Holly is a 2 and a half year old cavachon.

At around 6 months old Holly started scratching excessively. So much so that she regularly caused her skin to bleed and become infected.
A change of food for a few weeks made no difference so blood samples were taken for skin allergy testing.

Results confirmed that Holly is extemely sensitive as to what she eats – she is allergic to beef,chicken, lamb, turkey and amazingly not to pork. The indoor allergy tests confirmed her intolernce to house dust mites.
Treatment has vastly improved Hollys itchiness but has not cured it.
This is what we regularly find at The Animal Hosptal, Tallght – we can manage but not cure skin allergies.

The main treatment that Holly is getting – on an ongoing basis – is a special low allergy food. Her owner has also purchased a high powered Dyson Pet hoover to keep dust mites to a minimum.

TIP – if your dog is scratching excessively from a young age – initially try a food change to see if that helps.

Food, walks, Sleep, Food Walks, Sleep…..

These are the things that occupied Bonnie’s mind.

She is 10 years old.

She lives the life.

She shares her home with Rocky, who is one year younger.

She has had a few health problems, nothing she couldn’t handle. She had the odd lump or bump removed but hasn’t been tempted to have cosmetic surgery.

At the beginning of October she felt really unwell. She walked much slower and was occasionally vomiting. She clung carefully to her owners.

A blood sample was taken during her visit to the hospital which revealed she had a liver problem. She was Jaundiced.

Now sleep replaced the walks and food in her list of priorities.

She had a scan of her liver and gallbladder .

Her gallbladder was abnormal, her liver was also affected.

Bonnies owners faced a very difficult decision, she was so sick and the surgery needed was very risky.

Her gallbladder was removed along with a portion of her liver.

It took a while for food and walks to become important to her again, but the have.

She wouldn’t be a Labrador otherwise!

Millie Before Her Incident

She is a fantastic little dog, very lovable but can be cranky at times but we love her all the same. She is house trained also but has the odd accident!

In 2013 we nearly lost her as she was in a fight at a kennels in co Wicklow. Due to human error she was kenneled with a big dog who nearly tore her to pieces. When I got to the kennels I got a shock to see Millie’s condition. I got her into the car and put her on the front seat. There was Blood everywhere inside. She then stopped breathing due to, I found out later, she had a collapsed and Severed Larynx and a Fractured neck. She stopped breathing 3 times, one can imagine my terror.

I was alone in the car and I had to put her under my arm and drive 50 miles to UCD Vetinary Hospital with all the windows down to get more air into the Car. It was nerve racking and enduring. I tore up the road in the car. I knew Millie’s life was on the line and I didn’t realise at the time but I was putting my own life in Danger too!

I eventually got to UCD and I ran into the hall with Mille and said into the Intercom “come quickly! My Dog is going to Die!”. The Nurse rushed out and took Millie from me into the Emergency Room and all the Nurses and Vets rushed in, it was like a scene from ER.

The nurse came into the waiting room and told me I was in shock. There was blood soaked into my Tee Shirt. Then the Vet came in and said we lost her she stopped breathing but we got her back. It was panic and relief at the same time. (I am in tears writing this).

I was told to go home. The next week was the most enduring time of my life. Between being told Millie had a slim chance of survival because of the swelling she had and having to transfer her every morning and night. This was because UCD Emergency hospital closed early in the morning and opened at 6pm in the evening meaning Mille had to go to my own Veterinary Practice during the Day.

Millie after Her Emergency Tracheotomy Surgery

Receiving Some TLC After Surgery

I have met some fantastic very dedicated People including the vets Michael and Paul and the Nurses at Animal Hospital in Tallaght and UCD.

Millie was referred to the main UCD Hospital. When the Vet called me with the news that I had the option of putting Millie to sleep which I said no immediately to but she said there was 1 option of doing a tracheotomy on Millie. I was told it would cost E3’000.00. It was never about money, so I gave the go ahead.

The next day they operated and that day I could not breathe due to anxiety and worry. Then I got the call and I was dreading it but it was Brilliant News, Mille had survived and she was recovering well. She was discharged approx 2 weeks later from intensive care.

It is now 3 Years on (Anniversary in August 2016) and Millie is doing extremely well considering her initial injuries. She needs her Trachy to be cleaned about twice daily, sometimes more. I did have 1 frightening incident with her when her Trachy stuck and closed over but thank God I was there to release it. The only other contraindication is she is a bit prone to chest infections.

In May 2016 Mille came second in the Dog show in Harold’s Cross see photo, Hopefully we will have more great years to come, So a big thanks to all the Vets and Nurses for Our little Mad MILLIE, she’s  one in a Million!

A New Lease on Life

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

This month, with the help of Holly’s story, we would like to raise awareness about diabetes mellitus, a common endocrine disorder in our fury friends. Diabetes occurs when there is insufficient insulin production by the pancreas. This is type 1 diabetes and is most common in dogs. Insulin is required for the absorption of glucose. This insulin deficiency results in the inability to transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells leading to a high blood glucose. It is treated by injecting the patient with insulin on a daily basis.

Pet diabetes occurs in both dogs and cats, however it is more common in dogs. Holly’s story will focus on canine diabetes though symptoms are very much the same in both species.

Diagnosis

Holly first presented to the clinic after her owners were concerned she was drinking and urinating more than often. Common symptoms of diabetes mellitus include:

• Increased drinking
• Increased urination
• Increased appetite and often weight loss despite this
• Lethargy
• Poor coat condition

Diabetes can occur at any stage but, most commonly it occurs from the age of 7 onward. Given Holly’s age and her excessive drinking and urination, these factors led our vet to believe she was a diabetic. A simple blood test during her visit revealed she had a blood glucose of 20mmol/L. The normal range for a dog is 3.0 to 5.0mmol/L. This value however can increase during either times of stress or after having a big meal so, to rule out these factors, Holly came for a second visit the next day. During this time her owner was able to obtain a urine sample. Our nurses ran a urinalysis test which revealed that Holly had an excessive amount of glucose in her urine. This, along with a second blood test with a reading of 28.1mmol/L confirmed that Holly was a diabetic.

Treatment

Unfortunately, diabetes cannot be cured but it can be treated so the patient can live a normal healthy life. The aim of treatment is to manage the clinical signs or symptoms. Treatment involves injecting the patient with insulin on a daily basis. A strict daily routine must be followed in regards to diet and exercise as these affect insulin requirements. The times at which insulin is injected must be at the same time each day also. For example, Holly needs to be injected twice daily with insulin. Her first injection of insulin is given just after her breakfast at approximately 7am. These set meal times are to avoid hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). She cannot be fed between these meal times as treats etc will cause her blood glucose to fluctuate. She is fed a special veterinary prescription diet specifically for diabetics. This diet is high in fibre and low in fat and ensures a slow release of glucose. Her daily exercise must be regular also as this too affects insulin requirements. Her second injection is given at 7pm just after her evening meal.  Although Holly’s daily routine is quite strict her owners adapted these times to suit their schedule too. It is important to find a plan that works for both you and your pet and our nurses were able to offer advise of a daily routine during nursing clinics. Understandably, the idea of having a diabetic pet cab be quite daunting at first. Once diagnosed, our nurses work together with the client and the patient to help them gain better understanding about the disease through diabetic nursing clinics.

A Regular Patient

These days Holly is a regular visitor to the hospital. She comes for her blood glucose curve, a series of blood tests carried out throughout the day to check if her insulin dose is correct for her. Both our vets and nurses love to make a fuss of her and enjoy seeing her wagging tail greet us as she comes to the door. Her brother Tyson also comes along for the day to keep her company. We look fordward to seeing them both very soon at Holly’s next visit!

Take a minute to read this heart-warming story which was forwarded to us here at The Animal Hospital and we just had to share.

“Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a 10-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker.  The dog’s owners and their little boy Shane were all very attached to Belker so they were hoping for a miracle.  I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer.  I told the family we couldn’t do anything for him and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure.  They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.  The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him.  Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.

Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion.  We sat together for awhile after Belker’s death wondering aloud about the sad fact that animals’ lives are shorter than human lives.  Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ‘I know why’.  Startled, we all turned to him.  What came out of his mouth next stunned me.  I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, ‘people are born so that they can learn how to live a good life.  Life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?’  The six-year-old continued, ‘well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.’

Maybe we should learn a lesson from our best friends — the most loving creatures on earth.

Live simply.  Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

• When loved ones come home run to greet them.
• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure.
• Know ecstasy.
• Take naps.
• Stretch before rising.
•  Run, romp and play daily.
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
•  On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
• When you’re happy dance around and wag your entire body.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
• Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.  Stop when you have had enough.
• BE LOYAL.
• Never pretend to be something you’re not.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.  Be always grateful for each new day and for the blessing of you.”

A dog’s life.  If you can’t be one, live like one.