Post Pet Hospital - Pet of the Month - 2010

                                                  Baby Mescall
       Baby Mescall is a 1yr old, female/spayed Maltese. Baby had been to the Emergency Clinic and was being treated for an upper respiratory infection. We did a phone follow up with her on October 11, 2010. Per the owner Baby was shaking and not eating.
       Dr. Grosser rechecked Baby on October 12, 2010 and diagnosed her with white dog shaker syndrome and sent her home on oral Prednisone and A/D diet. On phone follow up they were still having difficulty getting Baby to eat and she seemed out of it.
      A recheck was done on October 16, 2010 and at that time the owner stated Baby was vomiting food and meds. We stopped Prednisone and started Baby on oral Valium and sent bloodwork into the lab. Bloodwork was unremarkable. Two days later we referred Baby to Veterinary Specialty Center at owner's request.
     Baby was diagnosed with white dog shaker syndrome at the Specialty Center. The owner declined furthur diagnostics given the likelihood of the diagnosis. Baby was sent hom on oral Prednisone and Valium, limited exercise and normal diet.
      Baby continues to take Prednisone and is doing quite well per the owner.

Snoopy Blakley is a 3yr old Male/neutered Dachshund Mix that was presented to Post Pet Hospital as a new patient on September 14^th, 2010 for being attacked by another dog.  Snoopy had extensive bite wounds bilaterally on his abdomen.  One of the wounds penetrated the abdominal wall exposing the intestines.  We rushed Snoopy to surgery to repair his wounds.  He was given injectable pain medications prior to anesthesia and we placed a Fentanyl patch for post-operative pain.  An IV catheter was placed and intravenous fluids and antibiotics were started as well.  We performed abdominal lavage and penrose drains were placed.  Once all the wounds had been repaired we placed a belly band around the abdomen.

The next day we replaced Snoopy’s belly band with a lighter bandage and put tube gauze on over it. We discharged Snoopy that evening with oral antibiotics, pain medications and anti-inflammatories.  On the third day we rechecked Snoopy and removed the Fentanyl patch.  He was running a fever so an additional antibiotic was added.  The next week Snoopy chewed out some of his sutures and we had to surgically repair that wound and replace the penrose drain.  This time Snoopy was sent home with an Elizabethan collar to prevent further damage to his wounds.  The penrose drain was removed 4 days later and Snoopy’s wounds were already healing well. At the final suture removal on Oct 8th Snoopy had completely healed and we're waiting for his hair to grow back in to hide his scars.

LADY ROBINSON

Lady Robinson is a Female Miniature Pinscher that is 1yr old.  Lady’s owner brought her into Post Pet Hospital on August 11, 2010.  Lady had been outside playing with the neighbor kids and was brought back to the owner with her injury.

Lady was completely non weight bearing on her left front leg when she presented to us.  Radiographs were immediately taken and revealed a complicated fracture of the humerus.  Lady was hospitalized and started on intravenous fluids, pain medications and anti-inflammatories.  Pre-operative bloodwork was normal.

Dr. Grosser repaired the fracture using cerclage wire and 2 IM pins.  Lady had post-operative swelling but otherwise did very well.  We will be removing the pins six weeks from the original surgery date.  For now Lady seems to be adjusting to her healing leg and is happy and active.

Meesha Harmon

        Meesha Harmon is a 10yr old Female(spayed) Pekingnese.  Meesha has been a patient of Post Pet Hospital since she was a puppy.  Meesha recently had her second cystotomy (bladder surgery) to remove bladder stones.  Meesha has had cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) since she was a young adult.  Radiographs of her bladder were normal at 1yr of age and she was treated with antibiotics and diet.  The first indication of bladder stones was in June of 2009 and they were removed surgically.  Meesha had an uneventful year after surgery until her annual visit in May 2010.  Upon physical exam Dr. Grosser found perivulvar pyoderma, while bloodwork and urinalysis were sent to the lab with results pending.  Bloodwork was normal but the urinalysis showed a high white blood cell count, a high pH, a large amount of bacteria and a large amount of struvite crystals.  At that time we sent Meesha home on antibiotics, but after two refills and returning symptoms more diagnostics were warranted.  We did radiographs of her bladder to find more stones had developed.  A cystotomy was performed and stones were removed.  Meesha’s recovery was a little longer this time but she has bounced back and is doing well.  Meesha is now on a 1month, 3month and 6month recheck interval including urinalysis, urine culture and sensitivity along with radiographs.

This is Orbit, a 10yr old, domestic shorthair adopted from Animal Control by Buddy and Lisa Jones.  Dr. Grosser first saw Orbit as a new pet in January of 2010.  Orbits physical exam was unremarkable other than dry skin.  Orbit received his Rabies vaccine and had a negative stool sample at that time.  Six months later Orbit was brought into Post Pet Hospital for not eating or drinking.  After a thorough history and exam, bloodwork and urinalysis were sent to the lab and radiographs were taken.

Radiographs revealed a slightly enlarged liver, a lumpy left kidney, and a possible mass in the vicinity of the stomach.

We placed an intravenous catheter in Orbit and started fluids to rehydrate him while we waited on lab results.  Orbit was also placed on a heat source because his temperature was subnormal.  Orbits bloodwork and urine showed that he had liver disease.  We were able to get his temperature up to a low normal and he started eating a small amount of food for us.  We discharged Orbit to the care of his owners after 48 hours of hospitalization.  They began force feeding him and giving him water through a syringe at home.  At Orbits one week recheck Dr. Grosser was able to palpate a multilobulated mass in the abdomen and became concerned about lymphoma.  Orbit was prescribed Prednisone at this time to slow the advancement of and counteract the effects of the tumor(s).  Orbit continues to do well at home.  He is eating on his own and maintaining his weight at 9lbs.  We chose Orbit as our June Pet of the Month because of his remarkable response to treatment and his easy going personality. 

                       Miya Massey


    
   
   
      Miya Massey is a 5 1/2yr old Pug that we lovingly refer to as a poscket Pug because of her small size. Miya only weighs 9lbs. Miya has been coming to Post Pet Hospital since she was a puppy. At her annual exam in June of 2009 Dr. McReynolds noted a growth on her left front leg just below the elbow. At that time the growth was 4cm x 4cm and after a fine needle aspirate, pulling cells out of the growth, a hygroma was suspected. We recommended a padded area to rest to reduce trauma and impact. We did not recommend surgical removal at that time. Miya returned to Post Pet Hospital in March of 2010 because the growth on her elbow had grown in size, and was now the size of a golfball. We aspirated the fluid from the growth and gave the owner an estimate for removal. In May of 2010 Miya returned for us to aspirate the fluid again. At this visit we were unable to drain the growth completely and stongly recommended surgery. Within 2 1/2 wks Miya came in for removal of the growth that was now the size of a kiwi. Dr. Grossers concern at this time was closing the incision after removal and tension on the suture line due to the size of the growth and the area (the elbow) being a joint that is in constant motion. The mass ended up being 7.5cm x 7.5cm and was sent to the lab for histopathology after removal. We placed a pressure bandage in Miyas leg to keep any dead space from filling up with fluid and Miya was discharged that evening. She did remarkably well and her incision looked great at her 2 week suture removal.
       The histopath report revealed a mast cell tumor which is malignant (cancerous). Miyas tumor was a grade 1-2 out of 10 and her prognosis is fair. Surgical removal can be curative but these types of tumors frequently recur and have the potential to metastasize (pass into or invade) to the lymph nodes, therefore we will be periodically evaluating Miya for any growth recurrence. Miya continues to do well and recently became a big sister to two Birman kittens!

                                Raefer Ruebush

     
       This is Raefer Ruebush, a 15yr old MN Domestic Longhair Cat. Raefer's owner brought him to Post Pet Hospital in October 2009 for his annual exam. Per is his owner Raefer was scratching at his ears and losing weight. Raefer tested negative for ear mites and labwork was normal. Raefer did have mild periodontal disease and was sent home on an antibiotic, Clindamycin, to treat that. Dr. Grosser recommended a dental cleaning and or dental x-rays, and was ruling out anorexia due to periodontal disease. Upon followup via phone call Raefer was doing well and we recommended reweighing him in 2 weeks.
      Raefer returned to Post Pet Hospital in February 2010, he had lost 2 more pounds, was vomiting and not eating well. Raefer was lethargic and dehydrated. We stared IV fluids and repeated bloodwork. We also took abdominal x-rays and gave Dexamethasone and Vitamin B complex. Raefer's bloodwork indicated acute renal failure. After hospitalization and IV fluids, Raefer was sent hom on K/D diet for the kidneys and Prednisone. 
      We rechecked Raefers kidney values in a month and they were within the normal range. Raefer was doing well, no vomiting and had gained almost 4 pounds. We started tapering off the Prednisonoe and continued with the K/D diet and plan to follow up with Raefer in June. Raefer's response to treatment was so remarkable that we chose him for our Pet of the Month! 

                                   Suzi Steiner

                  

    Each year we anxiously await the arrival of Spring. Spring time also

means Easter baskets full of chocolate bunnies, chocolate eggs and a

wide variety of other assorted chocolates. The fat and sugar in chocolate

can create an unpleasant but temporary upset stomach. The actual toxic

component of chocolate is theobromine. Bakers chocolate contains the

highest level of theobromine followed by dark chocolate and milk chocolate. Chocolate flavored
cakes and cookies will contain the lowest level of

theobromine.
          If your dog has just ingested chocolate it is possible to induce

vomiting; otherwise hospitalization and support are needed until the

chocolate has worked its way out of the system. It takes nearly 4 days for

the effects of chocolate to work its way out of a dog's system.  Theobromine

causes.

                              
                           *Vomiting

                        *Diarrhea

                        *Hyperactivity

                        *Tremors

                        *Seizures

                        *Racing heart rhythm/abnormal rhythms

                        *Death in severe cases

   This is "Suzi" Steiner, she is a 4 1/2 yr old female/spayed Cocker

Spaniel.  On February 23rd "Suzi" ate 6 - 7 ounces of dark chocolate

with the foil wrappers.  She was presented to Post Pet Hospital the

next morning.  Suzi's symptoms were as follows: agitation, rapid

breathing, tremors and a racing heart rhythm.  We placed Suzi on

intravenous fluids and gave Diazepam, a muscle relaxant and anti-

convulsant.  We also administered activated charcoal by mouth to

bind to the chocolate and prevent absorption.  By the next morning

the original symptoms had subsided.  Suzi vomited chocolate and foil

wrappers several times over the next day or two but by day three she

was eating with appetite and back to her normal self!

Number of OUNCES of CHOCOLATE a Pet Would Need to Ingest for TOXICITY   Weight of Pet in Pounds 5 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100                             Milk Chocolate (ounces) 2 4 6 8.2 10.2 12.3 16.4 20.5 24.5 28.6 32.7 36.8 41 Dark Chocolate (ounces) 0.7 1.4 2.1 2.8 3.5 4.2 5.5 6.9 8.3 9.7 11 12.5 13.8 Baking Chocolate (ounces) 0.23 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.9 2.3 2.8 3.2 3.7 4.1 4.6