From Puppies to Pyometra

The past few weeks have been very busy for me.  I have seen a wide variety of problems in dogs that relate to the reproductive tract.  I don't even know where to start!

When a female is not spayed, she is prone to a number of problems.  The main problem is unplanned pregnancy.  Pregnancy can be dangerous if the female is a small breed and the male is a large breed, or if the female is old.  I often have to see females for what is politely termed 'mismating', i.e., she had a one-night stand with the local gigolo and is possibly pregnant.  To stop pregnancies, we give injections 24 hours apart to make the uterus unable to maintain the pregnancy.  This, however, is not the best solution for the problem because of possible side effects.

Only last week, I had to perform a Caesarean section on a 9-year-old Labrador cross that met up with a husky in a dark alley.  She had one puppy on her own, then stopped having contractions.  Luckily, I was able to deliver seven more very large, healthy puppies.  This was her second litter, and it will hopefully be her last.

Then, the following day, we saw a 78-kg St. Bernard that had just had one very large puppy (2 kg).  I had to x-ray her to see if she had any more puppies, but she didn't.  That is a small litter for such a big dog!

Another case that I had to operate on was a Bernese mountain dog suffering from a pyometra, which is an infection of the uterus.  These infections can be life threatening.  A pyometra can occur in females of any age, but is more commonly seen in older dogs a few weeks after they have been in heat.  When a female is in heat, the enlarged cervical opening allows bacteria to invade the uterus, which provides the warm, moist environment that promotes bacterial growth.  The result is an infection and the formation of pus, which can drain only if the cervix remains open.  Some of the symptoms of a pyometra are loss of appetite, vomiting, increased thirst and urination, weight loss, and depression.  Blood work may show an elevated white blood cell count and dehydration.  The best treatment for a pyometra consists of fluids, antibiotics, and spaying.

The best solution to all of these problems is to spay and neuter dogs.  Not only does the procedure prevent unwanted puppies, but it also prevents pyometra and greatly reduces the incidence of mammary tumours.

Dog Shows

Last weekend, I went to Crufts, the largest dog show in the world.  I was there to show my Portuguese Water Dog, Harvey.  After a lot of preparation, and a long car and ferry journey, we had a successful trip because Harvey placed in the 'very highly commended' category.  That's my boy!

If you are a dog lover, you should go to Crufts at least once.  There are thousands of dogs -- besides show dogs, there are assistance dogs, dogs trained to do agility, fly ball, obedience, and heel work to music, and much more.  There are also breeds at Crufts that I haven't even heard of before!!

What is involved in showing a dog?  You can get an idea of the process by going to a few dog shows. If you still think you're interested, you need to register your dog with the kennel club.  Then, depending on the breed, you need to learn how to groom it properly.  You also should go to ring craft classes to learn how to properly handle and move your dog in the show ring, where the judge looks at the overall conformation of the dogs to see which ones are good examples of the breed standard.  The judge will also study how the dogs move.  The judge will then award the dog that he/she thinks is the best example of the breed.

Within each breed, there are different classes for males and females. The best male and best female then compete for best of breed.  If your dog wins best of breed, it goes to group judging.  Within its group, your dog will compete against other breeds.  If your dog wins the group, then both of you make it to the best in show ring.  Winning Best in Show is every competitor's dream.  It is easy to forget that while you think that your dog is perfect, you are paying for the opinion of an expert judge.  Regardless of that opinion, you always go home with the best dog of the show!

Here's How We Do It
Preparing for a show takes a lot of work.  First I have to clip Harvey's hind quarters and muzzle.

Then I wash and brush him.  Guess which is Harvey and which is the hair of the dog?

This is what he looks like when I am finished.  I know, it looks like I am half finished.

Brushing, brushing, and more brushing!  His hind quarters have to be scissored in order to shape them properly.  This coat requires a lot of maintenance.  

Finally, after more brushing, lots of traveling, and even more brushing, it's show time.

Here we are in the show ring waiting to be judged. (I'm wearing my lucky red suit.)

Harvey with Declan and me showing off our award from our class

Congratulations, Harvey!

Feline Leukaemia Virus

Did you know that Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection is responsible for more deaths among cats than any other infectious disease? The virus affects domestic cats and occurs in some wild felines as well.  A cat can be infected with the virus for years before it starts to show any signs of illness. 

There are three main types of FeLV.  A cat can be infected with one, two, or all three types.  The most predominant type causes a severe weakening of the immune system (immunosuppression).  The second most common type causes tumors and abnormal tissue growth.  The least common form causes severe anaemia.  FeLV can also cause reproductive, gastrointesintal, or neurological problems.  The signs of infection are variable because FeLV affects many body systems.  However, cats will usually lose their appetite, lose weight, and become weak.


FeLV is spread from cat to cat in saliva and other secretions, such as tears, urine, and faeces.  It can also be passed from a pregnant female to the unborn kittens.  The most common modes of transmission are through bites, nose-to-nose contact, mutual grooming, and shared dishes.  After the initial infection, the virus replicates in the tonsils and lymph nodes in the head region. Then it spreads via the bloodstream to other parts of the body, especially the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and intestinal tissue, where it continues to replicate.  The presence of the virus in the blood usually shows up 2 to 4 weeks after the initial infection.
 
FeLV infection is diagnosed by a simple blood test that is carried out by your veterinary surgeon.  It takes about 10 minutes to get a result.

How can you prevent your cat from getting FeLV?  There is a vaccine available that can be given at the same time as your cats’ yearly cat flu and enteritis injection.  Your cat should be tested for FeLV first before the vaccine is given for the first time.  You should also limit exposure to feral cats, which means keeping your cat indoors.