3857. A stray cat's eye injury may led to blindness --- cat welfare activist. Put your money where your mouth is

 

25 APR 2021. BE KIND TO PETS VETERINARY EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS. 

This stray cat's right eyeball had deflated as aqueous humour had leaked out via a perforated cornea. The ring of blood-stained tears attracted Ms Lee, who was at the cat fosterer’s home. The fosterer procrastinated in getting this cat treated by her vet despite Ms Lee’s offer to reimburse her the expenses. So Ms Lee got the cat to Dr Daniel, knowing eye injuries are emergencies and treatment delay may lead to blindness.      

“Vet bills could be high,” I explained to 19-year-old Ms Lim, a vet intern. “She could have been played out by broken promises of others. In Singapore, a cat rescuer or re-homer usually gets sick cats to the vets." 

At Toa Payoh Vets, the ferocious cat hissed and clawed when approached. So Dr Daniel anaesthesized him with gas piped into his carrier on two occasions, to clean up the eye and give medication by injection. The corneal hole healed after 29 in-patient days of nursing and treatment.

Now, a white patch of scarred cornea in a non-deflated eyeball is a testament to the lawyer’s kindness and generosity. 

“What is the morale of this story?”, I asked Ms Lim. She shook her head. “It is 'Put your money where your mouth is’. The lawyer showed by her actions and not just her words that she cared for the welfare of stray cats by getting this cat treated.” 

UPDATE ON 49TH DAY (Additional sentence in green text).

49TH DAY

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

9 May 2021. Veterinary stories by Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow).

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS

This stray cat's right eyeball had deflated as aqueous humour had leaked out via a perforated cornea. The ring of blood-stained tears attracted Ms Lee, who was at the cat fosterer’s home. The fosterer procrastinated in getting this cat treated by her vet despite Ms Lee’s offer to reimburse her the expenses. So Ms Lee got the cat to Dr Daniel, knowing eye injuries are emergencies and treatment delay may lead to blindness.      

“Vet bills could be high,” I explained to 19-year-old Ms Lim, a vet intern. “She could have been played out by broken promises of others. In Singapore, a cat rescuer or re-homer usually gets sick cats to the vets." 

At Toa Payoh Vets, the ferocious cat hissed and clawed when approached. So Dr Daniel anaesthesized him with gas piped into his carrier on two occasions, to clean up the eye and give medication by injection. The corneal hole healed after 29 in-patient days of nursing and treatment.

On the 49th day, the corneal scar is less cloudy. He can see better and does not rub his right eye.

Now, a white patch of scarred cornea in a non-deflated eyeball is a testament to the lawyer’s kindness and generosity. 

“What is the morale of this story?”, I asked Ms Lim. She shook her head. “It is 'Put your money where your mouth is’. The lawyer showed by her actions and not just her words that she cared for the welfare of stray cats by getting this cat treated.”

3856. Final Video production. HOW TO PREVENT URINARY STONE FORMING IN YOUR GUINEA PIG? Part 2. Prevention.

 Draft script. Not final script yet.  

1.  Balanced Diet --- different types of hay and pellet for young and older guinea pig. 80% hay to 20% pellets. 

1.l   YOUNGER diet different --- Less than 6 months old. More alfalfa.

1.2  2-4 months old   higher protein mix more alfalfa hay with other types of hay.

2. OLDER --- More than 6 months old.
No more alfalfa hay or very little.

Do not leave care to the domestic worker. Urine monitoring by the owner.  

2.  Monitor urine colour, 

3.  water intake

4. Pee area

5. Supplement. Vitamin C.

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

Below is PART 1. 

22 APR 2021. Veterinary Stories by Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow).HOW TO PREVENT URINARY STONE FORMING IN YOUR GUINEA PIG? Part 1. Diagnosis and treatment.

JULY 5, 2016.

"For the past 7 days, Whisky squeaked several times a day and night," Mr Ho, a divorced senior citizen said solemnly. "I thought he sought attention---like pre-schoolers throw tantrums to get parental attention. 

"But he drinks about 50% less water. His stools are normal but there are smaller stool sizes now.

"I took leave from my gardening job to bring my guinea pig to you for a check-up! I pray he is not in serious bad health,"

Mr Ho worked for a landscaping company as a gardener, trimming and caring for plants and flowers of big shopping malls. He was not your usual old man as he is fashionable. 

He wears a face mask to protect himself from inhaling fine dust and soil as Covid-19 virus was not present in 2016.

A broad brim hat to shield his sun-tanned face from the harsh sunlight. He was not the stereotypical frail and vulnerable  old people. 

"The guinea pig does not cry for attention many times a day," I palpated the 17-month-old male. Whisky shivered and moved away when I palpated the back half of his abdomen. This is where his bladder was located. I X-rayed his abdomen.

"Whisky was crying for help, actually," I told Mr Ho. "The pain was intense and that was why he sought you out for help!

"Whisky has a urinary tract infection as evident by the presence of reddish-brown urine seen when he was warded overnight. X-rays show a bladder stone floating inside his bladder." 

"I was too busy at work," Mr Ho shook his head. "Hence I delayed for 7 days. Can he be operated to get the stone removed?"  

"Not now," I advised. "Whisky has urinary tract infection and weight loss. He has to regain his health before a surgery to remove his bladder stone is to be done. He is not fit for anesthesia. He will die if he is operated today. 

Feed him antibiotics, painkillers and Critical Care by hand. Also around 500 ml of water a day 6 times a day. Whisky will be reviewed 7 days later." 

JULY 13, 2016.

However on the 8th day, Whisky could not walk. He could not pee too. He had not been eating by himself for the past 8 days. Mr Ho had to hand feed him.

X-ray showed the stone had lodged inside the urethra, obstructing any flow of urine. Hence he could not pee. I palpated his bladder which was a hard golf ball in size. 

Whisky would soon die of a ruptured bladder or kidney failure due to the backflow obstruction of urine.

An emergency surgery was needed but the anaesthetic risk was so much higher now.

"Most likely, Whisky would die on the operating table. "You have to make the decision," I informed Mr Ho of the complications and a high probability of death on the operating table. He signed the anaesthetic and surgery consent form for the operation.

The cystotomy surgery was a success. I incised the bladder wall and extracted a small stone of 4-5mm in diameter lodged tightly inside the urethra.

However, Whisky passed away the next day. Mr Ho was very sad. Whisky was cremated. He kept the ashes in the urn.

I sent the urinary stone to the Minnestoa University Veterinary School to be analysed. It was a calcium carbonate stone.

Stones are usually formed as a result of feeding an unbalanced high calcium and protein diet. Obesity, drinking less water or withholding urine for long periods of time before peeing may be contributing factors.

END OF PART 1. MORE INFORMATION AND VIDEOS IN THIS BLOG:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2021/04/2016-guinea-pig-has-urinary-stone-in.html


Another video will discuss: HOW TO PREVENT URINARY STONE FORMING IN YOUR GUINEA PIG? Part 2. Prevention.
MORE INFORMATION AND VIDEOS IN THIS BLOG:

3855. Final Video production. HOW TO PREVENT URINARY STONE FORMING IN YOUR GUINEA PIG? Part 1. Diagnosis and treatment.

FOR INSTAGRAM  @toapayohvets

22 APR 2021. Veterinary Stories by Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow).HOW TO PREVENT URINARY STONE FORMING IN YOUR GUINEA PIG? Part 1. Diagnosis and treatment.

JULY 5, 2016. "For the past 7 days, Whisky squeaked several times a day and night," Mr Ho, a divorced senior citizen said solemnly. "I thought he sought attention---like pre-schoolers throw tantrums to get parental attention. 

"But he drinks about 50% less water. His stools are normal but there are smaller stool sizes now.

"I took leave from my gardening job to bring my guinea pig to you for a check-up! I pray he is not in serious bad health."

X-ray showed a bladder stone. The urine test showed blood and bacteria. Whisky had a urinary tract infection. Mr Ho took him home to hand feed the medication, Critical Care and water for the next 7 days. A review as regards surgery to remove the bladder stone would be done on the 8th day.   

JULY 13, 2016. However on the 8th day, Whisky could not walk. He could not pee too. He had not been eating by himself for the past 8 days. Mr Ho had to hand feed him.

X-ray showed the stone had lodged inside the urethra, obstructing any flow of urine. Hence he could not pee. I palpated his bladder which was a hard golf ball in size. 

Whisky would soon die of a ruptured bladder or kidney failure due to the backflow obstruction of urine. An emergency surgery was needed but the anaesthetic risk was so much higher now.

The cystotomy surgery was a success. I incised the bladder wall and extracted a small stone of 4-5mm in diameter lodged tightly inside the urethra.

However, Whisky passed away the next day. Mr Ho was very sad. Whisky was cremated. He kept the ashes in the urn.

END OF PART 1. MORE INFORMATION AND VIDEOS IN THIS BLOG:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2021/04/2016-guinea-pig-has-urinary-stone-in.html


PART 2. Another video will discuss: HOW TO PREVENT URINARY STONE FORMING IN YOUR GUINEA PIG? Part 2. Prevention.
MORE INFORMATION AND VIDEOS IN THIS BLOG:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2021/04/3856-3855-final-video-production-how-to.html

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

FOR VIDEO PRODUCTION

22 APR 2021. Veterinary Stories by Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow).HOW TO PREVENT URINARY STONE FORMING IN YOUR GUINEA PIG? Part 1. Diagnosis and treatment.

JULY 5, 2016.

"For the past 7 days, Whisky squeaked several times a day and night," Mr Ho, a divorced senior citizen said solemnly. "I thought he sought attention---like pre-schoolers throw tantrums to get parental attention. 

"But he drinks about 50% less water. His stools are normal but there are smaller stool sizes now.

"I took leave from my gardening job to bring my guinea pig to you for a check-up! I pray he is not in serious bad health."

Mr Ho worked for a landscaping company as a gardener, trimming and caring for plants and flowers of big shopping malls. He was not your usual old man as he is fashionable. 

He wore a face mask to protect himself from inhaling fine dust and soil as Covid-19 virus was not present in 2016.

A broad brim hat to shield his sun-tanned face from the harsh sunlight. He was not the stereotypical frail and vulnerable  old people. 

"The guinea pig does not cry for attention many times a day," I palpated the 17-month-old male. Whisky shivered and moved away when I palpated the back half of his abdomen. This is where his bladder was located. I X-rayed his abdomen.

"Whisky was crying for help, actually," I told Mr Ho. "The pain was intense and that was why he sought you out for help!

"Whisky has a urinary tract infection as evident by the presence of reddish-brown urine seen when he was warded overnight. X-rays show a bladder stone floating inside his bladder." 

"I was too busy at work," Mr Ho shook his head. "Hence I delayed for 7 days. Can he be operated to get the stone removed?"  

"Not now," I advised. "Whisky has urinary tract infection and weight loss. He has to regain his health before a surgery to remove his bladder stone is to be done. He is not fit for anesthesia. He will die if he is operated today. 

Feed him antibiotics, painkillers and Critical Care by hand. Also around 500 ml of water a day 6 times a day. Whisky will be reviewed 7 days later." 

X-ray showed a bladder stone. The urine test showed blood and bacteria. Whisky had a urinary tract infection. Mr Ho took him home to hand feed the medication, Critical Care and water for the next 7 days. A review as regards surgery to remove the bladder stone would be done on the 8th day.

JULY 13, 2016.

However on the 8th day, Whisky could not walk. He could not pee too. He had not been eating by himself for the past 8 days. Mr Ho had to hand feed him.

X-ray showed the stone had lodged inside the urethra, obstructing any flow of urine. Hence he could not pee. I palpated his bladder which was a hard golf ball in size. 

Whisky would soon die of a ruptured bladder or kidney failure due to the backflow obstruction of urine.

An emergency surgery was needed but the anaesthetic risk was so much higher now.

"Most likely, Whisky would die on the operating table. "You have to make the decision," I informed Mr Ho of the complications and a high probability of death on the operating table. He signed the anaesthetic and surgery consent form for the operation.

The cystotomy surgery was a success. I incised the bladder wall and extracted a small stone of 4-5mm in diameter lodged tightly inside the urethra.

However, Whisky passed away the next day. Mr Ho was very sad. Whisky was cremated. He kept the ashes in the urn.

I sent the urinary stone to the Minnestoa University Veterinary School to be analysed. It was a calcium carbonate stone.

Stones are usually formed as a result of feeding an unbalanced high calcium and protein diet. Obesity, drinking less water or withholding urine for long periods of time before peeing may be contributing factors.

END OF PART 1. MORE INFORMATION AND VIDEOS IN THIS BLOG:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2021/04/2016-guinea-pig-has-urinary-stone-in.html


Another video will discuss: HOW TO PREVENT URINARY STONE FORMING IN YOUR GUINEA PIG? Part 2. Prevention.
MORE INFORMATION AND VIDEOS IN THIS BLOG:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2021/04/3856-3855-final-video-production-how-to.html

-------------------  

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

video summarises the progress of the two consultations
- stone in the bladder and then in the urethra 8 days later

 July 2016. Urethral obstruction

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2016/07/2975-1-year-old-guinea-pig-has-stone.html

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2019/02/3432-guinea-pig-has-bladder-stone-and.html

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

3584. Brown butterflies - Horsfield's Baron Plant Melastoma malabathricum Ahoala aurea

 Host plant : Melastoma malabathricum. Leaves, flower buds and flowers are shown.

A male Horsfield's Baron perching with a closed-wing posture.
Field Observations of Butterfly Behaviour:

The Horsfield's Baron is relatively common in Singapore. They are mainly found in the nature reserves, but at times adults can be seen flying in public parks and wastelands where the host plants are growing in abundance. Both sexes have the habit of resting on perches with wings open. The male exhibits territorial behaviour of chasing intruders in the vicinity of its perch. On rare occasions, the male have been observed to puddle on damp ground. Refer to this earlier butterfly-of-the-month article for a more detailed write-up on this species.

Early Stages:

The host plant, Melastoma malabathricum, is a widespread weed in Singapore. An earlier blog article has a detailed write-up of its characteristics and its relationship with other local butterfly species. Caterpillars of Horsfield's Baron feed on the middle-aged to mature leaves of this amazing plant.

a mother H B laying an egg on the leaf tip 

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

Arhopala aurea

Family:	Lycaenidae
Subfamily:	Lycaeninae
Genus	Arhopala
Species:	aurea
Life History:	incomplete
Extant in countries:	•Singapore

Description
The males of this Arhopala species have forewings with a rather acute apex, unlike the usual Arhopala wing shape. However, the females possess the usual Arhopala characteristics in having rounded forewings.

The male of Arhopala aurea is a bright coppery green above with a slight basal bluish scaling. The hindwing border is broad and irregular and the green scaling does not reach the termen.

The female is purple-blue above in the usual Arhopala fashion. Both sexes have short stumpy tails with tornal green scales.

Habitat & Habits
Arhopala aurea, and another closely related species, Arhopala trogon are reported to be less uncommon in Singapore than on mainland Malaysia. Indeed, this is still the case, as the species are still evident in certain parts of the nature reserves even as recent as November 2001.