1109. HOW YOUR OLD DOG CAN LIVE LONGER. Follow up: Westie with bladder stone - 26th day post op

Saturday 31 Aug 2013  9.38 am

Wife who loves this 10-year-old Westie much more than husband came to get stitches out.
"26th day after op," she said. "Stitches still there."  These absorbable PDS sutures are really lasting. Seldom dissolve early. The dog was active. Stitches taken out. A small skin haematoma at one end expressed. Video image.

The dog vomited on Day 16 to 21. The couple was much concerned and wanted antacid as he read on the internet that his dog was suffering from stomach ulcers. "It is hard to tell what he is suffering from without tests," I said. I gave him the antacid and changed antibiotic tablets to Vibravet paste.
"Stop the dry U/D diet."
No more vomiting two days later and today the stitches are taken out.

"He is still urine-marking a lot when outdoors," she said. "Every few spots, he will lift his leg. At home, he does it 3-4 times a day if he is not outdoors."

"Male dogs do that," I said. "Neutered ones may do less times or not at all. Holding back urine causes bacterial infection and then stone formation, leading to blood in the urine or difficulty in urination."
"Is it too risky to neuter him now?" she asked.
"Based on his blood test and examination, he is fit for anaesthesia. Neuter and dental scaling 3 months from now will be best. Get urine tested 3 monthly to check for infection of the bladder"

The owner wanted 24 cans of U/D and went home quite happy with this dog who keeps looking for the canned food by tapping on the feeding area. He has a voracious appetite and is now 8.1 kg making him heavy to be carried.

TIPS
Besides proper care of the older dog, get him health screening and urine tested. Prevent urinary stones by urine testing +/- X-rays regularly. In any case, urine test 3 monthly.  To prevent urine marking, neuter him when he is around 6-8 months old so that the male dog does not retain urine, causing stagnant urine favouring bacterial infection and stone formation. Some dogs don't drink much water. 


RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF CASE
TP 45123
Westie, M, Not neutered, Born Nov 16, 2003
Wanted 3rd opinion as Vet 1 took blood test for suspected poisoning and Vet 2 diagnosed bladder stones based on X-ray.
Blood test unremarkable
X-ray bladder stones
Urine test calcium oxalate crystals
Owner does not want stone analysis owing to financial constraints.
Bladder stones removed. Calcium oxalate.
On U/D diet.
As at 26th day after surgery, no complaint of surgical outcome.
Vomiting reported

UPDATE ON WESTIE
The wife came to buy 24 cans of U/D yesterday Sep 5, 2013 and said that the Westie is OK.

1108. Relocating from Ireland to Singapore - dog

Hello,

 

I am helping a client of mine who has just relocated to Singapore from Ireland. They are looking for a veterinarian for their 23 kg setter. I had a few questions about your office.

• How soon are you making appointments for new dogs?
• About how much does a general checkup with vaccinations cost?
• Is there anything they should know about moving their dog to Singapore?
• They are looking for dog boarding facilities as well, do you offer that service or could you recommend someplace?

I am so sorry for all of these questions. Thank you so much for your time. I look forward to hearing from you and referring your office to the family.

 

Sincerely,

Margaret Hoffman

 

Margaret Hoffman | Resource Specialist Direct 314.523.7547 | Main 314.576.0010 MHoffman@vandover.com | ighr.com

EMAIL REPLY DATED AUG 31, 2013

I am Dr Sing Kong Yuen from Toa Payoh Vets

Thank you for email. My replies are respectively:

Appointments can be made 24 hours earlier in general.

General check up is around $65 - $75. Vaccinations are $40 for 9-in-1 vaccine, $70 for proheart vaccination, $40 for kennel cough vacc.

A rental house with a garden will be best for the dog. For families, a ground-floor condominum with private garden. Get copies of the dog's medical records from previous vet including health screening.

Get import licence from the Singapore Government's Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority  www.ava.gov.sg
.

We don't have boarding facilities. Phone Pet Hotel +65 6582 2222 for boarding.

Script for intern - Kidney disease

Date: Aug 30, 2013  

TP 43996
Miniature Schnauzer
Black, F, spayed, 9 years


A vomiting and diarrhoeic dog.
8.8 kg, 38.4C.

Recent History
2 weeks no appetite
2 days of vomiting and diarrhoea
No abdominal pain


A simple case of gastro-enteritis?
Some injection and medication.

Not so fast. Review the previous history.
"Bladder stones removed 3 times", the owner said. "The first two times were in October 2010 and October 2011."
"How do you remember the dates so well?" I asked this groomer.
"October is her birthday and she missed the celebrations. I was happy to celebrate her October 2012 birthday. But she had the 3rd bladder stone surgery in January 2013!"
"Miniature Schnauzers are a breed prone to bladder stone formation," I said. "Struvite stones were analysed in Oct 2010. Did you still continue feeding the dry dog food after surgery?"
"Yes, but now I feed home cooked food, vegetables, rice and sometimes canned food"

Almost all Singapore dog owners do not follow up after bladder stone surgery as regards urine testing, X-rays and special diet for prevention of the struvite stones. So, the stones return and in this case, the dog had 3 bladder stone surgeries!

Blood test, urine test and X-ray advised.

Blood test was done in Jan 2013 and Aug 2013

INTERN TO HAVE  DISCUSSION WITH DR DANIEL SING ON KIDNEY DISEASE.

.

Images for closed pyometra & uterine torsion video

Images

1105. Stray cat from Hougang drain

Video movie of uterine torsion & closed pyometra

The patient bites and so the interns were frightened. However, we need to wrap up the video making today as it is 7th day post-op. I got a lady who is not afraid of dogs to bathe, dry the dog and bring it into the consultation room for last video section. 

So much time had been spent with the 2 interns to shoot this video and re-do. I hope it will turn up educational and fun.

1103. Untreated generalised scabies in a Cocker Spaniel - images