A French bulldog ate a spotted dove. An abscess developed on the left submandibular region. What to do?
31 Aug 2023. French bulldog, 6 years old, pounced on and ate a Spotted Dove. Big left submandibular swelling. Alan took out pus.
7 Sep 2023. Sent to vet in JB
11 Sep 2024 - Facial abscess drained 90% by owner’s syringe aspiration, but the dog vomits when force-fed AD diet. Drinks and pees a lot.Given oral antibiotics. Pus & blood aspirated.
16 Sep 2024 - Hospitalised and given 1/V drip for 4 days.
He is 6 years old. About a week ago, he ate a Spotted Dove.
Started to swell after three days when this dog killed n ate a pet bird
6 Sep 2024: I just brought him to a vet in JB n done the x-rays
Vet said no blockage
A big facial abscess. Need to cut open incision over 4 inches to drain all pus. Antibiotics will not be effective.
Is the dog eating and drinking normally?
Only drinking. Have to force feed him.
I/V drips and antibiotics advised. Drainage by surgical excision of encapsulated abscess.
Why the vet (in JB) did not aspirate the swelling?
He said let the swelling be more in about three to four more days, then he will do the expression of the pus. He said some parts still kinda hard.
Give the dog IV drips plus antibiotics for the next 3 days to survive. Or suhcut drip. No forced feeding.
7 SEP 2023: What is species of bird eaten?
The spotted turtle dove.
8 Sep 2023:
Is swelling soft? How your dog can catch the bird unless it is sick?
It is a house pet. Wings have been clipped.
12 Sep 2023: Good morning Dr Sing. I just emailed you the old x-rays.
Thank you.
17 Sep 2023: Blood test reports. Hie kidneys are very bad. Another X-ray and ultrasound were done. No bones were found in his throat.
Based on the blood test results, do you think hospitalising him for 3 days with drp will help flush his kidneys? He was hospitalised since yesterday.
Yes. IV drip for at least 3 days.
Really thank you so much for your valuable advice.
12 Oct 2023: What happened to your dog?
He passed away on 19 Sep 2023. Three days on drip, but he couldn't make it.
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Owner aspirated pus and blood using syringe every 2-3 days, but no IV drip. Antibiotics oral. Facial abscess gone 90% by 11 Sep 2024 (5 days before hospitalisation on 16 Sep 2024)
9 Sep 2024. Dog force fed AD diet but vomits food. "Is antibiotics too strong?". The answer is no. Vomiting 7 days before hospitalisation on 16 Sep. Blood test shows Chronic Kidney Disease and leucocytosis and neutrophilia suggestive of a severe blood-borne bacterial infection resistant to oral antibiotics..
11 Sep 2024. No more facial abscess. Swelling reduced 90% but vomits.
16 Sep 2024. Hospitalised. IV drip. Stomach feeding by vet. Blood test shows chronic kidney disease
19 Sep 2024. Died in hospital.
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Retrospective analysis.
1. Syringe aspiration of the pus and blood by the owner over 2 - 3 days/procedure is not recommended as it is too slow to remove the rotting bird bones and infections.
2. Surgery to remove encapsulated abscess is best, but anaesthesia risk of death is high.The vet may not be keen to do this.
3. Blood-borne infections from the bird ingested.
4. Hospitalisation is too late.
X-ray on 6 Sep 2023, one week after ingestion of the bird by the French bulldog. Bone fragments are seen in the subcutaneous tissues (red circle) leading to inflammation to left facial abscess.
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ChatGPT
A French bulldog chases a Spotted Dove on the ground of a big house in Singapore
It sounds like you're envisioning a playful scene with a French bulldog chasing a Spotted Dove on a spacious property in Singapore. The house would likely be a modern or traditional Singaporean home, surrounded by greenery, with the action happening in the open, well-maintained yard. The French bulldog, known for its short stature and muscular build, might be energetically trying to catch the dove, which flaps its wings in an attempt to evade the dog. Meanwhile, the background could include tropical plants, a pathway, or a terrace, reflecting Singapore's lush urban environment.
A fractious cat isa cat that is easily irritated, agitated, or shows aggressive behavior.Signs of a fractious cat include:Hissing, Swiping with paws, Scratching, and Tail swishing.
Cats can become fractious for a number of reasons, including:
Anxiety and stress
Cats can experience anxiety and stress when they are out of their comfort zone.
Disruption to daily routine
Cats prioritize safety and survival, so any disruption to their daily routine can trigger their fight or flight instincts.
Unfamiliar people, places, and situations
Cats are generally more sensitive to unfamiliar people, places, and situations than dogs.
Here are some tips for handling fractious cats:
Be alert:Be relaxed but prepared.
Use a "less is more" approach:This will reduce the risk that the cat responds with aggression.
Use sedation if needed:For extremely fractious cats, sedation may be necessary.
Implement Fear Free tactics:This may include using a pheromone spray in the exam room, separating the cat's entrance or exam room from dogs, and keeping the exam area quiet.
kitten. Became fractious after spaying.
Hissing, Swiping with paws, Scratching, and Tail swishing.
Owner does not know the reasons. The daddy bought a puppy for the daughters but keeps the cat as "a pet is for life".
In Nov 2024, contacted Dr Sing Kong Yuen. Requested sedation to de-mat belly area. This was done.
Sedation needed to de-matt at Toa Payoh Vets.
Owner enquiries about declawing as the cat scratches the daughter's face sometimes.
The oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) is a common species found in tropical regions, including Singapore. It is characterized by:
A slender body with spiny crests on its head and back.
Variable coloration, often blending in with its surroundings, ranging from brown to green, and males may develop a red throat or body during the breeding season.
A long tail, often twice the length of its body, used for balance and communication.
They are typically seen basking in the sun, on tree trunks, or among dense vegetation in gardens, forests, and urban areas.
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The Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor), also known as the Changeable Lizard, is commonly found in Singapore, especially in urban areas, parks, and gardens. This species is known for its adaptability and ability to thrive in various habitats, ranging from forests to residential neighborhoods. It has a robust body, long tail, and spiny crest along its back. During the breeding season, males develop striking colors, such as an orange head with a black throat patch.
This species is considered non-native to Singapore, likely introduced from neighboring regions like Thailand or Northern Malaysia. It has outcompeted some native species, such as the Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella), due to its territorial nature and adaptability.
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CHATGPT
The Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor) is a common sight in Singapore, especially in urban gardens, parks, and natural areas. Here's what you might like to know about them:
Description
Appearance: The Oriental Garden Lizard has a slender body with a pointed snout and long tail. Their coloration varies from grayish-brown to greenish, often with a splash of reddish hues on their head or throat during mating season. Males are particularly colorful when courting or displaying dominance.
Size: Typically grows up to 30–40 cm, including the tail.
Habitat in Singapore
Found in urban gardens, nature reserves, and even roadside vegetation.
They adapt well to both natural and man-made environments, often basking in sunny areas or perched on tree trunks.
Behavior
Diet: Primarily insectivorous, feeding on ants, crickets, and other small invertebrates. Occasionally, they eat plant matter or smaller lizards.
Mating Display: Males perform "head-bobbing" and display their colorful throats to attract mates.
Territoriality: Males are territorial and will fiercely defend their area, often puffing out their throat and displaying vibrant colors.
Role in Ecosystem
Acts as a natural pest controller by consuming large quantities of insects.
Serves as prey for larger predators, contributing to the food chain.
Cultural Significance
In Singapore, these lizards are not just a part of the local biodiversity but also a reminder of the coexistence between wildlife and urban life. They are harmless to humans and often admired for their agility and adaptability.
SINGAPORE - 16 NOV 2024: The African Princess (Costus fissiligulatus) is a dazzling pink trumpet flower with a yellow throat. It is very floriferous with an inflorescence of numerous flower buds.
An adult cassowary nearly 2m tall and weighing up to 50kg. Large flightless birds found in N E Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Males undertake the 50-day incubation duty and rear the young. 15cm claws on their middle toes used as a defence against predators such as dingos, pythons, birds of prey which target young ones.
run at speeds of 50kph, clear 2m when jumping and deliver a mean kick.
primary distributor of seed in rainforest, cassowaries are a keystone species.
large ornate structure on top of their heads, known as casque. Made of sponge-like material and keratin, this leathery crest is found in both sexes, suggesting it does not play a role in attracting a mate. The casque acys like a therma radiator: at high temperatures, heat is offloaded through the casque, helping the bird to stay cool. Back of the cassque heats up before the front.
a member of ratites, known for their inability to fly.
Cassowary, Greater rhea, Emu, Ostrich and Tinamou (can fly).
The southern cassowary is the third-tallest bird in the world. Two other species are northern cassowary, dwarf ca
Eosinophils are polymorphonuclear, granulocytic leukocytes involved
in the initiation and propagation of inflammatory responses that act as
modulators of innate and adaptive immunity.1 Normal
eosinophil blood count typically measures between 0 and 1500/μL and may
vary based on the instrumentation and methodology used (eg,
reference laboratory vs in-house).2,3 Eosinophilia is a state in which blood eosinophil levels are above the normal reference interval.
Eosinophilia in cats is most often associated with parasitic infestation or hypersensitivity reactions (ie, allergies).4,5 Tissue sites most commonly affected by hypersensitivity conditions include the skin, lungs, and/or GI tract.6
Transient epinephrine-induced excitement may lead to mild eosinophilia
in conjunction with lymphocytosis and mild neutrophilia. Prolonged
survival and increased numbers of eosinophils may also be seen in
patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome, some neoplastic conditions,
and/or paraneoplastic syndromes.7-9
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Eosinophils—with or without accompanying peripheral eosinophilia—have 3 primary features, including:
Role as a vital host defense against helminthic parasitic infections
Frequent presence in allergic disorders (eg, asthma, atopy, food allergies)
Nonspecific, destructive, and cytotoxic effects against both the pathogen and the host
Following are the author’s 5 most common causes of eosinophilia in cats.
Internal
and external parasites may cause clinical signs ranging from
subclinical infections to serious disease. Clinical signs commonly
depend on the body system that is parasitized (eg, diarrhea, vomiting,
failure to thrive, or weight loss with GI parasites; anemia, lackluster
coat, or skin lesions with flea infestation). Clinically significant
parasitism can affect any cat but depends on age (with increased
prevalence and incidence in kittens), general health and immune
function, geographic location, and lifestyle (with increased risk to
outdoor cats, feral cats, and cats that hunt).
Eosinophil function contributes to the host’s defense against helminth infection.12
The large size of helminths precludes phagocytosis. Eosinophils adhere
to a variety of tissue-invading helminth larvae coated with
immunoglobulins, then degranulate and secrete soluble factors, which
kill larvae.12-16 Migrating parasites that have been in
prolonged contact with host tissue are more likely to induce peripheral
eosinophilia, as are migrating stages of ascarids, hookworms, lungworms,
and heartworms.17-22 Rather than persisting long-term,
peripheral eosinophilia may be present for only a few weeks after
helminth endoparasite infection or for a few months after heartworm
infection.17,18,22,23 A low intestinal parasite burden may not even induce peripheral eosinophilia.23
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One
report showed no difference in mean eosinophil counts in 62 cats with
endoparasitism as compared with 122 cats with a negative fecal
examination for endoparasite ova.4 Although sensitivity of
fecal flotation methods can vary approximately 13% to 100% depending on
the exact method and combination of methods used (eg, zinc sulfate
centrifugation, saturated sodium chloride, spontaneous sedimentation,
formol-ether technique) and on presence of particular endoparasites,24
absence of peripheral eosinophilia does not rule out parasitic
infection. However, presence of peripheral eosinophilia in combination
with other diagnostic information (eg, fecal ova or helminth larvae
noted in fecal analysis, elevated serum liver parameters with liver
flukes, respiratory signs with migrating larva or lungworms) is
supportive of presence of clinically significant parasitic infection.
2. Feline Allergic Dermatitis
Allergic
inflammation is an inappropriate immune response that arises from
polarization of T cells toward a Th2 immune-mediated response. Greater
expression of Th2 cytokines, along with downregulation of Th1 cytokines,
is seen in allergen-challenged patients. Eosinophils are increased in
number in both the serum and in skin lesions and contribute to the
pathogenesis of feline allergic dermatitis. Pathogenesis involves
multifaceted immune dysregulation and skin barrier dysfunction stemming
from an increasingly complex interplay of genetic and environmental
factors.25-27 Impaired skin integrity increases patient
susceptibility to allergens and pathogens, which may lead to activation
of innate and adaptive immune responses.27
Hypersensitivity
may manifest as reactions to allergens derived from food ingredients,
inhalants (eg, atopy), contact material, and/or fleas, lice, mites,
ticks, or insect bites (eg, hymenoptera). Regardless of the inciting
cause, cats with allergic dermatitis are usually pruritic, and primary
skin lesions (eg, erythema, maculae, papules) are frequently present.
One or more of the following cutaneous reaction patterns may be observed28,29:
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Head, neck, and/or pinnal excoriations
Self-induced alopecia
Miliary dermatitis
Eosinophilic lesions, including eosinophilic plaques, eosinophilic granulomas, and indolent ulcers
Histologic
or cytologic examination of pruritus-induced skin lesions and
surrounding areas commonly reveals increased numbers of eosinophils and
mast cells.30-32 The degree of tissue eosinophilia can correlate with the severity of skin lesions.30-32
Age
at onset of allergic dermatitis signs is broad. Atopic cats have been
reported to experience onset between 3 months and 12 years of age, with a
mean age of approximately 2 to 3 years, and cats with food allergies
have been reported to experience onset between 3 months and 11 years of
age, with a mean age of 4 to 5 years.33-35 Various studies have reported that approximately 38% to 46% of allergic cats developed signs before 2 to 3 years of age.34,36 No particular breed or sex predilection has been firmly established for atopy,34 although some studies have noted an increase of atopy in purebreed and female cats.32 Higher risk for food allergies has been noted in Siamese, Siamese crossbreeds, and Birmans.34
Positive treatment responses to atopic dermatitis therapy have been
reported with cyclosporine (100%), systemic glucocorticoids (55%), and
allergen-specific immunotherapy (57%), and a partial-to-good response
has been reported with antihistamines (67%).35 Avoidance of allergens is recommended.
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Flea
infestation, the most common cause of allergic dermatitis in cats, may
be accompanied by peripheral eosinophilia in approximately 13% to 20% of
allergic cats.37 Peripheral eosinophilia may be identified
in 20% to 50% of cats with food allergies. Concurrent GI signs,
including frequent bowel movements, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or
flatulence, may be exhibited.33,34
3. Feline Asthma
Feline
asthma is a result of a reaction to inhaled aeroallergens provoking a
type 1 hypersensitivity reaction characterized by eosinophilic airway
inflammation and bronchoconstriction.38 Although their
clinical presentations may be similar, chronic bronchitis and asthma
have different etiologies. Chronic bronchitis may arise from previous
airway insult (eg, smoke, toxins, infections)—leading to permanent lung
damage—and is dominated by neutrophilic inflammation of the lower
airways accompanied by edema and hypertrophy of the respiratory mucosa
and excessive mucus production. Although asthma is dominated by
eosinophilic airway inflammation (≥17% eosinophils in bronchial lavage
cytology) and bronchoconstriction, excessive mucus production and
bronchial wall edema are often present to varying degrees.39,40
Hallmark
characteristics of asthma include reversible airway inflammation,
bronchoconstriction causing obstruction/airflow limitation, and airway
hyperresponsiveness.39
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Long-term
asthma can lead to irreversible airway remodeling (including
bronchiectasis, fibrosis, and/or emphysema), lung hyperinflation, and
airway trapping. Cats with asthma are usually young to middle-aged, and
no sex predilection has been identified, although middle-aged (ie, 2-8
years) female cats and some Oriental breeds appear to be
overrepresented.38 Asthma is estimated to affect
approximately 1% of the general domestic cat population and possibly as
many as 5% of the Oriental cat population.39,41 Clinical
presentation includes various combinations of coughing, expiratory
wheezing, tachypnea, exercise intolerance, and respiratory distress
characterized by an expiratory respiratory pattern.41-44
Clinical
signs of heartworm-associated respiratory disease may appear similar to
asthma; therefore, heartworm serum antibody/antigen tests may be
helpful in ruling out heartworm infection.38,39,45,46
However, heartworm tests have poor sensitivity because antibody and
antigen blood levels may only be transient and can be easily missed.
Appropriate fecal analysis (eg, direct, float, centrifugation, Baermann
technique for Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) should be performed in
cats with lower respiratory disease signs if intestinal parasite larval
lung migration is suspected and in cats that live in or have visited
lungworm-endemic areas.
The most common radiographic change
described in patients with asthma is a bronchial pattern with lung
hyperinflation arising from bronchial wall thickening due to
peribronchial infiltration. Focal atelectasis (typically affecting the
right middle lung lobe) and/or diffuse interstitial patterns may also be
seen.41,42
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The
most common treatment for asthma is long-term anti-inflammatory doses
of corticosteroids administered orally (eg, prednisolone) or via an
inhaler (eg, fluticasone). Bronchodilators (eg, terbutaline) may also be
included in therapy. Other drugs such as immunomodulating agents (eg,
cyclosporine) may be used, particularly in cats that do not respond well
to corticosteroids23 or that develop diabetes mellitus or heart disease.47
Approximately
20% of feline asthma patients have peripheral eosinophilia, which is
not correlated with the degree of airway eosinophilia.38,39,43,48 Hyperproteinemia has been reported in 33% to 50% of feline asthma cases.38,49,50
4. Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease
Eosinophilic
enteritis (EE) has been reported to be the second most prevalent
variant of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), only surpassed by the
lymphocytic-plasmacytic form.51 Although the etiology is
poorly defined, it has been hypothesized that affected cats suffer from
immunologic dysregulation triggered by one or more factors, possibly
including food ingredients (eg, food allergies or intolerance),
dysbiosis of gut microbiota, or other factors (eg, ingestion of
ectoparasites, endoparasites, excessive hair, or plant material).23 Eosinophilic IBD may also involve the stomach and/or colon.51
Diagnosis of EE is made via intestinal biopsy. Cats with primary
lymphocytic-plasmacytic or lymphocytic IBD may also show subtle
eosinophilic infiltrates on histopathology. In contrast, cats with EE
have predominant tissue eosinophilia, variable mucosal architectural
disturbances (eg, villus atrophy), and increased incidence of total
intestinal wall thickening associated primarily with muscularis
thickening as compared with cats with lymphocytic or
lymphocytic-plasmacytic IBD.23,52 Diffuse disease is most common, but multisegmental EE has also been reported.52
No breed or sex predilections have been reported for EE in cats53,54;
however, although cats of any age can be affected, the condition may be
more common in mature cats (ie, 7-9 years). Clinical signs are similar
to those of other forms of chronic gastroenteritis and may include
vomiting, small- or large-bowel diarrhea, weight loss, and/or anorexia.53
Borborygmus, flatulence, abdominal pain, hematochezia, and mucoid
stools are reported less commonly. Idiopathic EE may be solely or
partially responsive to treatment with hypoallergenic diets and
corticosteroids, which may be suggestive of an underlying immune
disorder.52
Peripheral eosinophilia is not always present with EE but was observed in approximately 43% of cats in one study.52
If peripheral eosinophilia is associated with GI eosinophilic
inflammation, other causes (eg, GI parasites, food-responsive
enteropathy, intestinal neoplasia [eg, mast cell tumor, lymphoma],
hypoadrenocorticism) should be ruled out.54 Parasitic
infestation or dietary intolerance should be considered if
moderate-to-large numbers of eosinophils are noted in intestinal biopsy
samples with accompanying mild peripheral eosinophilia.53
Feline
gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia (FGESF) is a
recently recognized nodular, nonneoplastic, densely fibroproliferative,
eosinophil- and mast cell-rich inflammatory disease. It is thought to be
a variant of EE.54-56 Its pathogenesis is unknown, but
bacteria have been postulated to be an initiating factor due to their
presence in 56% to 85% of cases55,57,58; however, antibiotic treatment alone is ineffective.55,57,58 Fungal infection has also been thought to be involved in the pathogenesis in some cases,59 but in other cases, no bacteria or fungi have been detected.55,56,60
Several other mechanisms (eg, penetrating wounds from a migrating
foreign body, genetic eosinophil dysregulation, FHV-1, food
hypersensitivity) have been proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis
of FGESF.55,56 FGESF carries a guarded prognosis if
untreated; however, survival times may be good in some cats, with some
possibly surviving for years if they receive appropriate treatment,
which includes a combination of surgery, antibiotics, and
immunomodulatory drugs.57
Peripheral eosinophilia occurs more often in cats with FGESF than in cats with EE.52,55 One study reported that 58% of cats with FGESF had peripheral eosinophilia.55 If peripheral eosinophilia and an abdominal mass are observed, FGESF should be considered a differential diagnosis,57 although absence of peripheral eosinophilia alone does not rule out FGESF.57
Hypereosinophilic
syndrome is an uncommon systemic disorder in cats characterized by
sustained eosinophilia resulting from the overproduction of eosinophils
in the bone marrow and infiltration of eosinophils into multiple tissues
and organs, often leading to organ damage and failure.23,61,62
Eosinophilic
leukemia has been reported in cats and may be difficult to distinguish
from hypereosinophilic syndrome, as each condition may represent
different patterns of a similar neoplastic process.7,8 Some
subtle differences in bone marrow and hematologic assessment have been
reported; for example, patients with eosinophilic leukemia have been
reported to have a higher myeloid:erythroid ratio in bone marrow and a
higher WBC count with increased immature eosinophils. However, absolute
peripheral eosinophilia is often higher with hypereosinophilic syndrome,
although both conditions are typically associated with severe
eosinophilia (ie, 3500-130 000/μL).
Peripheral eosinophilia may also be associated with paraneoplastic syndrome.9
Paraneoplastic peripheral eosinophilia has been observed with mast cell
tumors, intestinal T-cell lymphoma, acute leukemia, and transitional
cell carcinoma of the bladder and likely involves production of factors
including IL-5, IL-3, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating
factor by these tumors.9,63-65
Conclusion
In human medicine, it has been suggested that eosinophils have important regulatory roles in homeostasis and immunity.66-68
With an increased understanding of basic eosinophil biology, improved
targeted therapies in humans—and thus, potentially, in cats—toward
eosinophilic diseases may be possible.68
X-ray on 6 Sep 2023, one week after ingestion of the bird by the French bulldog. Bone fragments are seen in the subcutaneous tissues (red circle) leading to inflammation to left facial abscess.
