3147. An 11-year-old English Cocker Spaniel has a large tumour near the left jaw (submandibular tumour)

Sep 19, 2017

The dog came in for 2 days of diarrhoea. On physical examination, there was a large left submandibular tumour, bigger than a golf ball. It is lobulated. It was not present when we removed the left lower inside cheek tumour 5 months ago.

BLOOD TEST
Only the urea and creatinine is below normal. Other values for liver and haematology are normal.

Surgery scheduled 1 week later.

3146. INTERN A 4-week-old kitten has generalised ringworm

Sep 19, 2017

A 2-year-old cat had caesarean section 4 weeks ago. She was clipped before surgery.
Today, the owner came as the dam was shivering yesterday and had skin disease. The kitten was also having extensive skin disease.

VIDEO

Ringworm  is a fungal infection of the top layers of the skin and hair. The kinds of fungi that cause ringworm are called dermatophytes The most common dermatophyte in cats and dogs is called Microsporum canis.

Diagnosing Ringworm

1. Ultraviolet light to screen for ringworm. About half of M. canis cases will "glow" when exposed to its ultraviolet light.

2. Hair from the lesions, which is then examined microscopically.

3. Culture test that grows the ringworm fungus.
A sample from the lesion is placed in a special medium designed to grow ringworm. Needs 2 weeks to know the result.

CASE STUDY
4-week-old kitten has classic signs of ringworm, face and body as she suckles from the mum.
Dam's belly had ringworm. Contact.
Dam had shivering yesterday. Likely milk fever. Rectal temperature checked. 38.5 deg C, means no fever.

ADVICES
1. Separate kitten from mum now, to prevent milk fever stiffening of legs and muscle tremors due to insufficient blood calcium in the mum's blood.
2. Wean kitten on wet food and milk.
3. Treat ringworm for both for 24 days oral and wash.
4. Disinfect environment


Infected clippers
No ringworm seen under UVL if shampoo used

3145. Congenital diagraphmatic hernia in a 10-year-old Shih Tzu X

Compare to normal lungs and heart of a 5-month-old Yorkshire Terrier with complicated kennel cough below:

3144. 14-year-old large cross breed barks at 5 am

Sep 18, 2017

"I spent $1,200 veterinary fees in one day," the woman had his lame dog X-rayed by Vet 1 and Vet 2. "At the 2nd clinic, the vet gave some injection and a patch. Peaceful sleep for everyone."
"The dog will stop barking for around 4 days," I said. 
She nodded. "The neighbours complained to the police and the policemen visited me yesterday!"
She asked for a house-call to put the dog to sleep after 6 months of care-giving. Exhausted.
"There is the alternative of giving pain medication before sleeping," I advised. "You need to adjust the dosage to effect."

The owner came for the medication.  

3143. Blood test for health screening of the dogs older than 5 years. Case study of a bad breath 6-year-old Corgi. Fasting glucose level

The most common panel of screening lab tests for general, overall health status includes:

1.  BLOOD TESTS

• complete blood count (CBC), that tells us how many red and white blood cells a patient has.

• differential, part of the CBC, which shows how many of each different type of white blood cell is present.

• chemistry profile (chemistries), which conveys information on the major organs (liver, kidneys, pancreas), blood sugar and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, calcium, phosphorous).


2.  URINE TESTS

• urinalysis, which has a chemical part (ph/acidity, concentration, protein, sugar, etc.) and a microscopic part (bacteria/infection, bladder cells, kidney cells, blood cells, crystals that might contribute to stone formation, etc.)


The above collection of tests is sometimes referred to as a “minimum database,” or the smallest collection of tests that will give us a good overview of a patient’s health. This panel might be requested for screening before anesthesia, or a pet ill with non-specific signs.

3.  X-RAYS

Useful to check for urinary stone formation in the kidneys and bladders, lung disease, heart, kidney and liver disease, some abdominal tumours or bone abnormalities.

4.  DENTAL WORK (SEE CASE STUDY BELOW).  

CASE STUDY

Sep 17, 2017

Corgi, F, Not Spayed, 6 years old.

Sep 16, 2017

The owner just wanted a blood test to screen her health.
The dog has bad breath. He did not want dental work.

Blood test

Glucose (Fasting ) 3.3  (3.9-6.0). Surprisingly low. However, the dog is healthy and has no complaint of fits. Will need another blood test 4 weeks later. 

The glucose level has a range of 5.6 - 13.9 for dogs on injections of Vetsulin level. These values are for a stable diabetic dog.

Low values for creatine  62   (89-177).  High Hb 21.2  (12-18), ALT  65 (less than 59). These values will not be significant. Will need another blood test 4 weeks later.


Sep 17, 2017
The owner decided on dental as he had to board the dog with his friend. Bad breath was terrible.

Dom + Ket at 50% IV.  (50% of Dom 0.4 and Ket 0.5) was quite effective. Isolflurane gas standby.

Only one loose tooth  RU Premolar 1 was extracted. Lots of tartar and plaque removed. Dental scaling was done. 

UPDATE IN OCT 17, 2017.
The owner did not return for a 2nd blood test. 



TIPS AND ADVICES

Dogs over 5 years of age are considered old. They need annual check ups to ensure that they are healthy and will live longer lives. 

Physical examination, blood and urine tests, dental inspection of their teeth and X-rays are the common wellness screening in dogs. The owner may have to request these tests as not all vets remind the owners of old dogs during the annual vaccination.   

VIDEO OF AN OLD POODLE NEEDING DENTAL SCALING

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

 

3142. A rapid panting 10-year-old male neutered Shih Tzu pants non-stop today

X-rays show fluid in lungs. Vet 1 aspirated blood today from the chest and showed owner. Is the blood from the lung tumour or bleeding due to ruptured blood vessels?

CT scan would cost $3,500. The dog wa very week and panted rapidly.


X-rays 2 months ago by Vet 1

Is this a case of congenital diaphragmatic hernia?

 
Always sit with one back leg inwards since young instead of both hind legs straight. Body is curved since young.

BLOOD TEST
Sep 18, 2017. Low RBC, Hb and platelets. Very low platelet count. Auto-immune thrombocytopenia?

3141. INTERN. A dwarf hamster has rapid breathing - respiratory infection

"Blocked nose sounds," the owner said.

 Video of sounds

CONCLUSION
The vet needs a closer physical examination as the small nostrils are less than 2 mm across. Nasal plugs removed using cotton bud. Stethoscope onto the chest revealed harsh lung sounds.

Once the blocked nostrils were cleared, and oral medications were given for the past 2 days of in-patient treatment, much less nasal sounds were heard and the hamster could breathe easier and normally.
 

Antibiotics orally. Inpatient 2 days to enforce cage rest. Around 50% of the appetite returns. The owner wanted the hamster home.

In this case, the respiratory infections could be caused by bite wound infections from the other male sibling. The owner saw bleeding around the top of the neck area some days ago and wiped off the blood. The sibling got bitten but did not lose appetite or become lethargic.

It is best to house male dwarf hamsters over 3 months old in separate areas as many do bite for space inside the small caged area. .