We are equipped with a rigid and flexible endoscope which enables us to achieve the precision needed for advanced diagnostic and and surgical procedures and treatments.
Cnr Van Wijk & Giraffe Street
013 744 1836
The Van Wijkstreet Animal Hospital’s equipment and faculty ensure high-quality images every time.
Our diagnostic imaging systems consist of a Carestream Direct View CR Radiology unit for rapid interpretation and two ultrasound units.
Although most of our services are provided in-house , we also offer an equine portable service to the regional equine owners of the Lowveld.
Cnr Van Wijk & Giraffe Street
013 744 1836
WHAT IS CONSTIPATION?
Constipation is the infrequent or difficult passage of faeces.
WHAT CAUSES CONSTIPATION?
There can be various causes for constipation. Dietary, behavioural, environmental and medically related causes may result in your pet becoming constipated. Below are some of the more common causes of constipation:
Behavioural or environmental causes:
• • • Cats may become constipated if they refuse to use the litter tray due to it being soiled. Animals that are well house trained and are locked up all day, may become constipated as they will refuse to defaecate inside the house. Inactivity will often result in constipation; older animals that tend to sleep most of the day may be inclined to suffer from constipation.
Medically related causes:
• • • • • Pain in the rectal area may prevent your pet from defaecating. Inability to assume the position to defecate as seen in dogs and cats that have orthopedic problems e.g. spinal problems and fractures, as well as in animals that have neurological problems. Colonic obstructions that may be caused by tumours, granulomas, abscesses or enlarged prostate glands. A weakness of the colon. Megacolon is the enlargement of the colon. The colon becomes dilated and flaccid and is no longer able to contract properly, often leading to chronic constipation. These animals require constant veterinary care.
Dietary causes:
• • • • Abnormal diet, which includes too little fibre in your pet’s diet or not drinking enough water. Feeding bones to your pet may cause an obstruction or severe constipation. Both long and short haired cats may ingest a considerable amount of fur while grooming, resulting in hairballs which could cause your cat to become constipated. Some animals are inclined to swallow foreign objects such as toys and plastic bags. This may cause an obstruction in your pet’s bowel, resulting in either constipation or vomiting. This is very often a medical emergency
HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY PET IS CONSTIPATED?
Signs of constipation may include the following:
• • • • • • • • Intermittent straining with no production of faeces. Cats may be seen scratching around in their litter trays with intermittent straining; this sign should be distinguished from urinary tract infections which your vet will be able to determine on examination and further tests. Your pet may pass small amounts of hard, dry faecal matter or mucous after repeated attempts to defaecate. Defaecation may be painful and there may be redness and swelling around the anal area. Should the straining be severe enough, it may result in a prolapse of the rectum, which is a medical emergency. Anal scooting, which may also be a sign of blocked anal glands or worm infestation. Animals who are constipated will often show no interest in food and may even have intermittent vomiting. Weight loss (especially in animals that suffer with chronic constipation). Lethargy
HOW IS CONSTIPATION TREATED?
Mild constipation can be treated with laxatives available from your veterinarian. It is however advisable to take your dog or cat to the vet for a thorough examination to ensure there are no other underlying conditions causing the constipation. Some diseases may be easily confused with constipation and will require a veterinary examination to rule these out. Severe cases of constipation will require that your pet be placed on a drip and once fully rehydrated, enemas may need to be administered under veterinary supervision. Depending on the severity of the constipation, your veterinarian may send your dog or cat home with a laxative and a special diet for a few days.
COMMON PARASITES CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS
Ectoparasites, such as ticks, are more harmful to animals and humans than is generally realised. Not only do they cause debilitating and irritating conditions themselves, but they can transmit hazardous diseases to their hosts and humans. Certain zoonoses (disease transmitted from animal to human) have increased in recent times due to the rise of the pet population, with ticks and fleas being the main causative species.
BILIARY FEVER (BABESIA) IN DOGS
Biliary is a serious tick-borne disease which affects the red blood cells of dogs, cats, horses and livestock. Ticks transmit tiny infectious parasites into their host’s bloodstream where they multiply in the red blood cells (erythrocytes) (Fig.1). During this continuous multiplication process many more red blood cells are invaded and eventually destroyed (haemolysis) resulting in anaemia (Fig.2). This disease can be most troublesome as the clinical signs may be acute, chronic, protracted or relapsing.
CLINICAL SIGNS OF INFECTION
• Fever • Anaemia (pale mucous membranes) • Anorexia and depression • Vomiting • Dehydration • Jaundice (yellow mucous membranes) • Red urine (haemoglobinuria) • Nervous signs
The ticks that prey on your pet are mainly the yellow dog tick (Haemaphysalis elliptica) and the kennel tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) (Fig.3). Both are major transmitters of canine biliary fever (Babesia canis). In severe infections death may occur very quickly, within as little as one day, unless there is an effective response to treatment. Some animals in endemic areas will carry the disease, but without clinical signs, whilst in other animals showing poor condition, the disease may have reached a chronic stage.
Ticks attaching to such infected carrier dogs, will engorge blood cells containing Babesia sp. parasites. In the tick’s digestive system these parasites undergo another developmental cycle, and by further multiplications disseminate throughout the tick’s intestinal cells and, more importantly, invade various organs of the tick including the ovaries of the female and subsequent eggs laid by the female. This transmission ensures propagation of the Babesia sp. organisms to the next tick generation. This means that a certain percentage of the larval stages of a Babesia-infected female tick pass the infection to dogs, without prior attachment to the infected or carrier animals.
Humans in close and frequent contact with infected animals are at risk of contracting tick-borne diseases, of which tick-bite fever (infection with Rickettsia conori) is the most common in South Africa. Tick-borne diseases are transmitted by the kennel tick as well as other tick species. Of late, Congo haemorrhagic fever, which is transmitted by the immature bont tick (Hyalomma spp.), also has to be considered as an increasing human health hazard.
DIAGNOSIS AND SAMPLING
Blood samples, preferably from a capillary bed such as the ear tip as these are richest in parasites, should be collected for parasite identification. This procedure should only be done by a veterinarian.
EHRLICHIOSIS IN DOGS
Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne rickettsial disease transmitted through the saliva of ticks. This bacterium infects and kills the white blood cells. Clinical signs may be acute or chronic.
CLINICAL SIGNS OF INFECTION
• Lethargy • Anorexia and weight loss • Fever • Bleeding tendencies (nose bleeds) • Nervous signs • Anaemia • Enlarged lymph nodes • Ocular pain
TREATMENT
Treatment of biliary involves a visit to your local veterinarian, where he/she will recommend the best treatment for the animal according to the clinical signs, often with a combination of products. He may also suggest post-biliary supportive treatment for the animal that could be given at home.
PREVENTION
• Babesiosis is normally transmitted by tick bites, so prevention depends on stopping the attachment and feeding of ticks, which may be achieved by avoiding tick-infested areas and by using dips, spot-on products or repellents with or without acaricides. • Each treatment regime has its place in the control of ticks. Some are fast-acting but short-lived, while others are long-acting. Some combat on-host parasites, while others the off-host parasites. • Depending on the severity and stage of the tick challenge, different products are recommended. Some products work only against ticks, while others have a combined efficacy to treat both ticks and fleas. Some products kill ticks while others repel and kill. A product that repels ticks reduces the risk of transmission of biliary fever. • Owners planning to travel with their dogs to areas where ticks are prevalent, should ensure that their dogs are adequately protected against ticks. • Babesiosis infection in a dog does not usually pose a direct risk for another dog, as blood transfer or ticks are needed for transmission of infection
Exotic animal patients are small and delicate and therefore require refined micro-surgical technique.
Advanced planning, exactness, speed, and a steady hand are necessary prerequisites for avian and exotic animal surgery. Heavy demands are placed on the exotic animal surgeon when handling fragile tissues, working in small tight spaces, using miniaturized instruments, and operating with the use of magnification such as an ocular loupe.
Even minor hemorrhage can be life-threatening and must be adequately controlled due to the small blood volume of many of our patients. Minimal anesthesia time is extremely imperative as longer surgeries carry greater risk due to hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and respiratory depression.
A&E has diligently incorporated these important factors into the design of our surgical suite and operating protocols. Patients are first thoroughly evaluated pre-surgically to insure that they are good surgical candidates.
Once a patient has been approved for surgery, anesthesia is begun, typically consisting of isoflurane gas in combination with other anesthetic agents. Close monitoring of heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature is performed by an experienced technician.
Body heat conservation is achieved by a recirculating hot water blanket. Anesthesia is a major component of any surgical procedure and more on this subject can be read in our anesthesia section.
Cnr Van Wijk & Giraffe Street
013 744 1836