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My dachshund is having back issues and I heard about a procedure call PLDA that might help my dog’s condition. Is this procedure safe for my dog ? I’ve seen write-ups on the internet about it, but no new reports on it since the early 2010’s. Is this still a viable answer to my dog’s condition? Ay help would be greatly appreciated . Thank you.
Joseph Kuzma
I was wondering if the Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy is a good treatment for a very active female Akita-husky mix, approximately 2.5 years old? Tater has been spayed, and didn’t react to that procedure well. She “guarded” her abdomen and haunches for over a year. We have moved, so have access to a different vet. Her primary vet office is Price’s Creek (Ohio), who referred her to Medvet for the surgery. I can’t remember the vet who we had Tater’s consultation with at Medvet.
Hello,
If you are confident with the diagnosis of a cranial cruciate ligament injury then I do believe that a TPLO is the best way to treat this. As far as your choice of surgeon you can certainly ask your vet or a trusted member of your community for advice.
My dog licked a small frog and was excessively drooling for about 10 seconds and pawed at his face once but was fine after that. I took a warm rag and wiped his gums and the roof of his mouth and his paws really well and he’s acting normally. Should I still be concerned?
This happened to my dog many times with the same result. They have always been fine. Of course I don’t know what kind of frog this was, or your pet’s medical history or condition, so please keep an eye on your pup and call your vet with any questions or concerns
Hi my cat went to the vet a couple weeks ago and noticed a scratch with a small bald spot as soon as I got home now he has a huge spot with scratches can anyone please identify what is could be ?
Hello,
It’s hard to identify a lesion based on a photo. If I had to guess I think that you are seeing hair loss but not an active lesion or wound. This can be from hair follicle damage or infection after it has healed. I’m sorry but it might be best to see a vet if the lesion persists, or others arise.
[Very Urgent] Advise on Cystotomy vs PU
My 8 year old cat (male, neutered, American short hair) was diagnosed with bladder stones and underwent a cystotomy in February 2024 to surgically remove the stones from the bladder. Unfortunately, the surgeon left behind 3-4 stones in the urethra during the surgery, which were later pushed back in the bladder. These stones blocked him again in May 2024 – he was unblocked via a catheter and the stones were pushed back into the bladder during catherization. He again got blocked a couple days ago and has been unblocked again via catherization with the stones pushed back in the bladder. The X-rays do not show formation of new stones in the last few months and the urinary analysis do not show any crystals.
We are considering three surgical options to remove the sones now: 1) cystotomy 2) PU 3) Cystotomy + PU. Please see X-rays after the cystotomy in February, the one from May and the one from last night and advise on the best course of treatment
@kristamagnifico Please help advise on PU v Cystotomy urgently
Hello
I’m sorry to hear about your cat. The problem is that we don’t know what kind of stones these are and therefore the concern is that more will form and more will obstruct, or , that these are the kind that do not resolve and therefore you will be back here again
If you can afford it I would do a pu and cystotomy to hopefully be done with this forever.
If you are struggling financially ask the vet if they took a post op Xray after the last surgery. If some were left behind (which happens to all of us) ask for a discount on this surgery. At least a discount for the cystotomy portion as the surgeon should have taken a post op Xray and should have gone back in to remove them at this time,,, because of course they were going to cause a re-obstruction.
That’s my advice. Keep me posted. Good luck
Thanks for getting back to me Krista. Can you help me understand why PU alone will not be sufficient? Can the stones be flushed out during or after PU? I will also attach the stone analysis report shortly
The stones are:
90% Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate (Whewellite).
10% Tricalcium phosphate (Whitlockite)
PFA attached stone analysis
My cat has been on medicated diet since Feb 2024 and no new stones have formed since then. Will cystotomy alone won’t be sufficient?
Should my 15yo cant perform nasal polyps removal operation?
Good Afternoon Doctor.
I came across your Youtube video that you are performing Nasal Polyps removal operation to young cat.
My question is should my 15yo cat young enough to receive this operation.
Currently he is on Steroid and Yuan Bio medication but it is starting to wear-out.
Those medication worked great for the first month but now he is having discomfort in respiratory again.
My cat is not young but I would like to maintain the QOL of the cat and wanted to know if this helps.
If so, what will be the rough estimate and how long does she might have.
I know this is hard to speculate without actually seen the cat but just a ballpark will be appreciated
Thank you
T
Hello,
In my experience I have never seen a polyp in a cat this old. It is far more likely that this is a neoplastic mass (cancer) than a polyp. If you are concerned about your cats quality of life than I would do and consider doing anything and everything to alleviate her discomfort and try to improve her life.
Thank you for your quick response doctor,
Yes I was told he has a cancer, so I guess I misunderstood that tumor and polyps are different.
I guess too old for Chemo and radiation and surgery, what will be the appropriate to maintain the QOL ?
My vet told there aren’t much they can do.
I just feel helpless seeing cat in such a discomfort.
He is eating well, and very active as for now, but just breathing seem difficult sometimes.
Thank you
T
Hi Krista
My almost 11 year old MC Potcake (who has too many beings lipomas to count) recently had his senior blood work and urinalysis – everything was normal except an elevated ALP.
The urine was a free catch sample at 4 pm and it was very dilute. This prompted me to remember that he has been drinking a little more (summer) as well as eating a lot of watermelon – and to remind me that he has also had an increased appetite over the last year. I did a specific gravity on a morning urine sample after he had no access to water overnight and he was able to concentrate his urine at 1.025
He has chronic seasonal allergies so his inner thighs have a dark pigment change – this has been present for years – there are no other derm changes and I don’t see a pot bellied appearance but the vet is considering Cushing’s. They suggested an abdominal ultrasound first followed by a low dose suppression test. I would rather do the dex test first before an ultrasound. I’m not sure that I’m convinced that Cushing’s is likely but something may be going on.
Of more concern is that this previously healthy dog coincidentally, a few days after the blood work, had an episode of vertical nystagmus and ataxia – very brief – less than 30 seconds. He’s been fine ever since but its only been a few days – I have been told that vertical nystagmus is less common with Senior Vestibular disease and possibly more likely a central lesion.
any thoughts that you have would be appreciated !
Pam
Hello,
For cases like this I usually recommend the following.
Ask about diet. See if anything could be influencing water intake. I do a very thorough exam. This includes anal glands. Then I repeat the blood work a few months later (if not drinking or peeing excessively). If the pet is believed to be drinking and urinating more then I think that X-rays, abdominal ultrasound (by a proficient vet) and LDDT are warranted. I don’t have too much preference on order because they usually all need to be done. The biggest thing to talk about before starting all of these diagnostics is that the client must be willing and able to treat for cushings before we start the expensive procedure of diagnostics.
Good luck
thank you so much
My dog had been having issues with diarrhea, regurgitation, and vomiting. I need help please.
Hello,
I would need a whole lot more information about your pet to provide any help. We would need a detailed history of your dog, your environment, diet, activity, previous health history, vet care, a thorough examination and its findings and diagnostic results. Please see a veterinarian in person for help.
Hi Krista,
We had adopted two month old American Short Hair and got them all vaccinated at Petco plus got them Spayed/Neutered.
One of them, 2 years old Riley had a runny nose(Green Mucus) right from the beginning and later on the Vet at Petco mentioned that she has a Polyp and can’t be treated at their facility.
I need your help to find a vet that can perform Polyp removal surgery on my 2 year old female American short hair cat near Chicago, IL
It seems Riley has a very large Polyp or some type of mass that’s blocking her airway and food pipe; the vet tried to insert a tube for breathing and it couldn’t go through due to a large mass that is blocking it.
This Vet @ Westchester Animal Clinic in Porter, IN recommended a Specialist and is not optimistic that this polyp or mass can be removed through surgery and was proposing Euthanizing as an option which we didn’t agree.
Hello,
I apologize for the delay. Somehow I missed this one.
Call everyone and see if you can find someone who will anesthetize and look for a polyp behind the soft palate. Call all of the rescues, shelters and private veterinary clinics. Put out a plea on social media. Use all platforms to ask for help.
Keep me posted.
Update: German Shepherd Diesel.
I would like to receive your advice regarding my German Shepherd, Diesel, who has developed a limp. His limp has gotten a little bit better, but sometimes he will limp very badly. I have limited his activity and made sure he isn’t putting any unnecessary stress on the foot. I’ve located the source of his discomfort, which is on his right rear ankle, and it is swollen. There’s no apparent injury to his paw, and I’m concerned it could be a sprain or even a fracture. He was running around in the house on porcelain tiles playing ball, and I noticed him limping on one of his runs. I’m unsure whether to proceed with an x-ray or to monitor his condition for a few more days. Your professional opinion on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and attention to Diesel’s situation.
Hello,
If the limping doesn’t resolve with rest and there is swelling then I think that you need an Xray.
Hello,
I’m sorry to hear about your dog. I don’t know any patients or veterinarians who have had this procedure. This would have to be answered by a neurologist or surgeon
Thank you for replying. I was just wondering why nothing has been written about it for 10 to 15 years. I live in Connecticut . I found a vet in Pennsylvania who performs the procedure, but I have to wait for my dog’s pain to be relieved before the procedure can be performed. I will call my vet on Monday and ask their opinion. Thank you, again for your reply.