March 9, 2015
"I googled the internet," the senior citizen said. "The life expectancy of multiple myeloma patients is around 4 years. Now, it is 10 years. When I was diagnosed, I hoped for 3 months to settle my personal matters. I developed kidney failure, with creatinine over 1000. I was shivering and had lost considerable weight. My skin was red and I looked terrible.
"A friend suggested that I pray and after my prayer, my body was at peace and I recovered. Not fully but I surpassed the life expectancy of 4 years. "
I was glad for him. I had met a relative of this senior citizen just 1 day ago at an Association lunch. She said that he lived so long because he could afford expensive drugs. A woman with the same diagnosis died after 3 years.
So, was it the faith or the expensive drugs that prolonged his life? He had his belief now.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
1133. The male cat had urethral obstruction 7 years ago - kidney failure now?
On July 8, 2013, a grey male neutered 12-year-old cat had difficulty in urination for 2 days. I palpated the bladder. It was not swollen and so there was no urethral obstruction. 7 years ago, he had urethral obstruction and was catheterised by a vet and had recovered. He was fed dry food mainly and BURP canned food since 4 months ago.
I gave antibiotics. I advised dental work and change to feline C/D diet.
Then in Feb 4, 2014, he had dysuria again for one day. He lost appetite. He meowed a lot after urination and so the owner brought him to see me. The bladder was painful on palpation but was not distended to omuch. No vomiting or drinking or peeing excessively. Blood test showed a higher level of urea 14.8 (7.2-10.8) and creatinine 177 (71-160). Platelets were low at 238 (300-800).
I gave dextrose saline SC, irrigated the bladder with saline, gave antibiotics and Vit K1. X-rays showed a swollen left kidney (tumour or swelling?).
I phoned 2 days later and the grey cat was back to normal. He could control his bladder.
No news from the lady owner till today Mar 2, 2015, asking about the price of dry food, Prescription Diet K/D and wanting to buy feline C/D.
In November 2014, she had consulted another vet. The cat had started to vomit prior to boarding him for 2.5 weeks from Sep to Oct 2014. He vomited more often and became thinner. So, she consulted the other vet who took a blood test which showed slightly elevated urea and creatinine levels.
He prescribed K/D.
"How long did it take the cat to recover from vomiting?" I asked the working lady in her late 40s. She had rushed back from work to buy the food.
"he took 2-3 weeks to recover from vomiting and now had put on some weight. No more vomiting. I just wanted to stock up the dry K/D and buy 2 cans of feline K/D."
The cat was fed another brand of dry food and BURP in the past but now she switched to dry K/D.
"My cat prefers the wet food nowadays," she said when we met today.
"I did advise dental work as the gums will be painful when the cat eats dry food."
"Too old," she said the cat would be 15 years old in Dec this year and so no point spending money on dental.
The cat would be on one tablespoon of K/D canned, canned BURP with low salt day and night and dry food K/D available. The cat did not have abnormal drinking.
It is a cat's destiny as to whether he has dentistry to relieve his tooth ache. Just like people as to where we live and earn a living. One client told me his friend's 11-year-old girl was missing for the past 3 days after going to the cinema in a country outside Singapore.
This cat may not have kidney disease as there are no signs of drinking excessively.
If the cat had dental work 2 years ago to extract the rotten loose teeth, he would have a better quality of life but cat owners do not want to incur medical costs. A cat can live a longer life if his diet and health is monitored closely together with your vet. Vomiting and weight loss are signs of poor health, not necessary kidney disease as the cat does not drink a lot of water. It could just be bacterial infections from the rotten teeth and a simple dental work by the vet would have made this cat much more lively.
I gave antibiotics. I advised dental work and change to feline C/D diet.
Then in Feb 4, 2014, he had dysuria again for one day. He lost appetite. He meowed a lot after urination and so the owner brought him to see me. The bladder was painful on palpation but was not distended to omuch. No vomiting or drinking or peeing excessively. Blood test showed a higher level of urea 14.8 (7.2-10.8) and creatinine 177 (71-160). Platelets were low at 238 (300-800).
I gave dextrose saline SC, irrigated the bladder with saline, gave antibiotics and Vit K1. X-rays showed a swollen left kidney (tumour or swelling?).
I phoned 2 days later and the grey cat was back to normal. He could control his bladder.
No news from the lady owner till today Mar 2, 2015, asking about the price of dry food, Prescription Diet K/D and wanting to buy feline C/D.
In November 2014, she had consulted another vet. The cat had started to vomit prior to boarding him for 2.5 weeks from Sep to Oct 2014. He vomited more often and became thinner. So, she consulted the other vet who took a blood test which showed slightly elevated urea and creatinine levels.
He prescribed K/D.
"How long did it take the cat to recover from vomiting?" I asked the working lady in her late 40s. She had rushed back from work to buy the food.
"he took 2-3 weeks to recover from vomiting and now had put on some weight. No more vomiting. I just wanted to stock up the dry K/D and buy 2 cans of feline K/D."
The cat was fed another brand of dry food and BURP in the past but now she switched to dry K/D.
"My cat prefers the wet food nowadays," she said when we met today.
"I did advise dental work as the gums will be painful when the cat eats dry food."
"Too old," she said the cat would be 15 years old in Dec this year and so no point spending money on dental.
The cat would be on one tablespoon of K/D canned, canned BURP with low salt day and night and dry food K/D available. The cat did not have abnormal drinking.
It is a cat's destiny as to whether he has dentistry to relieve his tooth ache. Just like people as to where we live and earn a living. One client told me his friend's 11-year-old girl was missing for the past 3 days after going to the cinema in a country outside Singapore.
This cat may not have kidney disease as there are no signs of drinking excessively.
If the cat had dental work 2 years ago to extract the rotten loose teeth, he would have a better quality of life but cat owners do not want to incur medical costs. A cat can live a longer life if his diet and health is monitored closely together with your vet. Vomiting and weight loss are signs of poor health, not necessary kidney disease as the cat does not drink a lot of water. It could just be bacterial infections from the rotten teeth and a simple dental work by the vet would have made this cat much more lively.
Monday, March 2, 2015
1132. The Golden Retriever's hind leg keeps swinging
Mar 2, 2015 7.07pm Bishan library
This 5-year-old male neutered Golden Retriever was very itchy. "I couldn't sleep since he had been scratching the whole night, waking me up! That was why I phoned you to see him this morning."
The dog had been itchy in 2012 and I had resolved the problem and so the working lady owner came back to me for diagnosis and treatment.
"Do you remember this dog? He exploded anal sac oil straight into Dr Daniel and onto the walls of the consultation room!"
"Yes," I had recorded this incident in the case sheet. I cannot remember every dog's explosive anal sacs as this was not the only one. For the past 4 years, the anal sacs had filled up and nobody had expressed them. So, they were time bombs of foul-smelly oil, spreading bad odours in the consultation room. This scent makes you want appreciate perfumes.
"Did you express the anal sac weekly or before bathing?" I asked the sun-tanned lady.
"No, no, but I sent him to the groomer every 2 months and this famous pet shop charges expensively. They groom the dog, clean the ears and express the anal sacs"
"How much?"
"$160 for every visit, but as Chinese New Year was in Feb 19, I did not send him to the groomer. I put some ear drops bought from the shop and did the ear cleaning myself! But my dog gets more and more itchy every day. His hind leg will swing back and forth in mid-air (see video).
The dog's ears were relatively clean but were painful to my touch. I could elicit the hind leg motions whenever I touched the lower ear area. So, this was a case of ear pain causing this behavior. The dog had to bite his backside and back legs to relieve the continual itchiness. The whole right back was very red as well.
Was this a case of allergy to the commercial ear wash? I had the skin and hairs checked for ringworm and demodectic mites. Ringworm was present in those red inflamed backside but no demodectic mites from 4 skin scrapings.
I got the dog sedated and the coat clipped bald. The ears were thoroughly irrigated.
"The hair will take 6 months to grow," she lamented.
"3 months if there is no more skin infections or itchy skin," I told her. This dog had chronic anal sacculitis and skin infections and so the coat was sparse.
This 5-year-old male neutered Golden Retriever was very itchy. "I couldn't sleep since he had been scratching the whole night, waking me up! That was why I phoned you to see him this morning."
The dog had been itchy in 2012 and I had resolved the problem and so the working lady owner came back to me for diagnosis and treatment.
"Do you remember this dog? He exploded anal sac oil straight into Dr Daniel and onto the walls of the consultation room!"
"Yes," I had recorded this incident in the case sheet. I cannot remember every dog's explosive anal sacs as this was not the only one. For the past 4 years, the anal sacs had filled up and nobody had expressed them. So, they were time bombs of foul-smelly oil, spreading bad odours in the consultation room. This scent makes you want appreciate perfumes.
"Did you express the anal sac weekly or before bathing?" I asked the sun-tanned lady.
"No, no, but I sent him to the groomer every 2 months and this famous pet shop charges expensively. They groom the dog, clean the ears and express the anal sacs"
"How much?"
"$160 for every visit, but as Chinese New Year was in Feb 19, I did not send him to the groomer. I put some ear drops bought from the shop and did the ear cleaning myself! But my dog gets more and more itchy every day. His hind leg will swing back and forth in mid-air (see video).
The dog's ears were relatively clean but were painful to my touch. I could elicit the hind leg motions whenever I touched the lower ear area. So, this was a case of ear pain causing this behavior. The dog had to bite his backside and back legs to relieve the continual itchiness. The whole right back was very red as well.
Was this a case of allergy to the commercial ear wash? I had the skin and hairs checked for ringworm and demodectic mites. Ringworm was present in those red inflamed backside but no demodectic mites from 4 skin scrapings.
I got the dog sedated and the coat clipped bald. The ears were thoroughly irrigated.
"The hair will take 6 months to grow," she lamented.
"3 months if there is no more skin infections or itchy skin," I told her. This dog had chronic anal sacculitis and skin infections and so the coat was sparse.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Sunday Mar 1, 2015, 6am
Sunday Mar 1, 2015
At 6 am, I make time for my morning exercise. Self-discipline to exercise at the public fitness area. Abdominal bender 100, cycling 40 steps, standing push ups 100 and bar bender 20 today. Midnight blue sky. Calm. No breeze. No bird chirping.
I walked past an Indonesian maid has already wakened up to wash the white Chervolet SUV. 99% of the residents in this landed property is asleep. The other maids are not washing cars today.
As I cycled, behind a 10-foot wall of a house, I heard "swish, swish, swish, swish, swish" as if a maid is scrubbing the floor of the house. At around 6.15 am, a resident walked his small breed dog. An occasional car passes by. All are asleep.
At 6 am, I make time for my morning exercise. Self-discipline to exercise at the public fitness area. Abdominal bender 100, cycling 40 steps, standing push ups 100 and bar bender 20 today. Midnight blue sky. Calm. No breeze. No bird chirping.
I walked past an Indonesian maid has already wakened up to wash the white Chervolet SUV. 99% of the residents in this landed property is asleep. The other maids are not washing cars today.
As I cycled, behind a 10-foot wall of a house, I heard "swish, swish, swish, swish, swish" as if a maid is scrubbing the floor of the house. At around 6.15 am, a resident walked his small breed dog. An occasional car passes by. All are asleep.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
1130. A hen injured her back.
The rooster jumped on the hens. This hen, reared as a chick and has laid eggs for the family during the past 3 years could not stand up. She had pain in his back from my palpation and observation of her not able to stand. Her toes curled inwards.
1129. A green tree frog has closed eyes
Feb 28, 2015
I was surprised to see a green tree frog as a patient. This frog could not open his eyes. To me, it seems he had the 3rd eyelid covering his eyes. So he could not see and therefore would not eat the live cricket of 1.5 cm long at 1-2 crickets a week.
In the past 30 years, I never encountered one.
"How do you know he is a male?" I asked.
"Only male frogs croak," the man said. "He has bigger webbed feet."
"How about the genitals?" I asked.
"No need to check on that."
Interestingly, I had two in-patient terrapins with closed eyes too. Swollen upper and lower eyelids. The owner had bought eye drops from the pet shop but no success. He said he phoned the AVA vet to look for a frog vet. There was none the AVA vet could recommend. Since he lives in Toa Payoh, he came to Toa Payoh Vets today. A green tree frog imported from Australia. Cost around $25.00.
"People will say that I should buy a new frog," he told me. "Cheaper than seeing a vet!" But he loves this frog. They could talk to each other. Animal-human communications. The human animal communicator advised him to consult a vet first before seeing him.
I was surprised to see a green tree frog as a patient. This frog could not open his eyes. To me, it seems he had the 3rd eyelid covering his eyes. So he could not see and therefore would not eat the live cricket of 1.5 cm long at 1-2 crickets a week.
In the past 30 years, I never encountered one.
"How do you know he is a male?" I asked.
"Only male frogs croak," the man said. "He has bigger webbed feet."
"How about the genitals?" I asked.
"No need to check on that."
Interestingly, I had two in-patient terrapins with closed eyes too. Swollen upper and lower eyelids. The owner had bought eye drops from the pet shop but no success. He said he phoned the AVA vet to look for a frog vet. There was none the AVA vet could recommend. Since he lives in Toa Payoh, he came to Toa Payoh Vets today. A green tree frog imported from Australia. Cost around $25.00.
"People will say that I should buy a new frog," he told me. "Cheaper than seeing a vet!" But he loves this frog. They could talk to each other. Animal-human communications. The human animal communicator advised him to consult a vet first before seeing him.
1128. Debarking a Miniature Schnauzer
Feb 25, 2015
This Schnauzer just barks as long as possible. The neighbours complain. The young couple wanted debarking. Yet they did not want debarking as it was deemed cruel.
I advised them to use the "time out" method (put dog in a room for 10-15 minutes every time he barks) or "grip the muzzle and give a light smack, saying 'no barking' forcefully.
Finally the wife decided not to debark the dog.
This Schnauzer just barks as long as possible. The neighbours complain. The young couple wanted debarking. Yet they did not want debarking as it was deemed cruel.
I advised them to use the "time out" method (put dog in a room for 10-15 minutes every time he barks) or "grip the muzzle and give a light smack, saying 'no barking' forcefully.
Finally the wife decided not to debark the dog.
1127. A father who has everything. What to give him on his birthday?
------------------------------------------------
Feb 27, 2015. This 9th day of Chinese New Year.
A father had his birthday today and his children bought him a branded wallet and a matching branded pen.
Most fathers don't get even one branded wallets from their children in their life. He got two. Of the same kind.
So he gave his feedback asking his son to exchange it for a belt
It must be difficult to buy birthday presents to a father who has everything.
If I were him, I would appreciate the gifts and thank my children instead of asking them to exchange the wallet for a belt.
It is better to give a father who has everything a story, photo, painting or poem on his birthday. It mean more to him than material goods. Perhaps a hug and cheerful smiles every morning. As each morning may be the last with your dad.
-----------------
1126. The 9th day of Chinese New Year - Offers to the Land God
On Feb 26 morning (8th day of Chinese New Year), I saw the maid cleaning up the smouldering ashes from the pavement as I was doing my 6 am exercise in a public fitness area. She would sprinkle water onto the ash. Then a broom to sweep up the ashes and put inside a black plastic bag.
This was the offer to the Land God, for the believers.
This was the offer to the Land God, for the believers.
1125. Indancity Beyond 2015 on Feb 27, 2015 (9th day of Chinese New Year)
Friday Feb 27, 2015
This is my 2nd SMU Indancity Beyond Dance attendance. The other one was in 2013 and it was good. The venue at Drama Centre Theatre (600 people max) on this Friday did not have the buzz of the crowded Kallang Theatre guests (1,600 people max). The young ladies did not appear to be as well dressed up in evening dresses. Times have changed.
This time I was seated in D24 (corner), much nearer the stage and could appreciate the dances more. The best seats may be in the centre on 2nd level, if I am not mistaken as I had the best videos taken of the Flamenco Dancers in one in Spain (see my travel stories)
The dance with the subway theme and the one with the baggage travelers had lots of action. The opening dance with maid servants of the old era was most attention-getting. I rarely attend dance performances. However, these dances broadens one's mind. The dancers were perfect in their moves and did not collide with each other.
From my corner seat, the videos were not that great as there was obstruction. I hope readers will enjoy watching some videos done. Hard work and sweat from the dancers. Excellent performance but rarely do you see Silver Hairs there. The choreographers were great. I had some great videos from my Canon D70 camera.
This is my 2nd SMU Indancity Beyond Dance attendance. The other one was in 2013 and it was good. The venue at Drama Centre Theatre (600 people max) on this Friday did not have the buzz of the crowded Kallang Theatre guests (1,600 people max). The young ladies did not appear to be as well dressed up in evening dresses. Times have changed.
This time I was seated in D24 (corner), much nearer the stage and could appreciate the dances more. The best seats may be in the centre on 2nd level, if I am not mistaken as I had the best videos taken of the Flamenco Dancers in one in Spain (see my travel stories)
The dance with the subway theme and the one with the baggage travelers had lots of action. The opening dance with maid servants of the old era was most attention-getting. I rarely attend dance performances. However, these dances broadens one's mind. The dancers were perfect in their moves and did not collide with each other.
From my corner seat, the videos were not that great as there was obstruction. I hope readers will enjoy watching some videos done. Hard work and sweat from the dancers. Excellent performance but rarely do you see Silver Hairs there. The choreographers were great. I had some great videos from my Canon D70 camera.
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