Yesterday, Dec 1,
2011 at 7 pm, a lady in her late 20s came with a
13-year-old Jack Russell. "He is better today," she said
to me as I was at the reception counter. I could see the
unique make up of an airline cabin crew and enquired
whether she worked in this airline. I said: "Hair in a
bun and clipped, as slim as can be, a gait with
confidence and a type of facial make up that never fails
to attract attention."
"It is called ghost make-up," she was surprised that I
could guess correctly her profession. Well, I do to see
these slim and pale-looking ladies with blue eye shadows
at the Singapore Changi Airport going to work or coming
home.
In the consultation room, I did the examination with the
dog on the table. A right hind lameness was the
presenting sign. The dog's right paw was barely touching
the floor. "This lameness has been going on for many
years," she said. Other vets had examined it. The
following is my approach.
The Standard Operating Procedure.
1. History of lameness & general examination including
teeth.
2. Observation of gait on the floor
3. Put the dog on the examination table. Muzzle the dog.
4. Palpation of spinal column. No pain/painful? Where?
5. Manipulations - dog standing (extend both hind legs
and compare the length*). Put dog on side (left, right,
upside down).
This is where I have to demonstrate. Basically, it is
palpation, extension, flexion, abduction
and
adduction. Check patellar luxation.
*Put thumb on hip joint, extend hip, and knee of both
limb while the dog stands on front legs. Show the owner
the unequal length of the hind limb (if there is
subluxation).
6. X-rays (2
views). Arthritis, Legg-Perthe Disease, Subluxation,
luxation of
the right hind compared to the left hind hip.
7. Complete blood test to check for liver or kidney
disease is recommended as lameness in 13-year-old Jack
Russells may be caused by other reasons.
TOA
PAYOH VETS
