1. Pekinese with right eye ulcer. Owners had run out of eye drops. Around 10 days since tarsorrhapy done by Dr Daniel.
Eyelid stitches removed. Dr Daniel used fluorescein eye stain. NO more staining indicating ulcer had healed. I took some images of pre- and post-injury corneal ulceration. I will use this as a case study for video production. Excellent surgical outcome in this case. This was because the owner's mother knew how to care for this dog. The eyelids did not have any discharge or dirt on Day 12 when I saw him as contrasted to other dogs with similar problems and being cared for at home. Case is written at: Standard Operating Procedures - Eye corneal ulcer & tarsorrhaphy
2. Foul-smelling "decomposed dog" case
Shih Tzu had been warded here for 15 days. No more bad
smell. Main problem is an intense ventral contact dermatitis.
Dog just had to scratch belly -- traumatic injury and smells.
Will follow up.
History. Shih Tzu, Male, Born Sep 2004.
Seen other vets in Dec 5, 2009, Apr 16 10, May 10, 10, Aug 6
10, Oct 31 10, Apr 5, 11, Jul 10 11.
Wanted to send dog to SPCA if I can't cure this "smell like
dead dog" lower half of body. "The decomposed dog smell comes
back 2nd day after bathing," the serious gentleman told
me. "Not all skin diseases in the Shih Tzu are curable," I
said to him. "Hospitalise the dog for a few days and let me
observe him." The dog had a full coat with no hair loss. Some
scales drop off from the lower belly and chest areas which
were inflamed. I expressed the anal sacs.
They were filled with dark brown oil and very smelly. The
flies appeared from nowhere and landed on this oil when I took
the tissue with the oil for photography outside the
Surgery. "Can't be the anal sac oil causing this smell," the
owner disagreed with my findings and the fact that the flies
were so interested in this anal sac oil. Normally, flies don't
come at all. My hypothesis was that the oil might have licked
out and stained the dog with the smell of dead flesh. The
owner was not convinced as he said the groomer and the other
vets had expressed the glands. Well, I had the pictures of the
flies but it was pointless to show him since he had discounted
this as a cause.
Shih Tzu keeps scratching lower body every day | Foul-smelling anal sac oil expressed. Flies appeared from nowhere |
I smelt the dog's body on Day 3 of
hospitalisation with medication given and skin washes done.
There was a faint oily smell but not the decomposed meat
smell. "Not that smelly," I said to the owner. But I observed
that the dog's lower body was very red. As if the dog had
rubbed it or more likely scratched it vigorously. The inflamed
neck and groin was seen on and off. So, this was the problem.
My hypothesis is that the dog just could not help scratching
the lower body, due to conditioned reflexes. He had been
scratching it for months as it was a way to relieve the
itchiness. Some anal oil would have contaminated this
traumatised skin and made the skin much more itchy and
infected. So, 2 days after bathing, the rancid dead flesh
smell came back.
Altogether, I hospitalised the dog for 14 days. "How much it
will cost me?" the owner asked. "Not much," I said. "Since
there is no surgery done." After 14 days of medication and
washing, I sent the dog home with instructions that he wear a
shirt to protect his lower chest and groin. The owner did that
and on July 9, 2012, I phoned him. He was very happy as the
dog did not smell anymore. Before sending the dog home, I
expressed the anal sac. Another lot of dark brown anal oil
came out.
This dog was not sent to the SPCA now and should live a normal
life much loved by this serious gentleman. Dogs with skin
diseases are sent to the SPCA to be put to sleep usually. Skin
diseases in Shih Tzus are more common than in other breeds, in
my practice experience. It is possible that the busy and
time-pressed Singapore owners don't have time to do the daily
brushing and grooming. This leads to skin infections and
continuous itchiness. Many of these skin disease cases need
reviews and strict compliance with medication prescribed. But
this owner said that his dog passed blood in the stools when
the other vets prescribed oral medication and so he did not do
it. He did see 7 vets in 7 times as the vet practice has
different vets on duty at times he went.
UPDATE:
Yesterday, July 9, 2012, I phoned the owner to find out the
fate of this Shih Tzu. He said: "No smell,"
"Did you buy the shirt for him to wear?" I asked. "Yes,"
he sounded quite happy. I hope this Shih Tzu's anal sacs don't
produce more of the stinking oil again. I doubt the owner will
come for review when there was no apparent skin problems!