Download Maggot wounds - Mount Pleasant Vet Centre

MICA(P) 008/09/2010
JULY-SEPTEMBER 2011
Quarterly Newsletter from
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SPRINGSIDE
23 Sembawang Road S(779077)
Tel: 6452 5770
SERVICES AVAILABLE:
Maggot wounds
OUR MISSION
STATEMENT:
“To provide quality service to
our clients so that their special
family members’ lives will be
enhanced. We strive to offer
our clients and their pets the
highest-quality veterinary
health care available. We will
emphasize total wellness and
preventative medicine so every
pet can have the healthiest life
possible.”
Mount Pleasant Veterinary Group
General Consultation
Physical Health Check
Vaccinations
Microchip Tagging
Maggot wounds are common in Singapore due to the warm
and humid environment. These wounds are often noticed
only when the pet shows discomfort or pain. Owners usually notice discharge and/or foul smell from the wounds. The
wounds frequently have a small circular opening with surrounding tissues becoming red and swollen. Maggots may be
detectable as white wriggling worms, often described as a
'bubbly' appearance. More than one maggot wound may be
present at the same time too.
Laboratory & Imaging
Facilities:
Blood tests & Health
screens
Skin / Urine / Faecal tests
X-ray services
Heartworm test
Tissue Biopsy & Cytology
Flies are attracted to animals by their odour. That’s why pets
with urine, faecal staining (especially from diarrhoea), severe
skin problems or wounds (from any kinds of injuries) are
most at risk. Not only that, outdoor, older, obese, debilitated
and generally neglected pets are predisposed. Flies lay their
eggs on the skin/wounds and when maggots start hatching,
they start feeding on the surrounding tissues by producing
proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes cause an enlargement of
the wounds. As a result, surrounding tissue becomes severely
inflamed, uncomfortable and painful for the pet.
Surgery:
Sterilisation / Neutering
Caesarean Section
Lump/Growth removal
Wound repair
Soft Tissue surgery
Orthopaedic (Bone) surgery
Dental Procedures:
Professional Dental Scaling Dental Polish
Dental Extractions
Maggot wounds are generally not considered an emergency
but we recommend veterinary attention as soon as identified.
Treatment depends on the location and size of the wounds.
In severe cases, surgery may be necessary either under local
or general anaesthesia.
Others:
Hospitalisation facilities
Health Certification
Export Certification
Pregnancy Diagnosis
House Call Services
Cremation Services
The good news is— Maggot wounds can be prevented!
Always keep the environment clean so that flies would not be
attracted to the area. It is also preferable to keep your pet indoors if your pet has a tendency to attract flies, eg. body
odour from skin, ear, hormonal, dental diseases. Do regular
body checks on your pet for any external wounds and clean
up any parts that have discharges or staining on them. Keeping your pet’s coat short to prevent matting, soiling of the
coat.
Referral Services:
Ultrasound Imaging
Endoscopy
Echocardiography
CT Scan
Laparoscopy
With proper care, your pet need not suffer from this painful
condition. -Dr. Koh Jun Jia (Springside)
Watch out
for our Skin
Promotion
this month…
Keep Posted!
WEST
Blk. 105 Clementi St. 12
#01-18/20 S(120105)
Tel: 6776 8858/ 6775 3310
REFERRAL & EMERGENCY
CENTRE
232 Whitley Road S(297824)
Tel: 6250 8333
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EDUCATION
Pets with sensitive skin
As any owner knows, one of life's simple pleasures is petting your favorite pet. Running a hand
over a soft coat of thick, shiny fur feels good to
you and your pet. Unfortunately, if your pet has
poor skin health, that simple pleasure might not
be so pleasant.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1. Check for pests. Examine your pet's coat and
skin thoroughly for the presence of ticks, fleas,
lice or other parasites. If you spot any, ask your
vet for advice and follow the appropriate treatment.
2. Consider allergies. If your pet is pest-free and otherwise healthy, his discomfort
may be caused by an allergic reaction to something in its environment, such as pollen, dust or mold. Allergic dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that results in
licking, scratching, loss of fur and dry, flaky skin.
3. Talk to your vet. Skin conditions can have a wide range of causes - from parasites
to allergies, from hormonal imbalances to bacterial infections, stress and more. Be
sure to consult with your veterinarian about your pet's individual health and treatment options.
4. Feed your pet well. Even if the cause of their skin condition is not dietary, many
pets can be helped with a high quality food formulated especially for skin sensitivity. Look for one containing high quality protein, essential fatty acids and antioxidants - all are important nutrients that can help protect your pet's skin.
Common Signs of skin
disease in dogs and cats:
(Dr. Koh Jun Jia)
1. Itch- scratching/
licking/chewing
2. Pimples, papules
on the skin
3. Inflammation of
the skin, redness/
swelling of the skin
4. Hair loss
5. Rashes
6. Dandruff
7. Thickening of
the skin
8. Scabs
9. Discharges
eg. pus, moisture, blood
10. Changes in
skin colour
11. Ear infections
(yes, the ears may
be related to skin
problems)
HOT SPOTS
What are Hot Spots?
Hotspot, a superficial skin infection occurs
due to damage to the skin surface.
may have allergies, an insect bite, excessive moisture at that area, matted fur or
even irritation from a grooming clipper. In
some cases they may have pain in the
underlying tissues. Once a dog starts to
itch, they will lick and chew at that area.
This damages the skin, resulting in the
development of hotspot.
Sometimes,
these hotspots may occur on areas that
cannot be licked by the dogs eg the ears.
This is due to the hair on the ears that
allow moisture to accumulate
resulting in infection.
A hotspot appears swollen, weepy, red
and sometimes bloody in severe cases.
They often give off a foul odour as well.
Hair in the area is lost most times. As the
hotspot heals they become dry and
scabby. Hotspots may appear suddenly
and progress rapidly as the dog licks and Treatment
chews the site excessively.
Bring your pet to a vet as soon
What causes Hot Spots?
as hotspot is observed as it will
Often the area that develops into a hot- worsen rapidly if the pet continspot is causing irritation to the dog. They ues to damage the wound. Your
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vet will usually shave the fur around the
hotspot to examine the affected wound
and keep the area dry. Topical antibiotics
and antiseptics will also be dispensed.
Depending on the severity of the hotspot,
the vet may dispense an oral antibiotics
and anti-inflammatories course. In addition, an Elizabethan collar may be provided to prevent your pet licking and
chewing at the wound.
-Dr. Sandhya Nair (Springside)
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Scratch and Win? Not for your pet!
There are many ‘bugs’ out there that
can cause your Fluffy or Meowie to become very itchy and, in some cases
turning into “not-so-fluffy-anymore”
pets. These ‘bugs’ come in various
forms – those that are visible, those too
small to be seen, and some that can be
transmitted to humans!
This article will briefly introduce you to
the world of mites, fungus and bacteria,
how they can be diagnosed and what
can be done for them.
Infectious Skin Problems
 Demodex
These mites are
normally found in
the hair follicles of
the skin, and they
take advantage of
animals with lower
immunity (for example, very young or
very old dogs, ill pets). In severe cases,
they can cause large amounts of hair
loss and secondary bacterial or yeast
infections. Skin scrape is a simple test
to identify the mites under a microscope. These mites may take several
months of treatment before the condition is controlled. The main aim of
treatment is to destroy the mites and
prevent them from multiplying.
 Sarcoptes
Also known as
“Scabies”, these mites
usually cause intense
skin irritation to the
pet. They can be
transmitted from pets
to human. The area around the ears,
elbows, chest and hindlegs are most
commonly affected. Multiple skin
scrape tests are required for a proper
diagnosis. Since this mite is spread
through direct contact, all the pets in
the household or in-contact with the
affected patient must be treated even if
they are not displaying signs of skin
irritation.
 Cheyletiella
These are larger mites that bury into
the skin layer and cause irritation and
itchiness. The most common sign
would be a large amount of “dandruff”
on the body. As with Scabies, all incontact pets have to be treated once the
condition is diagnosed. In cases of severe infestation, professional pest control may be necessary to manage the
home environment.
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 Fungal (Dermatophyte)
Dermatophyte infections are commonly
known as “ringworm”. It is contracted
by exposure to affected animals, carriers or the environment. Ringworm can
be transmitted between pets and human. Infections usually arise if the immune system is lowered or the amount
of the organisms is too much for the
immune system to handle. The spores
(seeds) of this organism can travel long
distances through the air and survive in
the environment for 18-24 months. You
may notice your pet being itchy, suffering from patches of hair loss and having
large amounts of flaky skin (or
“dandruff”). Some fungal infections will
“glow in the dark” under a Wood’s lamp
(an ultraviolet lamp) but a fungal culture is needed to confirm. Healthy animals are able to recover by themselves
(taking 10-12 weeks) but will shed alot
of spores into the environment in the
meantime. Treatment involves topical
and oral medications, and cleaning the
contaminated environment.
 Fleas
Fleas can be passed
from one animal to
another. The whole
life cycle of the flea
involves both the animal and the environment. Affected pets are usually very
itchy and have skin problems around
the back end of the body. In severe
cases, they can cause anaemia (low
blood count). Fleas are able to be seen
as small moving objects on the skin
surface, or their faeces can be
seen on the fur. Treatment of
fleas involves both treating the
pet with medications, as well as
thoroughly disinfecting the environment. Fleas can also bite humans around the legs, causing
intense irritation!
 Ticks
Ticks are very common in Singapore, especially in areas where
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there are large amounts of greenery
and warm. They not only cause a reaction where they bite your pet, but can
also transmit a variety of blood-bourne
infections, commonly known as Tick
Fever, which may be life threatening to
the pet. It is important to use appropriate tick preventatives base on your pets
environment and lifestyle. If you have a
garden, it is important to keep the
length of the grass short as that minimizes the tick load in the environment.
Furmites “Lynxacarus radovskyi”
This is the most common skin parasite
found on cats in Singapore. It typically
causes hair loss and itchiness. A skin
scrape test is usually sufficient to diagnose this disease. Treatment involves
treating all the cats in the household in
addition to the affected cat. Various
treatment options are available. Your
Vet would be able to advise which is
most appropriate for your pet’s condition.
Non - infectious Skin Problems
 Bacteria (Staphylococcus) and
Yeast (Malassezia)
Both these organisms are found in small
numbers on the skin of all normal dogs
and cats. However if there is an underlying issue that causes the animal to itch
and start scratching, it breaks the skin’s
protective outer barrier and these otherwise harmless organisms take advantage and multiply rapidly, causing an
equally serious bacterial or yeast infection. A sticky tape test and skin scrape is
usually adequate to diagnose such infections and treatment consists of a course
of antibiotics or antifungals, along with
some anti-inflammatories and a medicated shampoo. Bear in mind that treating these infections is only half the battle, as the underlying cause also has to
be investigated or else you may keep
seeing your Vet for the same problem! --Dr. Camellia Leong (MPVC)
Available at all Mount Pleasant Centres
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Statistics have it that 1 out of 5
dogs suffer from osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis (OA) resulting
from degenerative joint disease
tends to be a chronic and painful
disease. Joints are essential for
movement, and they help to distribute stresses placed on bones
as the animal moves. A joint is
comprised of 2 bones enclosed
by a joint capsule. The bones
have a lining of cartilage also
known as articular cartilage. The
synovial membrane that lines the
inside of the fibrous capsule produces the joint fluid which helps
to lubricate the joint allowing for
movement without damage to
the bones involved.
Osteoarthritis is a progressive
condition where there is degeneration of the articular cartilage,
decreased production of high
quality joint fluid and development of bony spurs. It is often
difficult to diagnose a specific
cause of OA, some of the commonly identified causes include
joint trauma, inherited or congenital defects and more importantly, the standard wear
and tear experienced with the
normal ageing process. In addition, factors such as obesity
and excessive exercise also have
been found to increase the risk
of animals developing OA by
subjecting the joints to abnormal
loading forces.
Diagnosis of OA is usually made
Osteoarthritis in Dogs
based on the patient’s presenting
clinical signs, a thorough clinical
examination and radiographic
confirmation of degenerative
changes in the joint structure.
Depending on the severity of
OA, animals may present with a
range of clinical signs. In mild
osteoarthritis, signs such as joint
stiffness, decreased activity or
limping may be seen. As the
condition progresses, other signs
include pain, lameness, difficulty rising and loss of muscle
mass. A decreased range of motion of the joint is observed in
some dogs. In others, grating or
crackling sounds may also be
heard upon movement of the
joint.
Treatment of OA can be carried
out via conservative medical
management or a more aggressive surgical approach. However,
In a blog entry dated
June 3, National Development Minister Khaw
Boon Wan called on the
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) to
review its cat culling programme. “Stray cats
are a source of complaints in HDB estates
but killing them is not the best way to go,”
Khaw wrote. “The right thing is for cat lovers
to own the problem, eliminate the nuisance
created by irresponsible behaviour, and sterilise the cats to control their population.
Where there are enough cat-lovers out there
willing to own this problem, we can avoid
culling in those estates.”
Following Khaw’s remarks, Minister of State
Tan Chuan-Jin has said that the government
will explore the possibility of legalising cat
domestication in HDB flats. Currently, cats
are not allowed in HDB flats due to
“nuisance caused by cats such as shedding
of their fur, defecating/urinating in public
areas or even the caterwauling sounds that
they make can cause a lot of disturbance,
which affects the environment and disrupts
neighbourliness in our housing estates,”
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medical treatment is usually attempted before surgical management as it is non- invasive. Medical treatment includes weight
loss, controlled exercise, physical
management, drugs and supplements.
Weight loss.
 Gradual reduction of feed over
a period of time.
 Veterinary prescription weight
management diets -Hill’s R/D
 For clients that are putting
their animals on diet and want
to track their progress, scales in
the clinics are always available
for you to bring your animal in
to get a weight.
Physical Management
 Low impact exercises such as
short walks or swimming
 Massage and warm compression on affected joints
 Physiotherapy
 Acupuncture
Pain relief medic ations
(Analgesic drugs)
 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) such as
Meloxicam or Carprofen. However, the use of such drugs is
not without risk. Blood test may
be performed prior to dispensing drug
 Opioid-based drugs such as
Tramadol
Chondroprotectants
 Cartrophen, which simulates the
production of joint fluid, keeping the joints well lubricated.
Supplements/Diet
 Glucosamine, chondroitin,
MSM, Green-lipped Mussels,
etc
 Fatty acids eg. Omega 3
 Veterinary prescription joint
management diets eg. Hill’s J/D
Should medical management
prove unsuccessful, surgical treatment should then be considered.
Depending on the severity of OA
and the joint affected, available
surgical options include joint fusion (arthrodesis), joint replacement or joint excision.
The prognosis for osteoarthritis is
variable and would depend on the
location and the severity of the
condition. Please contact your vet
if you have any questions or concerns regarding any of the issues
mentioned above.
-Dr. Jo-ann Chan (West)
MND Khaw calls for review of AVA’s culling practices,
Chong Pang launches humane cat management programme
according to the HDB website.
Legalising cat domestication in HDB flats
and advocating sterilisation instead of culling
are both welcome developments from the
government, but CWS vice-president Veron
Lau, in media interviews, emphasises the
strong need for education of the public on
responsible pet ownership.
CWS has been in discussions with AVA and
has sent a proposal to Minister Khaw for a
responsible cat management programme in
HDB estates.
Meanwhile, Chong Pang constituency has
introduced a humane cat management programme that will halt the culling of sterilised
strays. The programme was launched by
Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam on June 18 in a public forum at
Chong Pang Community Club. Cat Welfare
Society and Mutts & Mittens Foundation will
be leading this programme which will comprise of 2 key components, education and
responsible care giving. For those who are
interested to be a part of this monumental
time of change in Singapore, they can volunteer at the Facebook page called Volunteer for Chong Pang Animal Welfare Programmehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/
Volunteer-for-Chong-Pang-Animal-WelfareProgramme/153635051374593?sk=wall.
CWS started a Facebook page called “I am
an HDB Cat Owner” and over 1000 users
have joined. Previously, people were not so
forthcoming about owning cats but now, they
are sharing photos and stories. Another
positive development is how the community
of cat owners are encouraging and educat- Their pioneering work can spell great things
ing each other about responsible cat owner- for the rest of Singapore and our community
animals!
ship practices.
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