Ear infections in dogs
A lovely little Shih Tzu named “Toby” came to us at Drovers two weeks ago with an ear infection that had been bothering him for a while, and previous treatment at another clinic had not helped.
Both ears were infected, one ear much worse than the other and quite sore. The left ear had a very creamy thick discharge. We performed a cytology examination in hospital by taking a swab from the ear and looking at cells etc. under the microscope. We found a very nasty collection of bacteria, and with the owner’s permission sent a swab away to an external pathology laboratory for culture of the bacteria. The culture grew three different bacteria, one of which was resistant to all antibiotics tested. We had started “Toby” on some oral (by mouth) and aural (ear drop) antibiotics before getting the culture results back. Then based on culture and sensitivity testing we changed the antibiotics to something the bacteria would be sensitive to.
The owners were diligently using an ear cleaner, ear drops twice daily plus the antibiotic tablets.
He came back today for the required recheck two weeks later. The ears looked completely normal but we still needed to do a swab and check under the microscope for bacteria or yeast. The swab on both ears were clear of all infection.
The reason we do revisits and repeat swabs/cytology even when the ears seem to be going well is so that we can continue medication in the event that there is still residual infection. If those animals didn’t return for rechecks, often the infection is still there in very low numbers and will flare again after a few weeks.
We would like to congratulate “Toby’s” owners for being so diligent with both the treatment and the rechecks such that we have seen a very satisfactory outcome.
There can be several reasons for chronic recurrent ear infections such as:-
* underlying allergic skin disease,
* animal compliance with treatment
* getting sufficient quantity of the most appropriate medication into the ears, (this is based on cytological assessment of bacteria/yeast infection)
* sufficient duration of treatment to affect a resolution of infection.
In clinic testing of ear swabs in all ear infections plus retesting are EXTREMELY important in overcoming ear infections which otherwise can be very frustrating.
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Although chocolate may be one of your favourite treats, never feed chocolate to your pet. It is poisonous for them! It contains substances called theobromine and caffeine (methylxanthine alkaloids) which are also contained in coffee, tea and some over-the-counter stimulants.
Chocolate poisoning is most commonly seen in dogs because of their habit to ingest food rapidly and they often have a “sweet tooth”. We see a higher incidence in puppies and young dogs, probably because they tend to ingest large amounts of unusual foods.
Chocolate poisoning can also affect cats, birds, rodents and reptiles however we see these cases much less frequently.
Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning
The toxins in chocolate can affect you pet’s digestive system, nervous system and cardiovascular system.
Digestive system
- Vomiting & diarrhoea (2-4 hours after ingestion)
Nervous System
- Excitation/restlessness (increased body temperature, alertness)
- Muscle rigidity & tremors
- Seizures
Cardiovascular
- Increased respiratory rate
- Increased heart rate
- Reduced blood pressure (hypotension)
- Progresses to cardiac failure leading to weakness, coma and death can occur within 12-36 hours after ingestion.
The toxins are found in the highest concentration in cooking chocolate and dark chocolate, and there are lesser amounts in milk chocolate. There is almost no toxins are found in white chocolate.
Diagnosis
Chocolate poisoning can look similar to many poisonings or other conditions. Serious poisonings such as that caused by strychnine, amphetamines, pesticides, and some rodenticides can cause similar signs.
If you know your pet has eaten chocolate, contact us immediately, especially if your pet is showing any of the symptoms above. If possible, bring any vomit to the clinic as well, since this may aid in rapid identification of the toxic substance. Your veterinarian will need to examine your dog's nervous system and cardiac function carefully. He/she may want to run some blood tests to check for blood sugar levels and rule out other diseases. Since this poisoning progresses rapidly, signs may need to be treated symptomatically until a laboratory diagnosis is confirmed.
Treatment
There is no antidote for chocolate poisoning. Your veterinarian may use drugs to induce vomiting if the chocolate was consumed within the previous 2 - 4 hours or they may even need to administer a general anaesthetic in order to pass a tube into the stomach to wash
Once the chocolate is out activated charcoal treatment may be given to prevent any toxins remaining from being absorbed.
Pets that show more severe symptoms may need more specific medications in order to control the seizures and to prevent heart failure.
The expected course of chocolate poisoning is 12 to 36 hours depending on the dosage and effectiveness of treatment. Prognosis is good if the chocolate is removed within 2 to 4 hours of ingestion. Prognosis is guarded in animals with advanced signs such as seizures and serious heart dysfunction. So, please remember to keep your chocolates, cakes and chocolate-coated goodies safely away from your pets. Stick to healthy treats if you want to reward your special furry or feathered friend.
Have more questions?
Our state-of-the-art facility offers separate consultation rooms for dogs and cats, a fully equipped in-house laboratory, and specialised suites for surgery and dental care. For those tender moments, our uniquely designed Grief.
