Some people hoard things till the whole house or garage is cluttered. Do hamsters hoard food inside their storage compartment, known as cheek pouches inside the mouth on the right and left sides? They pack the cheek pouches to the maximum and sometimes the cheek pouches become injured by the sharp shells from the seeds and are painful. The hamster is unable to dislodge the contents and rubs his swollen cheeks hairless.
I have a handful of such cases, but the following one is most memorable. He is the teacher's pet.
The black hamster was obsessive in storing and packing his cheek pouch with food. The lady owner came 3 times for right cheek pouch impaction. This pouch was excised at the 3rd visit and there was no problem for the next few weeks.
Now, lthe hamster scratches his face till hair drops off the top and sides of the face, leaving his eye area still hairy. Clearing the left cheek pouch is done. The hamster will be restricted to around 5 seeds per day. No large seeds. Sunflower seeds are shelled out before feeding to him.
FOLLOW UP ON MAY 22, 2015. Around 1 week later. "No more creamy discharge from his eyes," the owner was happy to report. "No more wet face!". She fed around 5 seeds e.g. shelled sunflower seeds and corn. The hamster would store the seeds inside his left cheek and eat them later. So his pouch is never impacted causing itchiness when large seeds are stuck inside.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Friday, May 22, 2015
2166. The teacher's pet hamster looked like Lone Ranger
March 22, 2015
"How is your hamster now?" I asked the young lady who is a teacher.
"No more creamy discharge from her eyes," she was happy.
"That would be pus," I said. "Are the hairs growing back on her face. The areas around her eyes were all bald and so she looked like she was wearing a mask, like Lone Ranger!"
"It will take some time for the hairs to grow. Previously, her face was wet, wet, wet but now it is dry."
"Was it water from the water bottle?" I asked.
"No, I don't think so."
"It could be from the eye tears," I assumed.
Now she restricts the hamster to a strict die. Around 5 seeds like corn and peeled sunflower seeds. No coloured star pellets and others.So the hamster would not stuff her left cheek.\
I remember this black hamster very well because she had caused much distress to the teacher with the right cheek pouch impacted 3 times. The last time I had it excised and there was no more problem. Till this creamy eye discharge.
"How is your hamster now?" I asked the young lady who is a teacher.
"No more creamy discharge from her eyes," she was happy.
"That would be pus," I said. "Are the hairs growing back on her face. The areas around her eyes were all bald and so she looked like she was wearing a mask, like Lone Ranger!"
"It will take some time for the hairs to grow. Previously, her face was wet, wet, wet but now it is dry."
"Was it water from the water bottle?" I asked.
"No, I don't think so."
"It could be from the eye tears," I assumed.
Now she restricts the hamster to a strict die. Around 5 seeds like corn and peeled sunflower seeds. No coloured star pellets and others.So the hamster would not stuff her left cheek.\
I remember this black hamster very well because she had caused much distress to the teacher with the right cheek pouch impacted 3 times. The last time I had it excised and there was no more problem. Till this creamy eye discharge.
2165. A busy father spares time for the left head-tilting guinea pig
Mar 21, 2015
"No, you have not been prompt in consulting me," I said. "The head tilt has been present for 2 weeks."
What is the cause of this left head tilt in this pretty female 2-year-old guinea pig much loved by the daughter. "There is also pus from the left nostril," the father said. "And something white in the left eye."
The lungs had sounds on ausculation, more on the left side. The eye cornea did not stain green with fluorescein stain test and this white central elevated patch across the middle of the eyeball could be a scar. Everything seems to be on the left.
So, was there an injury or infection to the left side of the body? The guinea had lost 50% of the appetite and the rectal temp was 36.4 (hypothermia). The ears had never been cleaned and there was black soot in both ears. The creature squealed when I palpated her ears.
She weighed 700g. What was wrong with her?
Most likely a middle ear infection. Will need to follow up after antibioics.
"No, you have not been prompt in consulting me," I said. "The head tilt has been present for 2 weeks."
What is the cause of this left head tilt in this pretty female 2-year-old guinea pig much loved by the daughter. "There is also pus from the left nostril," the father said. "And something white in the left eye."
The lungs had sounds on ausculation, more on the left side. The eye cornea did not stain green with fluorescein stain test and this white central elevated patch across the middle of the eyeball could be a scar. Everything seems to be on the left.
So, was there an injury or infection to the left side of the body? The guinea had lost 50% of the appetite and the rectal temp was 36.4 (hypothermia). The ears had never been cleaned and there was black soot in both ears. The creature squealed when I palpated her ears.
She weighed 700g. What was wrong with her?
Most likely a middle ear infection. Will need to follow up after antibioics.
2164. Mammary adenomas in an American Cocker Spaniel
| TOA
PAYOH VETS toapayohvets.com Blk 1002, Toa Payoh Lor 8, 01-1477, Singapore 319074 Tel: 6254-3326, 9668-6469, 9668-6468. judy@toapayohvets.com 22 May, 2015 Focus: Small animals - dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles & rabbits |
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Mammary adenomas in an American Cocker Spaniel Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS First written: 21 September, 2012 Update: 22 May, 2015 "Why did you delay seeking surgery till the breast lump is gigantic in size, like two tennis balls combined?" I asked the Buddhist temple teacher who taught Buddhism and morals to over 800 children of devotees. "The breast lumps grow very fast in the last 2 weeks," she replied. "Nobody in the family wants to bring the dog for surgery. My brother said to let her die." The solution was surgical removal but the family did not want to pay the medical costs. She was kind to enough to bring in this old dog for surgery at Toa Payoh Vets.
I tacked in "walk-in sutures" through the muscle layer and then the skin, using 2/0 sutures to ensure that the large long wound would not break down.. The dog came back 4 days later. There was a swelling at one end of the tumour. " "There's seepage at the left Mammary Gland 5 area," I said to Dr Daniel who is in charge of the case. "Just cut off two stitches," I said to him. "In this way, the serum can drain out. No need to re-stitch." After that, we had no more visit from the Buddhist teacher. I was glad that this dog was not abandoned when she had the tumours. Such incidents do occur in Singapore. It is best to spay the female dog when she is young as breast tumours are less likely to develop in spayed dogs.
More case studies, go to: Cats or Dogs Make an appointment with your vet. Or tel 6254-3326, 9668-6469 for an appointment to discuss health screening for your senior companion. Or e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com your requirements. |
Thursday, May 21, 2015
2163. Recurring urolithiasis in a Shih Tzu - 5 surgeries to resolve the problem
TOA PAYOH VETS toapayohvets.com Blk 1002, Toa Payoh Lor 8, 01-1477, Singapore 319074 Tel: 6254-3326, 9668-6469, 9668-6468. judy@toapayohvets.com
21 May, 2015 Focus: Small animals - dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles & rabbits
Recurrent urolithiasis - 5 surgeries for a recurring bladder stone problem
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Case written: January 7, 2013 Update: 21 May, 2015
Taking images of cases with the camera phone to document your cases and to do retrospective studies of your performance will make you a better veterinary surgeon.
There may be some parts of the anatomy changes which you might have missed during the examination but images taken will be there for you to review. This is time-consuming and that is why most doctors and vets don't bother as images must be taken and filed properly.
For example, in the complicated case of the Shih Tzu with 5 bladder surgeries.
He had 2 surgeries to remove the bladder stones several weeks ago. Two vets (Vet 1 and 2) removed the bladder stones in two separate surgeries.
However, the Shih Tzu had bladder stones and Vet 3 operated on him.
with perineal urine leakage after a bladder surgery by Vet 3 to remove urinary stones, an image of the swollen perineum (presumed with leaked urine from the traumatised perineal urethra) was taken by me. See image on the left.
This is one supporting evidence and there must be others to substantiate this urine leakage (ultrasound of scrotum filled with fluid), swelling of left inguinal area near where Vet 3 made a skin incision to access the bladder for urinary stone removal daily with blood-tinged fluid while the dog was catherised with a smaller sized urinary catheter
Note that the scrotal sac is also swollen and Vet 3 had said that ultrasound revealed fluid. According to the owner, the whole of the lower part of the inguinal area was much swollen and that was why the dog had to be hospitalised for 8 days by Vet 3 who then recommended a 2nd urethrostomy and scrotal ablation to resolve the problem of urine leakage.
This image was taken when the dog was seen at Toa Payoh Vets on Day 9 after Vet 3's bladder surgery which had removed all bladder stones (post-op X-rays showed no stones). The owner came to Toa Payoh Vets as his daughter was a classmate of my son. So, Vet 4 (Dr Daniel) was tasked with the resolution of the dog's urinary problem.
How to resolve this problem with the least cost to the owner? That is the tough part. Will a 2nd urethrostomy and closure of the first urethral stoma and scrotal ablation as suggested by Vet 3 resolve the problem for once and for all?
Dr Daniel (Vet 4) at Toa Payoh Vets was asked by the owner to neuter the dog and remove the large left inguinal swelling of the size of an egg. He stitched up the urethral stoma (first urethrostomy done by Vet 1) so that the dog could pee as a normal dog, from the tip of the penis. Would this resolve the problem?
Well, it did not appear to do so as the left inguinal swelling filled with blood-tinged fluid (I presumed it was urine leakage + blood) of around 30 ml per day for the next 4 days. Vet 3 had likely ruptured the urethra leading to leakage of urine and blood in the left inguinal area.
"Closing the urethral stoma so that the dog could pee normally from the tip of the penis is good for the dog," I said to Dr Daniel. "But there is the daily need to aspirate the 30 ml of blood-tinged fluid from the left inguinal area. It cost the owner around $7,000 to do the past 3 surgeries to remove the bladder stone and given time, your surgical approach may work. But time means money expenditure for the owner. "
As Dr Daniel had to go overseas, I became the Vet 5 as I took over the case and reviewed the complicated urine leakage problem. This involved talking to Vet 3 as to what had been done.
Vet 3 said: "We did an ultrasound and saw fluid inside the scrotum. This was not recorded in the case report as the owner was not charged."
Ultrasound can reveal fluid in an organ but will not be able to tell whether it i urine or blood or both.
This is where the perineal swelling in this image substantiated a possible urine leakage. I proposed a dye test but it is extremely expensive to do dye test to reveal the location of the perineal urethral leakage. The surgery at Vet 3 had cost $2,000 according to the owner.
So, what's the best economical solution now? What is in the best interest of the dog? If expenses keep mounting, the dog may be put to sleep by the owner. A solution must resolve the problem to the owner's satisfaction and to the dog being able to live a normal life without difficulty in urination.
What should I do? This is a complicated urinary tract problem due to urine leakage presumed to be from a tear in the perineal urethra (see image of perineal swelling above) and subcutaneous fluid presented daily along the left side of the penile length.
I thought hard. The dog had gone through 4 anaesthesias and surgery. Veterinary expenses were considerable.
My surgical approach was to extend the urethra stoma made by Vet 1. This had been closed by Dr Daniel as he wanted the dog to pee normally from the tip of the penis. Then I did a scrotal ablation (cut off the scrotal sac), close up the inguinal sheaths and stitch the urinary catheter to the prepuce to retain it in for around 4 days to let the perineal catheter to heal. This is the theory.
In practice, this worked as the dog is now peeing normally with no blood in the urine when it came back for stitch removal on Sep 28, 2012, around 14 days after my surgery.
UPDATE as at Jan 7, 2013
The dog pees through the first urethrostomy without any difficulty. The owner came to buy the C/D canned food. It is good news. Post-op urine and blood tests and X-rays are advised but owner compliance with regular monitoring will be difficult due to various reasons.
P.S. Urethrostomy = a hole is cut into the urethra (passage for urine from bladder to the tip of the penis).
Yearly blood and urine tests may detect early presence of bladder and kidney stones in your dog and cat. For urinary health screening appointments, tel: 6254-3326, 9668-6468
e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com
.
21 May, 2015 Focus: Small animals - dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles & rabbits
Recurrent urolithiasis - 5 surgeries for a recurring bladder stone problem
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Case written: January 7, 2013 Update: 21 May, 2015
Taking images of cases with the camera phone to document your cases and to do retrospective studies of your performance will make you a better veterinary surgeon.
There may be some parts of the anatomy changes which you might have missed during the examination but images taken will be there for you to review. This is time-consuming and that is why most doctors and vets don't bother as images must be taken and filed properly.
For example, in the complicated case of the Shih Tzu with 5 bladder surgeries.
He had 2 surgeries to remove the bladder stones several weeks ago. Two vets (Vet 1 and 2) removed the bladder stones in two separate surgeries.
However, the Shih Tzu had bladder stones and Vet 3 operated on him.
with perineal urine leakage after a bladder surgery by Vet 3 to remove urinary stones, an image of the swollen perineum (presumed with leaked urine from the traumatised perineal urethra) was taken by me. See image on the left.
This is one supporting evidence and there must be others to substantiate this urine leakage (ultrasound of scrotum filled with fluid), swelling of left inguinal area near where Vet 3 made a skin incision to access the bladder for urinary stone removal daily with blood-tinged fluid while the dog was catherised with a smaller sized urinary catheterNote that the scrotal sac is also swollen and Vet 3 had said that ultrasound revealed fluid. According to the owner, the whole of the lower part of the inguinal area was much swollen and that was why the dog had to be hospitalised for 8 days by Vet 3 who then recommended a 2nd urethrostomy and scrotal ablation to resolve the problem of urine leakage.
This image was taken when the dog was seen at Toa Payoh Vets on Day 9 after Vet 3's bladder surgery which had removed all bladder stones (post-op X-rays showed no stones). The owner came to Toa Payoh Vets as his daughter was a classmate of my son. So, Vet 4 (Dr Daniel) was tasked with the resolution of the dog's urinary problem.
How to resolve this problem with the least cost to the owner? That is the tough part. Will a 2nd urethrostomy and closure of the first urethral stoma and scrotal ablation as suggested by Vet 3 resolve the problem for once and for all?
Dr Daniel (Vet 4) at Toa Payoh Vets was asked by the owner to neuter the dog and remove the large left inguinal swelling of the size of an egg. He stitched up the urethral stoma (first urethrostomy done by Vet 1) so that the dog could pee as a normal dog, from the tip of the penis. Would this resolve the problem?
Well, it did not appear to do so as the left inguinal swelling filled with blood-tinged fluid (I presumed it was urine leakage + blood) of around 30 ml per day for the next 4 days. Vet 3 had likely ruptured the urethra leading to leakage of urine and blood in the left inguinal area.
 |  |
| Large left inguinal swelling due to urine + blood accumulation | Problem and surgical solution explained by illustration for the owner |
 |  |
| Inguinal fluid and urine for lab analysis | Surgical plan from Dr Sing Kong Yuen |
As Dr Daniel had to go overseas, I became the Vet 5 as I took over the case and reviewed the complicated urine leakage problem. This involved talking to Vet 3 as to what had been done.
Vet 3 said: "We did an ultrasound and saw fluid inside the scrotum. This was not recorded in the case report as the owner was not charged."
Ultrasound can reveal fluid in an organ but will not be able to tell whether it i urine or blood or both.
This is where the perineal swelling in this image substantiated a possible urine leakage. I proposed a dye test but it is extremely expensive to do dye test to reveal the location of the perineal urethral leakage. The surgery at Vet 3 had cost $2,000 according to the owner.
So, what's the best economical solution now? What is in the best interest of the dog? If expenses keep mounting, the dog may be put to sleep by the owner. A solution must resolve the problem to the owner's satisfaction and to the dog being able to live a normal life without difficulty in urination.
What should I do? This is a complicated urinary tract problem due to urine leakage presumed to be from a tear in the perineal urethra (see image of perineal swelling above) and subcutaneous fluid presented daily along the left side of the penile length.
I thought hard. The dog had gone through 4 anaesthesias and surgery. Veterinary expenses were considerable.
My surgical approach was to extend the urethra stoma made by Vet 1. This had been closed by Dr Daniel as he wanted the dog to pee normally from the tip of the penis. Then I did a scrotal ablation (cut off the scrotal sac), close up the inguinal sheaths and stitch the urinary catheter to the prepuce to retain it in for around 4 days to let the perineal catheter to heal. This is the theory.
| The dog still had difficulty in urination after Vet 3's surgery. My surgical approach to post-op complications from Vet 3's surgery which had removed the bladder stones | |
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| Open up the wound | Scrotal ablation |
 |  |
| Enlarged Vet 1's urethrotomy incision | Ensure urethra is patent |
 |  |
| Healing of the surrounding areas | Goes home with prescription diet S/D |
 |  |
| Dog is able to pee via the original enlarged urethrostomy for the past 3 months and as at Jan 7, 2013. Dog eats prescription diet C/D. Urinary analysis and X-rays on a regular basis are recommended. Will the owner comply? | |
UPDATE as at Jan 7, 2013
The dog pees through the first urethrostomy without any difficulty. The owner came to buy the C/D canned food. It is good news. Post-op urine and blood tests and X-rays are advised but owner compliance with regular monitoring will be difficult due to various reasons.
P.S. Urethrostomy = a hole is cut into the urethra (passage for urine from bladder to the tip of the penis).
Yearly blood and urine tests may detect early presence of bladder and kidney stones in your dog and cat. For urinary health screening appointments, tel: 6254-3326, 9668-6468
e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com
.
2162. Carnaissal tooth abscess treatment in a Pomeranian - follow up 6 years later
TOA PAYOH VETS toapayohvets.com Blk 1002, Toa Payoh Lor 8, 01-1477, Singapore 319074 Tel: 6254-3326, 9668-6469, 9668-6468. judy@toapayohvets.com
21 May, 2015 Focus: Small animals - dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles & rabbits
A Facial Wound did not heal: Oro-nasal fistula follow up 6 years later
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Case written: November 15, 2007 Update: 21 May, 2015
"Why didn't you come for the surgery?" I admonished the lady owner of the Pomeranian. "You wasted more money buying more antibiotic powder from the pet shop to dust onto the facial wound, hoping it would heal. You can see the wet wound under the left eye in the image below. It is a classic presentation of an oro-nasal fistula, also known as malar abscess or carnaissal tooth abscess.
"For ordinary skin wounds, the antibiotic powder would heal them, but I had already explained to you why the wound would never heal without dental extraction of the infected tooth."
Her 4-year-old Pomeranian had a weeping wound of around 0.5 cm in diameter below the left eye, above the maxillary 4th premolar tooth. It did not heal over the past weeks despite various medications and powders she had sprinkled on.
Some 14 days ago, I had patiently explained to her by illustration how the infection from the root of the maxillary 4th premolar had spread into the nose from the diseased gums to the skin below the eye.
The bacteria from the decayed roots of this premolar had dissolved the nasal bone area and made a hole. This condition is called an oro-nasal fistula. Dental surgery to remove the infected premolar would resolve her Pomeranian's non-healing wound problem once and for all.
"The vet did a slick sales presentation to make me spend money unnecessarily" the husband of the dog owner must have told her. "How can a rotten tooth inside the mouth cause a hole on the skin below the left eye. This doctor is nuts and is desperate to make money. Mouth and nose. So far apart. How can there be a connection?"
Back to the present, I said, "Surgery was to be done 7 days ago after 7 days of antibiotics. But you did not turn up till today --- 14 days later!"
The middle-aged lady shook her head. I forgot my bedside manners by scolding her. The customer is king. The general anaesthesia and tooth surgery was affordable for her as I had discounted my fees. That savings could buy another sari from Niven Road's sari shop.
I was annoyed because there was an optimal time to do extraction of the infected and decayed tooth. It was after 7 days of antibiotics and she had not kept her appointment nor cancelled it.
She just did not turn up as there was less weeping of the wound due to antibiotics. However after the course of antibiotics, the bacteria in the infected teeth had resumed their attack and the facial wound became wet and bleeding again.
The lady pulled up her fine and most colourful sari and smiled sheepishly, "My husband wanted to use the money for the dog's anaesthesia and surgery to go to India for holiday lah!"
Now that the dog is no longer on antibiotics, should I operate? There was no urgency in the sense that it was an emergency. But it would be in the best interest of this poor dog to be cured as soon as possible.
The Pomeranian's teeth were not brushed at all as this is a common practice in Singapore.
Initially bacteria attacking the food debris on the tooth gum line would die in 3-5 days to form a plaque on the tooth surface. As the dog's teeth were not brushed daily or at all, more plaque accumulated on the surface of the teeth.
Soon they become tartar (calculus). The gum became infected, leading to gingivitis. The root of the 4th premolar tooth of the upper jaw became abscessed due to bacterial attack. Abscess tracked upwards towards the nose and side of the face. Soon a facial wound appears to form a connection (oro-nasal fistula) between the tooth and the skin, discharging pus daily. As the pus and fluid from the mouth is discharged daily, the wound can never heal as it is always infected.
The decayed 4th premolar and lst molar became loose as their roots had been exposed as the diseased gum diseased shrivelled. The supporting structure of the teeth was weakened by the bacterial attack, leading to a loose tooth that would fall out in time to come.
At this time, there was no choice but to extract these two loose teeth. Otherwise the Pomeranian would suffer from daily toothache as the owner's husband might thwart her from doing the right thing for her dog. I put the Pomeranian under general anaesthesia gas and got the offending teeth extracted and scaled the other good teeth to remove the tartar.
BLOOD TEST & OTHER PROCEDURES. There was no pre-anaesthetic blood tests to assess the liver and kidney functions and blood cells of this younger Pomeranian. Veterinary costs would be additional $150.
Most likely the poor Pomeranian would not receive any veterinary attention if an increase of $150 was added to the veterinary expenses. Therefore I did not require blood tests to lower the medical costs.
Physical examination of the Pomeranian indicated that there was no cardiac problem and there should be no death from general anaesthesia. The dog's anaesthesia was uneventful. He went home on the same day and had no more facial wound below the eye since 2007 to 2013. I was fortunate to get an image of the Pomeranian in 2013 as shown below:
UPDATE IN FEB 2013
I have not seen the Pomeranian since 2007. He was 4 years old then. In Feb 2013, the owners came with the Pomeranian asking me where to board the dog for Chinese New Year. I took the following image of him with a face that has no more oro-nasal fistulas for the benefit of readers.
As at May 21, 2015, I have not seen this dog since Feb 2013. More interesting cases of dental problems in Singapore dogs are at:
Toa Payoh Vets Clinical Research: Mouth problems in Singapore's dogs
Yearly dental check-ups may prevent tooth decay and gum infections and painful eating for your dog and cat. For dental check-up and scaling appointments, tel: 6254-3326, 9668-6468
e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com
.
21 May, 2015 Focus: Small animals - dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles & rabbits
A Facial Wound did not heal: Oro-nasal fistula follow up 6 years later
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Case written: November 15, 2007 Update: 21 May, 2015
"Why didn't you come for the surgery?" I admonished the lady owner of the Pomeranian. "You wasted more money buying more antibiotic powder from the pet shop to dust onto the facial wound, hoping it would heal. You can see the wet wound under the left eye in the image below. It is a classic presentation of an oro-nasal fistula, also known as malar abscess or carnaissal tooth abscess.
"For ordinary skin wounds, the antibiotic powder would heal them, but I had already explained to you why the wound would never heal without dental extraction of the infected tooth."
Her 4-year-old Pomeranian had a weeping wound of around 0.5 cm in diameter below the left eye, above the maxillary 4th premolar tooth. It did not heal over the past weeks despite various medications and powders she had sprinkled on.
Some 14 days ago, I had patiently explained to her by illustration how the infection from the root of the maxillary 4th premolar had spread into the nose from the diseased gums to the skin below the eye.
The bacteria from the decayed roots of this premolar had dissolved the nasal bone area and made a hole. This condition is called an oro-nasal fistula. Dental surgery to remove the infected premolar would resolve her Pomeranian's non-healing wound problem once and for all.
"The vet did a slick sales presentation to make me spend money unnecessarily" the husband of the dog owner must have told her. "How can a rotten tooth inside the mouth cause a hole on the skin below the left eye. This doctor is nuts and is desperate to make money. Mouth and nose. So far apart. How can there be a connection?"
Back to the present, I said, "Surgery was to be done 7 days ago after 7 days of antibiotics. But you did not turn up till today --- 14 days later!"
The middle-aged lady shook her head. I forgot my bedside manners by scolding her. The customer is king. The general anaesthesia and tooth surgery was affordable for her as I had discounted my fees. That savings could buy another sari from Niven Road's sari shop.
I was annoyed because there was an optimal time to do extraction of the infected and decayed tooth. It was after 7 days of antibiotics and she had not kept her appointment nor cancelled it.
She just did not turn up as there was less weeping of the wound due to antibiotics. However after the course of antibiotics, the bacteria in the infected teeth had resumed their attack and the facial wound became wet and bleeding again.
The lady pulled up her fine and most colourful sari and smiled sheepishly, "My husband wanted to use the money for the dog's anaesthesia and surgery to go to India for holiday lah!"
Now that the dog is no longer on antibiotics, should I operate? There was no urgency in the sense that it was an emergency. But it would be in the best interest of this poor dog to be cured as soon as possible.
The Pomeranian's teeth were not brushed at all as this is a common practice in Singapore.
Initially bacteria attacking the food debris on the tooth gum line would die in 3-5 days to form a plaque on the tooth surface. As the dog's teeth were not brushed daily or at all, more plaque accumulated on the surface of the teeth.
Soon they become tartar (calculus). The gum became infected, leading to gingivitis. The root of the 4th premolar tooth of the upper jaw became abscessed due to bacterial attack. Abscess tracked upwards towards the nose and side of the face. Soon a facial wound appears to form a connection (oro-nasal fistula) between the tooth and the skin, discharging pus daily. As the pus and fluid from the mouth is discharged daily, the wound can never heal as it is always infected.
The decayed 4th premolar and lst molar became loose as their roots had been exposed as the diseased gum diseased shrivelled. The supporting structure of the teeth was weakened by the bacterial attack, leading to a loose tooth that would fall out in time to come.
At this time, there was no choice but to extract these two loose teeth. Otherwise the Pomeranian would suffer from daily toothache as the owner's husband might thwart her from doing the right thing for her dog. I put the Pomeranian under general anaesthesia gas and got the offending teeth extracted and scaled the other good teeth to remove the tartar.
BLOOD TEST & OTHER PROCEDURES. There was no pre-anaesthetic blood tests to assess the liver and kidney functions and blood cells of this younger Pomeranian. Veterinary costs would be additional $150.
Most likely the poor Pomeranian would not receive any veterinary attention if an increase of $150 was added to the veterinary expenses. Therefore I did not require blood tests to lower the medical costs.
Physical examination of the Pomeranian indicated that there was no cardiac problem and there should be no death from general anaesthesia. The dog's anaesthesia was uneventful. He went home on the same day and had no more facial wound below the eye since 2007 to 2013. I was fortunate to get an image of the Pomeranian in 2013 as shown below:
| 2007 image of the Pomeranian |
 |
The image below showed the Pomeranian just after removal of the bad teeth. |
 |
The facial wound closed after a few days when I phoned the lady owner to follow up after extraction of the infected teeth. "You are a good vet," the lady surprised me with her compliment especially after my admonishment. She was free from the chore of having to clean the facial wound daily. Her dog was more active and has a livelier demeanour. And what more joy could a lady have than to see her companion having a higher quality of life? |
| 2013 image of the Pomeranian with no oro-nasal fistula |
 |
I have not seen the Pomeranian since 2007. He was 4 years old then. In Feb 2013, the owners came with the Pomeranian asking me where to board the dog for Chinese New Year. I took the following image of him with a face that has no more oro-nasal fistulas for the benefit of readers.
As at May 21, 2015, I have not seen this dog since Feb 2013. More interesting cases of dental problems in Singapore dogs are at:
Toa Payoh Vets Clinical Research: Mouth problems in Singapore's dogs
Yearly dental check-ups may prevent tooth decay and gum infections and painful eating for your dog and cat. For dental check-up and scaling appointments, tel: 6254-3326, 9668-6468
e-mail judy@toapayohvets.com
.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
2161. Teaching the child to be kind to hamsters
May 20, 2015
"My mum keeps putting eye drops," the 11-year-old girl said again when the 2nd worst case of eye abscess hamster is discharged after 4 days of in-patient treatment.
The slim little girl is bright as she topped her Science examination but she confessed she failed her Maths. The mother had told me she applied eye drops but the dwarf hamster's lower eyelid kept growing bigger and bigger. "Pus leaked out from her eyelids," she said to me. So, she texted and emailed me to get an appointment.
The little girl could not understand why the mother was doing the hamster treatment but in the real world, many mothers would do that, to save money as a family expense in Singapore is very high.
The left lower eyelid was full of bacteria and pus kept forming. On the 2nd and 3rd day and even on the 4th day, I had to lance the residual pimple on the upper right eyelid and the lower conjunctiva.
The mother brought the daughter to visit the hamster on Day 3 and decided to wait another day for the pus to go away.
The worst case was seen in 2008 documented in my webpage at:
http://www.bekindtopets.com/animals/20080917Hamsters_Eyelid_Abscesses_ToaPayohVets.htm
"My mum keeps putting eye drops," the 11-year-old girl said again when the 2nd worst case of eye abscess hamster is discharged after 4 days of in-patient treatment.
The slim little girl is bright as she topped her Science examination but she confessed she failed her Maths. The mother had told me she applied eye drops but the dwarf hamster's lower eyelid kept growing bigger and bigger. "Pus leaked out from her eyelids," she said to me. So, she texted and emailed me to get an appointment.
The little girl could not understand why the mother was doing the hamster treatment but in the real world, many mothers would do that, to save money as a family expense in Singapore is very high.
The left lower eyelid was full of bacteria and pus kept forming. On the 2nd and 3rd day and even on the 4th day, I had to lance the residual pimple on the upper right eyelid and the lower conjunctiva.
The mother brought the daughter to visit the hamster on Day 3 and decided to wait another day for the pus to go away.
The worst case was seen in 2008 documented in my webpage at:
http://www.bekindtopets.com/animals/20080917Hamsters_Eyelid_Abscesses_ToaPayohVets.htm
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