Thursday, December 22, 2016

Dec 18, 2016

12-year-old Maltese X

Had bleeding gums, foul breath
Bruises all over the body -
Very low platelets (less than 10) but other blood values normal.









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Dec 21, 2016  After 15 mg pred for past week




Wednesday, December 21, 2016

2996. A 2-year-old male red-eared slider has a swollen neck for 12 days

Around 12 days ago, this terrapin had a swollen neck. The swelling appeared to be smaller and the terrapin was sent home.But the swelling did not subside and the owner came again.
"It could be swelling of fluid due to heart, kidney or liver diseases," I said.


Dec 24, 2016
After 2 injections at 2 days apart, the neck swelling disappeared. He goes home today. He does not eat when given the pellets. His eyes appeared closed as if he was sleepy. 





















Dec 24, 2016
After 2 injections at 2 days apart, the neck swelling disappeared. He goes home today. He does not eat when given the pellets. His eyes appeared closed as if he was sleepy. 


The cause of edema and inflammation is unknown. Likely related to exposure to paint pigments as he is housed near cans of paint. But 2 siblings had no problem. 



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Dec 24, 2016
After 2 injections at 2 days apart, the neck swelling disappeared. He goes home today. He does not eat when given the pellets. His eyes appeared closed as if he was sleepy.





The cause of edema and inflammation is unknown. Likely related to exposure to paint pigments as he is housed near cans of paint. But 2 siblings had no problem.

2995. House call review. A 13-year-old male cat has more control of his diabetes mellitus

Dec 20, 2016
House visit

This male cat had 6 episosdes of seizures around 3 months ago. Eats a lot, drinks a lot, pees a lot and yet lose weight (scrawny).

Blood test show hyperglycaemia. I visited the cat and saw that he was not having his clinical signs controlled by the insulin injection. So the cat was still looking for food but lesser urgency than before treatment. I taught the owner how to monitor the cat's progress so that the cat no longer feels hungry and thirsty. This needed time and patience.














House call review







Sunday, December 18, 2016

2994. A young Chihuahua has an itchy neck

Dec 17, 2016



The father bought this young Chihuahua for his son. There was an older dog in the house. This young dog was neutered two weeks ago. He is energetic and wanted to play with the older dog. I presumed that his itchy neck wound could be due to the claw swipe by the older dog rather than allergy or ringworm.

Other than that. he is OK. 




Saturday, December 17, 2016

2993. A red-eared slider has black shell spots and lines

Dec 16, 2016

A mother and teenaged daughter brought this red-eared-slider from the wet market.
She fed the special "home brand" food from the seller.
"Your red-eared slider is very thin," I showed the enlongated narrow neck without a bit of
fat.
"She eats and passed 4 large blobs of stools," the mum fed the terrapin according to the forum recommendations - amount sufficient to fill up the head volume and 3 times a week only.



  You can see that the terrapin is very thin as the area between the neck and the shoulders have
sunk deep in.

2992. A 9-year-old Yorkshire Terrier had creaking jaw sounds and in-and-out tongue movements for a few weeks

Dec 16, 2016

A strange case. The dog behaved normally at the vet as in most patients. No jaw movements, teeth grinding or mobile tongue. Sore eyes and a bald greyish spot below the lower eyelid of the left eye.
"He may be suffering from an early stage of carnassial tooth abscess," the owner thought as she had seen similar symptoms in other dogs with the same condition.

"This is possible as the dog does not permit opening of his mouth," I encountered fully clamped jaws.  




A grey spot below the lower eyelid of the left eye (above).






No loose teeth, bad breath or exposed roots. The cheek teeth were encrusted with golden tartar. "My dog eats only beef, rice, peas and carrots and no dry food, the owner said. "He is allergic to chicken and will never want to eat kibbles".

A well-maintained dog with big eyes.
Blood test. 
Liver disorder. ALT 140 (<59 100="" ast="" br="">Blood glucose low   3.6 (3.9-6.0) although the dog has good appetite. 
Serum urea high 11.7 (4.2-6.3) and creatinine low at 73 (89-177).

Would this dog be suffering from hypoglyacemia, causing the nervous signs of mouth movements?
Also livet disorder could cause acute abdominal pain and hence lip twitching?

This dog loves to lick the floor and other things in the house. So he could have ingested chemicals toxic to the liver. The reaction is nervous signs like jaw movements.        

Thursday, December 15, 2016

2991. A 26-month-old hamster had surgeries

Feedback from owner
 
Dec 12, 2016 email
 
Hi Dr Sing,

Claire is largely back to her happy hamster self. Pretty good for a 'senior citizen' after major surgery!

Thanks and best,
L N