The New Normal and some disease conditions affecting pets

Greetings! 

Hi! I am Dr. Michael, I hope you, your family, and your pets are safe during the COVID19 interventions. We are embarking on a new journey, they call it the "new normal" now. As we slowly return back to our activities, it is best to always take precautions. Follow the medical advisories, wear your mask when outside and especially in crowded areas. Lastly, wash your hands as often as you can. Stay healthy everyone!😷

                                   

                                                                                 

    I am new to this blogging activity, I am a Filipino veterinarian working in Saudi Arabia. I just want to share my experiences here as a small animal practitioner, learning from the wonderful people we meet and helping our furry and sometimes feathery friends which needs care and attention.

    Hoping to be able to impart some information regarding our pets and some interesting cases that we can meet along in our work. I have some of the images that I want to share. Instead of these information just accumulating on my mobile phone and laptop, I believe it will be best to be shared, right?

    Let me start with  some of the prevalent disease conditions seen on our patients.  Photos taken from the actual cases.

Parasitic Infections

    A variety of worms and bugs can be seen on infected animals.  Untreated pets can be pot-bellied and lethargic.  Hair coat can be miserable if infestation is present. Birds may continue to pluck their feathers. Eggs of Ear mites from Ear swab from a kitten on the left and the red mite from a tape test of an itchy bird shown on the right both seen under microscopy

 

Respiratory problems

    When your pet has thick yellow discharges coming from their noses, sneezing and some show difficulty breathing. When the "airways" are already affected, a visit to your veterinarian is a must. 

                                        

Skin problems

    Noticeable when there are patches of scaly alopecia on the coat of our pets.  It can be on one area and in worst cases distributed all over the body. Some skin problems can be zoonotic, meaning animals can transmit the infection to us, humans. It is best to take precautionary measures.

            

Gastro-intestinal problems

Mild tummy upset and severe viral infections can be manifested with vomiting and diarrhea.  It is up to your veterinarian to rule out and implement life-saving interventions.

                    

Trauma

Unfortunately accidents can befall our beloved pets.  Make our homes pet friendly. Shown below is a radiograph of a right humeral comminuted fracture in a parrot. Cat with corneal ulceration below from a cat fight. Owner brought in a cat with excessive squinting and tears from the affected eye.

                                 

                            

Lumps and bumps

    Any noticeable bumps is best investigated.  Some can be benign or malignant. Some can be a hernia as shown on the figure below. Your veterinarian will discuss with you best approach regarding these lumps. Management usually done by surgery like for the hernia below.

                           

Mouth infections

Bad breath or halitosis can also be one of the many reasons why pets go visit their beloved doctors ASAP. Aside from the odor itself, severe mouth problems can lead to decrease in appetite. Our pets can have periodontal diseases as well so it is best to have those canines checked at least twice in a year.

Reproductive Disorders

The reason why ovariohysterectomy or spaying in cats and dogs is a must is shown on the picture below.  Pyometra is a life threatening condition that is preventable.  The procedure also prolongs the life of our pets by decreasing the chances of having uterine infections and sex hormone related tumors. Castration in male cats and dogs helps in reducing roaming behavior and cuts down chances of having tumors as well.  

The article is for educational purposes only.  Hopefully to promote awareness about these conditions to fur parents and to all parties interested on the welfare of animals. This blog is not written to replace valuable inputs from your veterinarians.  

    

Have you seen some of these conditions with your pets? Kindy share this information with your friends, you may never know how these info's can help their pet's well being. Let me also know on the comment section below.  

Again stay safe everyone! Thank you!