Friday, July 29, 2011. Half a year had flown by! I am still practising but I sometimes still do the routine cases of spay and neuter at 9.30 am and handle the complex difficult cases such as the Silkie with the big backside perineal hernias as written in: Perineal hernias in a Silkie Terrier repair pictures. Update on a Boston Terrier's perineal hernia
I narrate two recent interesting skin disease cases I chanced upon as they seem to be associated with dog treats.
CASE 1.
Yesterday, July 28, 2011, Dr Vanessa left at 6.30 pm as she had asthma the day before. Actually she had informed Min that she would be back 3 days later. I quickly informed her clients to postpone her appointments as I don't want them to be upset when they come.
Veterinary medicine at Toa Payoh Vets is much personalised and since she handles most of the day cases, most of my clients get used to consulting her since I seem to have "retired." Succession plan is taking place as I am over 60 years old and must leave space for the younger ones to bear the responsibility and learn from practising. I do intervene in my associate vets' cases when I need to.
One of her clients was looking for her today and she suddenly appeared after 11.00 am and so I passed the male cat couple whose daughter wanted her to neuter him. I was manning the reception counter while my assistant Mr Min went for dinner.
Suddenly, an old client with a 4-year-old Maltese X came in for vaccination. She was abandoned and was adopted by this man in his 40s as the 4th owner. The man reminded me that I had diagnosed some urination problem. "It is called submissive urination," I said. "She would empty her bladder when any person approaches her. Is she better now? Confidence build up will lessen her problem. Bring her out more often."
The busy printer owner said: "I only bring her out to pee and poop once a day. Then it is back to the apartment. She definitely has better control of her bladder. When she sees other dogs when we go out, she will bark loudly."
"Does she pee?"
"No, but she will run away after barking."
"You ran out of Hills' ZD diet and so I went to the pet shop to buy Hills' Skin Sensitive Diet since they can't sell Hills' ZD diet. My dog now no longer itches. Hills' brand is very good. Anyway, the ZD produces a very sticky dog poo and so it is not good for me. This Sensitive Diet produces well formed stools that do not stick to the floor as you can see!"
The dog pooped 2 lumps. I used a toilet roll tissue to pick up the two stools instead of ordering my assistant who had just come back from dinner.
"It is not any Hills' brand that resolve your dog's skin itchiness problems," I reviewed his dog medical records. I spayed the dog in June 2011 and prescribed Hills' ZD diet twice. He switched to the Hills' Sensitive Skin diet since I ran out.
Very little scratching except for some black ear wax. One of two scabs in the belly and chest sternum. He as very happy as his dog had this skin problem of itchiness and hair loss for over two years before spaying. She had received treatment for ringworm and had her shampoos.
To the owner, the dog no longer itches and he does not need to cook home-cooked food for the dog, an inconvenience. Just feed this Hills' brand.
In my experience, spaying sometimes do resolve the skin itchiness. As to why, I don't know but it has been reported by some vets and I had a small number of dogs recovering. However, this dog also is no more given the dog treats unlike last time. It is possible that she could be allergic to dog treats in the first place. Eliminating dog treats resolved the problem. Spaying to remove hormonal imbalance. Nobody knows scientifically why this dog has no more skin itchiness problem.
CASE 2.
On the previous day, that is, Wednesday, July 27, 2011, I went to the Surgery at 8 pm to do a surprise check. It is a heavy responsibility being the licensee and founder, but such audits need to be done as the Toa Payoh Vets practice I founded is still a rebellious teenager and needs my personal attention.
Around 50 vet practices have sprung up in Singapore in 2011 and the old practices can be complacent and go bankrupt if poorly managed. Success is not a given in any business or medical practice just because the practice is established as competition becomes more intensive. Success depends much on the vets or doctors but the management of the practice (quality of veterinary services, over-ordering and unnecessary use of products by associate vets, clinical outcomes by vets, economics, human resources, strategic planning, amongst others) is extremely important
Dr Jason Teo was to be on duty at night. An adult daughter and her mother with a spayed female Maltese came in. They had consulted me 3 weeks earlier about itchiness in this dog's ears, elbows, armpits, groins, paws. Just scratching and scratching and I had asked for a review 3 weeks later. They don't mind consulting Dr Teo too as they had seen him earlier.
"Well, the dog started scratching 3 days ago, when your medication was finished," the daughter said. "So we come in for a review." As Dr Teo had not arrived, I checked the medical records. I examined this dog. Eyelids rubbed red. Ear pinnae flamingly reddish pink. Four paws itchy and licked. Elbow front show reddish bloodied streaks due to licking. Groins reddish. Armpits were OK for the time being. These were signs of allergies which had been present for the last two years. What is the cause?
Dr Teo arrived soon and I asked him to come in to collaborate on this case and to do a proper recording. He would be opening his own practice and it is good that he does so since he has been with me as an associate vet for at least 4 years.
"Do you give dog treats?" I asked the mother and daughter who expected more anti-itch medication, drugs and shampoos.
"Yes, I just bought a big bag of treats."
"No treats. Just switch over to Hills' D/D diet for 2-3 months," I said. "Not even one treat."
"My dog can't survive without any treat," the mother said. "What do I do with my big bag of treats?"
"After 3 months of feeding Hills' D/D diet and if the dog does not itch anymore, you can give the treats," I said. "If the dog starts being itching again, then you know it is due to the treats. Give 90% of the old dog food and treats for the first 3 days, then slowly change to 100% of D/D in 14 days," I advised.
As to whether the owners will comply, it is hard to say. This Maltese is definitely a case of generalised allergy. It was no longer generalised ringworm as in the past. Ringworm is also a very itchy skin disease for most dogs.
As to the exact cause, it is hard to say unless the vet knows all about the dog's lifestyle and environment. For starters, I advise an anti-allergic dog food and if this works, there will be much happiness and convenience as well as money saving for the owners.
These two cases are examples of allergies with one cause being the various brands of dog treats being given. Prescription diet for dry dog food allergy may be one way to elimination of the cause. Spaying may help too.
Friday, July 29, 2011
522. A hamster's orange urine - ageing or illness?
E-MAIL REPLY TO DR SING DATED JULY 29, 2011
Hi Doctor Sing,
Hope this email finds you well.
I've another dwarf hamster (1yr 7mths old, male). Recently, i noticed that his urine turns darker in colour. Last week, it was kind of orange and this week slightly better as you can see in the attached picture.
When I flip him over, i noticed that his fur around belly & bottom area have also turned yellow/orange from the urine stains which cannot be removed with water.
Despite so, his appetite & bowel movement remains normal just that his breathing/heart beat seems a lot faster even while he's asleep.
Appreciate your advice if this is normal in aging hamster or could it be sign of any illness that requires medical treatment.
Enclosed is the picture for your review.
Thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon.
Best regards,
Name of lady owner
E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING DATED JULY 29, 2011
Thank you for your email. It is very difficult to know what is the cause of the urine stains or change of colour unless a urine sample can be collected for urine analysis.
Your picture of urine colour shows some orange or reddish colour of urine as well as yellowish urine but no diagnosis can be made based on colour. The urine needs to be collected and analysed by the laboratory.
A change of urine colour may be due to a kidney disorder, urinary tract infection, urinary tract tumours, food colouring, traumatic injury (falling down from climbing cage) to the bladder and kidneys or other reasons.
I advise
1. collecting a urine sample via a plastic bag or come to the Surgery for me to collect a urine sample.
2. Let me know how much water he is drinking. Is it more than normal?
With best wishes.
With best wishes.
Hi Doctor Sing,
Hope this email finds you well.
I've another dwarf hamster (1yr 7mths old, male). Recently, i noticed that his urine turns darker in colour. Last week, it was kind of orange and this week slightly better as you can see in the attached picture.
When I flip him over, i noticed that his fur around belly & bottom area have also turned yellow/orange from the urine stains which cannot be removed with water.
Despite so, his appetite & bowel movement remains normal just that his breathing/heart beat seems a lot faster even while he's asleep.
Appreciate your advice if this is normal in aging hamster or could it be sign of any illness that requires medical treatment.
Enclosed is the picture for your review.
Thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon.
Best regards,
Name of lady owner
E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING DATED JULY 29, 2011
Thank you for your email. It is very difficult to know what is the cause of the urine stains or change of colour unless a urine sample can be collected for urine analysis.
Your picture of urine colour shows some orange or reddish colour of urine as well as yellowish urine but no diagnosis can be made based on colour. The urine needs to be collected and analysed by the laboratory.
A change of urine colour may be due to a kidney disorder, urinary tract infection, urinary tract tumours, food colouring, traumatic injury (falling down from climbing cage) to the bladder and kidneys or other reasons.
I advise
1. collecting a urine sample via a plastic bag or come to the Surgery for me to collect a urine sample.
2. Let me know how much water he is drinking. Is it more than normal?
With best wishes.
With best wishes.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Sunday's interesting cases - stitching up a big backside gap
Sunday at 9.30 am was scheduled for me to stitch up the poor Silkie's big backside holes. He had a big Taiwanese mango lump in his backside some 10 days ago. The intestines and bladder popped out from his pelvis and rubbed against the skin. He licked till the skin became paper-thin and you could see the intestines just lying under. The blood supply and the subcutaneous fat and skin dermis layers were almost wiped out. No blood flowed. So, the area became white as snow (see pictures).
After I repaired the 3 hernias, the thin skin became gangrenous. So, the skin died day by day and 3 big hole appeared. I took 1 hour to re-do and re-stitch. If not done, the stools just drop into it.
After I repaired the 3 hernias, the thin skin became gangrenous. So, the skin died day by day and 3 big hole appeared. I took 1 hour to re-do and re-stitch. If not done, the stools just drop into it.
520. Sunday's interesting case. The whistling Bull Terrier
Sunday
A young couple wanted to neuter a good looking solidly built miniature 2-year-old Bull Terrier and came at 9.30 am on Sunday July 24, 2011.
A hyperexcitable dog, resisting handling and turning upside down to examine his testicles.
"Listen to the whistling sounds," I asked the husband to listen to the stethoscope. I could hear the heart sounds separately but there was a continuous whistling sound, as if the dog has a condition similar to the racehorse - laryngeal hemiplegia.
"They are heart sounds," he said. Loud distinct whistles. "Well, they are lung sounds," I said. The heart sounds were muffled. Well, the dog had a history of fainting when over-exerted. When he played vigvigorously with the bigger standard Bull Terrier, he could just run out of breath and lie down for a while, as if to catch his breath.
A highly risky candidate for anaesthesia. I checked the gums. Excellent pink colour. However, the left inside lip had a yellow ulcer and several holes. "Bitten by the other bull terrier?" I asked. "Probably," the husband said.
Two undescended testicles. With the dog upside down, I could palpate the left one. The right one was barely felt as it slipped inside the body.
"My advice is to prepare for general anaesthesia rather than just take out one. When the dog is down, his right testicle may just disappear inside. Under anaesthesia, I can open up the abdomen and locate and get it out. (Undescended testicle can become cancerous years later). Neutering was to reduce his hyperexcitability.
BLOOD TEST
The couple agreed to the complete blood test. Fortunately, this was done as the liver enzymes were high while the platelets were below normal. "Why?" the husband asked.
"Did you feed herbal or other supplements?"
"Yes," he said. "One iodine capsule per day since young."
"Is the dosage recommended for the dog?" I asked.
"One capsule is for adult people," he said.
I advised no surgery, no iodine or other supplements and wait one month for another blood test. The liver could have had been damaged by the iodine and its other ingredients. "It is not just iodine alone inside the capsule," I said to the husband. "The manufacturer will add other substances. Over the years, the liver could have been damaged.
A young couple wanted to neuter a good looking solidly built miniature 2-year-old Bull Terrier and came at 9.30 am on Sunday July 24, 2011.
A hyperexcitable dog, resisting handling and turning upside down to examine his testicles.
"Listen to the whistling sounds," I asked the husband to listen to the stethoscope. I could hear the heart sounds separately but there was a continuous whistling sound, as if the dog has a condition similar to the racehorse - laryngeal hemiplegia.
"They are heart sounds," he said. Loud distinct whistles. "Well, they are lung sounds," I said. The heart sounds were muffled. Well, the dog had a history of fainting when over-exerted. When he played vigvigorously with the bigger standard Bull Terrier, he could just run out of breath and lie down for a while, as if to catch his breath.
A highly risky candidate for anaesthesia. I checked the gums. Excellent pink colour. However, the left inside lip had a yellow ulcer and several holes. "Bitten by the other bull terrier?" I asked. "Probably," the husband said.
Two undescended testicles. With the dog upside down, I could palpate the left one. The right one was barely felt as it slipped inside the body.
"My advice is to prepare for general anaesthesia rather than just take out one. When the dog is down, his right testicle may just disappear inside. Under anaesthesia, I can open up the abdomen and locate and get it out. (Undescended testicle can become cancerous years later). Neutering was to reduce his hyperexcitability.
BLOOD TEST
The couple agreed to the complete blood test. Fortunately, this was done as the liver enzymes were high while the platelets were below normal. "Why?" the husband asked.
"Did you feed herbal or other supplements?"
"Yes," he said. "One iodine capsule per day since young."
"Is the dosage recommended for the dog?" I asked.
"One capsule is for adult people," he said.
I advised no surgery, no iodine or other supplements and wait one month for another blood test. The liver could have had been damaged by the iodine and its other ingredients. "It is not just iodine alone inside the capsule," I said to the husband. "The manufacturer will add other substances. Over the years, the liver could have been damaged.
519. Advantix spot-on for dogs only, not for cats - update
The following has been updated today as there was an error in the earlier article stating that imidacloprid is toxic to cats. Bayer Thailand pointed out this error, namely that imidacloprid is safe for use in cats but it is permethrin that is toxic in cats. Since Advantix contains imidacloprid and permethrin, it is NOT safe for use in cats e.g. in the treatment of FAD (flea bite dermatitis).
On March 13, 2010, I attended a continuing education programme "Canine Vector-Borne Diseases in Pet Practice - Focused on Singapore" conducted by Dr Susanne Siebert. The contents were mainly on diseases transmitted by ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and sand flies. Heart worms and intestinal worms were discussed too.
For 4th & 5h year students, veterinary parasitology and pharmacology can be very boring as there are so many names and drugs and their efficacy, safety, ease of application, treatment schedule and ability to only treat or treat and prevent. How is the lecture relevant to the real world? I hope the following summary of my comments on "Bayer Parasite Solutions" may make their studies more enjoyable and in case they get tested at oral examinations in their final year.
1. Drontal Plus - One-dose dewormer
2. Advantix - Kills and repels. Not to be used in Cats.
3. Kiltix collars - Long-acting specialist against ticks
4. Bayticol - Anti-tick dogwash
5. Negasunt - Anti-maggots.
1. Drontal Plus (synergistic febantel and pyrantel formulation with praziquantel). Broad spectrum against round, hook, whip and tapeworms, nematode larvae and (when given daily for 3 consecutive days) Giardia which is a zoonosis. Safe in puppies, pregnant and nursing bitches. Strategic deworming is 4x/year with one dose. It seems that puppies as young as 2 weeks old can be dewormed. Note that Giardia treatment needs 3 consecutive days instead of one dose. Puppy can be given at 2 weeks of age and 2-weekly till they are part of the strategic deworming 4X/year.
2. Advantix Spot On (synergistic imidacioprid 10% and permethrin 50%). Kills fleas/larvae, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, stable/biting flies. Repels ticks, mosquitoes, sand flies, stable/biting flies. Repellency (anti-feeding) means that the parasites do not bite or attach to the body on contact with the dog. Explain this to the owner who may see one or two ticks on the body after application. Remove all ticks.
Safe in puppies over 7 weeks old, pregnant and nursing bitches.
NOT FOR CATS (imidacioprid is safe for use in cats but it is permethrin that cannot be metabolised by cats. Therefore Advantix is contra-indicated in cats). Ensure that cats do not groom the dog's skin that have had been applied Advantix.
Do not apply earlier than 1 day after bath and do not bathe earlier than 2 days after application. This advice does not seem practical for Singapore dog owners who usually bathe their dogs more than 1X weekly). If Singapore's dogs are usually bathed >1x/week, application of Advantix every 2 weeks instead of 4 weeks is needed.
Advantix is said to have acaricidal and repellent efficacy against tick infestations (Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Ixodes ricinus for 4 weeks, and Dermacentor reticulatus for 3 weeks). It kills fleas within 1 day following treatment and prevents further flea infestations for 4 weeks and so can be used as part of a Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) treatment in dogs. But it is NOT to be used for FAD in cats (due to the permethrin component being toxic in cats).
Apply in 3 or more spots along the back of the dog. 5 spots are better.
In heavily infested dogs, use Bayticol dog wash first, apply Advantix and also treat the environment to prevent reinfestation (vacuum, wash bedding, clean tiles, apply Bayticol at 1 ml per 1.5 litres of water to tiled/concrete areas, not grassy areas). Remove all ticks still attached to the dogs after the use of Bayticol dog wash.
3. Kiltix collars (2.25% flumethrin and 10% propoxur). Spectrum of activity is 6-7 months. Longest lasting tickicide. Works within 24 hours reaching even remote parts of the body like the tail of the dog. Flumethrin has some repellency efficacy. But not comparable to Advantix's repellency. So, cannot claim that ticks, if trying to attach to the treated dog, will die very soon.
Does not lose its properties when it is wet. But take off collar before bath or swimming frequently. Also, you cannot use Advantix with collar as the collar will be affected. I don't see much interest in Singapore compared to the spot-ons like Frontline being available freely in the pet shop and convenient to use. I may try Kiltix collars but they are rarely available and so inconvenient for Singaporean dog owners who are city dwellers.
4. Bayticol 6% emulsion. (flumethrin 6%). Used as dip, spray, wash, environmental treatment. Efficacy against tick (40ppm), flea, lice, mite (30ppm) and environmental control (40ppm).
Larvicidal effect, inhibits oviposition (check label claims).
Residual efficacy: 7 days after application of 30 ppm, 3 ppm are still present on the hair.
How do vets apply Bayticol 6% emulsion? In heavily infested dogs, use this onto dog to kill ticks first. Pull out all dead attached ticks. Then give Advantix 24 hours later to dog as spot on for 5 spots. Goes home with Advantix to be given 2-weekly for 2 months. De-contaminate the environment.
In one example of 4 Siberian Huskies with heavy infestations of ticks. I got the dog's coat clipped. Then I inject 1.0 ml ivomectin SC. After 12 hours, I applied Frontline Plus spot on. The dogs were sent home. However on Day 3, the owner returned the dogs as they have "ticks". All ticks were still attached to the body but they were dead. My assistants plucked out the ticks. An anti-tick solution (e.g. Bayticol 6% or Carrington Dog Wash) may be too risky for these dogs since they have got ivomectin and Frontline Plus.
However, spot-ons should be applied 2-4 weekly. This may be costly when the owner has 4 big dogs. There was a reinfestation because the owner's workers had neglected to apply the spot-ons or check the 4 dogs in his factory. The pictures of the de-ticking of one Husky case are shown below:
De-ticking heavily infested dogs at Toa Payoh Vets
Salivation: Obviously, if the dog licks the wash before it is dry, the dog will salivate and the owner may not be happy. Salivation will also occur even when the wash is dried, as I have seen such cases. Owners are worried, although the literature in "Promeris" - a competitor's spot on product claims that there is no need to worry as the dog is not poisoned but is showing "hyper salivation". In practice, the vet or groomer has to care about the owner's worry after application of the wash. One smart groomer advised me that she gets the dog to wear an e-collar and she has no such problems after tick wash with the Carrington Dog Wash (another competitor). The amount used is 1 ml per 1.5 liters of water. Check the label.
5. Negasunt powder (coumaphos, propoxuf, sulfanilamide). Dust thinly on wounds cleaned from dirt, pus and tissue debris. Maggots will crawl out.
Protects wound against bacterial infection and infestation with fly larvae, kills flies and fly larvae (larvicidal, repellent, anti-bacterial, adhesive, dying, deodorant, scar tissue forming activities.
CONCLUSION. Indoor and outdoor dogs, use Drontal plus with Advantix, Kiltix, Negasunt and Bayticol when necessary against all ecto-parasites.
Bayticol - Heavily infested dogs. Wash dog to remove parasites. Then apply Advantix or Kiltix 24 hours later for prevention.
Advantix. Heavily infested dogs. Use Advantix and Kiltix 24 hours later. Next Advantix application should be 5 cm apart from the Kiltix collar as the latter is affected. Negasunt. Can be applied together with Kiltix if wounds are not too close to collar. Same as for Advantix spot-on area.
IN TOA PAYOH VETS DE-TICKING PROGRAM FOR HEAVILY INFESTED DOGS, we clip the dog's coat, apply Bayticol 6% emulsion wash. Then 24 hours later, we pluck out all ticks before sending the dog home with Advantix spots-on to be applied every 3 weekly. We check the dogs for tick-borne diseases.
P.S
Tick infested dogs can get sick with tick fever or other diseases and some do die. Owners wanting to de-tick their dogs, tel: 6254 3326, 9668-6469, e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com
for appointment.
The website with pictures are at:
http://www.bekindtopets.com/dogs/20100196ectoparasites_control_dogs_ToaPayohVets.htm
On March 13, 2010, I attended a continuing education programme "Canine Vector-Borne Diseases in Pet Practice - Focused on Singapore" conducted by Dr Susanne Siebert. The contents were mainly on diseases transmitted by ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and sand flies. Heart worms and intestinal worms were discussed too.
For 4th & 5h year students, veterinary parasitology and pharmacology can be very boring as there are so many names and drugs and their efficacy, safety, ease of application, treatment schedule and ability to only treat or treat and prevent. How is the lecture relevant to the real world? I hope the following summary of my comments on "Bayer Parasite Solutions" may make their studies more enjoyable and in case they get tested at oral examinations in their final year.
1. Drontal Plus - One-dose dewormer
2. Advantix - Kills and repels. Not to be used in Cats.
3. Kiltix collars - Long-acting specialist against ticks
4. Bayticol - Anti-tick dogwash
5. Negasunt - Anti-maggots.
1. Drontal Plus (synergistic febantel and pyrantel formulation with praziquantel). Broad spectrum against round, hook, whip and tapeworms, nematode larvae and (when given daily for 3 consecutive days) Giardia which is a zoonosis. Safe in puppies, pregnant and nursing bitches. Strategic deworming is 4x/year with one dose. It seems that puppies as young as 2 weeks old can be dewormed. Note that Giardia treatment needs 3 consecutive days instead of one dose. Puppy can be given at 2 weeks of age and 2-weekly till they are part of the strategic deworming 4X/year.
2. Advantix Spot On (synergistic imidacioprid 10% and permethrin 50%). Kills fleas/larvae, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, stable/biting flies. Repels ticks, mosquitoes, sand flies, stable/biting flies. Repellency (anti-feeding) means that the parasites do not bite or attach to the body on contact with the dog. Explain this to the owner who may see one or two ticks on the body after application. Remove all ticks.
Safe in puppies over 7 weeks old, pregnant and nursing bitches.
NOT FOR CATS (imidacioprid is safe for use in cats but it is permethrin that cannot be metabolised by cats. Therefore Advantix is contra-indicated in cats). Ensure that cats do not groom the dog's skin that have had been applied Advantix.
Do not apply earlier than 1 day after bath and do not bathe earlier than 2 days after application. This advice does not seem practical for Singapore dog owners who usually bathe their dogs more than 1X weekly). If Singapore's dogs are usually bathed >1x/week, application of Advantix every 2 weeks instead of 4 weeks is needed.
Advantix is said to have acaricidal and repellent efficacy against tick infestations (Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Ixodes ricinus for 4 weeks, and Dermacentor reticulatus for 3 weeks). It kills fleas within 1 day following treatment and prevents further flea infestations for 4 weeks and so can be used as part of a Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) treatment in dogs. But it is NOT to be used for FAD in cats (due to the permethrin component being toxic in cats).
Apply in 3 or more spots along the back of the dog. 5 spots are better.
In heavily infested dogs, use Bayticol dog wash first, apply Advantix and also treat the environment to prevent reinfestation (vacuum, wash bedding, clean tiles, apply Bayticol at 1 ml per 1.5 litres of water to tiled/concrete areas, not grassy areas). Remove all ticks still attached to the dogs after the use of Bayticol dog wash.
3. Kiltix collars (2.25% flumethrin and 10% propoxur). Spectrum of activity is 6-7 months. Longest lasting tickicide. Works within 24 hours reaching even remote parts of the body like the tail of the dog. Flumethrin has some repellency efficacy. But not comparable to Advantix's repellency. So, cannot claim that ticks, if trying to attach to the treated dog, will die very soon.
Does not lose its properties when it is wet. But take off collar before bath or swimming frequently. Also, you cannot use Advantix with collar as the collar will be affected. I don't see much interest in Singapore compared to the spot-ons like Frontline being available freely in the pet shop and convenient to use. I may try Kiltix collars but they are rarely available and so inconvenient for Singaporean dog owners who are city dwellers.
4. Bayticol 6% emulsion. (flumethrin 6%). Used as dip, spray, wash, environmental treatment. Efficacy against tick (40ppm), flea, lice, mite (30ppm) and environmental control (40ppm).
Larvicidal effect, inhibits oviposition (check label claims).
Residual efficacy: 7 days after application of 30 ppm, 3 ppm are still present on the hair.
How do vets apply Bayticol 6% emulsion? In heavily infested dogs, use this onto dog to kill ticks first. Pull out all dead attached ticks. Then give Advantix 24 hours later to dog as spot on for 5 spots. Goes home with Advantix to be given 2-weekly for 2 months. De-contaminate the environment.
In one example of 4 Siberian Huskies with heavy infestations of ticks. I got the dog's coat clipped. Then I inject 1.0 ml ivomectin SC. After 12 hours, I applied Frontline Plus spot on. The dogs were sent home. However on Day 3, the owner returned the dogs as they have "ticks". All ticks were still attached to the body but they were dead. My assistants plucked out the ticks. An anti-tick solution (e.g. Bayticol 6% or Carrington Dog Wash) may be too risky for these dogs since they have got ivomectin and Frontline Plus.
However, spot-ons should be applied 2-4 weekly. This may be costly when the owner has 4 big dogs. There was a reinfestation because the owner's workers had neglected to apply the spot-ons or check the 4 dogs in his factory. The pictures of the de-ticking of one Husky case are shown below:
De-ticking heavily infested dogs at Toa Payoh Vets
Salivation: Obviously, if the dog licks the wash before it is dry, the dog will salivate and the owner may not be happy. Salivation will also occur even when the wash is dried, as I have seen such cases. Owners are worried, although the literature in "Promeris" - a competitor's spot on product claims that there is no need to worry as the dog is not poisoned but is showing "hyper salivation". In practice, the vet or groomer has to care about the owner's worry after application of the wash. One smart groomer advised me that she gets the dog to wear an e-collar and she has no such problems after tick wash with the Carrington Dog Wash (another competitor). The amount used is 1 ml per 1.5 liters of water. Check the label.
5. Negasunt powder (coumaphos, propoxuf, sulfanilamide). Dust thinly on wounds cleaned from dirt, pus and tissue debris. Maggots will crawl out.
Protects wound against bacterial infection and infestation with fly larvae, kills flies and fly larvae (larvicidal, repellent, anti-bacterial, adhesive, dying, deodorant, scar tissue forming activities.
CONCLUSION. Indoor and outdoor dogs, use Drontal plus with Advantix, Kiltix, Negasunt and Bayticol when necessary against all ecto-parasites.
Bayticol - Heavily infested dogs. Wash dog to remove parasites. Then apply Advantix or Kiltix 24 hours later for prevention.
Advantix. Heavily infested dogs. Use Advantix and Kiltix 24 hours later. Next Advantix application should be 5 cm apart from the Kiltix collar as the latter is affected. Negasunt. Can be applied together with Kiltix if wounds are not too close to collar. Same as for Advantix spot-on area.
IN TOA PAYOH VETS DE-TICKING PROGRAM FOR HEAVILY INFESTED DOGS, we clip the dog's coat, apply Bayticol 6% emulsion wash. Then 24 hours later, we pluck out all ticks before sending the dog home with Advantix spots-on to be applied every 3 weekly. We check the dogs for tick-borne diseases.
P.S
Tick infested dogs can get sick with tick fever or other diseases and some do die. Owners wanting to de-tick their dogs, tel: 6254 3326, 9668-6469, e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com
for appointment.
The website with pictures are at:
http://www.bekindtopets.com/dogs/20100196ectoparasites_control_dogs_ToaPayohVets.htm
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sunday's interesting cases
Sunday, July 24, 2011
I showed to my assistant Min the importance of proper recording for blood samples being sent to the lab from the example on this Sunday. Some assistants and employees take a much longer time to understand the significance of advices and this is the biodiversity of the human species.
A new client brought in a dog called Ted. I was going to operate on another dog called Tedi. "If you don't write the reference number, but just Ted or Tedi in the blood collection bottles of two dogs, the Lab may make mistakes in giving you the results. To them, they think Ted and Tedi are the same dog.
From now on, I told Min that he has to let the associate vets check the names and reference number before submission. The responsibility will be the vets, not his.
I showed to my assistant Min the importance of proper recording for blood samples being sent to the lab from the example on this Sunday. Some assistants and employees take a much longer time to understand the significance of advices and this is the biodiversity of the human species.
A new client brought in a dog called Ted. I was going to operate on another dog called Tedi. "If you don't write the reference number, but just Ted or Tedi in the blood collection bottles of two dogs, the Lab may make mistakes in giving you the results. To them, they think Ted and Tedi are the same dog.
From now on, I told Min that he has to let the associate vets check the names and reference number before submission. The responsibility will be the vets, not his.
Baytril oral to hamsters and rabbits
Baytril comes in 10% bottle. I taught my assistant how to dilute it for hamsters and small mammals.
1 ml Baytril + 4 ml water = 2.5%
0.01 ml/25g twice a day for dwarf hamsters.
0.2ml/kg twice a day for rabbits etc.
1 ml Baytril + 4 ml water = 2.5%
0.01 ml/25g twice a day for dwarf hamsters.
0.2ml/kg twice a day for rabbits etc.
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