Thursday, November 20, 2014

Rabbit has painful left hip


Nov 19, 2014
2-month-old dwarf rabbit was carried but fell. Reluctant to walk. Painful left hip on examination (video). I can see him hopping.





No fracture or dislocation of the left hip

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

A thin young Chihuahua has diarrhoea for 7 days

"He likes to eat anything on the floor?" I asked.
"Yes, yes," the lady said."Newspapers and even the cotton bud I dropped accidentally!"
Diarrhoea for 7 days as many as 6 times yesterday and 5 times today. No vomiting. Still eats.




The active dog whimpered when I palpated her back half of the abdomen which was filled with gas. The front half was full like a big bag of clothes. 

What's the cause of diarrhoea and what's the solution? 










James Herriot in one of his stories in "Vets In Harness" mentioned about the use of sedatives and tranquilisers to let the dog suffering from long periods of diarrhoea sleep and recover. He used Nembutal in one poodle successfully.

1107. INTERN RGS for VIDEO Generalised ringworm infections in an American Cocker Spaniel

Nov 19, 2014

Two interns from RGS, Sec 3 and 4 on their 3 day of internship to produce this video.



REVIEW OF SKIN DISEASES
A monthly review is important but many clients do not turn up. Some will go to another vet when the skin diseases still prevail.

In this case, the couple did turn up for a review at 9 am today via SMS to me.

The neutered black and white American Cocker Spaniel was muzzled as he will bite anyone, except the couple, who touches him or pats his head. Some friends had ignored the couple's warning and were bitten.  It was kind of the couple to adopt this 4-year-old as normally he would be put to sleep for biting over 10 people in the past. Yet, with love, this dog would not bite the couple and even shake hands with the owner (video) at the end of consultation.



HISTORY
In June 2014, the couple consulted a vet twice in May and July for the skin disease on the top part of the body. There was hair loss and some flakes. Skin cytology revealed bacterial cocci and yeast. The vet prescribed anti-fungal tablets for 20 days, antibiotics and a shampoo.

But there was no improvement and so, I was consulted in Oct 2014. Ultraviolet light showed fluorescence of the bald circular skin patches but microscopic exam of the hairs were negative for ringworm as the dog was under treatment. VIDEO MAY BE AVAILABLE SHOWING UVL EXAM. Check hard-disk

Generalised ringworm and bacterial infections are very difficult for the owner to treat. I had the dog's clipped bald from head to toe under sedation. Daily anti-fungal washes for 1 month. Anti-fungal medication for one month

MONTHLY REVIEW
Today, the owner came as scheduled. There was sparse hair growing on the back spinal area. The head and legs were full of hairs. Generalised ringworm need to be treated thoroughly by clipping the coat of the whole dog to get rid of infested hairs, preventing re-infections from the combs, brushes, towels and harness and reviewing the skin one month after infection.

TIPS
Client Education & Correct Diagnosis.

The vet must spend a lot of time educating the owner on how to wash the body and to advise a monthly review. Negative findings for ringworm in this case would not mean no ringworm as the owner had used her over the counter cream (black circular spots) before seeking vet treatment.    

Cocker Rage
In my experience, there are some male Cocker Spaniels who will bite anybody except the owners. This behaviour has been mentioned as Cocker Rage. We have road rage in some Singaporeans who will look for a fight with the other driver or swerve in front of the other driver and brake suddenly to teach the latter a lesson. "Count to 10," is my advice. "If I count to 10, the other driver would have driven away!" the person said to me.  

1105. SG Heart Map, Singapore

SG Heart Map connects with the public





Saturday, November 15, 2014

1104. An 8-year-old Shih Tzu vomits after eating and drinking

TP 45665

"My dog did eat a squarish piece of bone," the lady owner told me it was around 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm. The dog had been vomiting after eating and drinking during the past 3 days.

There was sore throat but no abdominal pain. X-rays were taken. There could be a bone fragment but it was not obvious in the intestinal tract full of gas.







The owner did not want a blood test which would be very useful in finding a cause. She just wanted the dog treated. I put the dog on a IV drip with antibiotics and anti-spasomgesic for one day. The dog went back the next day with I/D canned food and medication.


BLOOD TEST RESULT ON NOV 14, 2014   

I did a blood test which showed a blood borne bacterial infection with total white cell count 26.9 (6-17), neutrophils 89% (60-70) and absolute neutrophil numbers 23.94 (3-11.5).

Liver enzymes were up. SGPT 109 (less than 59), SGOT 111 (less than 81).


FOLLOW UP
Phoned 15.11.14. No more vomiting. The owner was quite happy. 

Based on the blood evidence, the cause of vomiting could be due to hepatitis and gastritis due to swallowing of a piece of bone. After 2 days, the dog started vomiting again. The dog had diarrhoea. According to the owner, the dog did not eat the squarish bone but ate other small bone fragments.



It is best to diagnosed based on medical evidence of blood test but many Singapore owners do not want to pay for the test.

1103. BKTP Liver tumour image


Green colour does not look good in this image




Friday, November 14, 2014

1102. SCRIPT FOR INTERNS RGS. Ear tumours. Recurring ear canal tumour in an old Jack Russell

Nov 14, 2014

In old dogs, some tumours are malignant. However, many owners do not want to pay for histology to check whether the tumours are malignant. In this case, the tumour at the entrance of the vertical ear canal had been excised by another vet. The tumour came back and grew much bigger.

Vertical ear canal ablation, ie.. the removal of the vertical ear canal is the best option and was done by Dr Daniel.















Ear tumours at the entrance of the vertical canal can become infected or obstruct the ventilation of the ear canals. The  dog keeps scratching and the infections cause a bad smell.








Ear canal tumours are not common. This is the second case in 2014. In the first case, the old Husky had a smelly itchy ear. Vertical ear canal ablation by me resolved his problem. Video produced.