Hollybank’s Brave Pet of the Month…Bear!

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Bear is a lovely male Chesapeake Bay retriever who recently presented to Hollybank Veterinary centre with a sudden onset cough.

When an animal presents with a cough it is important to know how quickly the cough developed, the severity and frequency of the cough and what the cough sounds like.

Other specific clinical signs that we may ask about include: sneezing, nasal discharge, breathing rhythm and effort and willingness and ability to exercise as normal.

There are lots of reasons for a coughing dog. This can include, kennel cough, infectious pneumonia, aspiration pneumonia/aspirated foreign material, heart disease, lungworm, bronchitis, cancer, fluid, air or infected fluid within the chest cavity.

In our physical exam we want to pay particular attention to the respiratory tract. Your animal’s windpipe will be palpated to assess whether they are sore or reactive in this region i.e can we stimulate a cough. The lungs will be listened to for abnormal lung sounds which can include; crackles, rattles, whistles and wheezes. Your animal’s respiration rate, rhythm and effort will also be noted. Heart disease can actually present with a cough so ruling in or out a heart murmur is helpful too. Regardless of the complaint a full physical exam will be performed too.

On Bear’s physical examination there was some mild irritation along his windpipe but he was otherwise very well. We elected to monitor bear in the first instance. Often cases of mild tracheal irritation or kennel cough will resolve without intervention given time.

However, due to the quick development of his cough and the reaction around his windpipe we could not rule out trauma and inhalation of a foreign body. If Bear’s cough failed to resolve we would need to re-examine him with the proposal for further investigations.

Within 4 days Bear’s cough had still not improved.  To investigate further we would need to take chest x-rays to image Bears lungs and the space around them.  A small camera would also need to be placed down his large airways, a procedure called bronchoscopy.

On bronchoscopy, a large sprig of hedgerow was found lodged in Bear’s bronchus. The foreign material was removed under camera guidance and specialised forceps.

As you can see the size was quiet considerable!

Bear was sent home to recover on a short course of oral antibiotics. Bear was still expected to cough within the first few days due to a combination of disruption of the airway lining (which activates cough receptors) and residual inflammation and infection.

 

Bear is currently doing very well at home and hasn’t had any further fights with any hedgerows!

 

Visiting Specialists at Hollybank Veterinary Centre.

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At Hollybank veterinary centre we always try to offer the best care we can for our patients. Sometimes this means seeking a more specialist opinion, investigation or procedure. We work closely with a number of specialists who will come into Hollybank Veterinary centre to provide this service.

We feel this approach carries lots of benefits. Your pet is able to visit their primary care practice, a familiar setting without a long car journey. For yourselves, you will be able to receive a continuity of care with the reassurance of knowing we have very good relationships and ongoing support from all of our specialists.

The decision to see a visiting specialist is done on a case by case basis making the best decision for your animals’ specific needs. In some circumstances we may still feel external referral is more appropriate.

 

Anaesthesia Specialist

Rich 1Prior to opening Hollybank Veterinary Centre Rich worked at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital at the University of Liverpool as a Veterinary Anaesthetist. He gained the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons certificate in Veterinary Anaesthesia in 2007 and has recently been recognised as an Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Anaesthesia.

Richard’s advanced knowledge and experience in this area is useful on a daily basis.  Even for routine procedures it is important to cater the anaesthetic drugs and anaesthetic management to each individual patient. As a result of Richard’s interest in Veterinary Anaesthesia we are also very fortunate to have advanced anaesthetic monitoring equipment that we use for all of our patients.

When dealing with critically ill or compromised patients Richard’s anaesthetic skills become even more beneficial. These situations often come hand in hand with our other specialist services, for example animals with heart disease, animals undergoing invasive surgeries and ill animals requiring further diagnostic investigations.

Richard has a great working relationship with all of our specialists

 

Cardiology Specialist

For pets with suspected heart conditions we offer the option for investigations with Hannah Stephenson, a European specialist in veterinary cardiology. Hannah has been coming to Hollybank Veterinary centre for a couple of years and is already involved in the care of a number of our clients. Hannah also holds the RCVS certificate in Small Animal Medicine and has a particular interest in Great Danes; for the past five years she has been involved in research into Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Initially your pet will receive a cardiac consultation. Hannah will then provide a full cardiac work up as required. This can include a combination of; diagnostic cardiac ultrasound, ECG to look at the heart rhythm, Blood pressure monitoring, blood sampling and chest x-rays.  The investigations will usually take place within the same day. Where possible your pet will be discharged by Hannah who will discuss any long term plans or medications your pet should need.

After seeing Hannah we will carry on with your pets ongoing care taking into account their new diagnosis and medications. Your pet however, will remain under Hannah’s care too. Hannah is a great support to us and she is always available to discuss your pet’s progress, medication changes and any ongoing concerns. Depending on your pets condition Hannah will also come in to repeat your pet’s heart scan. Please visit Hannah’s website.

 

Diagnostic Imaging Specialists

In some circumstances your pet may need diagnostic imaging. At Hollybank veterinary centre we have the facilities for ultrasound imaging and x-ray. However, in some cases very fine detail and subtle changes need to be found and interpreted by a specialist. If required we will arrange for your pet to be scanned by specialist diagnostic imagers, Jerry Shimali and Anna Newitt.

Jerry and Anna have been visiting Hollybank Veterinary Centre for many years and have helped with the diagnosis of many cases. They both have very busy schedules but endeavour to fit patients in as soon as possible.

Advanced ultrasound equipment is used and if abnormalities are found on imaging samples can be taken and sent away for interpretation. Your pet will often require sedation for this procedure; this facilitates gaining the best images possible and is often a more pleasant experience for the patient.Your pet’s care will remain with Hollybank Veterinary centre allowing the same continuity of care too.

Additionally, Anna and Jerry will interpret x-rays. The x-rays will be taken by ourselves but for those difficult to interpret and crucial cases we are able to send these off for their opinion.

 

Oncology Specialist

If your pet has been diagnosed with cancer then we are able to offer a range of chemotherapy protocols at Hollybank veterinary centre.  This is on the basis that your pet’s cancer is responsive to chemotherapy and they are a suitable candidate for such a treatment. We are able to offer this service through the support and guidance from Veterinary Oncologist, Ian Grant.

Iain’s business, Chemopet, offers nationwide support to vets diagnosing and treating cancer. At Hollybank Veterinary Centre we will contact Iain for all of our patients seeking chemotherapy. Ian is able to provide us with the most up to date information regarding specific tumour types and how they behave, in doing this he will also guide us with further testing and help interpret these results.

Iain will then formulate the most appropriate therapy options for that patient. He provides detailed summaries of the different options and lots of factors will be used to select the right protocol for you and your pet. If you elect to start chemotherapy, Chemopet will send us the prepared drugs that we need allowing your pet to start their protocol in the comfort of their own practice.

Iain has been involved with a number of our patients recently. He never fails to provide us with a brilliant level of service and as with all of our specialists is always available for ongoing questions and support. Please visit Iain’s website.

 

Soft Tissue Surgery Specialist

Catherine Sturgeon is an RCVS and ECVS recognised specialist in veterinary soft tissue surgery.Catherine has worked in both first opinion practice and referral centres before deciding to provide a more personalised service to pets closer to their home.Catherine now visits practices to assess patients and offers complex soft tissues surgeries that would otherwise require referral.

These surgeries include: thoracic surgery, abdominal surgery, surgeries for laryngeal paralysis and conditions of the ear, nose, throat or eyes.Urinary and reproductive surgery, hernia repair, tumour removal and reconstructive surgery, wound management and surgical exploration of stick injuries.

If we feel that your pet needs a specialist type of surgery or would benefit from a specialist surgeon, we will ask Catherine to come in to Hollybank Veterinary Centre.Catherine has been a number of times in the recent months; you may remember Truffle and Popcorn who have featured in our ‘Brave pet stories’.

We work very closely with Catherine pre-operatively to ensure that the theatre contains everything we need and that we have considered any extra equipment or facilities required. This also includes an appropriate anaesthetic and pain relief plan. Your pet will then continue their post-operative care with Hollybank Veterinary Centre. Catherine remains very involved post operatively too and will keep in touch during your pet’s post-operative checks.

Outside of Catherine’s own surgical cases she is a great source of advice and guidance and her support is invaluable. Please visit Catherine’s website

 

 

The Big Tick Project Update!

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The Big Tick Project has so far been a huge success! Participation in the study has been nationwide and over 10,000 tick questionnaires have been completed.

As a result of raising awareness 4,000 ticks have been collected, some of which may have been capable of passing on tick borne diseases.

The study is already providing useful information and the data will help us to understand the level of risk across the UK.

Thank you to everyone so far who has participated!

We have now finished our participation in the study but we are still available to check for ticks and discuss preventative treatments. Please call us on 01606 880 890 to book an appointment.