David R. Gross's Blog: Docdavesvoice, page 3
August 23, 2012
Skipper Jones
It was my first weekend on the job. The middle of June 1960 and I told my new boss that I would be happy to handle the Saturday calls and any emergencies that weekend.
I was on the last scheduled call of the day when Dick Mathes, our office manager/ receptionist/call scheduler, reached me on the mobile radio.
“John Jones is bringing in his cow dog, got caught by the mowing machine. His ranch is about thirty miles from here, in the badlands. He called about three so he should be here soon.”
A petite, young woman, blonde hair, dressed in clean but worn Levi’s, a denim shirt, and cowboy boots jumped to the ground from the passenger side of the pickup. She turned to lift down a young girl, her blonde hair almost white. An older boy, another towhead, jumped out unassisted.
The way the rancher carried the dog into the hospital told of his gentle nature. I noted his weathered face, thickly callused hands, and massive chest. I held the door open and directed the Jones family into the exam room. Skipper, a two-year old Border collie bitch, black and white with wide set, expressive brown eyes thumped her tail on the stainless steel of the examination table.
Skipper raised her head, the rancher patted it and the dog lay back down on the table with a sigh. Both front legs and the left hind leg were lacerated, it appeared that metacarpal and metatarsal bones were broken. The upper portion of the left hind leg looked strange. When I palpated it the dog flinched. There was dried blood, dirt, and hair contaminating all the wounds. I detailed all the damage to the family and explained what it would take to repair it.
“How much Doc?”
“Three dollars to put her to sleep, probably at least a hundred if we try to save her but here’s the deal, I’m new. I’m anxious to prove what I can do and I want the challenge of trying to save this dog,” I glanced at the two children. “It appears to me that Skipper is pretty special.”
The boy couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “Please Dad,” then he clenched his mouth shut.
The little girl chimed in. “Yeah, pleath Dad, we have to.” She was missing front teeth.
The rancher sighed. “OK . . . you guys understand this means no Christmas or birthday gifts this year?”
I called my new bride and convinced her to come and help with the surgery. I needed a “go-fer” since I was all alone. Several hours later, we finished. Skipper had her fractured hind leg in a Thomas splint and both front legs in casts. The next morning she was frantically banging around in the cage, but calmed down immediately after I took her out to treat her. When I tried to put her back in the cage, she became frantic again. I finally realized she was a ranch dog that had probably never seen the inside of a house, let alone been in a cage.
She was happy as could be in a stall in the barn and there she stayed, content, for almost two weeks recovering. Then on a very hot evening, we left the barn door open for ventilation. Somehow, Skipper got out of the stall and was gone. While out on farm calls I searched the sides of the road for the next week and a half, hoping to see her, nothing. The Jones family also searched, put up posters, called into the radio. The radio station made numerous announcements about Skipper and the newspaper ran an article about her, nobody reported seeing her.
As I walked through the door to the clinic, the phone rang. It was John Jones announcing Skipper had arrived home, a thirty-mile trek on one good leg, the previous evening. He brought her in and I was able to repair the casts and Thomas splint and dress all her wounds. She was terribly thin but happy to see me and eventually made a full recovery.
I was on the last scheduled call of the day when Dick Mathes, our office manager/ receptionist/call scheduler, reached me on the mobile radio.
“John Jones is bringing in his cow dog, got caught by the mowing machine. His ranch is about thirty miles from here, in the badlands. He called about three so he should be here soon.”
A petite, young woman, blonde hair, dressed in clean but worn Levi’s, a denim shirt, and cowboy boots jumped to the ground from the passenger side of the pickup. She turned to lift down a young girl, her blonde hair almost white. An older boy, another towhead, jumped out unassisted.
The way the rancher carried the dog into the hospital told of his gentle nature. I noted his weathered face, thickly callused hands, and massive chest. I held the door open and directed the Jones family into the exam room. Skipper, a two-year old Border collie bitch, black and white with wide set, expressive brown eyes thumped her tail on the stainless steel of the examination table.
Skipper raised her head, the rancher patted it and the dog lay back down on the table with a sigh. Both front legs and the left hind leg were lacerated, it appeared that metacarpal and metatarsal bones were broken. The upper portion of the left hind leg looked strange. When I palpated it the dog flinched. There was dried blood, dirt, and hair contaminating all the wounds. I detailed all the damage to the family and explained what it would take to repair it.
“How much Doc?”
“Three dollars to put her to sleep, probably at least a hundred if we try to save her but here’s the deal, I’m new. I’m anxious to prove what I can do and I want the challenge of trying to save this dog,” I glanced at the two children. “It appears to me that Skipper is pretty special.”
The boy couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “Please Dad,” then he clenched his mouth shut.
The little girl chimed in. “Yeah, pleath Dad, we have to.” She was missing front teeth.
The rancher sighed. “OK . . . you guys understand this means no Christmas or birthday gifts this year?”
I called my new bride and convinced her to come and help with the surgery. I needed a “go-fer” since I was all alone. Several hours later, we finished. Skipper had her fractured hind leg in a Thomas splint and both front legs in casts. The next morning she was frantically banging around in the cage, but calmed down immediately after I took her out to treat her. When I tried to put her back in the cage, she became frantic again. I finally realized she was a ranch dog that had probably never seen the inside of a house, let alone been in a cage.
She was happy as could be in a stall in the barn and there she stayed, content, for almost two weeks recovering. Then on a very hot evening, we left the barn door open for ventilation. Somehow, Skipper got out of the stall and was gone. While out on farm calls I searched the sides of the road for the next week and a half, hoping to see her, nothing. The Jones family also searched, put up posters, called into the radio. The radio station made numerous announcements about Skipper and the newspaper ran an article about her, nobody reported seeing her.
As I walked through the door to the clinic, the phone rang. It was John Jones announcing Skipper had arrived home, a thirty-mile trek on one good leg, the previous evening. He brought her in and I was able to repair the casts and Thomas splint and dress all her wounds. She was terribly thin but happy to see me and eventually made a full recovery.
August 8, 2012
A mule with tetanus
I leased my practice in Phoenix and moved my family to Mexico City after accepting a one-year appointment with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. FAO was operating a project with the veterinary school at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. The purpose of the project was to aid the college in upgrading their programs. My job was to help establish an ambulatory clinic to give the students hands-on experience diagnosing and treating animals on the farm.
While visiting a small community a group of students and I diagnosed a mule with tetanus. It was a textbook case and I decided that as many students as possible should be able to have the experience of observing and treating the animal. I explained to the owner, in my rudimentary Spanish, that the prognosis was very poor but that I would like to arrange to move the mule to the veterinary hospital to give as many students as possible experience with this kind of case. I was careful to explain that since the case was valuable as a teaching tool he would only be responsible for the cost of the drugs used and then only if the animal recovered enough to work again.
He agreed to the arrangement and I arranged transport for the mule to the veterinary teaching hospital at the university. Various groups of students assigned to the case treated it under my supervision for over three weeks. At one point, we had to put him in a sling because he was unable to stand on his own, but he made a miraculous recovery.
It was extremely unusual for an animal with tetanus to recover in 1967. I arranged to transport the mule back to the owner the next time we went to the village where he lived.
I explained to the owner how to care for the mule until he fully recovered and handed him a bill for five-hundred pesos, about forty dollars, a small fraction of the cost of all the drugs we used in the treatment. I explained that I had substantially reduced the bill by charging for only a fraction of the drugs we had used because so many students had benefited by working on the case.
“But Senor Medico you say me I would not have to pay if the mule could not work. You see he is very weak, he cannot work.” He was speaking in elementary school Spanish so I could understand.
“I understand,” I said. “He will recover and when he does you will accept this obligation, true?” I fully understood that the poor farmer probably only earned twenty-five pesos a day, maybe less and five-hundred pesos was a fortune to him, but the mule was worth at least a thousand or more pesos.
Two months passed and we visited that village three or four times. Each time the farmer took pains to seek me out and explain that the mule was still too weak to work. I told him I understood and smiled to myself.
Three new students were with me in the truck a few weeks after my last conversation with the mule’s owner. As we drove past the village, I saw my man out in a field plowing with the mule. I stopped the truck.
“Now you will experience the practical side of veterinary medicine,” I told them and related the story. All of them knew about the mule and were amused that I had been unable to collect the bill, interested to see how I would handle the situation.
“Buenos dias,” I greeted my client.
“Muy buenos dias Sr. Medico,” he replied.
“I see the mule is fully recovered and working well.”
“Si senor, but it was not your medicine.”
“Oh?”
“You see the leather thong on his left front fetlock?”
“Yes.”
“A curer in the market at San Angel sold me that. It is treated with many special cures (mostly urine my students explained later) and the curer said me it would make the mule completely recover if I tied it around his left front fetlock.”
“What if you tied it around his right fetlock?” I asked.
“He said me it would only function if I did it properly and with the correct knot he showed me.”
“And it obviously worked,” I smiled.
“As you see, the very next morning he was cured.”
I turned to the students.
“Today’s lesson is to never believe you are smarter than your clients.”
While visiting a small community a group of students and I diagnosed a mule with tetanus. It was a textbook case and I decided that as many students as possible should be able to have the experience of observing and treating the animal. I explained to the owner, in my rudimentary Spanish, that the prognosis was very poor but that I would like to arrange to move the mule to the veterinary hospital to give as many students as possible experience with this kind of case. I was careful to explain that since the case was valuable as a teaching tool he would only be responsible for the cost of the drugs used and then only if the animal recovered enough to work again.
He agreed to the arrangement and I arranged transport for the mule to the veterinary teaching hospital at the university. Various groups of students assigned to the case treated it under my supervision for over three weeks. At one point, we had to put him in a sling because he was unable to stand on his own, but he made a miraculous recovery.
It was extremely unusual for an animal with tetanus to recover in 1967. I arranged to transport the mule back to the owner the next time we went to the village where he lived.
I explained to the owner how to care for the mule until he fully recovered and handed him a bill for five-hundred pesos, about forty dollars, a small fraction of the cost of all the drugs we used in the treatment. I explained that I had substantially reduced the bill by charging for only a fraction of the drugs we had used because so many students had benefited by working on the case.
“But Senor Medico you say me I would not have to pay if the mule could not work. You see he is very weak, he cannot work.” He was speaking in elementary school Spanish so I could understand.
“I understand,” I said. “He will recover and when he does you will accept this obligation, true?” I fully understood that the poor farmer probably only earned twenty-five pesos a day, maybe less and five-hundred pesos was a fortune to him, but the mule was worth at least a thousand or more pesos.
Two months passed and we visited that village three or four times. Each time the farmer took pains to seek me out and explain that the mule was still too weak to work. I told him I understood and smiled to myself.
Three new students were with me in the truck a few weeks after my last conversation with the mule’s owner. As we drove past the village, I saw my man out in a field plowing with the mule. I stopped the truck.
“Now you will experience the practical side of veterinary medicine,” I told them and related the story. All of them knew about the mule and were amused that I had been unable to collect the bill, interested to see how I would handle the situation.
“Buenos dias,” I greeted my client.
“Muy buenos dias Sr. Medico,” he replied.
“I see the mule is fully recovered and working well.”
“Si senor, but it was not your medicine.”
“Oh?”
“You see the leather thong on his left front fetlock?”
“Yes.”
“A curer in the market at San Angel sold me that. It is treated with many special cures (mostly urine my students explained later) and the curer said me it would make the mule completely recover if I tied it around his left front fetlock.”
“What if you tied it around his right fetlock?” I asked.
“He said me it would only function if I did it properly and with the correct knot he showed me.”
“And it obviously worked,” I smiled.
“As you see, the very next morning he was cured.”
I turned to the students.
“Today’s lesson is to never believe you are smarter than your clients.”
July 24, 2012
Wilma the cat
Ike Williams and Jon Wilkins were partners, owners of Williams & Wilkins Blacksmiths and Mechanics. Their shop, large and dirty, stood in front of the small, immaculate, frame house they shared.
They both loved cats. I was never able to determine how many cats they cared for. There were shop cats, outside cats and house cats, all, seemingly, equally loved and cared for. From time to time, one or both of them would bring in one or several to be vaccinated or neutered.
This day they were both in the waiting room when I returned from farm calls.
They stood up as if joined at the hip Wilkins was holding a huge tabby in his arms. The cat was meowing, whimpering actually, obviously hurting.
“This is Wilma when we came in for lunch we found her, crying in pain. I think she’s paralyzed.”
As he talked tears welled up in Wilkins’ eyes, Ike put his arm over his partner’s shoulders.
“It will be OK Jon. Young Doc is good everyone says so. He’ll take care of Wilma for us, won’t you Doc?”
I held out my hands. “Here, let me take her. Let’s go into the exam room and see what we can figure out.”
I was unable to palpate a pulse in either femoral artery. “This is not good,” I told them. I’m pretty certain she has what we call a saddle thrombus. It’s a blood clot blocking the two main arteries to her legs. I’ve never seen a case before but I remember the description from vet school. There is no blood circulating to her hind legs.”
“Is there something you can do to fix her?” asked Ike.
“Well, theoretically I could try to operate and remove the clot. However, I’ve never done anything even remotely like that before, never opened an artery then tried to suture it closed afterwards. I don’t think we even have any suture material small enough to do that kind of thing. Also we have no idea what causes this and it could come right back. I’m sorry. I hate to say this but I think the best thing I can do to help Wilma is to put her out of her misery.”
They looked at each other each waiting for the other, torn by indecision. Neither was willing to accept the responsibility.
“Are you sure you don’t want to even try?” pleaded Jon. “Cost is not a problem you know. We’ll pay whatever it costs,” he looked to Ike for confirmation. Ike nodded in agreement.
“OK, I’m willing to try anything, but I have to tell you this could be an unmitigated disaster. I’ve never even seen anything like this done. First let me look to see if we have any suture material small enough to suture an artery closed.”
It went about as I anticipated. I got Wilma anesthetized, hooked up an intravenous drip, opened up her abdomen, packed off her abdominal organs and gained access to the distal aorta. When I tried to dissect around the vessel, I managed to break off some branches. The abdomen quickly filled with arterial blood and Wilma bled out in short order.
Jon cradled Wilma in his arms, rocking her gently.
“What do we owe you,” asked Ike?
“I don’t know how about twenty dollars to cover the cost of the anesthesia and other stuff I used, is that fair?”
Ike handed me a greasy ten and two crisp fives. He sniffed and turned to Jon.
“You want me to carry her or do you want to hold her.”
“I’ll hold her, you drive.”
Their pickup roared to life and the headlights came on. As the truck pulled onto the road I waved at them through the window.
This all took place in 1960 today a competent veterinary surgeon would consider this procedure routine.
They both loved cats. I was never able to determine how many cats they cared for. There were shop cats, outside cats and house cats, all, seemingly, equally loved and cared for. From time to time, one or both of them would bring in one or several to be vaccinated or neutered.
This day they were both in the waiting room when I returned from farm calls.
They stood up as if joined at the hip Wilkins was holding a huge tabby in his arms. The cat was meowing, whimpering actually, obviously hurting.
“This is Wilma when we came in for lunch we found her, crying in pain. I think she’s paralyzed.”
As he talked tears welled up in Wilkins’ eyes, Ike put his arm over his partner’s shoulders.
“It will be OK Jon. Young Doc is good everyone says so. He’ll take care of Wilma for us, won’t you Doc?”
I held out my hands. “Here, let me take her. Let’s go into the exam room and see what we can figure out.”
I was unable to palpate a pulse in either femoral artery. “This is not good,” I told them. I’m pretty certain she has what we call a saddle thrombus. It’s a blood clot blocking the two main arteries to her legs. I’ve never seen a case before but I remember the description from vet school. There is no blood circulating to her hind legs.”
“Is there something you can do to fix her?” asked Ike.
“Well, theoretically I could try to operate and remove the clot. However, I’ve never done anything even remotely like that before, never opened an artery then tried to suture it closed afterwards. I don’t think we even have any suture material small enough to do that kind of thing. Also we have no idea what causes this and it could come right back. I’m sorry. I hate to say this but I think the best thing I can do to help Wilma is to put her out of her misery.”
They looked at each other each waiting for the other, torn by indecision. Neither was willing to accept the responsibility.
“Are you sure you don’t want to even try?” pleaded Jon. “Cost is not a problem you know. We’ll pay whatever it costs,” he looked to Ike for confirmation. Ike nodded in agreement.
“OK, I’m willing to try anything, but I have to tell you this could be an unmitigated disaster. I’ve never even seen anything like this done. First let me look to see if we have any suture material small enough to suture an artery closed.”
It went about as I anticipated. I got Wilma anesthetized, hooked up an intravenous drip, opened up her abdomen, packed off her abdominal organs and gained access to the distal aorta. When I tried to dissect around the vessel, I managed to break off some branches. The abdomen quickly filled with arterial blood and Wilma bled out in short order.
Jon cradled Wilma in his arms, rocking her gently.
“What do we owe you,” asked Ike?
“I don’t know how about twenty dollars to cover the cost of the anesthesia and other stuff I used, is that fair?”
Ike handed me a greasy ten and two crisp fives. He sniffed and turned to Jon.
“You want me to carry her or do you want to hold her.”
“I’ll hold her, you drive.”
Their pickup roared to life and the headlights came on. As the truck pulled onto the road I waved at them through the window.
This all took place in 1960 today a competent veterinary surgeon would consider this procedure routine.
July 14, 2012
Chickens as Pets
Dr. Schultz was a good mentor for me. He was willing to offer help and advice but only if I asked for it. He and I were sitting in the office chatting when the phone rang. Dick Mathes, our technician and office manager answered it.
“Sidney Animal Hospital... What? ... Well, cook it. ... Oh, OK, I’ll ask one of the doctors.”
“What do you do for a chicken with a broken leg?”
“Make chicken soup,” I responded.
It’s a pet rooster.”
Dr. Schultz turned to me. “You’re the small animal expert. I don’t want any part of this deal.
“Well,” I told Dick, “tell her I can set the leg and it should heal but it will cost the same as for a cat or dog. After I set the leg I’ll have to take radiographs to make certain it is properly aligned. It will probably cost her at least twenty-five dollars,” that was a lot of money in 1960.
“That ought to bring her to her senses,” Dick muttered returning to the reception desk.
“Doc says he can fix it but it will cost you twenty-five dollars. ... Yeah, well OK, he’s here now.”
Janice Freeman was not the person I was expecting. She was tall with a luxuriant mass of light brown, curly hair springing in multiple directions from her head. Her eyes were widespread, child-like, pale blue. Her fingers were long, the nails painted bright red. Her handshake was as firm but her hand was soft, feminine. She was dressed in very tight jeans, pressed, with sharp creases front and back. The white oxford blouse tucked into her jeans emphasized her attributes.
“Dr. Gross, thank you for agreeing to take care of Banty. He’s my baby.”
The Bantam rooster tucked under her left arm was pressing into her bosom. Considering the obviously fractured left tibia, he was quiet seemingly content to be held, at least in that position.
“I’m always happy for a new experience,” I said, “and treating a chicken with a broken leg will be an entirely new experience for me. Let’s take him into the treatment room and see what can be done. How did this happen?”
“I haven’t a clue,” she said. “He was out in the back yard. I have a chicken wire protected area with a converted doghouse for shelter for him. The pen is strong enough to keep out hawks as well as ground predators. When I went out to feed him this morning the pen was intact but I found him like this.”
“Is he always this calm?” I asked.
“When I hold him he is,” she said.
“Well, that’s good. The biggest problem I thought we would have is anesthetizing him so I can set the leg. If he remains as calm as he is now we might be able to do what we need to do without anesthesia.”
I constructed and fit a Thomas splint. Banty didn’t respond to the manipulation of his broken leg. Once I had the splint constructed, I taped his foot to the end of it, easily manipulated the fracture to align the ends, taped the leg in place and took radiographs.
“Would it be possible for me to have a copy of those X-rays,” she asked.
When I arrived at the hospital the next morning the Sidney Herald was on my desk. On the front page was a photo of Banty, walking on his splint and another photo of his radiographs. The headline proclaimed; “New Vet Does His Thing.”
“Sidney Animal Hospital... What? ... Well, cook it. ... Oh, OK, I’ll ask one of the doctors.”
“What do you do for a chicken with a broken leg?”
“Make chicken soup,” I responded.
It’s a pet rooster.”
Dr. Schultz turned to me. “You’re the small animal expert. I don’t want any part of this deal.
“Well,” I told Dick, “tell her I can set the leg and it should heal but it will cost the same as for a cat or dog. After I set the leg I’ll have to take radiographs to make certain it is properly aligned. It will probably cost her at least twenty-five dollars,” that was a lot of money in 1960.
“That ought to bring her to her senses,” Dick muttered returning to the reception desk.
“Doc says he can fix it but it will cost you twenty-five dollars. ... Yeah, well OK, he’s here now.”
Janice Freeman was not the person I was expecting. She was tall with a luxuriant mass of light brown, curly hair springing in multiple directions from her head. Her eyes were widespread, child-like, pale blue. Her fingers were long, the nails painted bright red. Her handshake was as firm but her hand was soft, feminine. She was dressed in very tight jeans, pressed, with sharp creases front and back. The white oxford blouse tucked into her jeans emphasized her attributes.
“Dr. Gross, thank you for agreeing to take care of Banty. He’s my baby.”
The Bantam rooster tucked under her left arm was pressing into her bosom. Considering the obviously fractured left tibia, he was quiet seemingly content to be held, at least in that position.
“I’m always happy for a new experience,” I said, “and treating a chicken with a broken leg will be an entirely new experience for me. Let’s take him into the treatment room and see what can be done. How did this happen?”
“I haven’t a clue,” she said. “He was out in the back yard. I have a chicken wire protected area with a converted doghouse for shelter for him. The pen is strong enough to keep out hawks as well as ground predators. When I went out to feed him this morning the pen was intact but I found him like this.”
“Is he always this calm?” I asked.
“When I hold him he is,” she said.
“Well, that’s good. The biggest problem I thought we would have is anesthetizing him so I can set the leg. If he remains as calm as he is now we might be able to do what we need to do without anesthesia.”
I constructed and fit a Thomas splint. Banty didn’t respond to the manipulation of his broken leg. Once I had the splint constructed, I taped his foot to the end of it, easily manipulated the fracture to align the ends, taped the leg in place and took radiographs.
“Would it be possible for me to have a copy of those X-rays,” she asked.
When I arrived at the hospital the next morning the Sidney Herald was on my desk. On the front page was a photo of Banty, walking on his splint and another photo of his radiographs. The headline proclaimed; “New Vet Does His Thing.”
June 25, 2012
Skunks as pets
I extended my hand and the boy with red hair, a wide grin, no front teeth, and lots of freckles took it and pumped once up then down.
“What’s in the sack, Billy?” I asked.
The boy opened the top of the feed sack and showed me a small, shiny black animal with a stark white stripe the length of its back.
“Billy found the baby skunk and he wants to keep him for a pet. What do you think? If we de-scent him, will he make a good pet? I told him I don’t do that kind of surgery, but I was pretty sure you could handle it,” Dr. Schultz smiled.
I joined Dr. Schultz’ veterinary practice only two months previously, directly after veterinary school graduation. I thought I remembered the description of the procedure from a surgery class. I held out my hand and Billy handed me the sack.
“OK Billy, I’ll take good care of him. However,” I squatted directly in front of the boy, “a de-scented skunk is still a wild creature, not like a dog or cat. Do you understand? You will have to be careful around him when he grows up or he might bite you. Otherwise he will make a wonderful pet.”
“I’m going to do this out in the barn. If I nick one of his scent glands, it will stink up the whole hospital. Dick, have we got an old ice chest we can use for an anesthetic chamber?” I asked Dick Mathes, our technician.
Dr. Schultz and Dick followed me to the barn, Dick carrying a hard-used ice chest.
“You ever even seen one of these done,” asked Schultz?
“Nope,” I replied.
I poured ether onto a wad of cotton, dropped it into the ice chest, opened the sack, dropped the baby skunk into the chest and closed the lid. I listened carefully until the skunk stopped moving around, lifted the lid and gave the animal a poke. He didn’t move, but was breathing deeply and regularly, so far, so good.
“Dick, do you suppose you can find some plastic sandwich bags?”
“I expect so. What do you need them for?”
“We’ll need something to put the scent glands in.”
“Gotchya.”
I took the anesthetized skunk out of the ice chest and arranged him on the surgical table, on his belly with his tail tied up over his back. I added ether to a cone designed for a small cat and placed it over the skunk’s muzzle then clipped the entire area around the anus and prepared the skin for surgery.
“Well, the glands are where they’re supposed to be at five and seven o'clock,” I said. “But he’s a she.”
I found the papilla on the right side, clamped it with a mosquito forceps and dissected the gland. To my surprise it peeled out whole, the duct held closed by the forceps.
“As soon as I remove the clamp you need to close up the baggie,” I told Dick.
I deposited the sac in the plastic sandwich bag that Dick held open for me. Only a whisper of scent escaped before the bag was sealed closed. The other sac also came out intact but when I tried to drop it into a second bag, it stuck to one of the jaws of the forceps. I gave the forceps a shake to flip it off. The gland missed the bag and landed directly on the left instep of my new rough-out boots. Skunk fragrance filled the barn. My eyes watered. Dr. Schultz and Dick beat a laughing retreat into the clinic slamming the door behind them.
I tried washing off the boots with the high-pressure hose we used to clean the barn but that did very little to abate the odor. Over the next two weeks, I washed them several times in tomato juice but whenever I walked into a restaurant, or some other warm place, people started sniffing and looking around, the boots were history.
“What’s in the sack, Billy?” I asked.
The boy opened the top of the feed sack and showed me a small, shiny black animal with a stark white stripe the length of its back.
“Billy found the baby skunk and he wants to keep him for a pet. What do you think? If we de-scent him, will he make a good pet? I told him I don’t do that kind of surgery, but I was pretty sure you could handle it,” Dr. Schultz smiled.
I joined Dr. Schultz’ veterinary practice only two months previously, directly after veterinary school graduation. I thought I remembered the description of the procedure from a surgery class. I held out my hand and Billy handed me the sack.
“OK Billy, I’ll take good care of him. However,” I squatted directly in front of the boy, “a de-scented skunk is still a wild creature, not like a dog or cat. Do you understand? You will have to be careful around him when he grows up or he might bite you. Otherwise he will make a wonderful pet.”
“I’m going to do this out in the barn. If I nick one of his scent glands, it will stink up the whole hospital. Dick, have we got an old ice chest we can use for an anesthetic chamber?” I asked Dick Mathes, our technician.
Dr. Schultz and Dick followed me to the barn, Dick carrying a hard-used ice chest.
“You ever even seen one of these done,” asked Schultz?
“Nope,” I replied.
I poured ether onto a wad of cotton, dropped it into the ice chest, opened the sack, dropped the baby skunk into the chest and closed the lid. I listened carefully until the skunk stopped moving around, lifted the lid and gave the animal a poke. He didn’t move, but was breathing deeply and regularly, so far, so good.
“Dick, do you suppose you can find some plastic sandwich bags?”
“I expect so. What do you need them for?”
“We’ll need something to put the scent glands in.”
“Gotchya.”
I took the anesthetized skunk out of the ice chest and arranged him on the surgical table, on his belly with his tail tied up over his back. I added ether to a cone designed for a small cat and placed it over the skunk’s muzzle then clipped the entire area around the anus and prepared the skin for surgery.
“Well, the glands are where they’re supposed to be at five and seven o'clock,” I said. “But he’s a she.”
I found the papilla on the right side, clamped it with a mosquito forceps and dissected the gland. To my surprise it peeled out whole, the duct held closed by the forceps.
“As soon as I remove the clamp you need to close up the baggie,” I told Dick.
I deposited the sac in the plastic sandwich bag that Dick held open for me. Only a whisper of scent escaped before the bag was sealed closed. The other sac also came out intact but when I tried to drop it into a second bag, it stuck to one of the jaws of the forceps. I gave the forceps a shake to flip it off. The gland missed the bag and landed directly on the left instep of my new rough-out boots. Skunk fragrance filled the barn. My eyes watered. Dr. Schultz and Dick beat a laughing retreat into the clinic slamming the door behind them.
I tried washing off the boots with the high-pressure hose we used to clean the barn but that did very little to abate the odor. Over the next two weeks, I washed them several times in tomato juice but whenever I walked into a restaurant, or some other warm place, people started sniffing and looking around, the boots were history.
June 14, 2012
My dog frequently has goop in the corners of his eyes and on his eyelids, should I be concerned?
Normally dogs’ eyes are clear, bright and usually have only a clear, watery discharge, but some breeds with normal eyes may accumulate a light gray material on the corners of their eyes. You can just clean these off with clean cotton swabs. If your dog’s eyes are red (inflamed) and/or have significant accumulations of yellowish or greenish material, it could indicate conjunctivitis, inflammation of the conjunctival membranes. The conjunctiva, are light pink membranes that cover the front of the eyeball and the inside of the eyelids. Conjunctivitis can be a problem in one eye (unilateral) or both eyes (bilateral) and can be chronic, infectious or non-infectious. Other signs of conjunctivitis include swollen eyelids, pawing or rubbing at the eyes, excessive blinking, squinting, and protrusion of the third eyelid, also known as the nictitating membrane, usually seen as a reddish mass extending over part of the eye from the inner corner.
Where I now live, allergies to pollen, dust and mold are a major cause of conjunctivitis in dogs. Other causes include viral infections such as canine distemper, bacterial infections, especially from Staphylococci and Streptococci. A lack of tears can result in keratoconjunctivitis sicca or dry eye. This is an inflammation of both the cornea and the conjunctiva and can be caused by trauma, inflammation of the conjunctival glands and ducts and/or scarring of these structures. Dry eye can also be the result of certain immune diseases or diabetes mellitus. Foreign objects such as grass seeds, hair, and eyelashes can result in conjunctivitis as can injury, some parasites, fungal infections, tumors and certain anatomical abnormalities. Sometimes we just cannot determine a cause, and assign the name idiopathic conjunctivitis.
Follicular, also known as mucoid, conjunctivitis occurs when the small mucous glands (follicles) on the underside of the third eyelid react to an irritant or infection and change to a raised, rough surface that irritates the eye further and produces a thick off colored mucous discharge. Sometimes even after the initiating cause has been removed this thickened follicles persist and may require surgical treatment. Purulent conjunctivitis is a serious form of conjunctivitis characterized by secondary bacterial contamination and requires veterinary diagnosis and prescribed treatment.
Your veterinarian can diagnose dry eye by using the Schirmer Tear Test. The treatment does require that you continue to treat the condition throughout the dog’s life. The treatment of purulent conjunctivitis requires a proper diagnosis by your veterinarian who will instruct you about safely removing mucous and pus from the dog’s eyes as well as any pus and crust that may adhere to the eyelids. Your veterinarian will also prescribe an appropriate antibiotic ointment or drops to use as directed. Conjunctivitis from allergies, but not complicated by a bacterial infection, may be treated with drops or ointments containing corticosteroids but these should not be used if there is a corneal ulcer or injury because the corticosteroids prevent the local inflammatory response that helps fight the infection. Your veterinarian may find it necessary to do culture and sensitivity testing to determine the most appropriate treatment. If your veterinarian suspects injury to the cornea s(he) may apply a dye (fluorescein) to the eyeball that stains and demonstrates scratches or ulcers. Antiviral eye medications are available to treat viral conjunctivitis and L-Lysine may be beneficial in some cases. Anti-fungal medications are available for fungal eye infections.
Where I now live, allergies to pollen, dust and mold are a major cause of conjunctivitis in dogs. Other causes include viral infections such as canine distemper, bacterial infections, especially from Staphylococci and Streptococci. A lack of tears can result in keratoconjunctivitis sicca or dry eye. This is an inflammation of both the cornea and the conjunctiva and can be caused by trauma, inflammation of the conjunctival glands and ducts and/or scarring of these structures. Dry eye can also be the result of certain immune diseases or diabetes mellitus. Foreign objects such as grass seeds, hair, and eyelashes can result in conjunctivitis as can injury, some parasites, fungal infections, tumors and certain anatomical abnormalities. Sometimes we just cannot determine a cause, and assign the name idiopathic conjunctivitis.
Follicular, also known as mucoid, conjunctivitis occurs when the small mucous glands (follicles) on the underside of the third eyelid react to an irritant or infection and change to a raised, rough surface that irritates the eye further and produces a thick off colored mucous discharge. Sometimes even after the initiating cause has been removed this thickened follicles persist and may require surgical treatment. Purulent conjunctivitis is a serious form of conjunctivitis characterized by secondary bacterial contamination and requires veterinary diagnosis and prescribed treatment.
Your veterinarian can diagnose dry eye by using the Schirmer Tear Test. The treatment does require that you continue to treat the condition throughout the dog’s life. The treatment of purulent conjunctivitis requires a proper diagnosis by your veterinarian who will instruct you about safely removing mucous and pus from the dog’s eyes as well as any pus and crust that may adhere to the eyelids. Your veterinarian will also prescribe an appropriate antibiotic ointment or drops to use as directed. Conjunctivitis from allergies, but not complicated by a bacterial infection, may be treated with drops or ointments containing corticosteroids but these should not be used if there is a corneal ulcer or injury because the corticosteroids prevent the local inflammatory response that helps fight the infection. Your veterinarian may find it necessary to do culture and sensitivity testing to determine the most appropriate treatment. If your veterinarian suspects injury to the cornea s(he) may apply a dye (fluorescein) to the eyeball that stains and demonstrates scratches or ulcers. Antiviral eye medications are available to treat viral conjunctivitis and L-Lysine may be beneficial in some cases. Anti-fungal medications are available for fungal eye infections.
May 31, 2012
I was taught that “people food” is bad for dogs and cats, is this true?
To answer this question let’s go back to a time when dogs and cats were first domesticated and there was no billion-dollar a year pet food industry. Those early canines and felines must have been useful to the societies that adopted them. Dogs ate garbage and provided an alarm system against invaders. Humans found them to be loyal companions, protective of both their territory and their people and useful for tasks such as pulling travois or sleds. Cats, no doubt, proved valuable for the control of rodents and other pests.
People, pigs and other species of omnivores are capable of digesting and utilizing a wide variety of food products. Omnivores have longer digestive tracts, teeth capable of thorough mastication (something my wife is constantly reminding me about) and the ability to digest much of what they consume. Dogs and cats are carnivores with teeth designed for grasping and tearing rather than efficient mastication. Their digestive tracts are shorter and their nutritional requirements are different. Wild carnivores consume more than muscle and organ tissue, they also ingest partially digested vegetable material from the intestines, often consumed first.
Both dogs and cats require ten essential amino acids that they get from animal origin protein and essential fatty acids from animal or vegetable fat. Cats need more protein than dogs. Both dogs and cats require the proper balance of vitamins and minerals. The FDA requires any pet food that advertises with the words “complete” or “balanced” on the package to have everything your pet needs. The only problem with feeding your pet “people food” is that it takes knowledge and planning to provide all the nutritional requirements.
So far, I have avoided the question of feeding table scraps. Here we go. Do not feed your pet from the table while you are eating. The result will be an annoying pet that begs whenever you sit down to eat. The food may or may not be healthy but the behavior generated from table feeding is irritating and the result is usually a bad mannered, spoiled animal. Given that, I have been responsible for many family pets over the years and routinely mix small quantities of leftover food from our plates in with their regular commercial pet food. I avoid giving highly spiced foods but have routinely added meat gravy and fat, small bits of uneaten steak, even potatoes and cooked vegetables. All our dogs have thrived and appreciated these treats, most of our cats have turned up their nose, what does that tell you? Never provide cooked bones, they can splinter and cause all manner of problems. I have removed steak bones and chicken vertebrae from more than one obstructed GI tract.
If you look on the internet, you can find many recipes for homemade pet foods that seem to contain all the necessary ingredients for a healthy diet. I would be a little apprehensive about feeding a diet with raw red meat, poultry or seafood, too easy for bacterial contamination. If it is cooked fresh, introduced gradually, and your pet doesn’t react adversely to it, you should be OK. If you opt for a vegan diet, you have to be extremely careful to supply all the necessary essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, not easy to do. It seems to me that feeding your pet organic foods or foods you prepare is more about lifestyle, cultural and moral beliefs than nutritional needs or food safety, but if it makes you feel better, why not?
Some animals do have special dietary needs because of illness, age or some other condition. If your veterinarian prescribes a special diet, you must use the commercial diet recommended or have a lengthy discussion about what you can prepare yourself to meet all the patient’s requirements.
People, pigs and other species of omnivores are capable of digesting and utilizing a wide variety of food products. Omnivores have longer digestive tracts, teeth capable of thorough mastication (something my wife is constantly reminding me about) and the ability to digest much of what they consume. Dogs and cats are carnivores with teeth designed for grasping and tearing rather than efficient mastication. Their digestive tracts are shorter and their nutritional requirements are different. Wild carnivores consume more than muscle and organ tissue, they also ingest partially digested vegetable material from the intestines, often consumed first.
Both dogs and cats require ten essential amino acids that they get from animal origin protein and essential fatty acids from animal or vegetable fat. Cats need more protein than dogs. Both dogs and cats require the proper balance of vitamins and minerals. The FDA requires any pet food that advertises with the words “complete” or “balanced” on the package to have everything your pet needs. The only problem with feeding your pet “people food” is that it takes knowledge and planning to provide all the nutritional requirements.
So far, I have avoided the question of feeding table scraps. Here we go. Do not feed your pet from the table while you are eating. The result will be an annoying pet that begs whenever you sit down to eat. The food may or may not be healthy but the behavior generated from table feeding is irritating and the result is usually a bad mannered, spoiled animal. Given that, I have been responsible for many family pets over the years and routinely mix small quantities of leftover food from our plates in with their regular commercial pet food. I avoid giving highly spiced foods but have routinely added meat gravy and fat, small bits of uneaten steak, even potatoes and cooked vegetables. All our dogs have thrived and appreciated these treats, most of our cats have turned up their nose, what does that tell you? Never provide cooked bones, they can splinter and cause all manner of problems. I have removed steak bones and chicken vertebrae from more than one obstructed GI tract.
If you look on the internet, you can find many recipes for homemade pet foods that seem to contain all the necessary ingredients for a healthy diet. I would be a little apprehensive about feeding a diet with raw red meat, poultry or seafood, too easy for bacterial contamination. If it is cooked fresh, introduced gradually, and your pet doesn’t react adversely to it, you should be OK. If you opt for a vegan diet, you have to be extremely careful to supply all the necessary essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, not easy to do. It seems to me that feeding your pet organic foods or foods you prepare is more about lifestyle, cultural and moral beliefs than nutritional needs or food safety, but if it makes you feel better, why not?
Some animals do have special dietary needs because of illness, age or some other condition. If your veterinarian prescribes a special diet, you must use the commercial diet recommended or have a lengthy discussion about what you can prepare yourself to meet all the patient’s requirements.
May 10, 2012
Is it true that flame retardant chemicals can be especially toxic to cats?
There is some evidence that Polybrominate Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) may be involved in hyperthyroidism in cats. Feline hyperthyroidism may be the most common endocrine disorder in cats. It is associated with benign tumor(s) of the thyroid gland and usually appears in middle-aged to older cats, without preference to breed or gender. The signs of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, hyperactivity accompanied by a voracious appetite. Cats can also demonstrate increased water intake, more frequent urination, along with intermittent vomiting and/or diarrhea. Cats with severe hyperthyroidism suffer from increased heart rates, arrhythmias (irregular beats) and congestive heart failure. About 10% of cats with hyperthyroidism develop a condition known as apathetic hyperthyroidism. These animals show depression and lack of appetite with fast weight loss.
The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is by measuring increased circulating levels of the two thyroid hormones. Your veterinarian can verify the diagnosis by the use of special thyroid imaging called planar thyroid scintigraphy. Hyperthyroidism can be treated successfully with anti-thyroid drugs, surgery or the administration of radioactive iodine, the latter is currently the most commonly employed and probably the most successful.
There are three different types of PBDE compounds commonly used as flame retardants. They can migrate out of the flame retardant products then accumulate in indoor air and house dust and eventually contaminate the environment. Since the PBDEs do not break down quickly in the environment they accumulate in air, soils, sediments, fish, marine mammals, birds and other wildlife and well as in meat, poultry and dairy products. We should expect a decrease in these contaminants in this country since two of the most commonly used types were discontinued in 2004 and the third will be phased out in 2013. However, exposure from existing building materials, furnishings and consumer products, especially those imported from countries still using these products will continue.
A paper recently published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health suggested a link between PBDEs and hyperthyroidism. The researchers studied 21 normal cats, 41 cats diagnosed as hyperthyroid and 10 normal feral cats with no exposure to household dust. Although the total PBDE concentrations in the serum of normal and hyperthyroid cats were not significantly different, the total PBDE in dust from homes of hyperthyroid cats was significantly higher than the dust from homes of normal cats. The levels of PBDE in dust and one of the thyroid hormones (T4) were significantly correlated. Although this study does not prove a cause and effect between PBDE levels in household dust and hyperthyroidism in cats it is another indication that household pets could serve as sentinels for environmental toxicants that could affect humans. A major problem with most toxicology studies is that the effects of low levels of toxicants, over long periods of time, are too expensive to conduct and therefore are almost never done.
The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is by measuring increased circulating levels of the two thyroid hormones. Your veterinarian can verify the diagnosis by the use of special thyroid imaging called planar thyroid scintigraphy. Hyperthyroidism can be treated successfully with anti-thyroid drugs, surgery or the administration of radioactive iodine, the latter is currently the most commonly employed and probably the most successful.
There are three different types of PBDE compounds commonly used as flame retardants. They can migrate out of the flame retardant products then accumulate in indoor air and house dust and eventually contaminate the environment. Since the PBDEs do not break down quickly in the environment they accumulate in air, soils, sediments, fish, marine mammals, birds and other wildlife and well as in meat, poultry and dairy products. We should expect a decrease in these contaminants in this country since two of the most commonly used types were discontinued in 2004 and the third will be phased out in 2013. However, exposure from existing building materials, furnishings and consumer products, especially those imported from countries still using these products will continue.
A paper recently published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health suggested a link between PBDEs and hyperthyroidism. The researchers studied 21 normal cats, 41 cats diagnosed as hyperthyroid and 10 normal feral cats with no exposure to household dust. Although the total PBDE concentrations in the serum of normal and hyperthyroid cats were not significantly different, the total PBDE in dust from homes of hyperthyroid cats was significantly higher than the dust from homes of normal cats. The levels of PBDE in dust and one of the thyroid hormones (T4) were significantly correlated. Although this study does not prove a cause and effect between PBDE levels in household dust and hyperthyroidism in cats it is another indication that household pets could serve as sentinels for environmental toxicants that could affect humans. A major problem with most toxicology studies is that the effects of low levels of toxicants, over long periods of time, are too expensive to conduct and therefore are almost never done.
April 18, 2012
Is it true that animals can be poisoned by eating chocolate?
Yes, well sort of, it depends, is that clear? Actually chocolate poisoning is not unusual in dogs, maybe because many dogs will eat almost anything. Cats are more discerning. I found one reported case of chocolate poisoning in a horse. That is weird because the toxic dose of chocolate is dependent on body weight. The published toxic dose is 100-200 mg/kg. (a mg, milligram, is 1/1000 of a gram, a kg, kilogram, is 1000 grams, a kilogram is equal to 2.24 pounds, 16 ounces to the pound. Let your fourth grader do the math.) To complicate matters veterinarians at the Poison Control Center of the ASPCA have reported problems with doses as low as 20mg/kg, of theobromine. So we will go with the lower toxic dose.
Chocolate comes from the beans of the cacao tree. The beans contain methylxanthines, a class of drugs that include theobromine and caffeine. Most humans can metabolize, break down, both theobromine and caffeine without much difficulty, in two to four hours. The half-life of theobromine in dogs is 17.5 hours, the half-life of caffeine about 4.5 hours, about the same in cats.
To complicate matters further the levels of theobromine depend upon the type of chocolate. Dry cocoa powder has the most theobromine, about 800 mg/ounce. If your five-pound Chihuahua (about 2.25 kg) ingests an ounce of cocoa powder, he will have ingested 800 mg of theobromine. Anything more than 45 mg could cause problems for him. Unsweetened Baker’s chocolate, contains about 450 mg/oz of theobromine, an ounce is still very toxic to your Chihuahua. Semisweet and sweet dark chocolate contain about 150-160 mg/oz and milk chocolate about 44-64 mg per oz so your Chihuahua could still be in trouble. However, your 70-pound Golden Retriever (much more likely to snarf down your chocolate) will have to consume about 14-16 oz of milk chocolate to get sick on it. A 400 kg horse would need to ingest about 8,000 mg of theobromine, that’s about 17-18 oz of Baker’s chocolate. If caught feeding Baker’s chocolate to a race horse you will be banned from the track, maybe prosecuted, it’s considered a stimulant. White chocolate contains very small quantities of the methylxanthines.
Both caffeine and theobromine are readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distribute throughout the body. Both compounds are metabolized in the liver. The metabolites are excreted in the urine along with small amounts of the original, un-metabolized, compounds. So, if your pet is old, or has liver or kidney disease, the toxic effects can be intensified. With normal liver and kidney function, it will take about two days for your pet to eliminate a toxic dose from its system.
Signs of chocolate toxicity in dogs and cats include diarrhea, vomiting, increased urination, muscle twitching, excessive panting, hyperactivity, whining and when severe, seizures, rapid heart rate and circulatory collapse. Treatment is to induce vomiting and use activated charcoal in an attempt to bind the theobromine and prevent its absorption from the GI tract. You can induce vomiting with 1-2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide, repeated two or three times every 15 minutes, if needed. One to,3 teaspoons of syrup of Ipecac, based on the size of the pet, will also do the trick. If your pet is showing signs of intoxication, get it to your veterinarian. S/he can sedate the animal to control seizures and flush with intravenous fluids to hasten elimination from the body.
Chocolate comes from the beans of the cacao tree. The beans contain methylxanthines, a class of drugs that include theobromine and caffeine. Most humans can metabolize, break down, both theobromine and caffeine without much difficulty, in two to four hours. The half-life of theobromine in dogs is 17.5 hours, the half-life of caffeine about 4.5 hours, about the same in cats.
To complicate matters further the levels of theobromine depend upon the type of chocolate. Dry cocoa powder has the most theobromine, about 800 mg/ounce. If your five-pound Chihuahua (about 2.25 kg) ingests an ounce of cocoa powder, he will have ingested 800 mg of theobromine. Anything more than 45 mg could cause problems for him. Unsweetened Baker’s chocolate, contains about 450 mg/oz of theobromine, an ounce is still very toxic to your Chihuahua. Semisweet and sweet dark chocolate contain about 150-160 mg/oz and milk chocolate about 44-64 mg per oz so your Chihuahua could still be in trouble. However, your 70-pound Golden Retriever (much more likely to snarf down your chocolate) will have to consume about 14-16 oz of milk chocolate to get sick on it. A 400 kg horse would need to ingest about 8,000 mg of theobromine, that’s about 17-18 oz of Baker’s chocolate. If caught feeding Baker’s chocolate to a race horse you will be banned from the track, maybe prosecuted, it’s considered a stimulant. White chocolate contains very small quantities of the methylxanthines.
Both caffeine and theobromine are readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distribute throughout the body. Both compounds are metabolized in the liver. The metabolites are excreted in the urine along with small amounts of the original, un-metabolized, compounds. So, if your pet is old, or has liver or kidney disease, the toxic effects can be intensified. With normal liver and kidney function, it will take about two days for your pet to eliminate a toxic dose from its system.
Signs of chocolate toxicity in dogs and cats include diarrhea, vomiting, increased urination, muscle twitching, excessive panting, hyperactivity, whining and when severe, seizures, rapid heart rate and circulatory collapse. Treatment is to induce vomiting and use activated charcoal in an attempt to bind the theobromine and prevent its absorption from the GI tract. You can induce vomiting with 1-2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide, repeated two or three times every 15 minutes, if needed. One to,3 teaspoons of syrup of Ipecac, based on the size of the pet, will also do the trick. If your pet is showing signs of intoxication, get it to your veterinarian. S/he can sedate the animal to control seizures and flush with intravenous fluids to hasten elimination from the body.
April 5, 2012
What can cause a nose bleed in a dog or cat?
Epistaxis (bleeding from the nose) is more common in dogs than in cats, in my experience, probably because most cats are indoor pets these days. It can occur from one or both nostrils and can vary from slight bleeding that usually stops without treatment to profuse, possibly life threatening bleeding, that resists treatment. As with most abnormal conditions your pet may suffer, proper treatment depends upon establishing the cause.
Some incidents start with sneezing and traces of blood in the discharge from the nose while others can start with alarming, and profuse, bleeding. Any cause of persistent and/or violent sneezing can result in a nosebleed. The most common cause is a foreign body such as a foxtail, grass seed (awns), a small blade of grass or a burr. Other causes of sneezing are nasal infections from bacterial and/or fungal organisms and, of course, allergies that initiate sneezing episodes. In rare cases, the infection from a rotten tooth can extend into a nasal sinus and/or the nasal cavity and cause bleeding. Of course, trauma to the head or nose can result in a bleed and cancers of the nasal cavity, particularly hemangiosarcoma, frequently invade the nasal cavity and result in persistent bleeding.
Less common causes include problems with blood clotting that can result from hemophilia or von Willebrand’s disease (a specific type of hemophilia) and hypertension (high blood pressure). The ingestion of warfarin-based rodent poisons, either directly or after eating a rodent poisoned by one of these agents, can be a cause, as well as systemic infections that involve the blood (septicemia) or bone marrow. The bacteria that responsible for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Ehrlichiosis can cause epistaxis. Other infectious causes include the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in cats. Very ill animals can develop disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with nosebleeds, as can animals with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. The use of some drugs including methimazole (a drug used to treat animals with a hyperthyroid condition), estrogens, sulfa drugs and some chemotherapeutic treatments for cancer can cause bleeding as well.
If your pet has a nosebleed first try to keep it calm, then hold an ice pack on top of the muzzle. If the bleeding stops then returns, or does not stop, take it to your veterinarian. Do not treat your pet with aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs). Tell your vet if the animal has been on any kind of medication, been exposed to rat poison or other pesticides, dead rodents, or to a place where s/he could have sniffed up a grass awn or other seed head. You must tell your vet if your pet has been roughhousing with other animals, sustained a trauma to the head or face, been sneezing or rubbing at the nose, had blood in the mouth or gums, a black tarry stool or had “coffee-ground” vomiting. Any of these signs could help with the diagnosis.
After a thorough physical exam, your veterinarian may need to examine the nasal cavities with a small endoscope, do blood work, radiographs, nasal swab cultures and antibiotic sensitivity tests and/or fungal cultures and possibly allergy testing. In cases of neoplasia (cancer), a CT or MRI scan may be necessary. The good news is that most nosebleeds are not serious and once the cause is determined and removed the nosebleed will no longer be a problem
Some incidents start with sneezing and traces of blood in the discharge from the nose while others can start with alarming, and profuse, bleeding. Any cause of persistent and/or violent sneezing can result in a nosebleed. The most common cause is a foreign body such as a foxtail, grass seed (awns), a small blade of grass or a burr. Other causes of sneezing are nasal infections from bacterial and/or fungal organisms and, of course, allergies that initiate sneezing episodes. In rare cases, the infection from a rotten tooth can extend into a nasal sinus and/or the nasal cavity and cause bleeding. Of course, trauma to the head or nose can result in a bleed and cancers of the nasal cavity, particularly hemangiosarcoma, frequently invade the nasal cavity and result in persistent bleeding.
Less common causes include problems with blood clotting that can result from hemophilia or von Willebrand’s disease (a specific type of hemophilia) and hypertension (high blood pressure). The ingestion of warfarin-based rodent poisons, either directly or after eating a rodent poisoned by one of these agents, can be a cause, as well as systemic infections that involve the blood (septicemia) or bone marrow. The bacteria that responsible for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Ehrlichiosis can cause epistaxis. Other infectious causes include the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in cats. Very ill animals can develop disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with nosebleeds, as can animals with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. The use of some drugs including methimazole (a drug used to treat animals with a hyperthyroid condition), estrogens, sulfa drugs and some chemotherapeutic treatments for cancer can cause bleeding as well.
If your pet has a nosebleed first try to keep it calm, then hold an ice pack on top of the muzzle. If the bleeding stops then returns, or does not stop, take it to your veterinarian. Do not treat your pet with aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs). Tell your vet if the animal has been on any kind of medication, been exposed to rat poison or other pesticides, dead rodents, or to a place where s/he could have sniffed up a grass awn or other seed head. You must tell your vet if your pet has been roughhousing with other animals, sustained a trauma to the head or face, been sneezing or rubbing at the nose, had blood in the mouth or gums, a black tarry stool or had “coffee-ground” vomiting. Any of these signs could help with the diagnosis.
After a thorough physical exam, your veterinarian may need to examine the nasal cavities with a small endoscope, do blood work, radiographs, nasal swab cultures and antibiotic sensitivity tests and/or fungal cultures and possibly allergy testing. In cases of neoplasia (cancer), a CT or MRI scan may be necessary. The good news is that most nosebleeds are not serious and once the cause is determined and removed the nosebleed will no longer be a problem
