Because I see a lot of exotic pets I often get some strange cases referred to me. Today I had someone who does wildlife rehabilitation bring in a baby squirrel that wasn't weaned. It had fallen out of a tree a week ago and her dogs had brought some of the babies to her. One of them had suffered a wound to its head and she was worried, so I got to see him.
Unfortunately, the wound was pretty bad, with skin missing on the top of his head and showing no signs of growing back together. His left eye was also injured and didn't appear to have normal function. Situations like this can be difficult for many reasons. First, because it's a wild animal, you can't easily keep them in captivity even when raised from a baby like this. Thankfully the person was experienced with keeping wildlife, so this didn't concern me. The squirrel needed surgery to do a skin graft and remove the injured eye, which wasn't inexpensive. And lastly this is a risky surgery in such a small, young animal (110 grams), so there isn't a guarantee that he would survive surgery.
From a medical perspective it's interesting to see uncommon animals like this, and would be a great surgery to perform. However, with the risks and costs, it may not be realistic. And at this point the squirrel will never be able to be released into the wild because he is blind in one eye. It's a tough decision, and one that hasn't been made yet. The owner was going to talk to her husband and let us know. If I hear back from them I'll post an update.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Hidden Testicles
There is a medical condition called cryptorchidism where one or both testicles do not descend into the scrotum. In a fetus the testicles develop near the kidneys and during and shortly after pregnancy they move through the abdomen, through the groin, under the skin, and down into the scrotum. At any point along that journey a testicle can stop moving and remain where it is. This can be a problem since a testicle is not designed to stay in the abdomen, and the increased body temperature can predispose it to become cancerous over time. Why? Testicles in mammals are actually designed to function best at a little less than body temperature, which is why they are normally housed outside of the core of the body.
By a few weeks old both testicles should be noticeable on a routine exam, and definitely by 3-4 months old. If they haven't descended into the scrotum by then, they really aren't going to. This means surgery, and not just a routine one. If the retained testicle is under the skin next to the penis, it's usually just a matter of making a second incision and taking it out. But if the testicle is retained in the abdomen, it can be quite a challenge to find it. We have to make an abdominal incision and go hunting for it. It's a little like doing a spay on a female, but the testicle is smaller than a uterus and often harder to find.
Why bring this up? Well, many people aren't aware of this condition. If your vet diagnoses your dog with this disorder, follow their recommendations and have your dog neutered and the retained testicle removed. And when they present you with the extra charges, especially if it's in the abdomen, understand that this is often more difficult than doing a spay and the fees are necessary. One of my associates was doing this surgery yesterday and had a heck of a time finding that retained testicle. It took about 45 minutes, when a routine neuter for her is less than 10 minutes and a routine spay 30 minutes or less. That poor puppy had a very large abdominal incision, but thankfully he will heal and be just fine. But it was a reminder that this kind of surgery isn't always routine.
By a few weeks old both testicles should be noticeable on a routine exam, and definitely by 3-4 months old. If they haven't descended into the scrotum by then, they really aren't going to. This means surgery, and not just a routine one. If the retained testicle is under the skin next to the penis, it's usually just a matter of making a second incision and taking it out. But if the testicle is retained in the abdomen, it can be quite a challenge to find it. We have to make an abdominal incision and go hunting for it. It's a little like doing a spay on a female, but the testicle is smaller than a uterus and often harder to find.
Why bring this up? Well, many people aren't aware of this condition. If your vet diagnoses your dog with this disorder, follow their recommendations and have your dog neutered and the retained testicle removed. And when they present you with the extra charges, especially if it's in the abdomen, understand that this is often more difficult than doing a spay and the fees are necessary. One of my associates was doing this surgery yesterday and had a heck of a time finding that retained testicle. It took about 45 minutes, when a routine neuter for her is less than 10 minutes and a routine spay 30 minutes or less. That poor puppy had a very large abdominal incision, but thankfully he will heal and be just fine. But it was a reminder that this kind of surgery isn't always routine.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
When They Do What They're Supposed To
Today I had an extremely proud moment as a father. Kids don't always do what they should, but today my son did in a great way, and I think he got a great lesson in doing the right thing.
We had a family day together, and as part of it we went to a very large used book store we like to visit. This store has books of all kinds, as well as DVDs, CDs, and video games. We were trading in some of our own things we no longer wanted, and planned to use the store credit we earned to each buy a few things. As my son was looking around, he noticed some money on the ground. From what he told us later, he saw the "1" and thought it was a $1 bill until he picked it up and discovered that it was a $100 bill. Now here's the pretty remarkable part. He's nine years old, and on his own he went up to the counter and told somebody that he found it on the floor. He didn't keep it. He didn't even come to find me or my wife. By himself he decided to take it to someone in the store, and felt comfortable enough doing that. He knew that the right thing to do was to turn it in and report it, and he knew who he had to go to.
My wife came and told me about that and the news made me beam. Apparently the clerk had asked him for his name and address, and told him that if nobody came to claim it within 30 days, it would be his. A few minutes after this I heard his name on the overhead speakers, asked to come to the front desk. I thought that perhaps the person had claimed the money and wanted to thank him, perhaps even giving him a little reward. But no, his day got even better. The clerk had told the store manager, and the manager was apparently so impressed by his honesty that she gave him a $50 store credit voucher! And if the money isn't claimed in a month, he still gets that as well!
I went and found my son, gave him a big hug, and told him how proud I was of him for doing the right thing. One of the life lessons I try to teach my kids is that "when you do bad, bad things happen...when you do good, good things happen." This has been a philosophy of mine as I try to instill in my children the understanding that actions have consequences, both good and bad. By choosing how you will act, you can often choose the outcome of events. Today was a great life lesson for my kids, as my son did the right thing without being told, and was greatly rewarded for it in praise and materially. With that voucher he was able to get three books and two video games, which was more than he was planning on being able to buy.
The longer I'm a parent, the more I realize how difficult that job is. You do everything you can to instill the right values and ways of thinking in your kids, hoping that some of it will stick. My parents did a good job of it, and even though I didn't always agree with them (and sometimes still don't with my father), they definitely taught me right from wrong, and I'm a better man because of my upbringing. Even though my son is generally a great kid and usually considerate and sweet, today was such a big moment of me realizing that those lessons had really sunk in.
We had a family day together, and as part of it we went to a very large used book store we like to visit. This store has books of all kinds, as well as DVDs, CDs, and video games. We were trading in some of our own things we no longer wanted, and planned to use the store credit we earned to each buy a few things. As my son was looking around, he noticed some money on the ground. From what he told us later, he saw the "1" and thought it was a $1 bill until he picked it up and discovered that it was a $100 bill. Now here's the pretty remarkable part. He's nine years old, and on his own he went up to the counter and told somebody that he found it on the floor. He didn't keep it. He didn't even come to find me or my wife. By himself he decided to take it to someone in the store, and felt comfortable enough doing that. He knew that the right thing to do was to turn it in and report it, and he knew who he had to go to.
My wife came and told me about that and the news made me beam. Apparently the clerk had asked him for his name and address, and told him that if nobody came to claim it within 30 days, it would be his. A few minutes after this I heard his name on the overhead speakers, asked to come to the front desk. I thought that perhaps the person had claimed the money and wanted to thank him, perhaps even giving him a little reward. But no, his day got even better. The clerk had told the store manager, and the manager was apparently so impressed by his honesty that she gave him a $50 store credit voucher! And if the money isn't claimed in a month, he still gets that as well!
I went and found my son, gave him a big hug, and told him how proud I was of him for doing the right thing. One of the life lessons I try to teach my kids is that "when you do bad, bad things happen...when you do good, good things happen." This has been a philosophy of mine as I try to instill in my children the understanding that actions have consequences, both good and bad. By choosing how you will act, you can often choose the outcome of events. Today was a great life lesson for my kids, as my son did the right thing without being told, and was greatly rewarded for it in praise and materially. With that voucher he was able to get three books and two video games, which was more than he was planning on being able to buy.
The longer I'm a parent, the more I realize how difficult that job is. You do everything you can to instill the right values and ways of thinking in your kids, hoping that some of it will stick. My parents did a good job of it, and even though I didn't always agree with them (and sometimes still don't with my father), they definitely taught me right from wrong, and I'm a better man because of my upbringing. Even though my son is generally a great kid and usually considerate and sweet, today was such a big moment of me realizing that those lessons had really sunk in.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
In Memoriam
I now have my computer back and running normally. Now that I'm getting back on the internet and blogging again, I wanted to start with an event that happened two days before losing my hard drive.
Guinevere was always a special dog, and the best dog I've had. She was sweet to everyone she met and had a joy about her that was immediately evident. She wasn't a typically hyperactive lab, and was instead content to lay at the foot of the bed or crowd next to you on the couch. She was gentle to and accepting of every pet we brought in after her, welcoming them with her quiet curiosity. And at only five and a half years old, we lost her.
The symptoms began a couple of months ago when she had the strange gastrointestinal signs I blogged about. Though she recovered from that bout, there were very subtle issues that would crop up now and again but weren't severe or obvious. A few weeks ago we noticed an increase in some of the signs, as well as a sudden enlargement of the lymph nodes in her neck. Neurological signs began to show, and the biopsy revealed lymphosarcoma. A phone consultation with a neurologist confirmed that it was in brain and that even with chemotherapy the prognosis was very poor. As her symptoms quickly worsened over only a few days, we made the decision to euthanize her. That was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
The house is emptier without her, and our hearts miss her terribly. Though it has now been close to four weeks, we still acutely feel the loss. So this blog is dedicated to our sweet girl, Guinevere. We will always love you, and look forward to when we can see you again in Heaven.
Guinevere was always a special dog, and the best dog I've had. She was sweet to everyone she met and had a joy about her that was immediately evident. She wasn't a typically hyperactive lab, and was instead content to lay at the foot of the bed or crowd next to you on the couch. She was gentle to and accepting of every pet we brought in after her, welcoming them with her quiet curiosity. And at only five and a half years old, we lost her.
The symptoms began a couple of months ago when she had the strange gastrointestinal signs I blogged about. Though she recovered from that bout, there were very subtle issues that would crop up now and again but weren't severe or obvious. A few weeks ago we noticed an increase in some of the signs, as well as a sudden enlargement of the lymph nodes in her neck. Neurological signs began to show, and the biopsy revealed lymphosarcoma. A phone consultation with a neurologist confirmed that it was in brain and that even with chemotherapy the prognosis was very poor. As her symptoms quickly worsened over only a few days, we made the decision to euthanize her. That was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
The house is emptier without her, and our hearts miss her terribly. Though it has now been close to four weeks, we still acutely feel the loss. So this blog is dedicated to our sweet girl, Guinevere. We will always love you, and look forward to when we can see you again in Heaven.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Technical Difficulties
Just a quick post to announce that the hard drive on my computer has died. It will take a week or two to get everything fixed and transferred over, so I'll have less internet access until then. I'll be back to posting by the end of the month.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Always Double Check
On Sunday one of my associates saw a puppy who had swallowed some rocks. The abdominal radiographs showed the rocks clearly and one was somewhat large. Since the puppy was acting normal, she recommended that he come back the following day to repeat the x-rays and see if the rocks had passed through the gastrointestinal tract.
I saw him on Monday, repeated the radiographs, and noted that the larger stone and one other were still in his stomach. This was concerning because it should only take 2-3 hours for the stomach to empty and less than a day for everything to pass through the other end. Here were were a full day later and the rocks remained. This meant that we were going to have to go in surgically and remove them to prevent further problems. Since he was still acting normal I scheduled them for today and had them watch him overnight.
A principle I learned long ago is that when dealing with a GI foreign body that you plan to surgically remove, always double-check that it's still there just prior to surgery. So when the puppy came in this morning I took one more x-ray to make sure the rocks were still in the stomach. Lo-and-behold, the rocks had moved! They were out of the stomach and into the small intestine. And the puppy was still eating, active, and looking perfectly normal.
This is why we need to double-check in situations like this. If I had just jumped in and started the surgery not only would I have put him through it potentially unnecessarily, but the rocks wouldn't have been in the stomach where I would have looked. By a simple repeat of the radiographs I was able to save a surgery and the ensuing risks.
Now the puppy isn't completely out of the woods as he could still obstruct. But he's in good enough shape that we're going to give him another 48 hours and re-evaluate whether we need to do surgery at that point. And before we do, we'll definitely repeat radiographs one more time!
I saw him on Monday, repeated the radiographs, and noted that the larger stone and one other were still in his stomach. This was concerning because it should only take 2-3 hours for the stomach to empty and less than a day for everything to pass through the other end. Here were were a full day later and the rocks remained. This meant that we were going to have to go in surgically and remove them to prevent further problems. Since he was still acting normal I scheduled them for today and had them watch him overnight.
A principle I learned long ago is that when dealing with a GI foreign body that you plan to surgically remove, always double-check that it's still there just prior to surgery. So when the puppy came in this morning I took one more x-ray to make sure the rocks were still in the stomach. Lo-and-behold, the rocks had moved! They were out of the stomach and into the small intestine. And the puppy was still eating, active, and looking perfectly normal.
This is why we need to double-check in situations like this. If I had just jumped in and started the surgery not only would I have put him through it potentially unnecessarily, but the rocks wouldn't have been in the stomach where I would have looked. By a simple repeat of the radiographs I was able to save a surgery and the ensuing risks.
Now the puppy isn't completely out of the woods as he could still obstruct. But he's in good enough shape that we're going to give him another 48 hours and re-evaluate whether we need to do surgery at that point. And before we do, we'll definitely repeat radiographs one more time!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Veterinary Shortage
Believe it or not, here in the US there is a shortage of veterinarians. More specifically there is a shortage of vets entering large animal (livestock) medicine and public health medicine. This concern is frequently mentioned in industry journals and articles, and has become a real issue here. Fewer and fewer graduating vets are choosing to enter these fields of medicine, so as older practitioners retire there are less waiting to replace them.
In some parts of the country there is only one vet per 100,000 or more cattle. About 75% of newly graduated vets pursue a career in small animal medicine. I believe that this problem is related to the changing demographics of where people live. A century ago most people were from rural communities, growing up on or around farms. Nowadays the population is predominantly suburban or urban, like myself. I never had any exposure to or experience with farm animals until I was actually in veterinary school, and never considered going in this direction with my job. Since I had grown up around families and pets, I wanted to work with these animals and situations. This is common of most new vets and not many have farm experience.
The reason this shortage is a problem is that our food supplies are from animals, which require proper veterinary care. Without vets skilled in these areas of medicine the animals may suffer, be sick, or otherwise not be fit for consumption. The shortage actually puts public health and food supplies at risk. It's actually reached the point where the US Department of Agriculture is introducing legislation to give special grants to encourage people to pursue careers in the areas of shortages and change how veterinary schools select candidates.
So if anyone wants a job in veterinary medicine in the US and you want to work with farm animals, your career is virtually guaranteed!
In some parts of the country there is only one vet per 100,000 or more cattle. About 75% of newly graduated vets pursue a career in small animal medicine. I believe that this problem is related to the changing demographics of where people live. A century ago most people were from rural communities, growing up on or around farms. Nowadays the population is predominantly suburban or urban, like myself. I never had any exposure to or experience with farm animals until I was actually in veterinary school, and never considered going in this direction with my job. Since I had grown up around families and pets, I wanted to work with these animals and situations. This is common of most new vets and not many have farm experience.
The reason this shortage is a problem is that our food supplies are from animals, which require proper veterinary care. Without vets skilled in these areas of medicine the animals may suffer, be sick, or otherwise not be fit for consumption. The shortage actually puts public health and food supplies at risk. It's actually reached the point where the US Department of Agriculture is introducing legislation to give special grants to encourage people to pursue careers in the areas of shortages and change how veterinary schools select candidates.
So if anyone wants a job in veterinary medicine in the US and you want to work with farm animals, your career is virtually guaranteed!
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