2457. Two 8-year-old terrapins fought when transferred to bigger tank

Sunday, Jun 7, 2015

One of the 2 terrapins, 8 years old, was lethargic at home and was breathing fast. When he came to the clinic, he was most active while the other was quiet and had closed eyes. So what was wrong?

Both was housed separated by a barrier in a bigger tank as they bit each other when recently transferred to a bigger tank. "They are male terrapins and want their own territory," I said. "They pooped a lot and the water in a small tank needs to be changed at least once in 2 days. They need a bigger drying area to dry instead of being submerged 90% in water."

The filter was clogged and so was not functioning. The best is to change water daily as the tank is not very big, around 6 feet x 6 feet. A variety of diet, rather than just pellets from one brand from Taiwan had been fed for the past 8 years. "They don't eat vegetables," the mum said. 

I advised smearing the pellets with medicine, put them into a small amount of water and let them eat 25% first. Same with dried shrimps and meat. It will be difficult for the boy to open the terrapin's mouth to feed medicine as he was not even able to pull the tail to examine the terrapin. Both terrapins curled their tails inside the shell strongly. They were kept together in the blue basin and must have had been biting each other's tail although the mother said "they never bite" when house in the smaller blue basin.  Normally, terrapins don't curl their tails tightly. 

2456. Sunday Jun 7, 2015 - A cat with a painful enlarged right submandibular lymph node

A bright blue sky white cloud Sunday.  Pregger, an old cat with a few teeth left, was brought in  for anorexia 2 days. She was not drinking.

A very painful enlarged right submandibular lymph nodes and throat. Anorexia 2 days. Not drinking.  What is the cause? 

X rays show some opacity in the right tympanic bulla. Is there a tumour?

Anaesthesia   no ulcers or decayed teeth


http://www.kongyuensing.com/laws/TP41051WWPreggar_VD_painful_throat_Jun705.jpg

2189. An old cat is anorexic and has weakened purring

UPDATE
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2188. Bad breath and gum tumour in an 8-year-old Schnauzer

Sunday Jun 7, 2015

Miniature Schnauzer, Male, entire, 8 years

The consultation room stank of bad breath from this dog that had "dental scaling" 3 times by the dog groomer. Yet the bad breath did not go away. The owner came because the dog kept licking his front paws and the bad odour permeated into the hairs of the paws.  The dog drooled and vomited yellow stuff sometimes, esp. after eating.

"This dog has a fever," I checked the rectal temperature as 40.1C. "Has he lost appetite?"
"He has not been eating and drinking for the past 2 weeks."

"What is the cause of the fever?" the man asked.
"Bacterial infection."

An IV drip with medication will be given today. Blood test. Then, tomorrow, anaesthesia and dental work. Many exposed teeth and loose ones. The gums were reddish instead of pinkish.

Always get a yearly vet check up and do dental brushing if you want your dog to keep his teeth to old age.  Poor oral hygiene can also cause gum tumours to develop as in this case of a round gum tumour on the right upper jaw behind the right upper canine tooth. 

2187. A rare case of an ocular dermoid in a cat in Singapore

A rare case of ocular dermoid in a cat in Singapore.


Dermoids are ectopic eye tissues. They are non-cancerous tissues growing inside the conjuncitval, sclera or cornea or scleral-cornea areas.  It is congenital and is said to have familiar cause.

In this cat, the dermoid is present in the lateral canthus on the sclera and corneal tissues. it causes epiphora.

SURGICAL TREATMENT

1. Scalpel blade No. 11.

2. I have used electro-surgery to excise the dermoid off the cornea in a Shih Tzu (see video). It is very effective in stopping epiphora and conjunctivitis.

Dermoids are uncommon and is said to be rare in cats.  In general practice, vets will rarely see such cases unless they are from cat breeders. No seller can sell such kittens.

Use surgical blade No. 11

 A dermoid usually has hairs whereas a pterygium does not have hairs.


VIDEO

1.  cat dermoid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hwuWx4T83I

2186. Sibling hamster rivalry - bites neck of 4-month-old hamster

"If the bite wound is small, less than 5 mm, your hamster may not need stitching," I said to the man who phoned for advice. He decided to send the hamster for stitching.

 Zoletil 100 IM anaesthesia. Debride. Stitched with 4/0 absorbable monosyn.  Goes home on the same day.

2185. Pharyngeal X-rays

Pharynx

1. Recumbent lateral. The lateral view is most informative to locate foreign bodies. The dog lies on the side with forelegs retracted. Head and neck in lalteral position, in mild extension.Larynx shoulbe be clear of the mandible.

2. Upright lateral. Dog in upright position using the horizontal beam. Reduced time without producing too much contrast. This view to show the natural relationship between the epiglottis and the soft palate.