3221. A 14-year-old Beagle cannot walk properly. Why?

The Beagle usually goes for long walk with the domestic helper. Recently, he just could not walk properly as if his legs are not co-ordinated. I had the dog walked and trotted to check for lameness. He was incoordinated in the back area. Palpation of the spinal area elicted pain on his lumbar spinal area (see video). The diagnosis was lumbar spinal pain. Blood test was normal except for a very low blood glucose count. I gave an anti-inflammatory injection.

According to the owner, the dog was as lively as ever the next day.  I advised no climbing up and down stairs and no long walks.

This dog has some bad breath due to periodontal diseae of the canine teeth.

 

3220. A 24-year-old red-eared slider fractures his toe. What to do?

A swollen infected toe is best amputated as the red-eared slider feeds in the water. The bacteriaon from the water and dirt could further spread into the body via the open toe wound.

3218. Large neck tumours in 2 Syrian hamsters - surgery

INTERN TO MAKE A FINAL VIDEO

1. June 18, 2018
Consultation. A large neck tumour is seen a few days ago. If it is cancerous, the tumour grows big very fast, I told the lady owner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMSIJGgJyC4

2.  June 18, 2018. Pumpkin. Anaesthesia and surgical removal of neck tumour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lDKVWCpIpM

3. June 19, 2018. Post-op wound needs cleaning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SStJ9qnoCj4


4. June 19, 2018. Day 2. 15-hour post-op review of in-patient on Day 2. Some stitches are pulled out. No need to re-stitch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrbFbGf3Vf4


5. Follow up in July 13, 2018. No tumour recurrence at this date.




INTERN TO CREATE A FINAL VIDEO

HOOK
A big neck lump palpated. Is it fast growing? Cancerous or not?  Recurrence if cancerous. Save money, not to operate?

POINTS BELOW
1. A Syrian hamster is a family member for this young lady.
2. Anaesthesia is very risky - 27 months old (life span around 30-36 months).
3. Cancerous if rapid growing. Unlikely to completely remove all cancerous cells
4. To operate or not? Owner's consent and decision
5. Surgery. Outcome excellent. Survived.
6. Recurs.

7. No operation. Happy. Live another 2 months.  Passed away in his sleep.
8. Owner's testimonial.  


Aug 4, 2018  10.58 am
This image was taken last night.

 
He passed away in his sleep without much suffering. In fact, he was eating and running till 3 days ago when he slept throughout the day and night except when he was awakened when we gave him his favourite food.  So thanks Dr Sing, for all the care during his stay at your clinic. .








--------------------------------------

Case 1 in 2018.  Update on Aug 2, 2018
Syrian hamster survived. However, the tumour recurred. The owner did not want to operate again.

-------------------------------------
SMS July 12, 2018
It is very difficult to keep him still. The video is better.



SMS July 13, 2018. 3.50am
Thank you for video. He looks very healthy.

July 13, 2018  7.58 am
Yes he is. Thanks for the good job you have done for him so he can enjoy his old age!

Aug 5, 2018.
Hi Dr Sing, thanks for your concern for Pumpkin, the wound on his neck is fully healed but the tumor has returned last week and grown very big in days, bigger than presurgery. We have considered very long and decided not to let him go through another surgery and we are afraid he may not make it this time. He is still eating and drinking well, can run and climb up and down like normal so we will let him be till he goes. Thanks again!

Aug 3, 2018  10.58 am image
This image was taken last night. He passed away in his sleep without much suffering. In fact, he was eating and running till 3 days ago when he slept throughout the day and night except when he was awakened when we gave him his favourite food.  So thanks Dr Sing, for all the care during his stay at your clinic. .

11.38am
Thank you for feedback. He had much love and care from you.

12.42 am
Smile emoticon.







SMS from Dr Sing on July 28, 2018
Hi
Is pumpkin's neck fully healed? Can you sms 3 photos of his neck area?

SMS from owner on following up on July 28, 2018

Hi Dr Sing, thanks for your concern for Pumpkin, the wound on his neck is fully healed but the tumor has returned last week and grown very big in days, bigger than presurgery. We have considered very long and decided not to let him go through another surgery and we are afraid he may not make it this time. He is still eating and drinking well, can run and climb up and down like normal so we will let him be till he goes. Thanks again!

Case 2 in August 2017.
 https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2017/08/3128-video-intern-syrian-hamster-has-2.html

3217. Book publishing "feel-good" stories

July 31, 2018

1. ST Facebook group features feel-good stories.

Celebrates kind acts, uplifting news.
Share good news, acts of kindness, sweet dessert or sweet deal, new park you like, an old building you miss. Closed group. Member must elaborate on what they hope to experience as a member and keep interactions civil (no personal attacks, spamming, vulgar language, sexual, anti-copyright contents).

2. Entrepreneur's magazine "Inspiring Stories" of business people at back page.

3. The Art Culture Group promotes love of art sessions.


PROPOSAL
1. Investors - Board of Directors - Office rentals and salary, share holders
2. CEO - Administrator - Chief Editor, Budget, business plans
3. Marketing - Clients who wants to self-publish (vanity publishing), best-sellers, book fairs
4. Development - Ghost-writers - e-books on Kindle, Amazon, printed copies on Createspace

Topics
1. Autobiography - inspiring stories of founding businesses or professions, legacy for children of struggles to make a living.

2. Be Kind books - Be kind to pets, Be kind to strays

3215. A cat's face twitches

Jul 26, 2018

A 14-year-old male neutered cat twitches his face and body for the past 2 months. Why?
Blood test, urine test and X-rays are cheapest options to get supporting evidence.

Blood test showed low platelet count, high blood urea and liver enzymes. Urine test showed white blood cells inside the urine, amorphous crystals, blood and alkaline pH 8.0.

The cat is treated for urinary tract infection. The low platelet count could be due to toxicity of the bathroom floor as the cat will lap water taking a long time, inside the bathroom.



 -----------------------------------------------
Aug 1, 2018 7 pm.  Follow up
Eats OK. Tuna plus kibble k/d diet. No complaint.
Hard to feed antibiotic tablets but giving half the Clavulox tablet
Weak hind legs. Cannot climb into 3.5" high pee tray and therefore pee outside.
Jul 31, 2018. owner noticed cat walked in circles. Had this behaviour some time ago too.
"Why?". Likely to be a vestibular disease of the ear.


Hind leg jerking not obvious
Seizures or twitches not seen

3214. Kindle Stories. Unbelievable Story: A Goffin's Cockatoo landed on my shoulder

STORY RECORDED ON 18 JAN 2022.

26 Jul 2018 Be Kind To Pets Veterinary Educational Video by Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), Toa Payoh Vets, Singapore 

The female Goffin's cockatoo flew away from the tree branch (X) to across and above the road after more than 30 minutes of attempts by Abigail (Y) to get her pet down the tree. I was standing at Z as there was another man whose escaped bird never returned, was helping Abigail to get Mango down. The man left. Abigail was more distressed. I was of no help. I decided to ask for divine help --- a silent prayer for divine intervention. Divine Intervention? Does it exist in real life, I wondered? 

I had asked for divine help as Mango zoomed up and across the road. Abigail dashed towards the railing, shouting “Mango, come back!”. Suddenly, Mango aborted her flight, flapped her wings and swerved back towards me. Why not to Abigail? No time to wonder. 

 

I turned my back to this bird, standing straight, not wanting to eye her as she might abort her flight. Sharp claws dug into the fabric of my green polo shirt at the right shoulder area. Abigail was joyous, dashed towards me and cupped Mango in her hands. Now, 4 years later, I consider this stranger bird landing on my right shoulder a blessed occurrence. Was there divine intervention? I would say yes - there had been divine intervention in this bird story.

UPDATES AT::

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2018/07/3214-cockatoo-flew-off-while-being.html

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On 23 Jan 2023, I visited Abigail's pet shop. She was happy to see me.

Very slim. "My eldest son is now waiting to be enlisted in National Service!" she said. "How fast time flies!" The Goffin's cockatoo was inside, with another bird. I am glad to see her. 

---------------------------------------------

------------------------------------ 

The female Goffin's Cockatoo flew away from the tree branch (X) to across and above the road after 30 minutes of attempts by the owner, Abigail Brocklebank  (Y) to get her down the tree. Abigail called her loudly to return. I was standing further to her right at a spot (Z) as there was another man helping Abigail to get the bird down from the tree. 

He had climbed up the tree a bit but was unable to grab the bird with his hand. Instead, Mango hopped  higher up the tree. Abigail went to her shop nearbv and took back a ladder and a perching stick meant for birds.

"Mango, come down," she pleaded many times. The other man had left. She told me, "His bird had escaped and flew away. He never found him. "Mango, mango, mango..." she inserted the perching stick towards the bird who was out of reach, ignoring her. 

Abigail was a strong woman in her mid 30s. She had big clear brown eyes and was so trim that she had borne five healthy kids.   

I had been to her shop that morning, but I could not help her. She was getting distress as the minutes ticked by. 30 minutes of impasse. What should I do. Well, I asked for divine help in my thoughts.

Divine intervention - does this phenomenon exist in real life? 

I had asked for divine help for Abigal in my thoughts. How would this happen? Would the bird return home to Abigail? Suddenly, Mango swerved mid-way across the road, did an about-turn to fly back towards us. 

I turned my back to this bird, standing straight, not wanting to see her as she might abort her flight towards us. 

Sharp claws gripped the fabric of my green polo shirt. I did not freak out although this was the first bird to land on my shoulder.  The bird landed onto me although we did not know each other. The overjoyed Abigail ran to me and took her home.

The incident occurred around 4 years ago when Annie bathe the bird outside her shophouse.. As at 18 Jan 2022, the bird is thriving. 

Was there divine intervention? It was a blessed event for me when the stranger bird landed on my shoulders.

Was the alternative a scientific explanation? This species is known to be intelligent. So, could this bird prefer to be safe with Abigail where there is love and food than be free and hungry in the concrete jungle?

Such questions depend on your beliefs whether spiritual or scientific.

----------------------------------------

-----------------------

Jul 26, 2018 (Thursday)

A happy ending. 

Mango, a white 10-month-old female cockatoo flew off and up a tree while sunbathing. The owner was distressed as the ladder was too low. A man helped by climbing up one branch bifurcation with a wooden bird's perch taped to a pole. The owner pleaded to Mango to climb down to the perch. Mango walked down the 1-storey high branch step by step. But the perch was not near to step upon.

I recalled another case where the owner prayed to his 3 Buddhas for help as his blue-fronted Amazon parrot had flown to a distant tree while being bathed at the HDB corridor the day before. The night passed.The bird was still there the next morning, perched 8 storeys high up. Just after prayers, the bird flew to the ground. He dashed downstairs and got him. This case is written in
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2015/11/2350-unbelievable-story-how-to-get-blue.html

"Is it ok to ask for divine help?" I pondered.

Suddenly, Mango flew off the tree, towards and across the road . The owner called his name. 1/3 across the road, above the rushing cars, she swerved and turned back suddenly. We made eye contact for a second or two. She flapped open his wings and headed towards me. I turned my back, facing away from her as I sensed she was flying towards me. By not doing eye contact, she would not be frightened off, I reasoned. 

She perched on top of my right shoulder, as if my green polo shirt were a green tree. Her owner, wearing a black dress, quickly rushed over, cupped him and went to her shop to rest.

Her mother, from a frugal baby-boomer generation and who helped her in the pet shop showed me a motion with her right forefinger, circling beside her right ear in a clock-wise direction. "Abigail is mad," she told me. "Sunbathing the cockatoo. She keeps another large black bird as well as many small ones!"  

Abigail's cockatiels and a budgie 

Abigail had previously clipped the flight feathers but these have grown again. She did not want to do it as she thought the bird was tame and obedient.

I was present at the right place at the right time. I was a stranger to the Goffin's Cockatoo. Yet she landed onto my shoulder as if she was directed towards me instead of the owner who loved him very much and spent much time with him. Nowadays, Mango's flight feathers have been clipped to prevent him flying high and away. She was chained in his foot earlier, after her escape. 


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Mango, the Goffin's Cockatoo is transported in a carrier

The tree with a bifurcation. The ladder was too low. X=location of Mango

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unbelievable Story. How to get the blue-fronted Amazon home?
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2015/11/2350-unbelievable-story-how-to-get-blue.html

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Scientific Classification

Common Name

Goffin's cockatoo, Tanimbar corella

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Cacatuidae

Genus Species

Cacatua (referring to the bird's call) goffiniana

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts

Both parents take part in incubating the eggs.

Cockatoos can mimic the sounds of other animals, including people.

Cockatoos can hold their food in one foot and break pieces off of it with the other foot.

Cockatoos live in small loose flocks.

They birds are very gregarious and emit a shrill cry.

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Ecology and Conservation

Cockatoos are a food source for many predators.

Their feeding habits are very destructive to crops and are considered a nuisance by farmers. In fact, licensed culling is permitted in certain states.

Cockatoos aid in seed dispersal by eating fruit and dropping the seeds.

The Goffin's Cockatoo is very popular in the pet trade and is considered to be an exceptionally easy bird to tame. They are generally very affectionate towards humans and have lively personalities.

Deforestation and habitat destruction is also a major threat to these birds.

The U.S. Wild Bird Act forbids the commercial import of any bird listed by CITES which includes most parrots.