Veterinary Practice Forum - Recent Topics

Neuro case study: 6 years old Staffi male entire suddenly 'off it's legs'!

Nicolas Granger — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 09:26:14 +0000

Hello all,

I have created this case (it's a real case) which I will present through the week; there are videos to watch and some multiple choice questions, followed by tips for your neuro practice. I have started with something reasonably basic but should be good revision and we can built on this. Hopefully you will find this useful!

Nicolas

Here is the case:

Signalment: 6 y.o. Staffi male entire

Complaint: Suddenly ‘off it’s legs’ while running in the park – 4 hours ago; appeared scared and yelped a few times at onset and was then back to himself but unable to use his pelvic limbs

History: No witnessed trauma; vaccinated and had lived in the UK throughout it’s life; no medical condition to report.

Disease progression: has improved slightly according to the owner as evidenced by presence of pelvic limb movements; this was absent at onset.

Onset: per acute

Clinical examination: normal

Now, please have a look at the video attached and answer these two questions:

How would you describe this gait?

A.Poorly ambulatory paraparetic

B.Paraplegia

C.Tetraparesis

D.Hemiparesis

Can you tell if this dog has deep pain?

A.Yes

B.No

I will continue to post messages throughout the week.

IMG_0177_dpqTel.mov

Reptile Case Study: Greek Spur-Thighed Tortoise

Ashton Hollwarth — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 09:58:35 +0000

You are presented with a 60-year-old female Greek spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo gracea) who is showing signs of anorexia and lethargy. The tortoise has been in the owner’s possession for 55 years. It lives in the garden from March to November with free access to a glass greenhouse. No supplemental heating or lighting is provided. Around mid-November the owner finds the tortoise in the garden, digs it up if it has already buried itself and puts it in a box in the attic where it remains until March the following year. The owner occasionally provides lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries and banana but reports the tortoise mostly eats food and weeds from the garden. The owner is unsure if any faeces have recently been passed as the tortoise toilets in the garden. It was last seen to eat approximately 3 weeks ago.

Please comment on the appropriateness of the husbandry provided by the owner based on recommendations specific to this species.

What husbandry changes would you recommend in this tortoise's environment?

You examine the tortoise. Its shell is firm and of good quality with no evidence of pyramiding. Both eyes are moderately sunken and slightly closed with mild serous discharge bilaterally. There is a small amount of serous fluid from the nares bilaterally. On oral examination the mucous membranes are pale and a mild amount of mucous is present within the oral cavity. The body condition score is 1.5/5, as she has poor muscling of her neck, forelimbs and hindlimbs. The vent is within normal limits.

How can you determine hydration status in tortoises?

How do you visually sex spur thighed tortoises?

Discuss four different diagnostic tests you would like to run on this patient, what samples you would require, how you would obtain them and what you are looking for by running these chosen tests. How would you justify the tests to the owner?

Nursing Case Study - Rosie

Laura George — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 08:06:26 +0000

Rosie is a female, spayed, six-year-old working Cocker Spaniel. Her owner has called the practice as an emergency because Rosie has collapsed. The owner reports that Rosie went into the garden for her normal morning toilet, came back in to eat her breakfast and within five minutes had vomited and collapsed. The owner is advised to bring Rosie straight down to the practice, she will be approximately ten minutes. The veterinary surgeon asks you to triage Rosie on her arrival as they are already treating another emergency.

What will you prepare in anticipation of Rosie’s arrival?
How will you approach the triage and assessment of Rosie?