Oliver: Pet of the month - Hall of fame ( Feb 2018)

The owners of Oliver, a gorgeous 10 year old Hungarian Vizsla, contacted us after they noticed that he was drinking more than usual and urinating more too.

We asked them to collect a urine sample from Oliver and to book an appointment to see a vet. A urine test can help to provide information on the health of the kidneys and urinary tract as well as checking for the presence of glucose that can indicate underlying Diabetes Mellitus (sugar Diabetes). Oliver’s urine was tested and the findings were unremarkable apart from it being slightly lower in concentration (more dilute).

There can be many causes of polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyuria (production of large volumes of urine), so the next step was to carry out some further tests on Oliver to discover the cause of his symptoms.

Oliver was examined by vet Cathy who then collected a blood sample so that she could evaluate his organ function and electrolyte status. The results showed that his liver enzymes were elevated, of which there can be many causes. The next step was for Oliver to come in for the day to have an ultrasound scan of his abdomen and to have a specific blood test called a bile acid stimulation test; this tests how well the liver is functioning. Oliver was such a well behaved boy and lay very still to allow Cathy to perform the scan.

Cathy looked at the structure, size and health of his liver which showed some age related changes. She also scanned his spleen, kidneys and bladder, the result of which was normal. Oliver had not had any breakfast as he needed to be fasted for the first part of his blood test, so he was quite happy when the nurses gave him brunch, as the second part of the blood sample needed to be collected two hours after food. 
Cathy received the results of Oliver’s bile acid stimulation blood test; it showed that his liver was working properly and she concluded that his symptoms were not the result of liver disease. 

With kidney and liver disease ruled out, Cathy was suspicious that Oliver's excessive thirst and urination might be the result of a rare condition called Diabetes Insipidus (water diabetes).There is no specific test for this, so other conditions had to be excluded before starting treatment. 
A common hormonal disease called Cushing’s can also cause symptoms like Oliver’s, so this firstly needed to be ruled out (or ruled in). Cathy arranged for him to come in to the hospital for multiple blood samples. Again Oliver was a model patient, allowing the nurses to take his blood without any fuss. The results showed that Oliver did not have Cushing’s disease.

Cathy prescribed some antibiotics for Oliver so that she could also rule out a kidney infection (pyelonephritis) Oliver wasn’t showing clinical signs of a kidney infection other than frequent thirst and urination, and a urine test was negative for bacterial growth, but in some cases the condition can be ‘hidden’. Oliver's symptoms did not improve with the antibiotics so lastly Cathy asked Oliver's owners to collect a series of urine samples from him over a day so that she could test how well he was concentrating his urine; a test called specific gravity. This can be variable in pets, but Cathy could see from the results that Oliver's urine was dilute. It was now appropriate for Oliver to trial some medication to treat Diabetes Insipidus.
Diabetes Insipidus is a condition where the body fails to maintain water balance. It is a rare disorder and not to be confused with Diabetes Mellitus  which is caused by a deficiency of the hormone insulin. Diabetes Insipidus is caused by an insufficient production of a hormone called anti-diurectic hormone ( ADH)  that regulates the body's ability to absorb water from the kidneys. Generally the condition is considered to be idiopathic in nature, which means that what exactly causes this disorder is not known with certainty.

Oliver is now being treated with the drug Desmopressin that mimics the action of ADH. They are in the form of drops that are applied to his eyes. His thirst and excessive urination have decreased and the concentration of his urine over a three day period  is now at an adequate level. Cathy is very pleased with Oliver's response to the medication and will next see him in a month to repeat the urine test. Oliver's owners are continuing to  monitor his drinking and urination at home, ensuring that he has access to fresh water at all times.

For his gentle nature and patience with having blood samples taken, Oliver is a much deserved pet of the month!  💙

Competition time!

We are running a children's rabbit themed competition this Easter!

The competition is open for children aged 4-12 years. 

Simply hop along to our Ruislip practice to pick up a bunny activity sheet - children can either complete it in the waiting room or take it home to do.

The sheet can also be downloaded here:

Bunny activity sheet

Completed sheets need to be received by Friday 13th April and will be entered into a draw to win some Easter goodies.  Each child bringing in their completed sheet will also receive a chocolate!

Don't forget to write your name and contact number on the back of the entry.

 Good luck!

Pet of the Month hall of fame - Colin ( Jan 2018)

Colin is a polish dwarf rabbit owned by vet Joanna. He recently had to come in for dental work.

Colin had been eating less food than normal, but otherwise appeared well. An examination of his teeth with a small scope inserted into the side of his mouth showed long overgrown and uneven teeth - some with sharp spurs where they had worn unevenly. Colin underwent a general anaesthetic and his overgrown molar teeth were rasped down using a metal tool rather like a nail file. A special drill was used to cut off his long incisors at the front of the mouth. Colin also needed to have his tear ducts flushed. In a healthy eye, tears are constantly produced to bathe and protect the eye, and are drained away via the nasolacrimal canal (tear duct), a tiny, mucous-membrane-lined tube. If the tears are unable to drain, they 'overflow' resulting in constantly wet fur and skin on the face. This can cause irritation and lead to skin infections. There are a number of things that can cause the tear ducts to block and in Colin's case it is related to his dental problems.

Following the procedure the nurses observed him closely and kept him warm. As soon as Colin was awake they syringe fed him some special liquid feed (above picture) to encourage him to start eating by himself and to help keep his digestive system moving. Colin went home later the same evening and is now back to enjoying his favourite food - raspberries!

The best way to keep your bunny's teeth healthy is to offer plenty of fresh hay each day - this should make up the largest part of their diet. It helps the teeth to wear down in an even fashion as they constantly grow. Unfortunately, Colin won't eat hay- even though he's been offered all the different varieties! Every 6 weeks we have to use the specialist drill to trim his front incisor teeth, which he tolerates very well (you can even look to have these permanently removed). We also have a look at his cheek teeth (molars) so that we can monitor their growth and catch any signs of problems early.

Well done Colin!

A note on gut stasis;

Rabbits have a delicate digestive system that requires large volumes of coarse fibre to ensure contast gut motility. When that motility slows down, the rabbit is vulnerable to digestive upsets in the caecum, and complete stasis of the gut - called gastrointestinal stasis ( GI Stasis). It is often associated with another problem i.e something makes your rabbit feel unwell (pain, bad teeth, stress, inadequate diet).

Symptoms include;

* not eating, combined with reduced and smaller harder droppings.
* Reluctance to move or appear hunched up.
* If you can hear loud crunching noises from the rabbit's mouth, the rabbit is experiencing acute pain.

Urgent! Your rabbit needs to be seen as soon as possible if they are not eating as they do deteriorate quickly.

Prevention is better than cure!

- Feed plenty of high fibre food every day.
- Ensure your rabbits have access to unlimited fresh hay that is freely available at all times.
- Rinse greens and herbs, and leave residual water on them.
- Ensure that they have eaten.
- Check droppings every day - be alert to changes ( reduced amount, change in size, shape, texture).
- Spend time and get to know your rabbit's rhythms and natural patterns, then you'll know when something isn't right.

Homer - Pet of the Month hall of fame ( Dec 2017)

HOMER

Handsome Homer is our December pet of the month after overcoming serious bladder issues.

Homer was rushed in to see vet Kirstie for an emergency appointment after his owner noticed that he was agitated and struggling to urinate. Kirstie examined Homer and identified that his bladder was full and painful. She suspected that Homer had a urinary obstruction of his urethra.

The urethra is a tubular structure that leads from the bladder to the outside of the body. Male cats are more prone to a urinary blockage due to their urethra being quite narrow; it can become more easily blocked. Sometimes the blockage is caused by bladder stones which travel down the urethra and get stuck and sometimes it is caused purely by muscle spasms or ‘plugs’ of cells, crystals and mucus forming a blockage.

Blocked bladders need urgent treatment; they are medical emergencies and, left untreated, are life threatening.

Kirstie’s immediate priority was to provide emergency treatment to Homer. This involved relieving the pressure on his bladder by carefully inserting a urinary catheter and flushing the urethral blockage back into the bladder, which then allowed urine to drain out. The catheter was stitched in place so that the urine could continuously drain. The catheter allows  the bladder to recover from the trauma of being overstretched and unable to empty. Kirstie also collected a blood sample to check that Homer’s kidneys had not been damaged and to assess the levels of potassium, an electrolyte that can dangerously build up in the bloodstream. Once he was more comfortable and stable, further investigations revealed that Homer had several stones in his bladder that required surgical removal.

Surgery called a Cystotomy was performed and several stones and grit were removed from his bladder and flushed out of his urethra.  A urinary catheter was again stitched into place and remained indwelling for a few days. It was then removed to allow us to assess whether Homer could pass urine by himself.

As can happen with severe cases, Homer unfortunately required a second Cystotomy to remove further grit and stones from his bladder. Finally, after two weeks in hospital and two operations, Homer began to urinate by himself and he was able to go home!

To help prevent recurrence of the bladder stones, Homer now eats a special prescription diet.

Throughout his treatment with us Homer did not complain once and demonstrated just what a lovely cat he is. We are all so happy that Homer has recovered and continues to do well.

Pet safety at Christmas!

      Here are some hazards to be mindful of as the festive season gets into full swing.

The following guide shows you which foods to avoid ( the naughty list) & suitable treats (the nice list).  
   (click on image to enlarge on mobile devices)

    Remember that cats can also be attracted to the foods listed above and as with dogs, are dangerous if eaten.

   Other hazards to look out for include;

    Batteries;

     Ingestion of batteries is more common at this time of year. If the battery is chewed and pierced it can cause chemical burns and heavy metal poisoning. If they are swallowed whole it is possible they will cause an obstruction. All batteries are potentially toxic so if you suspect your dog or cat has chewed or swallowed a battery - please call us.

   Bottle corks, corn on the cob, cocktail sticks, cracker toys, ribbon and tinsel can be dangerous if swallowed. Ensure that they are tidied away or kept out of reach of pets.

             

  

 Our Christmas song is a reminder of the hazards

  at  Christmas time

 ( to the tune of walking in a winter wonderland)

             

   December's here, the decs are glistening.

   The vet's phone rings, we are listening.....

   chewed up fairy lights, chocolates found,

   steal some bites.

Anxious pets? A New Year's party's planned.

The tree sways, glass baubles disturbed,

wanting to play, meows are heard.

Then something goes wrong, Felix falls down headlong
meanwhile Fluffy's eating purple tinsel strands!

In the kitchen,

Christmas cake & gammon ham.

A stretched out paw to reach the turkey crown.

Boiling water carried in a saucepan.

Be sure to keep the kitchen out of bounds!

 So as you begin to tire,

 watching TV by the fire.

    Remember your pets,

 safe and sound they must be kept.

    Our Christmas message we do hope you understand! 

   

     Remember;

     Christmas time often means a busy home, with friends and family coming together in seasonal spirit. Remember that new faces and more noise can be scary for your pet, so it’s a good idea to provide them with a safe room so they can escape and be put at ease if it all becomes too much. Be mindful of the front door opening with guests arriving and leaving. Make sure that dogs can't run out!  It’s also important to maintain your pet’s normal routines, especially with feeding and exercise, to avoid them becoming too unsettled.

  

                                                          

     In an emergency

    If you think that your pet may have eaten something that they shouldn't then swift action is necessary. 

Follow these four simple steps:

   Step 1 - Prevent your pet from eating any more.

   Step 2 - Phone your vet immediately!

   Step 3 -Stay calm and follow your vet's instructions.

   Step 4 -Collect the relevant wrapping and packaging.

     Make a note of our phone number and call us immediately -

01895 633600

                                                                                                     

      DISCLAIMER: 

      The contents of the Arden House Animal Hospital website are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your Veterinary Surgeon with any questions you may have regarding your animal’s medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. 

Pet of the month hall of fame - Frankie ( October)

Meet 12 year old Frankie!

This gorgeous boy is our brave pet of the month after overcoming injuries sustained from being hit by a car back in July.

When Frankie was rushed into the hospital it was clear that he had suffered a nasty injury to his head. Vet Katie carried out an initial assessment of his injuries - his jaw was fractured and his left eye had come out if its socket(prolapsed). He was in shock and pain so he was given some pain relief and intravenous fluid therapy to make him comfortable and help him recover from the shock. The following day Frankie was less distressed and we were able to assess him further. An x-ray was taken of his chest and abdomen to check that he hadn't suffered any internal injuries. Although he had improved a little, his neurological signs from the head trauma were unstable which meant he was not yet fit enough for a general anaesthetic and surgery to treat his injuries.


We continued to provide supportive treatment, he was such a brave boy and let the nurses syringe feed him. Four days after he was admitted to the hospital, Frankie's condition had improved further;  vet Louise carried out an operation to remove his damaged eye (enucleation) and stabilise the fracture to his lower jaw (mandible). This was achieved by using a stainless steel wire to align the jaw and hold it in place.
Frankie had also suffered some nerve damage to his right eye which meant that his eye reflexes were impaired. The nerves to his left front leg were damaged too which resulted in some loss of leg movement. Depending on the level of damage, the nerves can sometimes recover and function be restored.

After recovering well from the anaesthetic, Frankie was feeling a much happier boy. It was important to encourage him to eat so we tempted him with a selection of soft foods along with some cuddles. We felt that he would feel even happier at home with his creature comforts and  TLC from his owner so Frankie was allowed home. He came back in for a check up two days later and Louise was concerned that he was not eating as well as she'd expect. 

Looking at his jaw Louise could see that there had been some movement of the fracture site and Frankie was uncomfortable, so he was admitted to the hospital for further assessment under a general anaesthetic; the wire had loosened causing the fracture site to misalign.

Louise repositioned his jaw and tightened the wire. Following the procedure, Frankie was a sleepy boy so he spent a night in hospital. The following morning he was bright and comfortable and managed  to lap some food by himself! - Frankie was able to go home.

From this point on-wards, Frankie has continued to get better. He's had a few trips to see us so that we can assess his progress.  He is eating well and the nerve damage to his eye and his leg have improved. Overall he is enjoying life again!

Frankie has certainly been through the mill and we are so pleased that this gorgeous, friendly boy is well on the road to recovery.

Pet of the month hall of fame - Suggsy (August)

SUGGSY    

At the end of June Suggsy was brought in by her owners after falling ill after a walk.

On the day of the walk, Suggsy was her usual happy, bouncy self and was enjoying running around when she suddenly appeared out of some bushes and vomited a large amount of a white substance. The following day it was apparent that Suggsy was not feeling very well so her owner brought her in to see vet Melanie. Her abdomen was very sore and she was very lethargic. Suggsy was admitted to the hospital for blood tests and supportive treatment which involved intravenous fluid therapy and injections that provided pain relief, a medicine to stop her feeling nauseous and an antibiotic.

We ran the blood test in our in-house laboratory and the results were quickly available. Suggsy was suffering from acute kidney failure and she was gravely ill. It was important that she remained on intravenous fluids. The fluids ensured that Suggsy stayed well hydrated and they helped to dilute and flush out the excess toxins in her blood. Following the history given by Suggsy’s owner of how quickly she’d become ill and analysing the results of her examination, blood test, and abdominal ultrasound, Melanie concluded that Suggsy had quite possibly eaten something toxic. 

Over the next few days, Suggsy remained on supportive treatment. Our aim was to keep Suggsy as comfortable as possible and to continue to support her kidneys to give them a chance to recover. She was unable to stand so we needed to frequently change her resting position to reduce the risk of bed sores and pneumonia.

After four days in the hospital we were encouraged to see a little improvement with Suggsy. She was showing more interest in her surroundings and even managed a little potter around the garden.

Vet Cathy repeated some blood tests and her kidney measurements were improving. Further test results showed that Suggsy’s liver was not functioning properly. An ultrasound scan revealed that her liver was enlarged and swollen (hepatomegaly). The liver is a highly regenerative organ and in some cases a dog can recover from acute liver disease, so supportive treatment for both her liver and kidneys was continued. After 8 days in the hospital we were delighted when Suggsy began to eat some chicken and we could see a little sparkle in her eyes. By day 12 of her hospital stay, Suggsy was well enough to go home. Her owners have been  bringing her in regularly for check ups so that the vets can assess her response to the treatment. Suggsy's liver is less swollen and her abdomen is more comfortable. Her appetite is slowly improving and her blood test results have shown an improvement in both her liver and kidney function.

We are over the moon to see that the beautiful Suggsy is a happy little dog again, she has been such a brave, sweet girl throughout her stay with us.💚