2966, A 10-year-old chihuhua has occasional pain in the back rib cage area - X rays

August 13, 2015

A 10-year-old female spayed chihuahua recently curled up to sleep on her right side. Sometimes she had her collar hairs standing erect. On July 21, 2015, I had performed dental scaling and extraction of loose teeth. A blood test showed higher number of red blood cells and haemoglobin.

"What's the problem with her appearing to have painful?" the couple asked me today. I palpated the back part of the rib cage with 2 hands inwards. The dog winced and attempted to bite me (video).
So, was there something wrong with the rib cage?

Video   Chihuahua

A cavalier king charles dislocates her left hip

August 11, 2015.

Unusual behaviour led to left hip dislocation.
For the past 7 years, this female CKC must jump up and hit the wall for a while before squatting  down to poo. She lives in an apartment and was not seen jumping up and down the sofa or had a fall from the table, according to the owner.

So, the hip dislocation was attributed to this behaviour.

The owner agreed to a closed reduction. In this procedure, Dr Daniel anaesthesized the dog, put back the femoral head into the hip and splinted up the dog's leg. The dog is at home now. If closed reduction does not work, then surgery is needed.

2964. Internship

August 7, 2015. Thursday.

Today is a public holiday given by the government for  "Singapore Jubliee celebration" and forthcoming National Day on August 9.  Many Singaporeans just took the long weekend and extra holidays to go overseas. I am still open today.

Yesterday, spoke to the two RI interns and my assistant Naing on work matters.
1. Doing what they like - an attitude of the younger generation. However, the work process is short-cutted or amended, leading to inefficiency and waste of time.

2. Texting and video watching while at work. A common bad attitude as work does not get completed.

3. Not giving priority to important tasks given by the boss. So, long delay in project.

2963. Bladder stones in a 4-year-old female Silkie X

A gentle young female Silkie X
X-rayed at 6.30 pm.
"No staff," the Filipino assistant said as she opened the evening clinic. "I will X-ray the dog myself and will call you for help if necessary."
She was good and helpful. The X-rays are excellent. No kidney stones but at least 16 bladder stones.

Dr Daniel discussed the case  with the owner who cycled back to Bishan with the dog on the basket. He will discuss with the family. Looks very much like struvite stones. The dog is said to be eating mostly home-cooked food. 

2962. Birthday celebration. 76 years old.

4048. A 1-year-old Border Collie dislocates her right hip

Aug 5, 2015
The Border Collie was limping on her right hind limb this morning. X-rays show the right femoral head has dislocated entirely out of the right hip joint. A Femoral Head Osteotomy surgery is advised.

"The chances of being back to normal without surgery are slim.," I said. "Without surgery, I can apply the Ehmer Sling. In this treatment, I use adhesive bandage to wrap around the affected leg and then sling it across the body. The dog may still be lame. The surgical option is likely to be lasting as most dogs do not limp after the surgery."

"I prefer surgery."  The femoral head was cut off under general gaseous anaesthesia. The femoral head was excised.

 Video 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgtdpokwKuI

March 5, 2017
The owner came as the dog had swallowed a rubber toy.
I asked about the time it takes the border collie to recover normal gait after femoral head excision.
"She took 3 months to recover and walk normally!"













   

2960. Client control

August 2, 2105

Client control refers to a client who dictates what is to be done in the diagnosis and treatment of the medical condtion.

I had a case where the client said that her Schnauzer suffers from allergies and therefore an anti-allergic injection is to be given. Yet this spayed Miniature Schnauzer had two flanks bitten bald, as in an endocrine alopecia case.

There was ringworm treatment given. UVL showed some fluroescence. The owner wanted control of the treatment and such owners are best avoided. She said the dog is allergic to chicken.

If the dog does not recover, more steroid injections are given on command. This may not be in the best interest of the dog.

There will be clients who want to control the treatment as they have surfed the internet and had some medical knowledge.