Thursday, June 30, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
2966. Follow up: what happened to the Dachshund puppy with the crooked tail and swollen umbilicus?
Jun 29, 2016
4 days have passed. What happened to the puppy with the crooked tail and swollen umbilical cord?
This morning, I visited the C-section 634rd-day pregnant Dachshund. She's OK but was not permitted to nurse her own new born puppies. The poodle was the surrogate for the 3 puppies. The 4th with the crooked tail and swollen umbilicus had passed away the 2nd day although the umbilicus had dried up.
"I had tied up the intestine which was inside the swollen umbilical cord," the breeder said. "So the intestine was deprived of the blood supply, killing the puppy. I had a few of such cases."
Each breeder or vet has his or her own theories about medical conditions and so I did not say that this puppy had been severely stressed as the amniotic sac was filled with yellow meconium unlike the normal 3 siblings. In human medicine, ultrasound scans showing meconium in the baby will lead to an emergency Caesarean section to save the baby. But costs prohibit the breeder from spending on such ultrasounds.
The umbilical cord was twisted and so it swelled 4X. But I know the experienced breeder would not accept my theory and so I did not expound my theory. "Maybe, next time, I should check the swollen umbilical cord for any intestines inside and push them inwards before you tie the cord," I said.
"I should assist you during C-sections," he said as I usually asked him to be outside the operating room unlike one lady vet who had 100% no-death in puppies in C-sections with him and so she was an excellent vet. Unfortunately she had retired from doing C-sections for him and he had been to various vets throughout the past years. He advocated an assistant to elevate the lower body of the dam so that C-sections can be completed faster. Or the assistant holding part of the uterine horn while I take out the puppies faster.
The latter suggestion was preposterous as the gravid uterine horn is not that long unlike that of the cow's. There is just no space for another assistant to hold part of the uterus while the vet milk out the puppy.
Many sensitive younger vets may not be happy with his presence or suggestions of assistance or his criticism of puppy death being due to delay in pulling out the puppy and so the puppy had an overdose of the isoflurane and therefore die the next day. I don't permit outsiders into the op room during C-sections to keep the room as sterile as possible.
In this 63rd-day pregnant, the breeder had outsourced the 3 puppies to the poodle and is pleased with his decision as the puppies are thriving. He believed that the other Dachshund had toxic milk killing all the 3 puppies I delivered alive on C-section and so was not taking chances with this Dachshund. This Dachshund had snow-white milk whereas the other had no milk and the next day, produced thick yellowish milk deemed toxic to the 3 puppies.
Breeders have their beliefs. He even suggested that a longer incision bringing out the whole gravid uterus would compromise the milk production of the mammary gland and so vets who incise the abdomen from umbilicus to pelvis as stated in the vet books have had damaged the milk system, leading to poor quality milk production.
VIDEO
4 days have passed. What happened to the puppy with the crooked tail and swollen umbilical cord?
This morning, I visited the C-section 634rd-day pregnant Dachshund. She's OK but was not permitted to nurse her own new born puppies. The poodle was the surrogate for the 3 puppies. The 4th with the crooked tail and swollen umbilicus had passed away the 2nd day although the umbilicus had dried up.
"I had tied up the intestine which was inside the swollen umbilical cord," the breeder said. "So the intestine was deprived of the blood supply, killing the puppy. I had a few of such cases."
Each breeder or vet has his or her own theories about medical conditions and so I did not say that this puppy had been severely stressed as the amniotic sac was filled with yellow meconium unlike the normal 3 siblings. In human medicine, ultrasound scans showing meconium in the baby will lead to an emergency Caesarean section to save the baby. But costs prohibit the breeder from spending on such ultrasounds.
The umbilical cord was twisted and so it swelled 4X. But I know the experienced breeder would not accept my theory and so I did not expound my theory. "Maybe, next time, I should check the swollen umbilical cord for any intestines inside and push them inwards before you tie the cord," I said.
"I should assist you during C-sections," he said as I usually asked him to be outside the operating room unlike one lady vet who had 100% no-death in puppies in C-sections with him and so she was an excellent vet. Unfortunately she had retired from doing C-sections for him and he had been to various vets throughout the past years. He advocated an assistant to elevate the lower body of the dam so that C-sections can be completed faster. Or the assistant holding part of the uterine horn while I take out the puppies faster.
The latter suggestion was preposterous as the gravid uterine horn is not that long unlike that of the cow's. There is just no space for another assistant to hold part of the uterus while the vet milk out the puppy.
Many sensitive younger vets may not be happy with his presence or suggestions of assistance or his criticism of puppy death being due to delay in pulling out the puppy and so the puppy had an overdose of the isoflurane and therefore die the next day. I don't permit outsiders into the op room during C-sections to keep the room as sterile as possible.
In this 63rd-day pregnant, the breeder had outsourced the 3 puppies to the poodle and is pleased with his decision as the puppies are thriving. He believed that the other Dachshund had toxic milk killing all the 3 puppies I delivered alive on C-section and so was not taking chances with this Dachshund. This Dachshund had snow-white milk whereas the other had no milk and the next day, produced thick yellowish milk deemed toxic to the 3 puppies.
Breeders have their beliefs. He even suggested that a longer incision bringing out the whole gravid uterus would compromise the milk production of the mammary gland and so vets who incise the abdomen from umbilicus to pelvis as stated in the vet books have had damaged the milk system, leading to poor quality milk production.
VIDEO
Sunday, June 26, 2016
2965. A 63rd-day-pregnant Dachshund had C-section
Sat Jun 25, 2016 6.30 pm
I had closed my surgery at 4 pm as usual on Saturdays. The breeder decided on a Caesarean section at 6.30pm since his 63rd-day pregnant Dachshund had not given birth and was starting to scratch. He did not want to wait till midnight. He could have the C-section at 3 pm as his worker had told him that his Dachshund's rectal temperature had dropped to 37.7 deg C in the morning. With a drop of temperature, the dog is ready to give birth and could have an elective C-section. The breeder decided to wait to "save money" paying the vet. But no puppy came out and without much delay, he phoned me.
4 puppies and dam are alive. Milk was present. The breeder was over the moon.
1 of the 4 had yellow stools (meconium) inside the amniotic sac. He had pooped a lot. His umbilical cord was swollen 4-6X and this would be due to his placenta being twisted.
In this operation, I made a larger cut to exteriorise the elongated uterine horns (Dachshunds have long bodies). This would speed up the taking out of the pups instead of my usual smaller cut without needing to exteriorise the uterine horns.
FOLLOW UP 24 HOURS LATER
I phoned the breeder 24 hours later. He said all 4 pups are OK. They were nursed by two surrogate poodles as he had a bad experience of the previous Dachshund providing "toxic" milk to the 3 large pups I had delivered by C-section. Those 3 pups died on the next 2 days, attributed by the breeder to the toxic milk. So he was not taking chances. He fostered the present Dachshund dam with older puppies as they would be stronger in case this Dachshund has toxic milk.
I was most surprised that the other Dachshund had all 3 puppies dead as they were alive and OK before they went home from C-section at Toa Payoh Vets. "Did you use anti-tick wash on the dam before C-section?" I asked this experienced breeder as yesterday's Dachshund had many small ticks. The breeder normally hand-picked the ticks and might use Frontline spot-on to get rid of the ticks. The breeder said he does not use tick insectides and so the mystery of the "toxic milk" remains.
I had closed my surgery at 4 pm as usual on Saturdays. The breeder decided on a Caesarean section at 6.30pm since his 63rd-day pregnant Dachshund had not given birth and was starting to scratch. He did not want to wait till midnight. He could have the C-section at 3 pm as his worker had told him that his Dachshund's rectal temperature had dropped to 37.7 deg C in the morning. With a drop of temperature, the dog is ready to give birth and could have an elective C-section. The breeder decided to wait to "save money" paying the vet. But no puppy came out and without much delay, he phoned me.
4 puppies and dam are alive. Milk was present. The breeder was over the moon.
In this operation, I made a larger cut to exteriorise the elongated uterine horns (Dachshunds have long bodies). This would speed up the taking out of the pups instead of my usual smaller cut without needing to exteriorise the uterine horns.
FOLLOW UP 24 HOURS LATER
I phoned the breeder 24 hours later. He said all 4 pups are OK. They were nursed by two surrogate poodles as he had a bad experience of the previous Dachshund providing "toxic" milk to the 3 large pups I had delivered by C-section. Those 3 pups died on the next 2 days, attributed by the breeder to the toxic milk. So he was not taking chances. He fostered the present Dachshund dam with older puppies as they would be stronger in case this Dachshund has toxic milk.
I was most surprised that the other Dachshund had all 3 puppies dead as they were alive and OK before they went home from C-section at Toa Payoh Vets. "Did you use anti-tick wash on the dam before C-section?" I asked this experienced breeder as yesterday's Dachshund had many small ticks. The breeder normally hand-picked the ticks and might use Frontline spot-on to get rid of the ticks. The breeder said he does not use tick insectides and so the mystery of the "toxic milk" remains.
Friday, June 24, 2016
2964. Calcium oxalate stones in Miniature Schnauzer cause hind limb lameness
The dog was limping in the hind for some years as the owner did not want to remove the urinary stones stuck inside the urethra and bladder. When he decided to do it at Toa Payoh Vets, the dog's lameness is much less and he looks better.
2963. A 5-year-old terrapin yawns. Why?
Jun 24, 2016
Terrapin, 5 year old, F was rescued from the pond 1 year ago.
Goes for walk in playground.
UVB light 1-3 hrs/day. Tank. No filter
Overturned basket as basking area, not ramp.
Mar 12, 2016. Consulted Toa Payoh Vets
New tank
Bubbles from nose, open mouth breathing
Why?
Tank chemical likely cause resp. problem.
Jun 2016. Another Vet clinic.
7 injections alternate days of oxytet IM
Tobradex eye drops into eyes and nose
"Yawns" or gasping returns after treatment course. Why?
X rays - normal
Allergy to playground environmental substances?
Terrapin, 5 year old, F was rescued from the pond 1 year ago.
Goes for walk in playground.
UVB light 1-3 hrs/day. Tank. No filter
Overturned basket as basking area, not ramp.
Mar 12, 2016. Consulted Toa Payoh Vets
New tank
Bubbles from nose, open mouth breathing
Why?
Tank chemical likely cause resp. problem.
Jun 2016. Another Vet clinic.
7 injections alternate days of oxytet IM
Tobradex eye drops into eyes and nose
"Yawns" or gasping returns after treatment course. Why?
X rays - normal
Allergy to playground environmental substances?
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
2962. A 3-year-old guinea pig is restless and loses appetite - gastric & caecal bloat
Jun 22, 2016
The couple fed a better quality of guinea pig feed earlier but the pet shop had no stock to replenish. So, they bought a cheaper lower grade which had pellets. The guinea pig ignored the pellets. When the first brand had appeared, the couple bought it and fed the guinea pig around 4 days ago.
Yesterday, the guinea pig was not eating and tried to hide his head under the elevated feed tray hooked onto the side of the crate. He is an introverted type and would not want to play with the couple who used to play tug-of-war with the feed, by giving and taking back. He would have no such nonsense and refused to participate. He preferred to be home alone, inside his crate.
He demonstrated to me by scurrying up into the crate when I placed him after examination. He had painful cries when I palpated his bloated abdomen. I suggested an X-ray which showed two large gas-filled swellings - the stomach and caecum.
"Looks like GDV," Dr Daniel said. GDV = gastric dilatation and volvulus, seen in dogs. I thought it was bloat as in sheep being fed with high protein food. Sheep get swollen abdomen of enterotoxaemia when fed a diet rich in grains but low in fibre, or are in poor bodily condition and infested with parasites.
This 3-year-old guinea pig is thin, BCS = 3 (lumbar vertebra palpable), had abdominal discomfort, refused to eat the harder hay and pellets of the older feed and was restless (excitable). He had loose stools but no diarrhoea.
.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
2961. Hernia mesh or not?
Jun 20, 2016
In Jan 19, 2015, the 9-year-old Maltese had a right perineal hernia repaired at Toa Payoh Vets.
Neuter of the old dog would be done 1 month later in order to minimise risk of anaesthetic risk with combined hernia and neuter surgery.
The hernia recurred around August 2015 and the dog was neutered then. No hernial repair. I advised a hernia mesh as the hole is too big.
No pain, no problem peeing and pooping. The dog was active and eating. This was the situation in August 2015 and now Jun 20, 2016. Just no problem with a normal lifestyle. Except that the right perineal hernia is now 1.5 x the size of a golf ball (Video).
As the owner was worried about the pain for the dog on repair with the hernia mesh, I advised wait and see. I could not guarantee no pain and no infection on using the mesh. No vets can guarantee. The dog was normal and not in pain. The main problem of skin infections in the back area was resolved with medication now. The anal sacs were expressed and some brown oil squirted out.
What is my recommendation? Since the dog's blood test show he was healthy and the heart was normal, I would advise the hernia mesh repair if he was my dog. The owner has to decide and wait till the hernia was double the size like a tennis ball or the dog had pain or difficulty in peeing and pooping.
VIDEO
In Jan 19, 2015, the 9-year-old Maltese had a right perineal hernia repaired at Toa Payoh Vets.
Neuter of the old dog would be done 1 month later in order to minimise risk of anaesthetic risk with combined hernia and neuter surgery.
The hernia recurred around August 2015 and the dog was neutered then. No hernial repair. I advised a hernia mesh as the hole is too big.
No pain, no problem peeing and pooping. The dog was active and eating. This was the situation in August 2015 and now Jun 20, 2016. Just no problem with a normal lifestyle. Except that the right perineal hernia is now 1.5 x the size of a golf ball (Video).
As the owner was worried about the pain for the dog on repair with the hernia mesh, I advised wait and see. I could not guarantee no pain and no infection on using the mesh. No vets can guarantee. The dog was normal and not in pain. The main problem of skin infections in the back area was resolved with medication now. The anal sacs were expressed and some brown oil squirted out.
What is my recommendation? Since the dog's blood test show he was healthy and the heart was normal, I would advise the hernia mesh repair if he was my dog. The owner has to decide and wait till the hernia was double the size like a tennis ball or the dog had pain or difficulty in peeing and pooping.
VIDEO
2960. An adopted 6-month-old poodle licks his front paws obsessively till they are wet
Tue Jun 21, 2016
"Is it normal for my poodle to lick his front paws till they are wet?" the young lady in her late 20s asked me over the phone yesterday and now she was present at Toa Payoh Vets. "He also licks the floor too!" This poodle was adopted 2 weeks ago.
"Was he licking his front paws when you adopted him?" I asked.
"Yes," she said. "But not as frequently as the past few days. Till the front paws are wet with saliva!"
This poodle was extremely hyperactive and would not stay still. What was the cause of this abnormal behaviour and how to resolve it? Is there a cure?
Was the poodle suffering from some itchiness in his front paws directly or indirectly? He had the following conditions:
1. Left and right upper canine teeth had not dropped off and stuck behind the fully erupted permanent ones.
2. Thick tufts of ear hairs with ear wax clogging the ear canals. Would he get painful and irritated and try to relieve his pain?
3. Swollen anal sacs which shot out dark yellowish brown anal sac oil with some smell.
4. Thick hairy paws with no signs of bleeding or inflammation after clipping away the hairs.
Under Zoletil 100 IV sedation at 0.2 ml, the puppy canines were extracted, the thick ear hairs plucked and ear canal irrigated and 4 paws clipped.
What other possible causes of his behaviour such as licking the floor?
I had no clue.
"Is the dog toilet-trained?" I asked, since he was 6 months old.
"No," the lady said. "Sometimes he did pee on the newspapers. At other times, he forgot."
"Did you confine him to a cage or small area?"
"No, no," the lady said. "My family members would not permit it."
So, this dog peed and pooped everywhere in the whole apartment. Could it be possible that he was trying to clean his paws after stepping on urine present all over the apartment? I suggested confinement for the next 4 weeks.
This is a strange case. If only poodles can talk.
VIDEO
"Is it normal for my poodle to lick his front paws till they are wet?" the young lady in her late 20s asked me over the phone yesterday and now she was present at Toa Payoh Vets. "He also licks the floor too!" This poodle was adopted 2 weeks ago.
"Was he licking his front paws when you adopted him?" I asked.
"Yes," she said. "But not as frequently as the past few days. Till the front paws are wet with saliva!"
This poodle was extremely hyperactive and would not stay still. What was the cause of this abnormal behaviour and how to resolve it? Is there a cure?
Was the poodle suffering from some itchiness in his front paws directly or indirectly? He had the following conditions:
1. Left and right upper canine teeth had not dropped off and stuck behind the fully erupted permanent ones.
2. Thick tufts of ear hairs with ear wax clogging the ear canals. Would he get painful and irritated and try to relieve his pain?
3. Swollen anal sacs which shot out dark yellowish brown anal sac oil with some smell.
4. Thick hairy paws with no signs of bleeding or inflammation after clipping away the hairs.
Under Zoletil 100 IV sedation at 0.2 ml, the puppy canines were extracted, the thick ear hairs plucked and ear canal irrigated and 4 paws clipped.
What other possible causes of his behaviour such as licking the floor?
I had no clue.
"Is the dog toilet-trained?" I asked, since he was 6 months old.
"No," the lady said. "Sometimes he did pee on the newspapers. At other times, he forgot."
"Did you confine him to a cage or small area?"
"No, no," the lady said. "My family members would not permit it."
So, this dog peed and pooped everywhere in the whole apartment. Could it be possible that he was trying to clean his paws after stepping on urine present all over the apartment? I suggested confinement for the next 4 weeks.
This is a strange case. If only poodles can talk.
VIDEO
Saturday, June 18, 2016
2959. A cat is constipated and incontinent
Sat Jun 18, 2016
PATIENT: TP 46680 Domestic short-haired, male, neutered, 6 years
Constipated for 2 months. Hard stools palpated.
Incontinent, leaking urine for 1 month
Vomits "hair balls" 4-5X/day
PATIENT: TP 46680 Domestic short-haired, male, neutered, 6 years
Constipated for 2 months. Hard stools palpated.
Incontinent, leaking urine for 1 month
Vomits "hair balls" 4-5X/day
2958. A dedicated stray cat catcher in Singapore
Sat Jun 18, 2016
At 11.30 am, I met this woman in her late 40s, wearing a CWS black T-shirt with the white words of "Trap, Neuter, Release, Manage. " She has 3 years of almost daily experience of trapping the stray cats and sending to the vet for sterilisation. The cat feeders will pay her for the sending the cat to the vbet. She shared her experiences.
CAT PSYCHOPLOGY
1. The traps come from the US. There are 2 types.
1.1 Long cage with food at the other end. There is a long "tunnel" and many stray cats are cautious of the structure. The cat steps in and springs a trap door which closes down.
1.2 Shorter broader cage looking like a shelter with a transfer cage. These were present in her SUV which can accommodate 11 cat carriers.
"The trap door is at an angle on the top. So, the cat views it as a safe haven and enters the cage," she explained to me. "I will pull the rope to drop the trap door. "Must have good eyesight if your rope is very long and you are distant. There is a remote control but I don't trust it."
SMELL OF CAT FOOD
1. Good quality fish provided by some cat feeders. "The cat just will not eat it," she said. "The smellier the better and they are usually of lower quality and meant for stray cats. ."
"What brand you use?" I ask.
"Aristocat. The bigger can. The cat just cannot resist it."
PERFORMANCE
1. 4-6 hours of work to trap 6-8 cats per day. The other stray cats get wiser and will not be caught.
"What to do then?" I saw that she was very busy with her passion of daily cat trapping although she has a job.
"I come back another day."
"Will the cats be wary of you?" I asked.
"Cats are not so clever. They see the broad cage I use as a shelter and the strong smell of Aristocat will just be irresistible!"
VET FEES
$30 to neuter a male and $60 for a female, excluding hospitalisation charges.
(CWS)
1. "The CWS needs $20,00 per month to sterilise all the stray cats in Singapore," she said. "Cats can hide inside drains unlike the poor stray dogs and so there are many more every day." Her cat feeders pay for the vet fees.
I notice many fewer stray cats near coffeshops nowadays. I suspect that the government and the town councils and pest controllers have culled them by netting. They are many hiding somewhere.
At 11.30 am, I met this woman in her late 40s, wearing a CWS black T-shirt with the white words of "Trap, Neuter, Release, Manage. " She has 3 years of almost daily experience of trapping the stray cats and sending to the vet for sterilisation. The cat feeders will pay her for the sending the cat to the vbet. She shared her experiences.
CAT PSYCHOPLOGY
1. The traps come from the US. There are 2 types.
1.1 Long cage with food at the other end. There is a long "tunnel" and many stray cats are cautious of the structure. The cat steps in and springs a trap door which closes down.
1.2 Shorter broader cage looking like a shelter with a transfer cage. These were present in her SUV which can accommodate 11 cat carriers.
"The trap door is at an angle on the top. So, the cat views it as a safe haven and enters the cage," she explained to me. "I will pull the rope to drop the trap door. "Must have good eyesight if your rope is very long and you are distant. There is a remote control but I don't trust it."
SMELL OF CAT FOOD
1. Good quality fish provided by some cat feeders. "The cat just will not eat it," she said. "The smellier the better and they are usually of lower quality and meant for stray cats. ."
"What brand you use?" I ask.
"Aristocat. The bigger can. The cat just cannot resist it."
PERFORMANCE
1. 4-6 hours of work to trap 6-8 cats per day. The other stray cats get wiser and will not be caught.
"What to do then?" I saw that she was very busy with her passion of daily cat trapping although she has a job.
"I come back another day."
"Will the cats be wary of you?" I asked.
"Cats are not so clever. They see the broad cage I use as a shelter and the strong smell of Aristocat will just be irresistible!"
VET FEES
$30 to neuter a male and $60 for a female, excluding hospitalisation charges.
(CWS)
1. "The CWS needs $20,00 per month to sterilise all the stray cats in Singapore," she said. "Cats can hide inside drains unlike the poor stray dogs and so there are many more every day." Her cat feeders pay for the vet fees.
I notice many fewer stray cats near coffeshops nowadays. I suspect that the government and the town councils and pest controllers have culled them by netting. They are many hiding somewhere.
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