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Owning a pet that requires lifelong care and medication
requires a considerable amount of effort, co-operation and
expense! "Holly" can count herself fortunate that
she has such responsible and caring owners.
Patients which are being treated for lifelong conditions
can also pose a problem for the consulting veterinary surgeon.
So when "Holly" presented again with lethargy
and excessive drinking the dilemma is to decide whether
we are dealing with the problem we know she has (hypothroid)
or is it something new?
Is it too much medication that is making her drink more
than normal or is it not enough? Asking the right question
is vital.
"Has she been neutered?" is often one of the
many questions asked whilst taking a patient's history.
'Common things are common' was the mantra drummed into me
as a veterinary student (all those years ago!). The point
being that bitches that have not been neutered are likely
to develop womb infections as they grow older (pyometra).
So it proved with "Holly"; an ultrasound scan
quickly demonstrated the suspicious fluid shadows and "Holly"
was scheduled for major surgery. With the thyroid condition
well controlled as a consequence of her regular check ups
there was no additional anaesthetic risk to take into account.
Surgery went extremely well and "Holly" has recovered
remarkably quickly returning to her former self within days.
Now it's back to dealing with her thyroid problem!
Terry
Dunne BVMS, Cert SAO, MRCVS
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