16. Stray cat with large growth

Sep 30, 2009
To:
...@gmail.com>
Thank you for your follow-up. There are at least three courses of action for you.

1. Discuss with your parents as to why they object to the surgery. Is it due to religious reasons or due to the surgery being a waste of money since this is not your cat? Much depends on whether you are a good negotiator. Negotiating skills are not inherited - young adults in Singapore seldom have such skills, in my opinion. Read books on this subject. as the library has many. I hope you can acquire such skills early.

2. Ask your friend to bring the cat to a vet for surgery and adopt the cat. I presume it is a stray cat that is unfortunate to get an abnormal lump.

3. Do nothing till the cat falls sick when the growth is very large, rubs against the floor. Friction causes open wounds. Wounds get badly infected with maggots or bacteria and becomes very smelly. Maybe your parents have no objections at that time. Or the cat needs to be put to sleep due to ill health and pain.

It is extremely hard to diagnose over the internet or to see pictures. Therefore I will not hazard on the nature of the growth - tumour, encapsulated abscess, cysts, haemotoma, hernia and other conditions.




Subject: Re: Fwd: Cat with tumour on the belly
To: "David Sing"
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 12:28 PM

Hi Mr.Sing

I am not able to bring the cat for surgery as my parents are against the idea even though I am willing to pay for the surgical fees. Nonetheless, I would like to thank you for the detailed information on the tumour/hernia. The cat is constantly under my supervision and she is in a good shape.
I have a distant cousin from Malaysia and he is a vet too. He examine the cat and touched the area of the tumour. He said that it feels lumpy and it is as if there is water inside. He's not really to sure either. He said that I should bring in for surgery.

If you could advise on this matter, I would be grateful.
Many thanks,



On Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 7:07 AM, David Sing wrote:

Pic shows a big tumour or inguinal hernia. Cannot tell from viewing pic. Tumours are found in middle to old aged animals. Cause of breast tumour in cats unknown. Continue with existing feeding as the cat may not eat if you change brand. Change later. No food and water after 10 pm the night before surgery and on day of sugery. Bring in the cat at 9 am if possible. Last week of Sep OK if cat is not in pain.




Subject: Fwd: Cat with tumour on the belly

To: "David Sing"
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2009, 2:50 PM

Hi Mr. Sing

Attached for your reference.
Yes, it's a female cat. I'm not sure about the age of the cat, though.
I will try to bring her for the operation asap.

What's the cause of the breast tumours? Is it deadly?
In the meantime, what are the recommended food should I give her? I've been
giving her Whiskas all these while but I heard from a friend of mine, who
is a cat lover herself, that Whiskas are considered fast food for cats. Is
it true? She told me to buy the can food, Fussies for Cats. However, I have
not feed her with that yet.

What are the procedures to take before I bring her for the operation?
Will the last week of September be okay?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks.

Regards,




On Sun, Sep 13, 2009 at 8:22 AM, David Sing wrote:

> thank you for pics. looks like one or more big breast tumours. I need a pic
> from below, not just side view. is it a female cat? $300 is the lowest fee
> for such an operation for you. Hospitalisation and nursing for a week will
> be free if this is a stray cay.




> Subject: Re: Cat with tumour on the belly
> To: "David Sing"
> Date: Saturday, September 12, 2009, 3:25 AM
>
>
> Hi Mr Sing,
>
> Attached for your reference.
> Hope it helps.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Regards,



> On Sat, Sep 12, 2009 at 7:18 AM, David Sing
> > wrote:
>
>> pictures will save time



>> Subject: Re: Cat with tumour on the belly
>> To: "David Sing"
>> >
>> Date: Friday, September 11, 2009, 2:08 AM
>>
>>
>> Hi Mr. Sing,
>>
>> The tumour is inside the cat's stomach, to be exact. It's quite huge and
>> it dangles when the cat walks.
>> I'll try to get a picture of it.
>> The problem is, it's not my cat.. So, my parents and I are contemplating about the fee. But i'll try to talk it out with my parents.
>> Thanks a lot.
>>
>> Will get back to you soon.




>>
>> On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 7:04 AM, David Sing
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> Estimated fee is around $300 if tumour is on the skin. best to let us
>>> examine and give quotation



>>> Subject: Cat with tumour on the belly
>>> To: judy@toapayohvets.com
>>> Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009, 11:56 AM
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I would like to enquire on the surgery price of removing a tumour on a
>>> cat's stomach.
>>>
>>> Thank you.
>>>
>>> Regards,




FINAL REPORT AT:
www.toapayohvets.com

15. Heart failure in a young Pom

"Your Pom has less than 1 week to live," I examined the one-year rapid panting and gasping for breath open-mouthed Pomeranian with a pad wrapped around her backside. "If you can't help her to breathe normally."

2 days ago, the Pom coughed blood, splattering red clots onto the apartment's floor. Vet 1 had warded her and advised euthanasia a few times while the dog was treated past midnight, according to the owner. "Your dog would need to be hooked up permanently to an Oxygen mask," Vet 1 had said. "Yet, I did not see the dog with the oxygen mask all the time during treatment," the boyfriend commented to me. I did not say anything as it was one side of the story.

In the morning, Vet 1 discharged the dog while another Vet 2 from the same practice gave a second opinion and medication. Vet 2 said: "This dog will live from 1 month to 1 year."

48 hours later, I was consulted, being referred to by the owner's 2 friends. It was kind of Vet 1 to give the two X-rays of the heart to the owner so that there was no waste of time for second opinions. Even the Singapore General Hospital where I had a chest X-ray recently does not do release X-rays to the patient.

"The vets said that this tablet will reduce the size of the enlarged heart." I shook my head. "Or stop it becoming more enlarged." I did not comment as there might be some mis-communication. I need to check this medicine out.

The dog's heart was beating too fast. I passed the microscope to the Temasek Polytechnic Vet Technician intern so that he could hear abnormal heart sounds. "Can you hear the 'whooshing' heart sounds in the stethoscope?" I asked him. "Normal heart sounds are distinct." He nodded his head. I offered the stethoscope to the young lady. She declined. This was too stressful. The dog was about to die from heart failure soon. His tongue was purplish.

However, I immediately gave an injection of 20 mg furosemide from the one ampoule of Lasix IM in the left muscle of the thigh. There was hope. Then the dog was crated while I showed the lady pictures of the normal heart in X-rays from Ve Medicine text book.

"Is it dangerous to the heart if the dog has more than 1 X-ray?"

"No," I said. "Your dog had only 2 X-rays at Vet 1 and never had X-rays before."




"Please take another X-ray," the lady said. I was surprised by this request.

"The X-rays from Vet 1 are excellent," I advised that there was no need for more X-rays. However the lady insisted. It was 10 minutes after my Lasix injection. The young Pom was barking loudly and her breathing was normal. She passed out a lot of urine. Lasix had reduced the amount of water in the lungs by getting the kidneys to increase urine floe. The onset of diuresis is within 1 hour. So the dog felt normal now.

As the duration of action is 6-8 hours, I got the Pom X-rayed 4 hours later by Vet 4. It was also good to discuss this case with him. Vet 4 proposed cardiac ultrasound to check whether there was pericardial effusion which could be treated via ultrasound imaging. Also, ultrasound could reveal any disorder of the tricuspid valve.

"Would the Lasix resolve any pericardial effusion?" I sought his opinion. He nodded his head. He had one case of success in draining the pericardial fluid from a dog who is still alive.

"The owner is concerned about the cost, saying she had spent $800 at Vet 1 and 2." Now, X-rays and a cardiac ultrasound could add up to $400. Vet 4 reduced his fees while I forgo my consultation fee so that this Pom could get the ultrasound done.His fees were a low $171.00. I appreciated his kind gesture. I charged $96 for the medications. The dog went home on a strict advice to stay at home and 3-hourly medication for the first week and communication with me. No no more fun and exercise at East Coast Recreation Park.

"How log will this dog live?" I asked Vet 4. "Vet 2 had said up to one year."
"Vet 2 is a bit too optimistic. This dog is unlikely to live past his 2nd year birthday."

The lady owner was extremely sad. This was a young dog. A present from her boyfriend. With compliance to taking drugs, a proper diet and giving medication when the dog started panting past midnight, the Pom is still alive at this time of my record today, Sunday Sep 27, 2009. It is only 7 days since the Pom coughed out blood, but there was no more horrible panting episodes.

Full record and updates will be at www.toapayohvets.com

14. A canine coup d'etat

"Why did you go to the SPCA at 2 pm to abort the scheduled euthanasia of this old dog?" I asked the couple who requested me to euthanase the dog as it was in poor haelth. One lethal injection and the vet gets his payment for his services.

"It was mum who sent the dog to the SPCA," the wife said. "She is very old and is unable to take care of the dog for my brother who is in hospital now."

This case reminded me of the various coup d'etat in Thailand. A coup is the sudden unconstitional removal of a legitimate government. In this case, the legitimate owner is in hospital. If his faithful companion who sticks to him through thick and thin is put to sleep suddenly, there will be reactions.

I asked the couple to ask the two pre-teen children to wait outside the examination room and advised: "The owner will find that the veterinary certificate of euthanasia with the cause that the dog is in poor health or cancer is incredulous. There will be high emotions and possibly bodily harm to family members. High emotions may lead to mental instability and murders."

The couple was silent for a while. They had not anticipated such extreme possibilities.

"You know the owner's temperament well," I said. I could also foresee litigation and even my demise by attackers unknown, due to acts of vengeance. My retribution for euthanasia of an old dog in a canine coup d'etat. This scenario sounds hilarious to you readers, but murders of passion do occur in any society.

Such cases must be handled carefully by the vet. Written permission must be obtained from the real owner. Analyse what is the problem. The main problem seems to me that the mum could not care for the dog. The solution was for me to board it at minimal cost. The couple took the dog home after 7 days.

I did not follow up such cases since I don't have the funds to help out the owner. A "PDSA" institution like that in the UK for dog owners unable to pay private vet fees will be good for such cases but nobody in Singapore has got one started.

13. Heath Screening 7-month-old Golden Retrievers

--- On Fri, 9/11/09, ...@gmail.com> wrote:


Subject: health screening for new dogs
Date: Friday, September 11, 2009, 12:39 AM

Dear Doc,

I want to adopt a 7 month old golden retriever (local cross breed
maybe) from my friend. It's not microchipped yet, so we want to implant
one for it and have a health screening.
Our most concerned disease is parasite toxoplasmosis gongii. I heard
this parasite can infect human and result in miscarriage. Although my
wife and I don't want to have baby yet, we don't want to have this
risk in future.
Hence, besides this T. Gongii testing, what else testing do you suggest?

We really love dogs. I also bought another pedigree golden retriever
from a renowned pet shop. They are specialized in golden retriever
breeding. This dog is also 7 month old, female as well. I want to have a health
screen for her too, cause people from pet shop said they can only
garantee me 24 hours for refund. So can you give me some suggestion
about how to test it?
I have checked her body. She looks quite good, but I am afraid of her
teeth. The last few teeth look like in grey color. I am not sure it's
due to some disease or just hygiene problem. As a matter of fact, I
did ask them to brush her teeth for me, but after that, the
improvement was negligible and bad breath still present.


Thank you doctor for your help! They are coming next week Thursday,
therefore I need to make sure we have enough preparation.

With kind regards,
Name


E-MAIL REPLY

Re: health screening for new dogs - dr sing
Friday, September 11, 2009 11:34 PM
From: Dr Sing

To:
...@gmail.com>
1. Thank you for email.
2. Regarding pedigree golden retriever with bad teeth and bad breath at such a young age of 7 months, it is best you don't buy her.
3. A general health examination including eye exam will be done. Cost is S$65.00/dog. Blood test to check blood system, liver, kidney and diabetes cost $150/dog. Toxoplasmosis blood test is separate charge, estimated to be around $100.
4. A 24-hour guarantee from the dog seller does not give you much time to know whether the dog has had been infected with the serious parvoviral disease if the dog is just infected prior to purchase. Disease shows itself 7-14 days after infection.
5. In 7-month-old dogs, you may need to check for stomach worms (stool sample), heartworms (blood test) and parvoviral infections (blood test). Approximate costs for the 3 tests $150.

Best wishes

P.S. Don't buy a dog with bad breath.