This
11-year-old Jack Russell X
has developed cataracts. He is well loved by the maid and any
illness is quickly reported. In the past 2
years, usually he had the "allergic rashes"
after Christmas and Chinese New Year and would
be scratching himself.
 After medication, he
would recover.
Suddenly in April 2012, he passed blood in his
urine. This was the first time as I had seen him
since he was a puppy. And that was for the past
11 years.
The Filipino maid who loves him very
much, quickly got him to me for treatment as his
lady owner was busy.
I noticed red blood at the penile tip and his
bladder was painful on palpation. Urine and
blood tests were done.
2 x-rays were taken. The
cause was due to a UTI (urinary tract
infection).
 |
 |
|
No
urine left as evident
during urethral
catherisation. No
urethral obstruction.
Faecal pellets
dominate the abdomen,
likely constipation |
No
signs of bladder
stones or tumours in
this X-ray |
I quickly gave him an IV drip
with baytril antibiotics and the next day, he
had no more blood in his urine. He went
home with antibiotics and recovered fully when I
phoned 3 days later.
 Then I saw him 2 months later for vaccination,
he was as good as gold. So, I took a photo
of him. Early treatment of haematuria is
important especially for older people and dogs.
In this case, there was no prostrate or bladder
cancer. He was constipated as the X-rays
showed lots of faecal stools. He ate like there
was no tomorrow. I advised reducing his feeding.
As to the cause of his UTI, this is a puzzle to
me as he is very well cared for. Could it be the
constipation or the consumption of dog treats? Could
it be traumatic injury to the bladder and/or
kidney? Nobody knows. But I saw fresh blood at
the penile tip. This may not be significant.
I was most happy for him
during vaccination as he is healthy now.
He prefers not to see me though as he knows he
will get injections. Bladder cancers are always a big worry in old
dogs passing blood in the urine.
Early diagnosis
is important. Urine test for transitional cell
carcinomas can be done. Practise
evidence-based medicine rather than just
give some antibiotics and wait and see, unless
X-ray and blood and urine test costs are
important for the owner. Due to the sudden
onset haematuria and response to antibiotics,
this was a case of UTI (urinary tract
infection).
See another case of an
old Beagle with bladder cancer
at:
Trust & Audit in a Case of
an old dog with fits and
bladder cancer |
TOA PAYOH VETS
