Vomit

Last week I received an early morning distress call from Pippa’s owner. Pippa had vomited four times during the night and had not slept at all - even keeping the family up in the process. The last bout of vomiting had also contained some blood. Vomiting is a very common symptom in dogs and may have many different causes. 

Pippa is a five-year-old female Pekingese, and very much a family dog that has hardly ever suffered from ailments, so everyone at home was alarmed and distressed to witness such violent vomiting.
The Pekingese is a small, long-haired, flat-faced dog and a very popular breed in Malta. This dog is an ancient Chinese toy breed, also known as the Lion Dog due to its resemblance to the lion statues found at the entrance of many Chinese imperial buildings. I have always found the Pekingese to be among the most docile of the smaller breeds, and Pippa was no exception – a really sweet-natured dog.

Vomiting is a very common symptom in dogs and may have many different causes. The fact is that dogs vomit very easily when compared to, say, cats, horses or humans. This is possibly due to their ancestral ‘pack’ origins and instinctive competition to eat – a sort of philosophy of ‘eat now, think later’. So vomiting in dogs should be considered as a form of defence of the stomach against anything that it considers undesirable.

The rule of thumb on a normal healthy dog is that any vomiting which is less frequent than once a week could be ignored. Any vomiting that occurs more frequently than that should tell you that something is not quite right with your dog.  In addition, when a dog vomits, even on an empty stomach, precious nutrients are being lost together with liquids and electrolytes, and a relatively healthy dog can quickly deteriorate. Pippa had, in fact, vomited four times in one night, so her owners had good reason to be worried.

In cases of repeated vomiting, first of all it is important to make sure that there is no general illness which may be causing this. In particular, the most important of these are possible kidney and/or liver conditions. Irritations of the stomach lining due to dogs’ instinctive propensity to ‘eat now, think later’ is a common problem. So dogs are capable of eating anything and everything they might regard as food – including bones.

Dogs also occasionally ingest foreign bodies, such as pieces of toys or small stones. While stones can be very easy to diagnose because they are very visible on X-ray, other foreign objects can be difficult – as in the case of peach stones, which are hardly visible on X-ray owing to their organic woody composition.

If objects such as peach stones are ingested and are small enough to travel down the intestine, this results in intermittent bouts of vomiting, which is generally beneficial for the dog, but terrible for rapid diagnosis.

Perhaps the one that tops my list with regard to difficult diagnoses was an internal hernia which was only resolved during exploratory surgery when we found that the dog’s intestines had become entangled through a tear in an adjacent intestine.

A simple symptom such as vomiting could have a straightforward cause, but it could also have a complicated source. In such cases, if unresolved, it very often becomes a race against time to save the dog.

There are a number of other conditions which could cause repeated vomiting. Megaesophagus is a congenital defect where the pipe taking food down from the mouth to the stomach is wider than it should be. This means that the food ingested by the dog never makes it to the stomach and in most cases is regurgitated soon after being swallowed. There are also a number of abdominal tumours that can cause vomiting and an ultrasound examination will reveal such tumours.

Perhaps it’s worth mentioning that you should always be vigilant about items that your dog could possibly ingest – be it edible or not. Apart from upholding good feeding principles, you should also avoid allowing small-sized toys, particularly if you know your dog has a habit of carrying things in its mouth.

What is important if and when vomiting does occur, is to gather and observe as much information as possible for your vet, who will ask you for all related information: how many times? How long has it been going on? What came up? Was it related to drinking or eating or both? How soon after ingesting does it happen? Are stools being passed in the meantime? What are they like and when was the last incident?

All this information will help your vet assess how serious the condition may be and will avoid losing valuable time if a serious situation does exist. Pippa’s blood tests turned out just fine. She had been given a doggy treat she enjoyed tremendously just a couple of days before, so diagnosis was quite straightforward. Pippa’s owner called the next day to let me know that all vomiting had stopped and that Pippa was getting back to normal and showing the first signs of a return to interest in food.

Dr. Martin Debattista
Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

Grass seeds

Grass seeds

This week Hank came back to the clinic for a follow-up.  I had seen Hank four days previously with a very inflamed red eye which was causing him no small discomfort.

Hank is a two-year old neutered red and white male Brittany Spaniel with a typical medium-length coat.  The Brittany has been bred as a gun dog, primarily to hunt birds, but has also become popular in the last couple of years as a family pet.

I had only managed to examine the eye after having sedated Hank due to all the pain and discomfort.  Only after having cleaned the eye could I see the tail end of a grass seed which had perforated the inner mucosa of the lower eyelid which was gently removed.

I was glad that I decided to sedate Hank to get a closer look. Hank’s owner glad that he decided to finally visit the vet after a whole two days of Hank not getting better, and most of all Hank was allot happier when he woke up.

Walking out in the Maltese countryside in spring and summer when the grass has already dried out can give dogs plenty of enjoyment, but it can also cause problems that you should be aware of.  At this time of year, grasses and weeds are dropping their seeds and the most problematic of these seeds are the spike-like arrows and round burrs.  These seeds have been designed to attach themselves to passing traffic in an attempt to disperse and reseed.

The spiky arrows have fibers that resemble Velco and cling to clothes and dog coats.  They tenaciously migrate in only one direction and will therefore even burrow into skin.  The outcome can be nasty and sometimes difficult to treat.  The round burrs are huge problem for owners of dogs with long floppy ears and spaniels top the list in this respect.  Apart from matting fur, these burrs can get lodged in the ears and cause severe swelling and pain.  So, at this time of year, you need to keep an eye out for changes in canine behaviour relating to the ears, nose, eyes, mouth, and paws. 

If your dog is:

·       shaking it head, favoring one side of its head, or scratching its ear, it is possible that a grass seed has become lodged in the ear canal.  The ear is a very delicate instrument and your dog will suffer if it not treated quickly.

·       sneezing violently, possibly with blood, or pawing at its nose, then a grass seed could have got caught up in the nasal canal. 

·       exhibiting signs of weeping or discharge from the eye and the eye is red and inflamed.  A grass seed could be embedded in the soft tissue beneath the upper or lower eyelid.  If not attended to, your dog could go blind.

·        limping, then the first thing to check for is a grass seed.  Seeds that get caught in between dogs’ toes can penetrate the skin .

·       showing a skin swelling in any part of the body could also be caused by penetrating grass seeds. These need to be treated accordingly depending on  location and duration

 

You should make every effort to check your dog at this time of year, but you should attempt to gently remove grass seeds only if you can still see it protruding from its entry point – you might still need to see your Vet to make sure that the full seed has been extracted.   Additional preventive measures that you can take after walking your dog include brushing and combing your dog’s coat after every walk, avoiding areas with long drying grass, and keeping your dog’s coat trimmed if they are medium to long-haired.

Hank’s problem was identified and treated.  His owners tell me that he still enjoys running through the grass, but this time they are careful to check him over after each walk.

Dr Martin Debattista

Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

 

Grieving the loss of your pet

 

This week I realised that I will never get used to the idea. I have had to euthanise many pets over the years and it never gets easy. True enough, even this time round I found myself saying: “Let’s do this fast because it’s difficult even for me.”  

Mindy was first brought to the clinic 12 years ago as a tiny puppy in a wicker basket. She very quickly outgrew her basket and matured into a gentle, champagne-coloured, female labrador.
Mindy was loved from the day she was welcomed into her family. I could see this from the way she sought her owners’ approval whenever she was being treated and that this love and respect was reciprocated.

The love Mindy’s owners had for her was amply demonstrated in later years when Mindy developed a persistent and terrible skin condition caused by a complicated and uncommon hormonal imbalance.  Until her condition was completely diagnosed, Mindy benefitted from her owners’ unswerving faith in finding a cure and their complete dedication in continuing with her lifelong treatment.  Despite these difficulties, Mindy was able to live a normal life until very recently, when insurmountable complications developed and the only option left was to humanely put her down.

It is perfectly natural to feel devastated when a pet dies. Dogs and cats usually become such a part of the family that their loss is equal to that of losing a member of your own family. People who have never had pets are likely to find it difficult to understand the grief you feel for the loss of your dog or cat, but this is a perfectly normal sentiment and you should allow yourself time to grieve your loss, just as you would for a member of your own family.

We all cope with grief in different ways and we all need our own time to recover. However, if you have other pets, it is important that you give them plenty of attention since they will similarly be feeling the loss of your pet. Keep up with their usual feeding and exercise routines. Playing with them will help both them and yourself to cope with the loss.

In most cases, you should not rush to get a replacement dog or cat; you will instinctively know when the time is right, and only then will you be emotionally ready to fill the void left by your recent loss.
However, retired seniors who have lost a companion pet are likely to benefit from getting another pet sooner rather than later.  But do not try to replicate the dog or cat you have just lost.  Just as we all have our own personalities, so do dogs and cats. You can obtain advice from your veterinarian as to the typical characteristics to expect from different breeds.

Dr. Martin Debattista
Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

Cats: ringworm

Last week Scabby’s owner came in. I usually remember pets’ owners depending on how difficult or severe the case was.  Scabby had the most severe case of ringworm I had seen in a tiny kitten, and an owner with a heart of gold, wishing to do all that was necessary. And she did. 

It was wonderful to see Scabby’s owner coming in last week to neuter some strays which she also feeds.  She told me that Scabby had turned into the most loving of house cats and she was really grateful.

Ringworm is not a worm; it is a fungal disease of the skin.  The name ringworm is derived from the fact that quite often it spreads in a circular fashion, and as it spreads the centre heals and leaves the shape of a ring.  Ringworm is very common in stray kittens, possibly due to the fact that they live in damp conditions and would not have developed any immunity when they are young.

Ringworm is contracted by direct contact, even by humans, so it is very important to avoid touching strays unnecessarily and to always wash hands afterwards.  But Scabby was bad. Not only was most of her body affected, her case was complicated by having a superimposed skin infection and most of her nails were deeply involved. Poor Scabby, I recalled, was just about the size of my palm when I first met her.

Good deeds never get the amount of publicity as bad deeds.  So often, especially during Sunday emergency clinic, we see people coming in to save a stray kitten they have found, not to mention the many people who take care of the countless colonies of cats around the island, and the volunteers working in dog sanctuaries.

There is really far more kindness towards animals in Malta than we give credit for.

Dr Martin Debattista
thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

 Bathing your Dog

This week Sherry couldn’t sit still.  Where Sherry normally sat quietly on the examination table, here she was, frantically scratching, licking and nipping whatever she could get at. Her owner wearily told me she was even keeping them awake at night.

Sherry is a 12-year-old, amber-coloured Golden Retriever. This breed was originally developed as a gundog, but Sherry is now in her twilight years and prefers to take it easy in the garden, sunbathing in the winter sun on a warm patch of soil.  Skin allergies are common with Golden Retrievers, but Sherry had long been placed on a diet designed to minimise such problems.  Nevertheless, Sherry’s skin was dry and flaky, and patches of exposed skin had become raw with scratching.

 

A sandfly test was taken, and a skin scraping was examined under the microscope for mites. Both these tests proved negative. Something else was bothering Sherry. Having also discounted a possible flea allergy, I asked Sherry’s owner about her dry skin condition. How long had it been since she was bathed?

 

In over 30 years of veterinary practice, I have dispensed a considerable amount of advice. Yet I find myself repeatedly returning to a fundamental topic that is rife with myth. Sherry had not been bathed for over six months because her owner was told by well-meaning people that washing dogs too often is harmful to the wellbeing of their skin and coat.  With such a myth perpetuated, countless dog owners choose to live with smelly dogs. And when dogs’ skin condition dries out too much, they inevitably exhibit considerable discomfort, just like Sherry.

I often liken the skin of a dog to that of a tree which needs to be watered frequently in the summer months and less often in winter – about once or twice a week in July and August and down to once every three weeks during the coldest of winter months.

As with humans, a quick shower has a drying effect on a dog’s skin, while a long bath has a hydrating effect, so baths are preferable.  But do not use your own shampoo. The PH of your dog’s skin is different to yours and your shampoo will only dry out and irritate its skin. The formulations of dog shampoos nowadays has become as sophisticated as ours and conditioning agents have been added to the basic detergent to make sure that both dogs’ skin and coat are cleaned and conditioned without stripping them of their natural oils.

Please do not use flea and tick shampoos unless your veterinarian has actually prescribed it for your dog. This is another misconception. A flea and tick shampoo will only remove fleas or ticks that are actually on your dog at the time of bathing. But it will not provide long-lasting protection.  There are a number of good shampoo products available. Ask your vet for advice on which best to use, since this choice could actually depend on the size of dog, type of coat and the place where your dog lives or sleeps.

Leave the option of using medicated or treatment shampoos in the hands of your veterinarian as and when needed.  Throughout, you need to be observant. Just as not all shampoos agree with us, so it is with your dog.  Bathing should never make your dog’s skin condition worse. If you notice any reaction – redness, flakiness or increased itching after bathing, don’t give up on bathing your dog – just seek the advice of your vet.

Sherry’s days of sunning herself in the sun while lying on soil in the garden had a cumulative effect on drying out her skin. And as with humans, her age also meant that her skin produced less naturally hydrating oils. A good long soak, and plenty of them, will see Sherry continuing to enjoy her retirement.

Dr. Martin Debattista
Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

Timely action against Sandfly

This week, it was great to see Thor again.  Thor is a Springer Spaniel, full of fun and mischief. The word 'Spaniel' comes from Spain or Hispania, due to the fact that this breed originated in this country.

There are now about 20 different breeds of spaniels, with the most well-known in Malta being the Cocker Spaniel, American Cocker, King Charles Cavalier, Brittany Spaniel, Papillion, and the Springer Spaniel which is very popular in Malta. They make good hunters, family pets and are often used by police and customs officers as sniffer dogs.

True to nature, Thor was an energetic dog. And yet, I only recently got to know the real Thor, since he was a pitiable sight when he first came in three months ago since Thor was one of the worst-affected cases of sandfly I saw last autumn.

I have already written about sandfly but this is the right time of year to remind dog owners about its importance and insidiousness. Sadly, too many dog owners already know quite a bit about this disease – either due to experience or, hopefully, because they are now well-informed and take precautions to prevent it attacking their dogs.

The sandfly disease, or as it is medically referred to 'Leishmaniasis', is contracted in the warmer months from infected sandflies. Leishmaniasis is a one-celled blood parasite which mainly infects the blood, bone marrow and other organs.

Symptoms of Leishmaniasis may vary from dog to dog, depending mostly on the type of resistance (or immunity) stimulated by this parasite. Early signs to look out for and which are usually common in all cases are loss of weight and energy.  Besides these primary symptoms, Thor was also suffering from one of the more common signs, which includes a very dry, scaly skin with swelling of the paws and bleeding ear tips. 

Since Leishmaniasis is contracted during summer and takes a few months for the disease to develop, veterinarians typically see clinical cases in the autumn and winter. January and February are the months during which it would be ideal to have your dog checked for Leishmaniasis.  Apart from clinical examinations, your veterinarian will carry out a test which gives results within a few minutes. This test has now been available for a number of years.

January and February are also when you should discuss with your vet the need to protect your dog from Leishmaniasis for the coming summer months.  This is best done as part of the flea, tick and sandfly protection programme. If you are not aware of this programme, ask your veterinarian about preventive treatment for your dog.

We are living in exciting times. Treatment for Leishmaniasis has seen some developments in recent years. There was a time when there was very little choice for this disease. Now, there are products that are far safer to administer when inner organs have been compromised by the disease.  The original preventive methods are still important, since these address the measures you need to take to reduce and prevent sandfly bites by not letting dogs sleep outdoors from dusk until dawn during the warmer months, and by using veterinary-registered products containing pyrethroids, or derivatives in the form of collars or drops, as well as citronella-based products and UV lights in dogs’ sleeping quarters.

In addition to these preventive methods, last year a new vaccine became available which gives your pet a high percentage of protection. Interestingly, the vaccine is essentially a purified protein derived from the culprit parasite. Again, now would be the time to discuss this with your veterinarian to give it enough time to kick in, well before the infective months.

In the fastest turnaround we’ve seen in the battle against Leishmaniasis, this year another product has become available, which increases the natural resistance of the dog in the most beneficial form.  Leishmaniasis is still a very important disease every dog owner should be aware of. With the help of your vet, this would be a good time to discuss a specific protection programme according to the dog’s breed, location and lifestyle.

There was a time when Leishmaniasis was truly a dreaded disease, largely because it was so widespread and also because there were limited protective measures. So it was great to see Thor again, full of boundless energy.

Dr. Martin Debattista
Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

Elderly and their pets

This week Lucy came in for her check-up. She was brought in by an elderly couple I have known for many years through what seems like a lifetime of pets. Because they are elderly and lived alone, Lucy has become the centre of their world.

Whenever elderly clients bring in their pets, the biggest concern for me is knowing how extremely important and beneficial pets can be to the health of elderly people.  In Canada, dogs were at one time banned from residential homes. This ruling had to be overturned due to the negative effect this was found to have on the well-being of the residents.

A similar case happened in Australia, where it was found that allowing cats in residential homes had a huge beneficial effect on elderly people. In the UK, I have actually met dog owners who voluntarily visit residential care homes, accompanied by their dogs that have been vetted and approved for voluntary work. And here I was once again facing a situation where elderly clients had come to the clinic worried sick about their beloved pet.

Lucy is an 11-year-old slightly overweight white female poodle. She had been limping on her left hind leg ever since she fell off the sofa the week before. My initial suspicion as to the probable cause was confirmed upon examination: Lucy had a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in the left knee joint.

The knee joint is one of the largest joints in the body and greatly de­pends on its ligaments for stability. There is no ball-and-socket con­figuration, as you get in the pelvis or the shoulder. Instead, all you have are two flattish bone surfaces of the femour and tibia which are largely held together by two ligaments in the centre of this interface.

These ligaments cross over each other just like the letter X. Hence, the description 'cruciate' which means ‘cross-shaped’ and comes from the Latin term cruciatus.  Overweight dogs have a ten­dency to rupture the anterior of the cruciate ligaments. This destabi­lises the joint due to the fact that the dogs’ weight is too much for their knees to cope with, especially when making certain movements, as happened with Lucy.

The same injury can, however, happen in fitter dogs during exu­berant activities such as chasing rabbits. This actually happen­ed to another patient of mine.  There are many other ailments that may cause a dog to limp on its hind legs, and X-rays may be necessary to exclude other possible ailments and to ascer­tain the development of arthritis in the knee joint.

Diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament rupture is based on the evidence of what is known as the ‘drawer movement’ of the joint while the dog is heavily sedated. When the stability of the joint has been compromised due to the rupture of the cruciate, the two bones – namely the femur above and the tibia below – can be manually made to slip across each other in a drawer movement.

This movement and lack of stability is the reason why the dog limps and also why, if left untreated, it can give rise to secondary permanent arthritis in the joint. Lucy was lucky because her owners chose to bring her in very soon after the injury, thus preventing secondary arthritis.  Because of the elevated degree of ‘drawer movement’ and the lack of secondary arthritis, surgery was the treatment of choice. My clients were willing to have Lucy operated and within a few days the operation was carried out.

There are many different tech­niques for cruciate ligament re­pair, which may vary according to surgeons’ discretion as well as the size of the dog, but all are aimed at restructuring and rein­forcing the ligaments to re-establish the stability of the knee joint. Any orthopaedic surgery carries its own risk of compli­cations, so I was glad to see Lucy’s owners walk in one month after her operation with a big smile on their faces.

Lucy was certainly walking much better and I hope this improvement continues over the coming months.

Dr. Martin Debattista
Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

Lumps, Bumps, and Tumours

This week I was invited to a friend’s house to watch the European Champion’s League football match between Real Madrid and Manchester United.  As I entered the TV room, I met for the first time my host’s dog Spike and immediately noticed a melon-sized lump attached to the side of his chest.

 

Spike is fawn-coloured and short haired, and probably has some Great Dane blood in him as he stands very tall and slim.  Eight year old Spike is in very good health for his age but, as you would imagine, the neo-formation attached to his chest diminished his looks somewhat.

 

Having never met me before and trailing none of the usual scents of a veterinary clinic, Spike was understandably taken aback when yours truly suddenly exhibited an interest in his torso.  This is a bit over-familiar, he probably thought to himself.  But Spike being a gentle fellow and his master clearly in agreement, he allowed himself to be subjected to exploratory examination.

 

The words neoplasm, tumour, benign, malignant, cancer, and metastasis, are all terms which are commonly used and, unless well understood may cause unnessary anxiety, or over complacency if underrated.

 A neoplasm is the abnormal growth of cells of the body which when physically visible is refered to as a tumour. When tumours are malignant  they are invasive or have the ability to metastisis or move to another part of the body. Malignant tumours are generally life threatening and the word cancer is reserved to malignant tumours. Benign tumours  on the other hand are typically contained, are non invasive  and normally non life threatening , they can however , as in Spike’s case grow to enormous sizes.

 

Tumours can occur anywhere and everywhere in the body and are unfortunately common in dogs and cats as much as in humans.  Size is not really an indicator as to the severity of the tumour; nor is it an indication as to whether or not it should be removed.  Location, type, growth rate and general condition of the dog or cat are far more important factors to consider.

 

 

Depending on what type of tumour we are looking at, a biopsy can sometimes be performed whereby a small portion of the tumour is removed for microscopic examination. This helps determine first of all whether it is a neoplasm and if it is,whether it has benign or malignant characteristics.  Sometimes, even benign tumours can be life threatening.  For example, benign tumours could occlude a vital organ such as the airways or the intestine, they could grow in areas such as the ear canal where they cause irresparable damage; sometimes, they have a tendency to bleed and cause anaemia if left untreated.

Whenever you see a lump or bump on your dog or cat which persists and which should not be there, have it seem to by your veterinarian who is best placed to give you advice as to how or whether it should be treated.  Together, you can discuss the available options for possible removal, biopsy, treatment, or maybe even adopt a ‘wait and see’ approach.  As stated earlier, such decisions may depend on factors such as type, location, and growth rate.  These factors will also take into account the medical history and present medical condition of your dog or cat.

 As expected, Spike had a very large benign tumour.  During surgery, it was found to be a lipoma which is a type of neoplasm which originates from the cells of fatty or adipose tissue.  Spike is now walking even taller.

 

Dr Martin Debattista

Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

 

 

Luxation

This week Niya fell a height of four stories.  She’s lucky to be alive because you can never tell what amount of damage or lack of she might have suffered purely from the elevation of the fall.  One thing is for sure - she was in a lot of pain.

Her case reminded me of another that I had worked on as a young Vet when I needed to attend to a police dog that had leapt over one of the low boundary walls that enclosed the roof of the Mediterranean Conference Centre thinking that the roof continued on the other side - only to only find nothing but void.  Amazingly he had got away with barely a scratch.

With this week’s case, Niya’s owners informed me that she was accustomed to going up on the roof of their house to do her business.  Niya is a five-year old female Siberian Husky.  She is also well-known in the neighbourhood for her bravery in walking along the roof walls with impunity.  So it came as a big shock to her when she missed her step and fell four stories.

Siberian Huskies, Samoyeds and Alaskan Malamutes are all breeds which have become popular in Malta, and all derive from far-Northern Husky type dogs which are used to pull sledges over long distances in deep snow.  Whenever I see one of these animals, particularly when they are kept in good condition and perfectly trained, I am reminded of how beautiful these dogs can be and, invariably, of the epic movie by Kevin Costner, ‘Dances with Wolves’ which depicted so evocatively that close canine relation to the husky.

Accidents apart, huskies are sometimes known to suffer from seizures and some eye defects; on a positive note these dogs have a very low incidence of hip dysplasia which tends to prevail among the larger breeds of dogs which are most at risk.  But an accident is what got Niya unawares.  She missed her step but was very lucky that on the way down, her fall was broken by washing lines that caught her between her legs.  She was in a lot of pain but still alive.

Niya’s breathing was a bit shallow and fast, and she couldn’t use her left hind leg at all.  We dealt with the most urgent item first.  Chest x-rays were taken to ensure that there was no rupture or hernia of the diaphragm.  The diaphragm is a dome of muscle which separates the chest from the abdominal contents and is also the primary muscle for respiration.  It is always something to bear in mind when any dog or cat suffers a sudden severe trauma.  Niya’s diaphragm was still intact.

Next thing was to find out what was wrong with her leg.  Upon examination it was clear that the problem lay in the pelvis.  Only an x-ray can differentiate among the possible injuries - a broken pelvis, a fracture of the femur or upper leg or, as in Niya’s case, a luxation of the femur.

The femur joins the pelvis with a ball and socket joint which is a beautiful piece of work as it allows the maximum of rotation movement.  The best way to visualise this joint is to imagine one hand in a tight fist acting as the femoral head being cupped by the other hand which would be the joint receiving it as part of the pelvis.

When subjected to a heavy blow the femoral head can literally come out of its socket and because of the tight nature of the anatomy not be able to return into its natural place.  Luxation is the complete dislocation of a joint and the coxofemoral joint, which is the joint we are talking about, and is the classical joint where this can occur.

As with most bone problems it is best to have these treated as soon as possible.  Luxation of the femoral head carries with it a certain amount of ligament damage and the longer it is left out of place the more difficult it becomes to reduce and for it to remain in place following reduction.

After a day of pain killers when respiration had improved sufficiently to be able to anaesthetise Niya, the leg was manoeuvred back into place - much to the delight of Niya’s family not to mention Niya herself.  This form of luxation does carry with it a certain amount of ligament and soft tissue damage and we are all hoping that the reduction of the luxation will be permanent…and that Niya will no longer ‘walk the walk’.

 

Dr Martin Debattista

Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

 

The eyes have it

This week I was keen to see Terror again. The feeling is not mutual, but Terror has never told me why.

 

Terror is a fawn-coloured, proud male Pug with a typical black muzzle. He is about two years old and in his prime.  I’ve seen Terror on and off for a variety of minor problems since he was a puppy. This time, one of his eyes was very badly injured; it had happened about 10 days earlier and he was due for a check-up.

Pugs have become very popular in Malta over the past few years, and it is nice to see a large number of these beautiful dogs around. Several Maltese Pugs have been shown abroad with great success.
What is interesting about Pugs is that they are a very ancient breed originating from China and their genes have been important in the development of successive breeds such as the Pekinese, the King Charles Spaniel, and even the English Bulldog. Pugs are always full of character, and it is a good thing that they come as a toy breed… but, please, don’t tell them I said so.

There are a number of eye problems that these pets can suffer from and it is very important that they are dealt with in the right way. As you can imagine, with some eye conditions time is of the essence and can make a huge difference on the outcome.

Another thing to remember is that pets’ eyes are certainly one area where treatment by their owners can be very dangerous; whenever a pet has an eye problem, one should immediately have it seen to by a veterinarian.

With Terror, the problem was a scratch on his eyeball. Scratches on the eye are very typical of small breeds, such as Pugs and Pekinese, because they have large protruding eyes. This type of eye shape is prone to injuries when they explore dense foliage, or when they get into a scrap with other dogs or cats.

Scratches on the eyes are very painful and one of the most visible symptoms is eye-twitching. This twitch should alert the owner that something is wrong and that the pet needs to be taken to the vet.
Thankfully, there are some very effective medications for this type of problem, but the treatment needs to start as soon as possible.

Cataract is a condition whereby the eye lens loses its transparency and becomes white and opaque. Cataracts are typical of older dogs and develop very gradually. Luckily, old dogs with cataracts still manage to get around the house and familiar places extremely well, mostly due to their acute sense of smell.  In rare cases when cataracts occur in young dogs, veterinarians will look for medical causes such as diabetes.

Glaucoma is a condition that causes the whole eyeball to increase in size. This is very serious and requires specific medical treatment. The liquid in the eye, called humor, is not a stagnant liquid; it is continuously drained and replenished. Whenever this balance is altered due to impaired drainage of the humor, the pet can get glaucoma.

Conjunctivitis is an eye inflammation which causes the pet to have watery and bleary eyes. This could be caused by dust or smoke irritation.  Pets with long fur, especially poodles, can suffer constant eye irritation due to the hairs around the eye continuously entering it. When this occurs, it is wise to have the fur around the eye area trimmed, or have the fur on the head tied back.

An important infectious conjunctivitis in kittens is that caused by a bacterium called chlamydia. This is very common when there are many cats living together, especially in colonies. When not treated early, their eyes may become permanently damaged, or one or both eyes lost altogether.

Entropion is a condition most commonly seen in breeds such as Pointers and Dalmations. This occurs when the lower eyelid is overgrown from birth, and folds into the eye. The continuous presence of hair and skin in the eye causes a constant irritation and so may be considered another cause of conjunctivitis. Entropion is a condition which very often can be resolved surgically with great success.

Foreign bodies can also get lodged in the eye. I have seen a number of cases where grass seeds get lodged deep under the eyelid and are not immediately visible.  One can imagine the huge discomfort such large foreign bodies cause, as well as the need to urgently remove them. 

Although many have heard about the nictitating membrane or the third eyelid they are not sure of its purpose. The third eyelid is a fold of skin in the corner of the eye closest to the nose which is found in dogs, cats and some other mammals.  This membrane, which is also typical of birds and reptiles, is there to provide added protection and moisturising of the eye. Many cat owners have seen this, as it typically protrudes in cats when they are not feeling well.

Dog owners who have come across this membrane are mostly owners of English Bulldogs, which frequently suffer from an inflammation of the third eyelid and need to have it surgically removed.
This is by no means a full chronicle of all the things that can go wrong in the eye. One could also mention chronic inflammation of the cornea, which needs special treatment to prevent blindness, as well as problems with the inner eye such as retinal detachment, which can happen in both dogs and cats.

Understanding eye problems in dogs or cats could go a long way to help controlling or resolving them.  Terror did come in, and despite having protested to his owners over the past 10 days, I am glad to report that his eye is well on its way to a full recovery.

Dr. Martin Debattista
Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

First Aid for Road Traffic Accidents involving Animals

Last week I was sitting at my computer wondering whether I should give an overview of this past year ‘with the vet’ as is typical of this time of year, when I recieved a phone call. A very anxious familiar voice at the other end of the line asked me whether I could see her dog urgently as it had just been run over by a car.

I immediately asked for a quick overview of what had happened. The dog had run out of the house and into the middle of the road where it was hit by a car and flung across the road. The caller was unsure about the extent of injury, so within a few minutes I met Marley and his owner at the clinic.

Road traffic accidents, or RTAs, are a common occurrence with dogs and cats in Malta. Marley, who is a 15-year-old, medium-sized, black and white, mixed-breed dog, had just become one of these unfortunate RTA statistics.

The damage sustained in an RTA can be of any extent and can affect any part of the body. If your dog has been involved in an RTA, or if you are attending to a dog that has been hit by a car, you should make an effort to keep calm, with your first priority being to make both the animal and yourself safe from oncoming traffic.

Remember even the most docile animal can react violently when in pain. A strip of cloth or bandage should be placed around a dog’s muzzle to protect yourself from being bitten. If you need to move the dog to the side of the road, you should do this as gently as possible and preferrably use some kind of makeshift stretcher.

You then need to check whether the dog is breathing. If you canot detect any breathing, try administering artificial respiration: carefully extend the neck and clear the dog’s mouth and nostrils of any dirt.

Then gently cup your hands around the mouth to prevent any egress of air, fill your lungs with good air and blow steadily through the dog’s nostrils about 20 times per minute, or once every three seconds, until your dog can once again breath unassisted.

It is important to check if there is any evidence of blood loss. Every effort should be made to curtail blood loss. This can be achieved by applying a tightly bound bandage or cloth. Having administered emergency first aid, the next thing you should do is contact your vet, whose number should always be stored on your mobile phone.

Your vet will give you immediate advice on what best to do and whether they can attend to the dog, or whether you should contact the 24-hour emergency vet service.  An important thing to look out for is whether your dog pees after the accident. This is significant since, if the bladder is full when the accident occurs, the urinary bladder can sometimes rupture and if this goes unnoticed, it may give rise to internal intoxication. Your dog peeing is a sign that a rupture has not occurred. Inform the attending vet of everything that you note immediately after the accident occurs.

Well, Marley was lucky; his breathing was good and there were no signs of blood loss. He did have a very sore shoulder, but X-rays showed no sign of fracture. Appropriate immediate medication was given, including painkillers. I will be seeing Marley for a follow-up visit.

Important emergency numbers are:

5250 2000 (call costs €5) is the Malta Veterinary Association’s 24-hour service. This would provide you with the possibility of takng your pet at any time of day or night to have it seen and treated by the roster vet on duty.

7940 4030 is a veterinary emergency helpline intended to give an immediate professional advise on how best to deal with emergency situations.

Adopt a dog - get unconditional love

Last week, in the lead up toChristmas week, I was invited to visit the Island Sanctuary canine shelter. Although by no means the first time that I had  visited an animal shelter, the experience never fails to fill me with both sadness and hope.

The Sanctuary is located inside Tas-Silġ Fort, nestled between Birżebbuġa and Marsaxlokk. It was built by the British Forces as a line of defence for Fort Delimara and, until about 60 years ago was used by the 100th Signals Unit of the Royal Airforce.  In what was almost a sign of things to come, one of the RAF’s canine mascots, Scrubber, whelped 14 puppies there, and they were happily homed around the Island.

 

Gringu - one of the residents of Island Sanctuary

The Island Sanctuary really lives up to its name. Any abandoned dog lucky enough to find its way there is truly blessed. As you approach the dog pens, you are welcomed by pen after pen of beautiful canine faces – some excited, some content, some hopeful and, yes, others fearful or angry.

 

These dogs come from many walks of life. Most have been cruelly abandoned by the family they loved so much. Others were born without a home and captured for their own safety. One of these dogs is Porto, so named because he was captured on the airport roundabout where he sheltered with his partner Mimma.

 

Porto and Mimma were both strays and so afraid of people it was impossible to capture them. Until, that is, Mimma got hit by a car and was left for dead. Distraught, Porto wouldn’t leave her side and that’s how the sanctuary volunteers managed to capture both dogs. Mimma is now a lot better and still lives with Porto. This is one of the happier stories.

 

Sadly, the refuge is also home to dogs that cannot be homed. They were raised to be aggressive fighters and then dumped by their owners when they no longer brought in the money.  Still bearing the scars of their many battles, these dogs are too dangerous to entrust to new owners.

 

They have grown up to hate both other dogs and humans and need to be penned alone. The volunteers risk life and limb by entering their pen to clean, feed and care for them. While I was there I saw an experienced female volunteer weighing less than one of these 50-kilo dogs tending to it with all the love and patience you would give a puppy.

 

Some dogs are traumatised from abuse or neglect. Principessa is so afraid of people that when let out she invariably runs and hides under the bushes. Only one particular volunteer can manage to coax her out. These dogs remain anti-social and unhomable due to their terror of people.

 

For dogs that have mental scars, the Sanctuary is a haven for the rest of their life, since it never puts down a dog unless it is suffering and is absolutely necessary and only when advised to do so by a vet.

For these dogs as well as old dogs that die there, a crematorium is available and their ashes are buried within the walls where they lived. The crematorium service is available to the public for any type of pet. You can take your pet’s ashes home and it is a beautiful way of keeping your loved one close after they have passed on. A donation is needed to help cover the cost of cremation.

 

For many of the abused dogs, the physical and psychological healing begins once they are safely within the Sanctuary. With the volunteers’ help these dogs can be safely homed and the love of a new family can help them recover from trauma.

 

During their time at the sanctuary the dogs live in large and spacious pens which are hosed down every day and kept very clean. Their bedding is changed and laundered every day.  They enjoy a healthy and balanced diet of meat, carbs and veg and, best of all, they get to run around the fort’s grassy mounds every day.  All dogs are neutered, receive medical care and are evaluated for possible integration back into society.

 

There are several young dogs that are perfectly suited to join your family. One advantage of adopting a dog from the sanctuary is that the volunteers advise you about each dog’s character to help you can find the perfect pet.  George and Bandit are two beautiful fox terriers who’ve been at the Sanctuary for a couple of months. They would be ideal for owners who love to walk and exercise. There is also Maltija and Puffy, two pointer-type dogs and rather more sedate. These dogs have a lot of love to give.

 

By adopting a dog you not only benefit from your new pet’s love but you also help free up space for the Sanctuary to take in other dogs that desperately need help.  Those who adopt such dogs remark that the love they get from a previously abandoned, neglected or abused dog surpasses the love they get from other dogs. Of course, all this would be impossible without the dedication of the 15 women and 3 men who volunteer their time, tending to over 120 dogs every day – preparing meals, cleaning pens, as well as grooming and exercising the dogs.

 

Every year the Sanctuary needs over €8,000 to pay its water and electricity bills. The meat, bread and vegetables for the meals cost €17,000 annually. Blankets, warm covers, towels and dog coats are always needed, as well as dog beds, leads, collars, dog toys and plastic basins.  There’s always lots to do and never enough hands to help, so any time that you are able give would be welcome, even if it’s just to walk a dog.

 

If you can’t adopt a dog, you can sponsor one. If you’d like to help, please call 2165 9895 or e-mail info@islandsanctuary.com.mt. You can also see some of the dogs available for adoption at http://islandsanctuary.com.mt .

 

Dr. Martin Debattista

Veterinary Surgeon

 

thisweekwiththvet@gmail.com

 

Bottoms Up!

Last week I was given a real treat, but if you’re wishing that you were given it too, I suggest you don’t. It’s all about a subject that I have been avoiding but which I knew I’d have to broach as it is such a common problem with dogs.

What started off last week’s topic was Basil. That is, Basil as in Basil Fawlty, and not Basil as in Basil Brush, as I initially thought. You see, the owner is a fan of the popular sitcom. So, Basil is a three-year-old white, black and tan Jack Russell.

 

Jack Russells are very small energetic terrier dogs, originally bred in England for fox-hunting. One of the most interesting aspects of the Jack Russells is that they have regularly featured in both popular and fine art.

The most well-known and iconic paintings of a Jack Russell is His Master’s Voice (1898) by Francis Barraud, which became the famous HMV record company logo, picturing a white and black Jack Russell listening attentively to a phonograph.

This time, Basil needed his anal glands emptied. Anal glands, also known as anal sacs, are two glands found on either side of the anus of some mammals, mostly in carnivores. The glands are paired, located underneath the skin on the outer side of the anal sfincture at 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock respectively.

They are also known as scent glands, as their function is to enable the animals to mark territory and identify one another. The secretion of anal glands is typically very foul smelling, and the most notorious is that emitted by the anal sacs of the skunk.

Under normal circumstances, anal glands do from time to time, void on their own accord without giving any cause of concern, apart from the odour they emit. However, in some circumstances when this fails to happen, the glands swell up and cause discomfort.

The usual symptom that could indicate that your dog has swollen anal glands is that it drags its backside along the ground, sometimes licking or biting its behind or sitting uncomfortably. If left unchecked, anal glands can develop a deep and painful infection.

It is mainly the smaller breeds like Jack Russells that suffer most with anal gland problems, but the firmer the stools the less likely your dog will suffer from such problems. Though less common, I have seen a number of cats with the same problem. However, in their case it is overweight cats that are mostly at risk.

When you see the first signs of anal gland problems, it is important that you pay a visit to your vet with your dog to have them emptied or expressed. While you are there, you can discuss with your veterinarian whether there any changes to your pet’s diet could reduce the problem. Dogs that suffer this problem are likely to relapse after three or four months. Surgical removal of the anal glands can also be considered in extreme cases.

By now you may have realised that expressing anal glands is not likely to rank high on a vet’s wish list, since this is one of those tasks which the better executed, the worse the sensation and the fouler the odour... so why the treat?

Well, two weeks ago, Poppy, a Staffordshire bull terrier that lives in the same household with Basil, was at the clinic undergoing a difficult upper canine tooth extraction. Upon hearing that Poppy was now perfectly fine and that the procedure had been succesful, I remarked: “Well, that is really good to hear as it was such a delicate intervention that, compared to Poppy, attending to Basil is a real treat.” I realised only afterwards what I had said.

Dr. Martin Debattista
Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

Fur balls

Last week I met Focus and her owner for the first time. Focus is a fluffy Tal-Madonna-coloured female cat.  She had found herself trapped under the bonnet of a Ford Focus when still a kitten, not knowing that it was to be the best thing to ever happen to her, as it paved the way to meeting her new owner.

On her part, the cat’s owner had no idea that when her horoscope said she would meet a new special friend, it would be of the four-legged type. She had never had pets before and was not even particularly fond of them. Now, the situation is completely the opposite.

Anyone who knows cats knows that, invariably, all tricoloured cats are female. This is due to genetic reasons – colour genes are linked to the X sex chromosome. To have a tricoloured cat, you need to have two X chromosomes which only occurs in females. The sex chromosomes in males are X and Y.


Source: www.bio.miami.edu

Tal-Madonna cats are patterned in a haphazard mix of white, black and ginger. Technically speaking, they are referred to as Calico-coloured cats. I did try to look up the origins of the Maltese variant, Tal-Madonna, yet I could find none so maybe one of our linguistic readers could give us a clue as to where this information may be found.
What I did find is that Calico cats can be found all over the world and that in many places folklore links them to good things. Maybe this explains Focus' good luck.

Focus is a common cat with a common problem: fur balls. These are literally balls of fur formed in the intestine when too much fur is ingested by your cat. These cause stomach upsets and the first symptoms are vomiting, gagging and wretching.

A fur ball may or may not be brought up. Fur balls have the shape of short cigars and certainly do not smell nice. In severe cases, your cat could lose appetite, feel lethargic and suffer constipation.

Fur ball problems are best prevented and this is done, first of all, through regular grooming; the longer the fur, the more regular this exercise should be. Kittens should be groomed from an early age, so that they can get used to it. A daily five-minute grooming exercise is far better than trying to solve matted areas every three or four days on long-haired cats.

After grooming your cat, pass a damp cloth over its coat to collect any loose hair that could otherwise be ingested. It would be a good idea to do this even with short-haired cats when they are shedding a larger amount of fur during the moulting months, mostly in spring and autumn. Moulting, which is the natural process of changing winter and summer coats, may occur over a longer period with cats confined indoors.

Besides proper grooming, there are a number of other remedies one could resort to, depending on how manageable the situation is. These take the form of simply adding a few drops of oil to your cat’s food or administering fur ball paste directly to your cat on a regular basis, as well as diets specially formulated to reduce this problem. All these remedies help provide your cat with a mild laxative to reduce the possibilty of fur ball accumulation.

With cats, one has to be very careful because vomiting can also be a sign of some serious condition. It is extremely important that vomiting is monitored carefully and if in doubt, check it out with your veterinarian. 

Focus’s owner got the fright of her life when she saw her gagging, let alone when she saw this alien ball shoot out of her. Focus being her first cat, all this was very new to her. Luckily, Focus reacted to treatment immediately and I am sure the rest of her life will be very different and a far cry from the day before it found itself in engine trouble.

Dr. Martin Debattista
Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

Fur balls


Last week I met Focus and her owner for the first time. Focus is a fluffy Tal-Madonna-coloured female cat.

Fur balls cause stomach upsets and the first symptoms are vomiting, gagging and wretching

She had found herself trapped in the engine of a car when still a kitten, not knowing it was to be the best thing to ever happen to her, as it paved the way to meeting her new owner.
On her part, the cat’s owner had no idea that when her horoscope said she would meet a new special friend, it would be the four-legged type and in the engine of her brand new Ford. She had never had pets before and was not even particularly fond of them. Now, the situation is completely the opposite.
Anyone who knows cats knows that, invariably, all tricoloured cats are female. This is due to genetic reasons – colour genes are linked to the X sex chromosome. To have a tricoloured cat, you need to have two X chromosomes, which only occurs in females. The sex chromosomes in males are X and Y.
Tal-Madonna cats are patterned in a haphazard mix of white, black and ginger. Technically speaking, they are referred to as Calico-coloured cats. I did try to look up the origins of the Maltese reference, yet I could find none.
Maybe one of our linguistic readers could give us a clue as to where this information may be found. What I did find is that Calico cats can be found all over the world, and that in many places, folklore links them to good things. This may have something to do with it.
Focus is a common cat with a common problem: fur balls. These are literally balls of fur formed in the intestine when too much fur is being ingested by your cat. These cause stomach upsets and the first symptoms are vomiting, gagging and wretching.
A fur ball may or may not be brought up. Fur balls have the shape of short cigars and certainly do not smell nice. In severe cases, your cat could lose apetite, feel lethargic and suffer constipation.
Fur ball problems are best prevented and this is done, first of all, through regular grooming; the longer the fur, the more regular this exercise should be. Kittens should be groomed from an early age, so that they can get used to it. A daily five-minute grooming exercise is far better than trying to solve matted areas every three or four days on long-haired cats.
After grooming your cat, pass a damp cloth over its coat to collect any loose hair that could otherwise be ingested. It would be a good idea to do this even with short-haired cats when they are shedding a larger amount of fur during the moulting months, mostly in spring and autumn. Moulting, which is the natural process of changing winter and summer coats, may occur over a longer period with cats confined indoors.
Besides proper grooming, there are a number of other remedies one could resort to, depending on how manageable the situation is. These take the form of simply adding a few drops of oil to your cat’s food or administering fur ball paste directly to your cat on a regular basis, as well as diets specially formulated to reduce this problem. All these remedies help provide your cat with a mild laxative to reduce the possibilty of fur ball accumulation.
With cats, one has to be very careful because vomiting can also be a sign of some serious conditions. It is extremely important that vomiting is monitored carefully and if in doubt, check it out with your veterinarian.
Focus’s owner got the fright of her life when she saw her gagging, let alone when she saw this alien ball shoot out of her. Focus being her first cat, all this was very new to her.
Luckily, Focus reacted to treatment immediately and I am sure the rest of her life will be very different and a far cry from the day before it found itself in engine trouble.

Polycystic Kidney Disease ...or PKD

This week Mara came in and I should tell you straight up that Mara is a bit special to me.  Mara weighs next to nothing for a cat of her size and when I first saw her a couple of years ago she weighed even less.




Mara

Mara is a petite 10-year-old female cat, a gentle blue Harlequin with a flat face and mesmerising eyes which look enormous on her small body. By now, you may have also guessed that Mara is a pure Persian. You might well wonder why I am emphasising her Persian breed. Well, occasionally, the particular breed forms a very important consideration when it comes to veterinary medical care, an example of which Mara and Polycystic Kidney Disease is a typical case.

Many of you would know that certain ailments are more predominant among certain species – both in dogs and cats. This is what is termed ‘predisposition’, which means that certain species are more prone to suffer specific ailments or diseases.

In addition to this predisposition, certain medical ailments are actually inherited. When we colloquially refer to a disease as running in the family, what we are in fact stating is that the ailment is literally written in the genes. Since inherited genetic diseases can occur in different breeds, the inverse is also true, in that different breeds may suffer from different genetic diseases.

The good news is that medical developments in recent years have meant that some genetic diseases can be tested for, using a genetic test. Put in simple terms, for certain confirmed genetic diseases, researchers have actually identified the gene which causes the particular ailment and are able to communicate this information to veterinarians who can then pass on the diagnosis to pet owners.
For those vets like myself who have been around for a while, this was regarded as science fiction when we first started out. So it’s great for us to witness the advances in veterinary medicine that today help save animal lives.

When a genetic test is not available, inherited diseases may be recognised through clinical examinations and possibly with additional further tests. Practical examples of this are the clinical examination for retained testicles (cryptorchidism) which I discussed last week, and radiology examinations for a hip defect called hip dysplasia.

These conditions are considered to be totally or partially hereditary, which means that any animals that have been identified as suffering from these gentic disorders should no longer be used for breeding purposes. However, there are a number of hereditary ailments that are not so obvious.
And so it was for Mara. Mara suffers from PKD, an inherited genetic disease common in Persian cats, related breeds and exotic shorthairs. PKD is present from birth.

With PKD, what happens is that fluid-saturated cysts very gradually develop and grow in the kidneys up to a point where the normal kidney tissue is so suppressed that the cat suffers kidney failure.
As this process normally takes six to eight years, cats affected by PKD may have already been mated and had kittens several times over for multiple generations. This propagates the disease even further.

A genetic test is available for PKD. This can be done at any age from a simple blood sample or mouth swab and it identifies those cats which are PKD positive long before any clinical signs of PKD become externally visible.  This test is of great importance for cat breeders to be able to avoid breeding cats which are PKD positive; it is also of great importance to potential buyers of pedigree cats to know whether the kitten in question is progeny of a male and a female cat, neither of which are PKD positive.  If owners of pedigrees or Persian cats are not sure of their PKD status, they may be interested to perform this test as part of their cat’s routine medical check-up. 

In fact, the PKD test has become a critical genetic test. When it was first made available in the UK, the percentage of positive cats found was in the region of 30 per cent. Thanks to this test and good breeding management, this disease has now been greatly reduced due the elimination of PKD positive cats from breeding programmes.

Mara was already a very small cat before she lost half her body weight. A blood check showed her kidneys were compromised and a mouth swab was sent to a specialised laboratory for genetic testing.
The results arrived within a few days, confirming that Mara is PKD positive. Mara has responded very well to kidney medication and to a special diet, and she has now almost returned to her regular weight.

She is one of the lucky ones, as PKD is a potentially fatal condition for which there is no cure. Cat owner and breeder awareness is vital to helping us control this insidious disease.

Dr. Martin Debattista
Veterinary Surgeon

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com