showed struvites. The owners had been advised to go on feline C/D but did not comply.
So what is the solution to resolve the problem of the cat passing blood in the urine needing 7 consultations and no cure?
BLOOD TEST on August 5, 2013.  WhatsApp to the owner the blood and urine test report.
Glucose 7.6  (3.9 - 6.0).  I asked the owner to monitor the 24-hour water intake. Follow up on Aug 12, 2013  - no measurement but the wife said no particular increase in drinking as the amount was perceived to be similar to the other 2 cats
The creatinine level was 105 (71-160) and so the kidneys were OK.
The serum urea was 11.2 (7.2 -10.8) which was slightly high but acceptable. I would say the kidneys are normal.
URINE TEST on August 5, 2013
Red turbid urine.  pH 7, SG 1.015, Protein 3+, Blood 4+, WBC 135, RBC >2250, Bacteria 3+, Crystals Nil. (No crystals do not mean no urinary stones).
HISTOLOGY on August 5, 2013 of gingival lump
I opened the cat's mouth to check for ulcers. No ulcers. However the lower jaw right side had a fleshy mass of 0.7 cm x 0.4 cm x 0.3 cm. Was this squamous cell carcinoma?  It would be painful for the cat to eat, leading to stress. So was this the cause of the FLUTD?  FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) is due to multiple causes and so could this growth and pain be a stressful cause? The other cat likes to pounce on this gentle cat and there could be kidney trauma causing blood in the urine. However this gentle cat would miss the rough cat which I advised to be separated. So the trauma would continue.
The owner agreed to the surgical excision. The lab report was a non-malignant squamous mucosa with surface ulceration. The lump was an inflamed granulation tissue. So, it was good news. The lump was electro-excised by Dr Daniel and the hole stitched.
I had examined the vulval area during the first consultation. A reddish blood clot was present there.
"Has the cat been making lots of noises like caterwauling on heat although she is spayed?" I asked.
"No," said the wife.
"Yes, sometimes," said the husband.
"There could be remnants of ovarian tissue if the cat had been spayed with some little ovarian tissue left. Therefore the cat caterwauls."  This issue is a mystery as the couple did not give one answer.
UPDATE ON AUG 12, 2013
The wife said the cat is normal. No blood in the urine. She is mixing the prescription C/D I prescribed with the cat food to get her to eat.  It is too early to celebrate. It is extremely difficult to educate the ordinary Singaporean pet owner to comply with prescription diets and do regular urine and blood tests. Follow ups are necessary but not many vets have the time to persevere in following up many times?
This appears to be a FLUTD case. No crystals in the urine test do not mean no stones. X-rays of the bladder were not done this time.  So far, so good. It is always the same for this cat. After treatment and antibiotics, no haematuria. Then it comes. We have to wait and see whether the C/D diet would resolve the problem permanently. 
I had an older dog with similar problem of haematuria recurring after antibiotics were completed and the vet was consulted many times. This case was recorded as it was interesting. It was diagnosed as possible bladder tumour and struvites. I got an ultrasound of the bladder which showed no tumours.
After some weeks of the prescription S/D diet, the lady owner was satisfied. I have not heard from her for the past year and presumed all are well.
tpvets_logo.jpg (2726 bytes)6322. Blood in urine seen on apartment floor. Handphone image tpvets_logo.jpg (2726 bytes)6323. Gingival mass seen in lower jaw. Electro-excision tpvets_logo.jpg (2726 bytes)6324. Blood & urine tests. No urinary crystals tpvets_logo.jpg (2726 bytes)6325. Gingival mass for histology. Non-malignant
 
Updates will be on this webpage:
www.sinpets.com/F6/20130813haematuria_8th_time_cat.htm

More info at: Dogs or Cats
To make an appointment: e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com
tel: +65 9668-6469, 6254-3326
tpvets_logo.jpg (2726 bytes)Toa Payoh Vets
Clinical Research
Copyright © Asiahomes
All rights reserved. Revised: August 13, 2013

Toa Payoh Vets



Original handphone image
 
 
 

1068. Sunday's interesting cases. The Maine Coon and the Beagle have back pain

Sunday Aug 11, 2013

Two similar back ache cases.

The Maine Coon cat came back again for review as the owner felt that the cat was better but not back to normal. The cat was not as sociable as before. 

The cat had fallen when held by a girl several days ago. The cat was OK the next day. Today, the cat meowed loudly when I pressed the spinal area from C4-C8, the thoraco-lumbar area and the sacral area near the tail. He did not hiss as during the first visit. I pinched his paws between the digits. No pain response from the four paws except the right hind which was withdrawn. I used a forceps to clamp the left fore paw skin between the digits. The cat responded a bit by meowing. "Better not test more paws to irritate the cat," I said to the owner who has two pre-teen daughters with her. "The pain is more serious. Has the cat been walking all over the apartment instead of being confined to a small area?"


"No," the owner said. "The kitchen area."
"The gum is slightly pink now as compared to snow white at the first visit," I showed the owner the parted lips of this gentle cat. "That is good news."   

Now the cat will be strictly confined for 3 months. It is unrealistic to expect the owner to do it. The litter box could be a low tray instead.

Many times, I encounter a pair of similar cases.  A few days ago, another expatriate brought in a Beagle not able to stand on his hind legs. His maid had scooped up bloody urine from the newspaper and handed to me for urine examination.

"My dog had spinal disc surgery," the owner said. "Twice."
"Was he paralysed before the surgery?"
"Not for the second time in April but he had surgery done too. The first time, he could not get up to walk."

Urine tests showed blood and bacteria. Blood tests showed low platelets. I texted the owner on this Sunday morning to enquire if the dog can stand and walk? He texted back later to say the dog is OK after seeing a 24-hour vet and thanked me. In this case, the dog had jumped from the car. He had a 25-minute walk recently and after that could not stand up on his hind legs. The dog winced when I pressed the lower spinal area.  I used the pedal pain test as in the Maine Coon. No pain from all four paws. I clamp the artery forceps between the digits on all 4 paws. No pain.

So both the cat and the dog had spinal pain.

Strict confinement, no exercise, no jumping and no running will be ideal, for the next 3 months as both have a good chance of recovery. Provided they can be confined for 3 months!
   

Friday, August 9, 2013

1067. The adults get itchy hands and legs from the Cocker Spaniel

"This 8-year-old Cocker Spaniel has a curable disease," I said when the owners wanted him to be euthanased on this sunny National Day of August 9, 2013. "The dog has scabies as you can see the crusty ears, hairless face and paws."


"Last month, we consulted a vet who said that the dog is allergic and sold me some anti-allergic food," the father said.

"My hands and legs are itchy for the last 2 weeks," the father said. "I keep scratching and my son is affected too."

"This disease is curable and it takes around 10 days," I repeated.

"Actually we had consulted 2 other vets much earlier in the year. Both prescribed medications and the skin disease got worse."

The owner had brought the dog to the SPCA whose personnel referred them to me for euthanasia.

The lady who owns the dog was staying in the university hostel. The father has health problems and nobody would be able to care for this Cocker Spaniel. So, in the end, the decision of euthanasia was made.



1065. A very frightened stray cat in Hougang

"I found her inside the drain," the lady who had been feeding this bony and dirty Hougang stray cat for the past 5 years said to me on this sunny day of August 9, 2013, the National Day of Singapore. "I have lost touch with her over the years as I had shifted to Serangoon."

The cat recognised her and her car engine sounds but would dash off if any human being came near. This cat had been abused by people from young.  Saliva stains in her four limbs. A foul breath.

I asked my assistant to grasp the scruff of the neck while I had a quick physical examination. The cat wanted to bolt off and so I got her back inside the carrier before she got wild. "Dr Daniel will sedate, give fluids and medication and do dental work". 

"I have another cat at home. Will she be infected? I put her in a separate room but this morning my cat vomited."

"Stray cats may have viruses such as HIV," I said. "It is best to do a blood test for the viruses."
The test showed that this cat had negative HIV Antibody but positive Feline Leukaemia antigen. So, what is the owner going to do now?

1064. The young intern saves an emaciated old Shih Tzu from lethal injection.

The 16-year-old intern wanted to find out somebody who will adopt this emaciated 10-year-old white Shih Tzu on Aug 8, 2013, his last day of internship.

"How's the health of this dog?" he asked the lady owner who had authorised euthanasia as she had no home for the dog in the rental room.

"He has heart disease, according to the vet and is not in good health."  I had advised a blood test to screen the health and to give the IV drip as the dog was not eating for many days, being abandoned or not well cared for by another person who had adopted him. I don't agree that he has a heart disease but he is a body of skeleton hidden by a full coat of white hair. No skin disease. No baldness.

This was a gentle Shih Tzu. No barking.   A lap dog. So, the intern asked his mum who agreed to him taking over the old dog.  There was some perceptions that this dog was allergic to chicken (a common Singaporean pet owner belief and belief of some vets) and so the dog was fed home-cooked food.

"The dog is in good hands," I said to the owner who had already agreed to euthanasia considering her circumstances.

1063. August 8, 2013 - interesting cases - public holiday. The Maine Coon has back ache

As I open from 9 am to 5 pm today, Aug 8, 2013 which is Hari Raya public holiday, I got to meet some interesting clients who would have not come to me if not for the vet closing.

CASE
Eat & drink OK. Can walk. Lame Left hind. Hides under chair abnormal behaviour. 
White gums. Swollen prepuce. Bladder pain. Left nasal discharge sticky. Blood test done. 


An Australian mum and daughter brought in a Maine Coon who stopped eating and would hide in a corner. "Seems to be limping on his left hind," the mum told me that Maine Coons must eat the "Maine Coon" specified feed. "There's was another Maine Coon owner asking for this feed too," she was at the pet shop looking for such food and the pet shop operator ordered for her too.

"What's so special about this diet?" I asked her. The cat was not limping inside the consult room but slinked to hide under the table during her walking examination. I pointed to the lady that the gums were very white, unusual for a normal cat. But this cat was not healthy. 

The lady could not specify the need to feed a special Maine Coon diet. I asked her to find out more from the breeder and the research.

I put the cat on the table. "I will be pressing the spinal area from neck to tail," I said to the owner. "Just to check for spinal pain."

The cat "coughed" when I pressed the cervical spinal area between the shoulders and on the lumbar area. The sounds were barely audible. I repeated the procedure asking my intern to video and after asking the owner permission.

The cat hissed when I palpated those painful areas of the back as before. He gave a loud hiss again when I confirmed the areas of spinal pain. This could be captured on video.

"Did the cat fall down 2 days ago?" I asked.
"No," the daughter said.
"Her friend could have carried the cat and dropped him," mum said.
"Could she have fallen from the sofa top and hurt her back?" I asked.
"Possible," mum replied.
"How about jumping up to washing machine and misjudging and hence tumble down? The white gums could be due to internal bleeding."   

It is a mystery as to how this indoor cat got such snow-white gums.
The blood test is pending.



FOLLOW UP on National Day, 9 Aug 2013  4.16 pm
Managed to contact the mother. She sounded much happier as the cat was back to his usual behaviour. "Much better, eating and drinking. Went to litter box."
As to the white gum colour, she said she had not looked at the gums as she was out. After all, this is National Day.  

Thursday, August 8, 2013

1062. Westie's bladder surgery images

Westie went home. The owner let him jump from her bed and took off e-collar at night or other times. Today, Aug 8, she said there are bruises around the op site and they are getting more areas involved.

As the owner does not comply with instructions, it is hard for the dog.














 

1059. Removal of skin tumour surgery - video by interns







1061. Owner asked whether I did remove all skin tumours - educational video

tpvets_logo.jpg (2726 bytes)TOA PAYOH VETS
toapayohvets.com

Date:   08 August, 2013  
 
Focus: Small animals - dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles & rabbits
Digital evidence: Complete removal of a large skin tumour   
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Date:   08 August, 2013  
toapayohvets.com 
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129

1061. Owner asked whether I did remove all skin tumours - educational video

 
Digital images are best evidence of surgery as shown in this case.

The young lady phoned me at night as her mother had doubts that I had resected all the skin tumours. She had been shown the images of the tumour marked by ink at 1-cm margin from the edge of the tumour inside my digital camera as the interns had been instructed to take still images while videoing. 

However, I did not instruct my intern to take an image of the excised tumour and its ventral area while he had been videoing my surgery. The tumour with a one-cm margin had been sent to the laboratory early on the day of surgery while the owner came in the evening. No image was taken of this tumour inside the formalin bottle. It will be best to show the owner the resected tumour before sending to the lab. The lesson learnt:  Delay sending till the next day.

So I asked him to take the relevant image off the video and will be sending them to the owner. "The skin looked "puckered" at the middle area, showing an inverted skin edge, owing to the stitching of the wound," I said. It is difficult to explain over the phone as this was too technical.

 
 
tpvets_logo.jpg (2726 bytes)6309.- 6312. Removal of a large skin tumour. A Z-plasty around the large high-tension wound ensures good closure.
What happened was that the wound was large, at 4 cm in diameter. Dr Daniel commented on this large wound when he saw the image in the camera. He was not present during the surgery. I created a Z-plasty to close the wound properly. Without Z-plasty, just stitching the 4-cm wound will not be satisfactory as the stitches will break down.

The wound was under very high tension and so a "Z" line extending the skin, undermining the skin to loosen tension is the best way to ensure proper closure, in my experience. In this case, the "Z" could not be closed normally. There was insufficient skin. So, there was a central circular wound of around 2 cm in diameter. I stitched up this circle. The overall result is a straight line instead of a "Z". The video will illustrate clearly what I mean.

The name of the veterinary educational video will be "Removal of skin tumour in a poodle".
Updates will be on this webpage:
www.sinpets.com/F6/20130808Z_plasty_skin_tumour.htm




More info at: Dogs or Cats
To make an appointment: e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com
tel: +65 9668-6469, 6254-3326
tpvets_logo.jpg (2726 bytes)Toa Payoh Vets
Clinical Research
Copyright © Asiahomes
All rights reserved. Revised: August 08, 2013

Toa Payoh Vets