Be Kind To Pets, Vet case studies, Photography tips, Travel Stories

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

4086. Egg drop syndrome in Singapore

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2014/08/final-year-talk-with-images-powerfpoint.html

Symptoms of egg drop syndrome

Signs

Egg drop at peak or failure to peak. Drops may be of 5 to 50% and last for 3-4 weeks.
Rough, thin or soft-shelled eggs and shell-less eggs.
Loss of shell pigment.
Poor internal quality.
Lack of signs in the birds themselves.

REFERENCES
Egg Drop Syndrome-76 (EDS-76) is a recognized disease of chickens and Japanese Quails, which is of high economic importance due to its drastic negative effects on egg production in laying birds. The aim of the present study was to better understand the EDS-76 viral disease process in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica), since very limited studies have been conducted in this species of birds. For this purpose, an experimental study was conducted with infection of EDS-76 virus in laying Japanese quails to reveal pathology, effect on egg production/quality and immune responses of this virus in these birds. By 7, 9 and 13-15 Days Post Infection (DPI), drop as well as aberrant egg production and lower mean egg quality were observed compared to control birds. Significant histopathological changes were observed in genitalia and spleen. Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) titres rose rapidly by 2nd week when it became maximum; thereafter declined and maintained at low levels up to 10 week post infection. The mean total protein values in infected quail gradually increased to 4.10±0.05/100 mL without any change in mean albumen value at 12 DPI. In conclusion, the course of the EDS-76 is significant not only in chickens but also in quails even though it occurs occasionally in quails. Explorative pathological, blood biochemical and immunological studies are suggested during EDS-76 viral disease course in quails. This would aid in formulating effective disease prevention and control measures for this economically important disease of poultry.

4085. Rare sighting of Oriental Garden Lizard near a car. 12.30pm 17 Feb 20

Afternoon, this lizard does not move away, permitting me to photograph.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

4084. An emaciated guinea pig has chronic scabies

Feb 16, 2020

The young guinea pig's crusty skin disease was checked by Vet 1 using a skin scraping. He examined the skin scraping under the microscope. He could not see any mites and therefore mis-diagnosed this case. The owner washed her pet with the prescribed anti-fungal medication. The guinea pig's health deteriorated as he ate lesser amount of food over several weeks. The guinea pig was at death's door. She decided to consult Toa Payoh Vets.

Skin scrapings by Dr Daniel showed the scabies mites (VIDEO EVIDENCE). The guinea pig was emaciated and malnourished.

TIPS FOR OWNERS
Trixacarus caviae infestation in a guinea pig can kill it if the infestation persists for months as there will be emaciation.

1. Early treatment of scabies is important. Most residents lead hectic lives but do make appointment to see the vet when your pet has skin diseases.

2. Seek a second opinion if the guinea pig has no response to veterinary treatment within 7 days.
(see rabbit case - Day 5 of ivomectin injection).

TIPS FOR VETS
Skin scrapings may not show mites. There is a need to take at least 6 skin scrapings to rule out mites. In this case, the localization of the crusts is widespread all over the body, leading to Vet 1 diagnosis of a fungal infection. The owner usually uses home remedies or pet shop medicine for some time. This affect the proper diagnosis of scabies in the guinea pig.

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4084. A rabbit has has severe crusted body - chronic scabies.

Chronic scabies are rarely seen in Singapore's rabbits and guinea pigs in the years 2000 - 2020 as the pet owners would have applied spot-on insecticides to the young ones to prevent the disease reducing considerably the number of scabies seen in Singapore. Younger vets or pet shop operators seldom see a long-standing infestation, known as chronic scabies.

This is illustrated in a case in 2018. The buyer returned the rabbit to the pet shop owner. Her first rabbit was treated by the vet for similar skin crustiness, but it did not get cured and had passed away. The pet shop owner phoned Dr Sing Kong Yuen that she had a "new" disease seen in the rabbit.

"The rabbit has a rhinoceros horn", she told me. "You will be the first vet in Singapore to encounter such a rare disease!" I went to her shop. From the distribution of the skin crusts to the distal parts of the body (ears, paws, nose), I diagnose this rabbit as having chronic scabies. It is "rare" in Singapore in the sense that it had developed such thick crusts/ Treatment with 2 injections of ivomectin cured this rabbit who is now well cared for by my Veterinary Assistant Ms Hsu.

July 2018

LATERAL VIEWS LEFT AND RIGHT FROM HSU TO UPDATE THIS CASE.

Conclusion
Singapore vets rarely see chronic scabies in the rabbit as it is an untreated pet for some months.

Nowadays, the pet shop owner is well educated and will usually treats them with spot-on insecticide early. The vet does a skin scraping of the crust. It may show no mites, but the diagnosis cannot be ruled out.

So I was surprised to see on case of chronic scabies in 2020. The owner said that Vet 1 had taken skin scrapings and confirmed that there were no scabies. He prescribed some washes, but the skin disease got much worse. The guinea pig lose a lot of weight.

Chronic Scabies in a rabbit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI4j_30il9I

Blog:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2018/07/3205-rabbit-has-pointed-nose-rabbit.html

Scabies mites burrow under the skin and infests the cooler areas of the body. These are the ears, nose and paws. The whole body has crusts when the disease lasts for many months as seen in this rabbit. It responds well to treatment but must be correctly diagnosed to achieve success.

VIDEOS - Edit the footage, narrate as follows: About the life cycle of the scabies mites, diagnosis and treatment.

Advise at least 6 skin scrapings to eliminate the presence of mites. Some owners dislike so many scrapings as they feel that the pet suffers. One negative scraping does not rule out scabies infestations. SHOW FOOTAGE OF MICROSCOPE AND THE SLIDE

4083. How to make your own mask - not a substitute or replacement for surgical masks.

How to make your own mask: Hong Kong scientists reveal temporary solution for those unable to get protective gear because of panic buying and price-gouging

Thousands have queued overnight outside pharmacies and prices have spiked because of dwindling supplies
Lab tests by City University find home-made masks achieve 80 to 90 per cent function of regular ones in terms of filtration of aerosol and droplets

Scientists in Hong Kong have invented a cheap and easy way to make home-made masks as the city, gripped by fear over the deadly coronavirus, suffers from long queues and price-gouging over its dwindling supplies of protective gear.

The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital worked with the Science Park to devise the do-it-yourself method as thousands of people have waited overnight outside pharmacies promising new stock and costs spiking to as much as HK$400 or more for a box of 50 surgical masks. Often missing from the queues are many elderly – too weak or poor to join – some of whom have resorted to steaming the few masks they have left or and reusing one for days.

"I hope this can alleviate the public panic. Scientific tests found these home-made masks can offer a certain extent of protection if one doesn’t have a mask at home,” executive councillor and Elderly Commission chairman Dr Lam Ching-choi said.

"It’s not good for elderly to take such risks as queuing for a mask in the early morning.”

Lam said he was in touch with some schools to explore whether students studying at home could help produce more masks, adding that Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, the city’s top microbiologist tackling the coronavirus, had also endorsed the use of such masks.m

Releasing the procedure on Friday, the hospital said it hoped the home-made gear could serve as a temporary measure for those without surgical masks, easing the pressure on the city’s remaining stock.

Joe Fan King-man, the institution’s assistant hospital chief executive, said the home-made masks had undergone laboratory tests by City University and were proven to have achieved 80 to 90 per cent of the function of regular surgical masks in terms of their filtration of aerosol and droplets.

However, Fan said they did not serve as a permanent substitute for surgical masks.

"The home-made masks can only act as an alternative for those who don’t have any gear but need to protect themselves from infection. They can never be a substitute or replacement for surgical masks,” he said.

The Consumer Council is a partner of the project.

Required items: kitchen roll, strong tissue paper, elastic bands, a hole punch, paper tape, scissors, plastic-coated steel wire, a pair of glasses, plastic file folders and binder clips.

Preparation:

For the mask:

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean your items
Put one piece of kitchen roll, with proper hygiene certification, on top of another
Place a piece of tissue paper, which will act as the bottom layer of the mask, on top of the two pieces of kitchen roll
Cut the stack of paper into two
Use the paper tape to seal off the two sides of the mask
Make two holes at each sealed side with the punch
Attach the metallic wire with paper tape to the top edge of the mask to make the nose bridge wire
Tie four rubber bands through the holes on the mask’s sides

For the protective shield: