"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.
Friday, August 9, 2013
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?
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.
"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.
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.
As the owner does not comply with instructions, it is hard for the dog.
1061. Owner asked whether I did remove all skin tumours - educational video
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