TOA
PAYOH VETS
toapayohvets.com
Date:
15 December, 2011
Focus: Small
animals - dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles & rabbits
Myanmar stories
How To Succeed In Business -
The 72-year-old man's experiences
Dr
Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
15 December, 2011
First Written: 28 November, 2010
When the left eye was
injured, the owner agreed to her dog being warded for 3
days at Toa Payoh Vets and the eye was well cared for.
So, no complaints.
When the right eye was injured and treated by
tarsorrhapy by Vet 1, the owner wanted the dog home
AGAINST medical advice. On day 2, she phoned me to say
that the eye was swollen and bleeding. I advised
immediate bringing the dog to Toa Payoh Vets for me to
check. She did not do so. Around Day 7, she said the
suture had broken down and the eye was swollen and
bleeding. This time she brought the dog down and was
very unhappy as the first left eye with tarsorrhapy
recovered without problems.
"There is no
guarantee that every surgery is going to be successful
every time," I said. "I do have cases where there are
similar problems. In the first case of the injured left
eye, I did advise NOT taking the dog home for 3 days but
you did not accept my advice."
There was a lot of unhappiness and blame onto the
operating vet when the owner does not heed medical
advice. Vet 1's competence was suspected and this was
not right. The dog's eye was not well cared for post-op
by the maid and mother but the owner denied it. "Can you
watch over the moving dog 24 hours a day?" I asked.
The dog was not confined as would be done at Toa Payoh
Vets if warded. But he was permitted to wander around
the house and could have rubbed his eyes against sofa
sides and beds, leading to stitch breakdown and
bleeding.
I advise a repeat tarsorrhapy as the ulcers were deep
and would need to be covered up to heal. Or a second
opinion from another vet as to whether to leave the eye
alone. If the owner has her way, she would rather not
have tarsorrhapy. If the eye cornea subsequently
ruptures or get pus infection, she would again blame the
consulting vet for not having given proper advice! All
advices must be RECORDED in the medical records nowadays
although sometimes my vet just will not do it.
I will be performing tarsorrhapy on Dec 14, 2011 and
will follow up on this case.
TOA
PAYOH VETS
