Saturday, November 7, 2020
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Guinea Pig passing blood
Wed 28 Jan 2009
3rd day of Chinese New Year
OPENING ON 3RD DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR
Most of the tenants of the Toa Payoh industrial park in my area are still closed for business. Traditionally, they open a while in the morning and close. I note that some eating houses operated by Chinese owners were open on Chinese New Year's Day too. I am open as normal but my associate veterinarian does not open this evening. I opened in the morning of Chinese New Year and the 2nd day to attend to emergencies.
FOLLOW UP:
GUINEA PIG PASSING BLOOD ON CHINESE NEW YEAR'S DAY
"What's happened to the guinea pig that passed blood in the urine on Chinese New Year, 26 Jan 2009 and treated by me? It is now 2 days. Yesterday, the young lady who had reported yesterday that she did not see any blood and had inadvertently given more antibiotic syrup from the syringe. She said, "He eats more now."
I phoned her at 10 am today.
"He pees normally," she said.
"No more blood in the urine?"
"No," she said. "I put a white piece of cloth in his cage and notice there is no more reddish discoloration."
That was wonderful news.
"Did you measure how much he drinks per day?" I had advised monitoring the water intake of all 4 guinea pigs.
"I restricted his water. He used to drink 300 ml a day compared to the other 3 that drink 130 ml per day. Now he drinks 250 ml and eats more pellets (1-2 teaspoonful) than before treatment."
ISOLATION, REST, FEEDING AND MEDICATION
Previously he was housed together with his mate who is now pregnant but has not given birth. "He is kept in my bedroom," the young lady said. "He squeals and wants to go out to meet the other 3 guinea pigs."
"It is best not to let him mix with them for the next 7 days or more," I advised letting this sick guinea pig rest and recover.
Guinea pigs give birth from 65-72 days after mating but the owner did not know when she was mated.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING CHINESE NEW YEAR?
The young lady noticed large amounts of blood or blood-stained urine in the evening. Phoned all emergency vets in Singapore and the Seller. I advised her to go to the bigger practice. "What can I do?" she phoned me again as veterinary fees will be considerable for after-office hours now. "Nothing much you can do," I said. "If you wish to, I can examine the guinea pig on Chinese New Year in the morning." I didn't expect her to come. But she came with her friend.
HISTORY
Abyssinian Guinea Pig (GP), Male, 1.5 years old, 900 grams.
2 months ago in November 2008, the pet shop stopped ordering the LM Animal Food (USA) as the company's dog food was withdrawn. This GP just would not eat the alternative dry food or other brands unlike the other 3 guinea pigs. He was plump on the LM Animal Food GP pellets unlike now. He even impregnanted the female who is now pregnant and housed with him in a "big" cage. He eats dried grass (hay) and alfalfa hay most of the time, about 90% of his diet. He showed some interest in mating with another female GP when all 4 GPs were put together during cleaning of the 2 cages.
Each cage has a pair of GPs. Around Chinese New Year's Eve on Jan 25, 2009, the owner noticed blood or blood-stained urine.
GENERAL EXAMINATION
Thin at 900 grams. No trauma to body or external genitalia. The GP was turned upside down and the penis protruded. Penile area not painful or red. No squealing objection from the GP.
DETAILED EXAMINATION
1. Abdominal palpation of kidneys and bladder.
GP squealed on abdominal palpation indicating discomfort and/or pain. Kidneys and bladder were not palpable. Was there some traumatic injury to the bladder and kidneys at some stage when the 4 GPs met a day earlier? Was there traumatic injury caused by the pregnant mate in the same cage? The lady owner did not think so. But don't rule out this possibility. There was abdominal pain.
2. Urine examination.
How to get urine from this GP?
Patience is the key.
I put him onto white tissue paper in his pink carrier bag. Sometimes, after abdominal palpation, urine is passed. After some 30 minutes, the GP peed. There was discoloured urine. A dipstick was put onto the urine and examined.
DIAGNOSIS
Is it haematuria, haemoglobinuria, myoglobinuria or a combination? Significant findings of the dipstick were possible haematuria, urobilinuria, proteinuria and the presence of white cells in the freshly passed urine. So what's the diagnosis?
Was haemoglobinuria or discoloured urine due to the eating of lots of hay every day be possible. Yes.
Was there infection of the bladder and kidneys? Yes. Most likely the bladder but more tests needed to be done and this might be costly. Possibly there was a kidney or liver malfunction too as there was polydipsia and polyuria for at least one month.
I would go for the combination. Antibioitic SC was given. Isolation, rehydration and oral antibiotics for 7 days recommended. Reduce hay eating by 50% and give more pellets.
2 DAYS LATER.
The news was good. No more worries about "blood" in the urine. This may not be a simple case.
ADVICE
If your GP drinks excessively, pees excessively, it is best to consult your vet early and promptly.
3rd day of Chinese New Year
OPENING ON 3RD DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR
Most of the tenants of the Toa Payoh industrial park in my area are still closed for business. Traditionally, they open a while in the morning and close. I note that some eating houses operated by Chinese owners were open on Chinese New Year's Day too. I am open as normal but my associate veterinarian does not open this evening. I opened in the morning of Chinese New Year and the 2nd day to attend to emergencies.
FOLLOW UP:
GUINEA PIG PASSING BLOOD ON CHINESE NEW YEAR'S DAY
"What's happened to the guinea pig that passed blood in the urine on Chinese New Year, 26 Jan 2009 and treated by me? It is now 2 days. Yesterday, the young lady who had reported yesterday that she did not see any blood and had inadvertently given more antibiotic syrup from the syringe. She said, "He eats more now."
I phoned her at 10 am today.
"He pees normally," she said.
"No more blood in the urine?"
"No," she said. "I put a white piece of cloth in his cage and notice there is no more reddish discoloration."
That was wonderful news.
"Did you measure how much he drinks per day?" I had advised monitoring the water intake of all 4 guinea pigs.
"I restricted his water. He used to drink 300 ml a day compared to the other 3 that drink 130 ml per day. Now he drinks 250 ml and eats more pellets (1-2 teaspoonful) than before treatment."
ISOLATION, REST, FEEDING AND MEDICATION
Previously he was housed together with his mate who is now pregnant but has not given birth. "He is kept in my bedroom," the young lady said. "He squeals and wants to go out to meet the other 3 guinea pigs."
"It is best not to let him mix with them for the next 7 days or more," I advised letting this sick guinea pig rest and recover.
Guinea pigs give birth from 65-72 days after mating but the owner did not know when she was mated.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING CHINESE NEW YEAR?
The young lady noticed large amounts of blood or blood-stained urine in the evening. Phoned all emergency vets in Singapore and the Seller. I advised her to go to the bigger practice. "What can I do?" she phoned me again as veterinary fees will be considerable for after-office hours now. "Nothing much you can do," I said. "If you wish to, I can examine the guinea pig on Chinese New Year in the morning." I didn't expect her to come. But she came with her friend.
HISTORY
Abyssinian Guinea Pig (GP), Male, 1.5 years old, 900 grams.
2 months ago in November 2008, the pet shop stopped ordering the LM Animal Food (USA) as the company's dog food was withdrawn. This GP just would not eat the alternative dry food or other brands unlike the other 3 guinea pigs. He was plump on the LM Animal Food GP pellets unlike now. He even impregnanted the female who is now pregnant and housed with him in a "big" cage. He eats dried grass (hay) and alfalfa hay most of the time, about 90% of his diet. He showed some interest in mating with another female GP when all 4 GPs were put together during cleaning of the 2 cages.
Each cage has a pair of GPs. Around Chinese New Year's Eve on Jan 25, 2009, the owner noticed blood or blood-stained urine.
GENERAL EXAMINATION
Thin at 900 grams. No trauma to body or external genitalia. The GP was turned upside down and the penis protruded. Penile area not painful or red. No squealing objection from the GP.
DETAILED EXAMINATION
1. Abdominal palpation of kidneys and bladder.
GP squealed on abdominal palpation indicating discomfort and/or pain. Kidneys and bladder were not palpable. Was there some traumatic injury to the bladder and kidneys at some stage when the 4 GPs met a day earlier? Was there traumatic injury caused by the pregnant mate in the same cage? The lady owner did not think so. But don't rule out this possibility. There was abdominal pain.
2. Urine examination.
How to get urine from this GP?
Patience is the key.
I put him onto white tissue paper in his pink carrier bag. Sometimes, after abdominal palpation, urine is passed. After some 30 minutes, the GP peed. There was discoloured urine. A dipstick was put onto the urine and examined.
DIAGNOSIS
Is it haematuria, haemoglobinuria, myoglobinuria or a combination? Significant findings of the dipstick were possible haematuria, urobilinuria, proteinuria and the presence of white cells in the freshly passed urine. So what's the diagnosis?
Was haemoglobinuria or discoloured urine due to the eating of lots of hay every day be possible. Yes.
Was there infection of the bladder and kidneys? Yes. Most likely the bladder but more tests needed to be done and this might be costly. Possibly there was a kidney or liver malfunction too as there was polydipsia and polyuria for at least one month.
I would go for the combination. Antibioitic SC was given. Isolation, rehydration and oral antibiotics for 7 days recommended. Reduce hay eating by 50% and give more pellets.
2 DAYS LATER.
The news was good. No more worries about "blood" in the urine. This may not be a simple case.
ADVICE
If your GP drinks excessively, pees excessively, it is best to consult your vet early and promptly.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
High Crate + paper training
"Don't tell him," the pet shop girl said. "Otherwise he will record your experiences." I was vaccinating the puppies on this Wednesday and in between the lull period, spoke to one of the dog owners.
Thin lady studying in the polytechnic.
Silkie Terrier 3-4 monthss.
"Can he jump into the high crate when he was a 3-month old puppy?"
"Yes."
"How do you paper-train?" I asked.
"Put newspapers on top of the floor grate. Tell him to pee there. Soon the dog knwe how to do.
"Any spanking?" I asked.
"Yes."
She showed me a mobile phone clip of the crate with newspapers and the puppy escaping out of the open crate by climbing over.
Thin lady studying in the polytechnic.
Silkie Terrier 3-4 monthss.
"Can he jump into the high crate when he was a 3-month old puppy?"
"Yes."
"How do you paper-train?" I asked.
"Put newspapers on top of the floor grate. Tell him to pee there. Soon the dog knwe how to do.
"Any spanking?" I asked.
"Yes."
She showed me a mobile phone clip of the crate with newspapers and the puppy escaping out of the open crate by climbing over.
Paper-training on pee pan - 2 Miniature Schnauzers
Jan 20, 2009
Chinese New Year coming in Jan 25, 2009.
Single lady
2 Miniature Schnauzers 3 years old. Female on heat 3 days. Male neutered but had skin disease on shoulder area. Pigmented and red ear pinnae. Painful. Groomer had given an injection. Boyfriend had told her to clean dog ear's daily. She cleaned every 2 days, both dogs. "Nobody cleans their ears daily," I refered to human beings. "My boyfriend does it," she said. "Why?" I asked. She said "I don't know".
Sleeping - Bedroom
Elimination - Each has his pee pan.
PEE PAN TRAINING
1. Male bought first. Paper-trained on pee pan inside the play pen after 1 week of confinement inside the playpen. The playpen is opened up and the male dog knew what to do. "More intelligent than the female," the lady bought the female 6 months younger than the male. "The female took 4 weeks."
"Too much distraction," I speculated."The male plays with the female and she forgot to pee in the Pee Pan."
"No," she corrected me. "The female wanted to play all the time, with the male."
Now grown up, the dogs do know where to eliminate. They go outdooors once a week and knew what to do too.
Eating: 2 times a day. Usually poop within 10 minutes after eating.
Pees: 2 times a day. Will wait for owner to pee in the bedroom's pee pan.
Chinese New Year coming in Jan 25, 2009.
Single lady
2 Miniature Schnauzers 3 years old. Female on heat 3 days. Male neutered but had skin disease on shoulder area. Pigmented and red ear pinnae. Painful. Groomer had given an injection. Boyfriend had told her to clean dog ear's daily. She cleaned every 2 days, both dogs. "Nobody cleans their ears daily," I refered to human beings. "My boyfriend does it," she said. "Why?" I asked. She said "I don't know".
Sleeping - Bedroom
Elimination - Each has his pee pan.
PEE PAN TRAINING
1. Male bought first. Paper-trained on pee pan inside the play pen after 1 week of confinement inside the playpen. The playpen is opened up and the male dog knew what to do. "More intelligent than the female," the lady bought the female 6 months younger than the male. "The female took 4 weeks."
"Too much distraction," I speculated."The male plays with the female and she forgot to pee in the Pee Pan."
"No," she corrected me. "The female wanted to play all the time, with the male."
Now grown up, the dogs do know where to eliminate. They go outdooors once a week and knew what to do too.
Eating: 2 times a day. Usually poop within 10 minutes after eating.
Pees: 2 times a day. Will wait for owner to pee in the bedroom's pee pan.
Friday, August 15, 2008
3. Eplilepsy in an older dog
Epilepsy - 7-year-old Miniature Bull Terrier
Baxter's History
May 14, 08. One fit. I asked the owner to consult the competition. He said that there was nothing abnormal in Baxter's blood test and examination. The vet prescribed phenobarb 30 mg and advised 2.5 tablets 2 times per day for 2 weeks. The owner was told that Baxter would need the drug for life. Baxter did not complete the 2 week of medication. As to the cause of this fit, it was not possible to pin point. The owner had antibiotics given. I advised dental examination under general anaesthesia some months before and even after the first fit to remove bacteria multiplying in Baxter's mouth. Baxter had objected to any mouth touch and always looked lethargic with his head down whenever I visited his owner at the office.
As there was the possibility of deaths under general anaesthesia, the owner was not keen on my recommendation. More than one year ago, I had extracted 9 decayed teeth from Baxter under general anaesthesia but the bad breath had returned in 2008. Baxter is fed mainly home-cooked food. His coat condition is normal. His weight is normal and he exercised with his owner by jogging every morning around Mount Sophia area. Therefore hypothyroidism as a cause of his lethargy was ruled out.
Aug 9 08. National Day, Singapore
Baxter At home
2.30 pm lst fit (Stesolid rectal tube with 5 mg diazepam gel given by owner) > 45 sec
10.30 pm 2nd fit (Stesolid rectal tube with 5 mg diazepam gel given by owner) > 45 sec
Aug 10 08. Sunday
Baxter At home
7am 3rd fit (toilet roll into mouth to prevent tongue biting). 8 am 4th fit
8.30 am 5th fit
10 am 6th fit
Shorter 15 sec. Massage his shoulder and talk to him
Sutffed thick towel into mouth to prevent tongue biting.
Owner wanted to observe duration of fits. Noted shorter duration of fits when he massaged the dog.
Aug 10, 08.
Baxter at Toa Payoh Vets at 2 pm
2.10 pm IV catheter inserted. Took blood samples. Took urine sample via catheter.
2.15 pm IV 5% dextrose saline 200 ml
3-4 pm General anaesthesia gas. Extracted 20 loose teeth.
6 pm 7th fit of <20 seconds
Aug 11, 08.
4 am 8th fit (rectal diazepam)
7 am 9th fit of <20 seconds
10 am 10th fit of <20 seconds
2 pm 11th fit (diazepam 15 mg IM).
Aug 12, 08.
No fits
3 pm Jaws chattering (diazepam 15 mg slow IV drip).
Aug 13, 08.
No fits
8 pm Goes home.
Thur Aug 14, 2008
9 am Phoned owner. No fits overnight.
1.30 pm Visited Baxter at owner's office in downtown
Baxter quiet under the table
Had phenobarb 30 mg x 1, KBr 200 mg tablet x1 at 3pm, 9.30 pm on Aug 13, and at 9.30 am on Aug 14.
No fits since discharge from surgery on Wed Aug 13, 2008 at 8 pm. Drowsy.
Polyphagia. Owner said: "Dog is very hungry. Tried to topple the food container last night. Followed me everywhere." "Hunger is a side effect of medication," I advised.
Less lethargic. Owner said: "I notice that Baxter looks more alert and not so sleepy after extraction of his 20 loose teeth." This was despite phenobarb medication which causes drowsiness. I had noticed Baxter being very tired looking for past months and had a foul breath and did not permit anyone to touch his mouth.
Cause of epilepsy. Owner wants to know what is the cause of Baxter's epilepsy.
"Many causes of epilepsy in dogs are unknown and the epilepsy is termed idiopathic epilepsy," I said.
"Various causes of epilepsy include hereditary causes in dogs less than 5 years old but Baxter is 7 years old, damage to the brain by injury, toxins and diseases. In Baxter's case, total white cell count from blood sample revealed higher than normal. I believe it would be that Baxter's brain was infected. Encephalitis caused by bacteria leading to high fever and convulsions on National Day. The most obvious location of bacteria would be from the mouth. 20 loose teeth with exposed roots were infected and extracted. Also, the extreme pain in his mouth may finally aggravate his fits."
One of the tips of Baxter suffering from severe mouth pain when the owner said: "Baxter cries every day when he opens his mouth." Ms Tan, the 2nd year Victoria College student did mention it in her report which I asked her to write.
Advised him to reduce dosage by half the amount from 9.30 pm on Aug 14, 2008 and wait and see if there are fits. Best is to give the least dosage that is effective as dog gets hungry and sedated with phenobarb.
AN INTERESTING REPORT ON BAXTER WRITTEN BY MS TAN XINRU,
A 2ND YEAR VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE STUDENT
SEEING PRACTICE AT TOA PAYOH VETS
Sunday August 10, 2008
A bull terrier was brought in later in the afternoon for a blood test. His stomach hurt when touched and could only be carried at the shoulders and hind legs. It had suffered from fits in May and had a relapse yesterday. The previous blood test at Mount Pleasant showed no anomalies. The fits last around 30-45 seconds and subsided when some medicine was inserted through the anus. It lasts 8 hours before the fits return again. His spine was prodded and the dog whined when the middle back was pressed, indicating pain, as when the stomach was pressed. Blood samples were taken (3 tubes) and sent to the lab. Two samples were taken to verify the consistency of the results. The dog yelps in pain when it yawns, not surprising when you look at the state of its teeth. Most were rotting away. The teeth were extracted as quickly as possible, gassing the dog at intervals to minimise the pain. The pain from the decaying teeth could be cause of the fits. A urine sample was also taken, which hinted at a problem in the kidneys. After the majority of his teeth were removed, the remaining were scaled. The dog was then put on a drip and left to rest. However, he had a fit about an hour later.
Baxter's History
May 14, 08. One fit. I asked the owner to consult the competition. He said that there was nothing abnormal in Baxter's blood test and examination. The vet prescribed phenobarb 30 mg and advised 2.5 tablets 2 times per day for 2 weeks. The owner was told that Baxter would need the drug for life. Baxter did not complete the 2 week of medication. As to the cause of this fit, it was not possible to pin point. The owner had antibiotics given. I advised dental examination under general anaesthesia some months before and even after the first fit to remove bacteria multiplying in Baxter's mouth. Baxter had objected to any mouth touch and always looked lethargic with his head down whenever I visited his owner at the office.
As there was the possibility of deaths under general anaesthesia, the owner was not keen on my recommendation. More than one year ago, I had extracted 9 decayed teeth from Baxter under general anaesthesia but the bad breath had returned in 2008. Baxter is fed mainly home-cooked food. His coat condition is normal. His weight is normal and he exercised with his owner by jogging every morning around Mount Sophia area. Therefore hypothyroidism as a cause of his lethargy was ruled out.
Aug 9 08. National Day, Singapore
Baxter At home
2.30 pm lst fit (Stesolid rectal tube with 5 mg diazepam gel given by owner) > 45 sec
10.30 pm 2nd fit (Stesolid rectal tube with 5 mg diazepam gel given by owner) > 45 sec
Aug 10 08. Sunday
Baxter At home
7am 3rd fit (toilet roll into mouth to prevent tongue biting). 8 am 4th fit
8.30 am 5th fit
10 am 6th fit
Shorter 15 sec. Massage his shoulder and talk to him
Sutffed thick towel into mouth to prevent tongue biting.
Owner wanted to observe duration of fits. Noted shorter duration of fits when he massaged the dog.
Aug 10, 08.
Baxter at Toa Payoh Vets at 2 pm
2.10 pm IV catheter inserted. Took blood samples. Took urine sample via catheter.
2.15 pm IV 5% dextrose saline 200 ml
3-4 pm General anaesthesia gas. Extracted 20 loose teeth.
6 pm 7th fit of <20 seconds
Aug 11, 08.
4 am 8th fit (rectal diazepam)
7 am 9th fit of <20 seconds
10 am 10th fit of <20 seconds
2 pm 11th fit (diazepam 15 mg IM).
Aug 12, 08.
No fits
3 pm Jaws chattering (diazepam 15 mg slow IV drip).
Aug 13, 08.
No fits
8 pm Goes home.
Thur Aug 14, 2008
9 am Phoned owner. No fits overnight.
1.30 pm Visited Baxter at owner's office in downtown
Baxter quiet under the table
Had phenobarb 30 mg x 1, KBr 200 mg tablet x1 at 3pm, 9.30 pm on Aug 13, and at 9.30 am on Aug 14.
No fits since discharge from surgery on Wed Aug 13, 2008 at 8 pm. Drowsy.
Polyphagia. Owner said: "Dog is very hungry. Tried to topple the food container last night. Followed me everywhere." "Hunger is a side effect of medication," I advised.
Less lethargic. Owner said: "I notice that Baxter looks more alert and not so sleepy after extraction of his 20 loose teeth." This was despite phenobarb medication which causes drowsiness. I had noticed Baxter being very tired looking for past months and had a foul breath and did not permit anyone to touch his mouth.
Cause of epilepsy. Owner wants to know what is the cause of Baxter's epilepsy.
"Many causes of epilepsy in dogs are unknown and the epilepsy is termed idiopathic epilepsy," I said.
"Various causes of epilepsy include hereditary causes in dogs less than 5 years old but Baxter is 7 years old, damage to the brain by injury, toxins and diseases. In Baxter's case, total white cell count from blood sample revealed higher than normal. I believe it would be that Baxter's brain was infected. Encephalitis caused by bacteria leading to high fever and convulsions on National Day. The most obvious location of bacteria would be from the mouth. 20 loose teeth with exposed roots were infected and extracted. Also, the extreme pain in his mouth may finally aggravate his fits."
One of the tips of Baxter suffering from severe mouth pain when the owner said: "Baxter cries every day when he opens his mouth." Ms Tan, the 2nd year Victoria College student did mention it in her report which I asked her to write.
Advised him to reduce dosage by half the amount from 9.30 pm on Aug 14, 2008 and wait and see if there are fits. Best is to give the least dosage that is effective as dog gets hungry and sedated with phenobarb.
AN INTERESTING REPORT ON BAXTER WRITTEN BY MS TAN XINRU,
A 2ND YEAR VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE STUDENT
SEEING PRACTICE AT TOA PAYOH VETS
Sunday August 10, 2008
A bull terrier was brought in later in the afternoon for a blood test. His stomach hurt when touched and could only be carried at the shoulders and hind legs. It had suffered from fits in May and had a relapse yesterday. The previous blood test at Mount Pleasant showed no anomalies. The fits last around 30-45 seconds and subsided when some medicine was inserted through the anus. It lasts 8 hours before the fits return again. His spine was prodded and the dog whined when the middle back was pressed, indicating pain, as when the stomach was pressed. Blood samples were taken (3 tubes) and sent to the lab. Two samples were taken to verify the consistency of the results. The dog yelps in pain when it yawns, not surprising when you look at the state of its teeth. Most were rotting away. The teeth were extracted as quickly as possible, gassing the dog at intervals to minimise the pain. The pain from the decaying teeth could be cause of the fits. A urine sample was also taken, which hinted at a problem in the kidneys. After the majority of his teeth were removed, the remaining were scaled. The dog was then put on a drip and left to rest. However, he had a fit about an hour later.
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