Here I will be writing up the notes I took during my work experience, including information I later researched in areas I found interesting. As there is I lot, I will be writing it up in various posts.
A dog with Diabetes Mellitus has blood glucose tested by taking blood either from their ear or gums, and will require careful diet and exercise as well as regular insulin injections for the rest of their life.
Bitch spay check up - are they producing milk, are they lactating or not? Dogs can have phantom pregnancy, check so as not to spay during this, instead spay between seasons, a few months after last. Also for discharge from vulva (infection, could be pyometra).
Spaying, seasons and psuedocyesis (false pregnancy),
http://www.galastop.com/Veterinary-Zone/False-Pregnancy/Chronic-False-Pregnancy
(Why Does it occur? Section)
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_false_pregnancy.html
Heavy dogs potentially euthanised when older due to arthritis, pain and difficulty moving.
Places to check for grass seeds - paws, feet, underarm, ears
Mammary swelling with discharge - likely infected, breakdown of normal cells/tumour cells causing discharge
Anal glands
- position fingers 4 & 8 either side, hold tail down, squeeze or "milk" to remove swelling and pus from gland/sac
- Swelling or infection, potentially due to poor diet leading to loose faeces so anal glands/sacs are not properly emptied, more fiber in the diet may be suggested.
Cut away from the dog, not into vital organs
Find the linea alba for bitch spays, where muscle on either side of body meets
Importance of spaying
- remove by 6 months prevents growth of mammory tissue, where 50% of tumours are malignant
- means pyometras can't occur
Pyometra is an infection of the uterus, fills with pus.
Pyometra symptoms - temperature, thirst, weakness, high white cell counts, lethargy, pus/discharge from vulva
Open Pyometra: Discharge, lethargy, fever, anorexia, sometimes vomiting.
Closed Cervix Pyometra: No discharge but the other signs and symptoms are present. With ultrasound, sometimes fluid can actually be seen in the horns of the uterus and white cell counts may be high, leading to the diagnosis.
Importance of castrating
- behavioural problems removed (lowered hormone levels) i.e. aggression, running away (can smell bitch in heat)
- testicular cancer, prostate problems
Thyroid imbalance
- typically low in dogs (underactive thyroid), slow metabolism, fat and lazy
- diet restriction, medication for the rest of their life
- loss of appetite, eating less but still gaining weight, lethargic
Helpful links:
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/dog_restraint.aspx
https://www.aaha.org/public_documents/professional/guidelines/weightmgmt_bodyconditionscoring.pdf
A dog with Diabetes Mellitus has blood glucose tested by taking blood either from their ear or gums, and will require careful diet and exercise as well as regular insulin injections for the rest of their life.
Bitch spay check up - are they producing milk, are they lactating or not? Dogs can have phantom pregnancy, check so as not to spay during this, instead spay between seasons, a few months after last. Also for discharge from vulva (infection, could be pyometra).
Spaying, seasons and psuedocyesis (false pregnancy),
http://www.galastop.com/Veterinary-Zone/False-Pregnancy/Chronic-False-Pregnancy
(Why Does it occur? Section)
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_false_pregnancy.html
Heavy dogs potentially euthanised when older due to arthritis, pain and difficulty moving.
Places to check for grass seeds - paws, feet, underarm, ears
Mammary swelling with discharge - likely infected, breakdown of normal cells/tumour cells causing discharge
Anal glands
- position fingers 4 & 8 either side, hold tail down, squeeze or "milk" to remove swelling and pus from gland/sac
- Swelling or infection, potentially due to poor diet leading to loose faeces so anal glands/sacs are not properly emptied, more fiber in the diet may be suggested.
Cut away from the dog, not into vital organs
Find the linea alba for bitch spays, where muscle on either side of body meets
Importance of spaying
- remove by 6 months prevents growth of mammory tissue, where 50% of tumours are malignant
- means pyometras can't occur
Pyometra is an infection of the uterus, fills with pus.
Pyometra symptoms - temperature, thirst, weakness, high white cell counts, lethargy, pus/discharge from vulva
Open Pyometra: Discharge, lethargy, fever, anorexia, sometimes vomiting.
Closed Cervix Pyometra: No discharge but the other signs and symptoms are present. With ultrasound, sometimes fluid can actually be seen in the horns of the uterus and white cell counts may be high, leading to the diagnosis.
Importance of castrating
- behavioural problems removed (lowered hormone levels) i.e. aggression, running away (can smell bitch in heat)
- testicular cancer, prostate problems
Thyroid imbalance
- typically low in dogs (underactive thyroid), slow metabolism, fat and lazy
- diet restriction, medication for the rest of their life
- loss of appetite, eating less but still gaining weight, lethargic
Helpful links:
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/dog_restraint.aspx
https://www.aaha.org/public_documents/professional/guidelines/weightmgmt_bodyconditionscoring.pdf