Although the owner may say that the female dog is healthy, this may not be correct. The vet must examine the dog systematically before every surgery.
Standard Operating Procedures
1. HISTORY. Active or not? Eating, drinking, urination and stool.
2. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. Body Condition Score, body weight, rectal temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate. Mucous membranes and gums pallor.
3. BLOOD TESTS, URINE TESTS, OTHER TESTS. Permission, if not granted, should be recorded in case files.
4. IV drips
Video of pre-op physical examination is shown in the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdeGXRfDvTo
(Delete telephone rings in video)
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Sunday, August 26, 2018
3247. INTERN. A Miniature Schnauzer nearly died from tick fever
Intern to write a compelling story for the video
Aug 25, 2018
HOOK - appropriate video footage and narration
5 DAYS AGO, ON AUGUST 18, 2013, the old dog would eat only when spoon fed. 8 days ago, the dog had no appetite. This was a big worry for the owner. Not eating will lead to malnutrition and death.
The vet did a blood test. It showed that the dog had low red blood cell count, low haemoglobin and platelets. The owner wanted the dog home. She treated it with antibiotics and the dog ate when spoon-fed.
On Aug 25, 2018, the owner brought the dog in for dental scaling to improve the dog's appetite. I noticed the very pale tongue (video footage as HOOK -- White tongue on Day 1 compared to Day 3). A severe anaemia could be seen just by physical examination. This dog was not fit for anaesthesia. I asked the owner for consent for blood test and a tick-fever test as this would increase medical costs. The owner agreed.
BKTP
INTRODUCTION
Singapore is a city state with over 80% of the residents living in apartments. It is a developed country of around 6 million residents living in .......sq km. The cost of living and health care keep increasing yearly.
Apartments include condos and p
public housing HDB flats.
HDB apartments house around 80% of the residents. National Day on August 9 was celebrated recently.
Many dogs are kept at home as the owners lead hectic lives, working long hours in the offices, looking after families and young children. Many have little personal time left for the dogs as they have social activities, marketing and lead busy life-styles.
However, many younger pet owners treat their pets as family members and will research the internet for knowledge of their pet diseases like tick fever before consulting the vet. In some cases, they have done their homework and know more than the vet about a particular disease!
Some owners will bring their dogs downstairs or dog parks for exercises. These areas and some grooming shops may have infected ticks.
A few dog will develop tick fever which is an uncommon disease in Singapore. Presenting signs are pale tongue and gums, fever or no fever and loss of appetite.
EVIDENCE
1. Blood test on August 25, 2018. The total red blood cell and haemoglobin levels had plummeted compared to 8 days ago. Platelets were very low. The owner said the dog drank but ate when spoon-fed. The dog was severely dehydrated and needed IV.
2. Positive for Anaplasma antibody.
TREATMENT
Immediate anti-tick fever injection, iron, Vit Bs, Vit K1 in 2 bottles of IV drips. The pink colour of the tongue returned and looked almost normal on Day 3 ie. 2 days after the injection. (Image)
OUTCOME
The dog ate the A/D canned food by herself the next 2 days after the injection and medication, indicating a happy outcome.
The owner was happy. The dog went home on August 25, 2018.
She phoned me later, "Doc, my neighbour's dog had tick fever and the vet had prescribed to her a bottle of prednisolone syrup! Do you think my dog needs it?"
"No," I told her that each tick-fever case is different and her dog was recovering well. I reminded her that her dog needs another anti-tick fever injection one week later.
TIPS AND ADVICES FOR VETS
1. All good vets should practise evidence-based medicine. However, some owners have a budget as laboratory tests increase medical costs.
2. Antibiotics do not cure tick fever cases. Doxycycline is used in some tick fever cases. Anti-tick fever injections are usually effective.
3. Physical examination of the dog's tongue in every case you see. It can tell you the dog had anaemia even without the blood test evidence.
3. Tick fever is a matter of life and death. As you can see in this case, the red blood cell count and haemoglobin had plunged much lower 5 days after the first consultation. The platelet count was at rock bottom. The dog was severely dehydrated when I saw him for "dental scaling". Any delay in a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment would be fatal.
4. When a dog has pale tongue and gums, has or does not havea fever and ticks or no tick exposure, I will give an anti-tick injection first based on a high probability of tick fever.
IMAGE OF BOTTLE OF IMIODOVER
CONCLUSION
Sometimes, the reality of life is such that economics dictate that vets cannot practise evidence-based medicine which will add to the medical costs.
The owner is happy with a good outcome for correctly diagnosing and successfully treating tick fever as dogs are family members in Singapore.
CREDITS
FOR MORE INFORMATION
INTERNS NEED TO
DEFINE
Anaplasmosis
put up a written table of RBC and HB values for 3 blood test as the blood test image is too small. Also wait for the 3rd blood test by Mon or Tuesday.
Friday, August 24, 2018
3245. INTERNS. An old Golden Retriever and an old Beagle has great difficulty getting up
This owner loves his old dogs like family members. He would bring them to consult me when they are unwell. Recently, the Golden Retriever and some weeks ago, his Beagle.
The procedures for lameness examination in the dog is the same as that for the horse. There is a systematic process -
1. Walk and trot
2. Joint manipulation - extend, flex, abduct and adduct
3. Palpation of spinal area
Singapore is a city. Most residents live in apartments. There are pockets of landed properties. These are mainly townhouses or terraced houses.
The dogs live in a 3-storey terraced house in Singapore. Old dogs love to climb up to 3rd storey to sleep. Over the years, the hip joints and spinal area get worn down. Painful. Dogs suddenly cannot stand up on hind legs or on all legs due to intense pain.
Diagnosis based on above-mentioned 3 procedures.
Video
Case 2 from same owner.
14-year-old beagle.
Blog 3221
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2018/08/3221-14-year-old-beagle-cannot-walk.html
TIPS AND ADVICES
1. Confine the dog to the first floor.
2. No more going upstairs on the 3rd floor to sleep or going downstairs.
3. Not to gain more weight so as not to stress the hip or spinal joints
OUTCOME. The owner is pleased with the dogs being able to walk normally.
CONCLUSION
A systematic process of examination of all joints for lameness is important.
For example, some vets may miss out on spinal joint examination if there is no set of procedures for lameness examination.
The procedures for lameness examination in the dog is the same as that for the horse. There is a systematic process -
1. Walk and trot
2. Joint manipulation - extend, flex, abduct and adduct
3. Palpation of spinal area
The dogs live in a 3-storey terraced house in Singapore. Old dogs love to climb up to 3rd storey to sleep. Over the years, the hip joints and spinal area get worn down. Painful. Dogs suddenly cannot stand up on hind legs or on all legs due to intense pain.
Diagnosis based on above-mentioned 3 procedures.
Video
Case 2 from same owner.
14-year-old beagle.
Blog 3221
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2018/08/3221-14-year-old-beagle-cannot-walk.html
TIPS AND ADVICES
1. Confine the dog to the first floor.
2. No more going upstairs on the 3rd floor to sleep or going downstairs.
3. Not to gain more weight so as not to stress the hip or spinal joints
OUTCOME. The owner is pleased with the dogs being able to walk normally.
CONCLUSION
A systematic process of examination of all joints for lameness is important.
For example, some vets may miss out on spinal joint examination if there is no set of procedures for lameness examination.
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
3244. INTERN. An old Miniature Schnauzer vomits and has generalised body pain after grooming
13 years old Mini Schnauzer, MN. Went to the groomer 2 days sgo.
vomited 2 days, crying at night - pain, keeping the owner awake. So he consulted me.
Day 2. Still painful in body and abdomen (video). Pain in the right chest and abdomen on Day 2. Why?
1. Trauma at groomer e.g. a jump off the grooming table, leading to generalised chest and abdominal pain. .
2. Infection. Physical examination and blood test. Vomiting can be due to liver and kidney diseases. Blood test showed normal liver and kidneys. Cholesterol levels have reduced. Kidneys are normal.
3. X-rays show no bones or radio-dense foreign bodies inside the stomach or gut.
3243. INTERNS. Vet files from Myanmar - Videos
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Veterinary Files From Myanmar - Videos
April 12, 2017
VETERINARY EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS
FROM CASES SEEN BY DR SING KONG YUEN IN MYANMAR 2014 -2017
The following veterinary educational videos for vet students & pet owners can be viewed by going to www.youtube.com and search "veterinary files from myanmar".
Mar 2017
Dr T T Aung treats a coughing German Shepherd puppy in Magwe
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=LZ8THY3MQtw
Mar 2017
Dr T T Aung and Dr Sing Kong Yuen visit White Heart Animal Rescue and Shelter, Magwe, Myanmar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apRpziowX94
Nov 2016
Dr T T Aung and Dr Sing follows up on the Asiatic bear at Thanlyn Thabarwa Centre, 5 months after ranula operation
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=za_qngLNObI
Nov 2016
Dr T T Aung treats a rabbit not eating
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=_VPpdumR_MA
Oct 2016
Drs T T Aung and T T Soe donates to an old monastery; 2 case studies from RAVS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw7wJRHsfBY
Sep 2016
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=WtEaA8StlFk
Finding a Bear Vet in Myanmar. Pt 2
Visit to Naypytidaw Zoo
Sep 2016
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=-GdmeXJ5ERc
Asiatic Bear 6 months old - Day 2 after operation by Scottish Vet and Aung
Sep 2016
2nd operation on the Asiatic bear's ranula by Dr T T Aung and a Scottish vet. Pt 4
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=9mx5fLM42Ho
Sep 2016
Dr Sing's Post-op review of ranula operation by marsupialisation on an Asiatic Bear. Pt 6
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=_DSGqo7_2Xk
Sep 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3znHlGAOuw
Perineal urethrostomy in a cat house-call follow up with Dr T T Aung
Sep 2016
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=RhrRJjlCDR0
Dr Sing and Aung visits the Asiatic Bear 3 months after ranula operation
Sep 2016
Perineal urethrostomy surgery in a cat by Dr T T Aung - Final Video
Dr Aung shares his surgical procedure knowledge on video
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=kEB_Kak9uME
Jun 2016
Bear at Thabarwa Centre Pt 4. Pre-op check up at Thabarwa Centre, Thanlyn
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=yqgyKhOUAPs
Jun 2016
Sublingual mucoecoele in a bear Pt 4. Surgery by Scottish wildlife vet with T T Aung
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=VEBbE4TukDk
Jun 2016. Visit bear at Thabarwa Centre, before tongue surgery Pt 3
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=GiXkkaubX4g
Dec 2015
A Siberian Husky in Yangon has seizures
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=0sNRhdytQ0M
Dec 2015
Visit to RAVS - layout plan
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=K-hcJ4iHzd0
Oct 2015
A Yangon cat cannot give birth
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=Fle5Kg3Lq-Y
Sep 2014
A testimonial for Dr T T Aung who started his own practice in Yangon.
One of the rare vets who treats veterinary medicine as a calling rather than as a money-making business.
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=WueLPic9Q7E
Sep 2014
Visit to Yezin Univ of Vet Science
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=Um1LrWbaNQU
Aug 2014
House-call at Hyatt Hotel, Singapore with Dr T T Aung in 2010 house call cat swallowed a needle
About Dr T T Aung
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=H0iuMV5vsxI
Aug 2014
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=Um1LrWbaNQU
Dr Sing and T T Aung gave talk to University of Yezin final year students under MVA
visits university campus and rural areas
Aug 2014
Nystagmus and cloudy cornea in a Shih Tzu puppy
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=NAenYCtlsv0
Aug 2014
Nervous signs of distemper in a Yangon English Cocker Spaniel puppy
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=fhrEXAnlKEA
Aug 2014
A Myanmarese cat has pyometra. Video in Myanmar language
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=55qghQhXj-s
Aug 2014. Depo-Medo inj leads to pyometra in Yangon cats.
A Myanmarese cat has pyometra. Video in English language.
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=eKheu1XulUg
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