Mark Rowland's Activities

Hysterectomy

Mark Rowland — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:15:23 GMT

OK so here's one ive not been asked...

Client has a Retriever, 7yo

V bright

Open pyometra.

O has requested that the ovaries to be left in situ if the womb is removed.

Is this a thing?

How do YOU practise veterinary medicine?

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 08:08:06 GMT

I have put together a survey for practising vets, to look at some of the factors which may influence how you practice.

I put the survey together with input from three vets. It's eight questions / two minutes, and I hope you will agree it will be interesting to know how the majority answer.

At the moment, it is in Beta, that is to say that I'd like a few people to do the survey and tell me if there are any major holes in it before I make it more widely available next week.

Bear in mind that if you do the survey and there is some major problem with it (which I don't expect), then I might ask you to do it again when I have fixed it!

BTW, I am especially curious to know whether you think the survey should be anonymous, or if I should offer an incentive (bottle of champagne) or any other feedback you have.

Thanks everyone!

survey.alchemer.com/.../Veterinary-Confidence-Survey

Rat advice needed please!

Anna Bell — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:51:05 GMT

Hi,

I recently saw an 18 month old male pet rat with a 24 hour history of haematuria. There was no fresh/ frank blood just blood tinged urine on the paper in the cage consistently every time he passes urine. No straining or obvious signs of pain. PE all normal. I dipsticked the urine and found blood 4+, protein 3+, leucocytes 3+. I started him on enrobactin orally for a week and there was no change. I then ultrasounded the abdomen conscious, could see the bladder and didn't find anything out of the ordinary. Not sure where to go from here. I've never blood tested a rat before but maybe I should to check renal status? Any advice appreciated!

Can I wish you all a very happy Christmas?

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 10:18:49 GMT

Well, I had to make it a question!

I've just been hit by the lurgy - which doesn't appear to be covid, but I still feel like death warmed up. On top of which a fox got in the other day and there's nothing left of our beloved chickens, Pip and Nugget, bar a few feathers. Oh and I knocked my computer monitor over the other day, which was an expensive mistake!

Hopefully it can only get better from here and I'll be well by our Christmas drinks on Friday.

And as we reach the end of the year, it does seem to me like the 'What would you do' discussion format has legs, and I am looking forward to making more of that next year.

Meantime, a very happy Christmas to one and all.

What is the treatment for rabbit with abscess / poss osteomyelitis?

dougal — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 10:49:13 GMT

I have a rabbit, age unknown, that has a large draining abscess beneath his jaw and purulent material exiting at the lower incisors.

There looks and feels to be bony protuberances beneath his jaw, is this osteomyelitis?

What would the treatment be?

Thanks

Experienced vets don't rely on palpation

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 09:21:00 GMT

HT Vista has published the results of a small survey which indicates that vets who have been qualified for more than five years are 14% less likely to rely on palpation alone than clinicians with less than five year's experience, when diagnosing lipoma.

55 veterinary surgeons took part in the survey, which also found that only 37% of clinicians use FNA and cytology when investigating a suspected lipoma.

According to the survey, the biggest barriers to further investigations of lumps and bumps were cost (50%), short consult time (23%) and confidence in results (20%).

HT Vista, which earlier this year launched a cancer screening device for dogs which uses heat diffusion technology and AI to differentiate between benign skin masses and other tumours, is urging more practising vets to use an accurate screening process for early detection of malignant masses.

Dr. Gillian Dank, Board Certified Oncologist and Chief Veterinary Officer at HTVet, said: “There is no way to know that a mass is a lipoma based on palpation alone.

"The fact that a mass is subcutaneous, soft and circumscribed is not exclusive to lipoma and it could be a number of things including a mast cell tumour or sarcoma.

"On average a veterinary practice sees over 500 dermal and subcutaneous masses each year.

"We know anecdotally, and surveys like this confirm, that not every mass is aspirated – and that is why there is need for the HT Vista screening device.

"Every mass that comes in should be properly examined.”

“It’s interesting to see that the more experienced a clinician is, the less confident they are in diagnosing from palpation and this shows us that with experience we understand that our hands are not enough.”

Liron Levy-Hirsch, Managing Director of HT Vista, said: “The survey showed that vets are conscious of the cost to clients, and also feel pressured due to time.

"We have developed the HT Vista to complement FNA and cytology, and hope clinicians find it a useful tool.

"Firstly, it is quick and affordable to scan, and for those masses that are benign it removes the need for unnecessary FNA’s.

"Secondly, vets are often wary of cost, however if a mass is scanned and the results indicate that further investigation is needed, there is more rationale to spend the extra money to get the cytology results.

"Finally, the device can offer complete confidence that malignancies are not being missed, and if a mass is malignant a prompt treatment plan can be initiated.”

https://www.vetreport.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Lump-and-Bump-Survey-2023FINAL.pdf

https://ht-vista.uk

Guinea pig stifle disease: what is the significance of these radiographic changes?

Holly Lee — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 01:17:46 GMT

Hi all, I have a 1.5yo M Guinea Pig with an acute onset LH lameness which has not really responded to meloxicam. Pain seemed to probably localise to the stifle. We xrayed him today, I am not terribly familiar with normal GP limb radiographs but there appear to be some degenerative changes in both stifles and there is also an opacity near the left hip which I am unsure of the significance.

Just wondered if anyone had any input as to the significance of the radiographic changes especially with regard to possible causes and prognosis. The GP is overweight, we have recommended weight loss. He is on meloxicam and we are going to start either tramadol or gabapentin today (my colleague is looking into which our best option might be).

Thanks in advance for any input. Holly

What should I look for in rabbit with lack of blink response and keratitis?

alison silvester — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 12:27:57 GMT

Hello,

I have a bunny who came in today as her owner had noticed she had a sore left eye and had been head shaking/pawing the side of her face as if painful. She ate yesterday but didn't take her veg this morning but did take a treat. On exam she was bright, has good gut sounds. Her left cornea was dull and her eyelids and conjunctiva slightly inflamed. On palpating her cheek over the cheek teeth she did shake her head at this but it wasn't repeatable. There was a large fluorescein positive area on the left cornea and it looks subjectively dry. She is unable to full closed this eye(was refusing to blink either eye but definitely screwing the right eye up in response to exam where the left eyelids did not move. The rest of her face is symmetrical, ears up, both nostrils twitching and moving mouth normally. Her ears look fine externally with scope.

She was sedated and has had x-rays of her skull, bloods and examination. No evidence of ocular foreign body. Her left mandibular molars look to have more of a curvature toward the tongue than the right. Both sides had spurs forming on the lingual side which were removed. I think her x-rays look OK. She had a slightly low albumin and TP but her biochemistry was otherwise OK. The textbooks flagged up maybe trigeminal nerve vs facial but I can't see how teeth would be related.

She has no other symptoms but I could send bloods for E. cuniculi serology? She is now on meloxicam and lubricants for her eye. Anything else I should be looking for?

Many thanks,

Alison

What should I do for for a guinea pig passing necrotic uterine tissue?

Holly Lee — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 02:37:52 GMT

Hi, I have a 2yo female Guinea Pig that had a history of some bloody vulval discharge, treated for a UTI with enrofloxacin and meloxicam at an out of hours clinic, up and down with demeanour etc but then passed several pieces of tissue from her vulva. She has felt better since this happened and is currently on meloxicam and doing OK.

We sent the tissue for histopathology and the results are indicating necrotic mineralised uterine tissue (I will try and paste full report at the bottom). This is a new one for me and my thoughts on our options are that I can try and ultrasound but with limited confidence that I'll find an answer; that we could spay her - but with the associated risks, or that we can monitor her for ongoing ill health, but with the concern that if something happens again it could be fatal.

Anyone have a clearer idea what might be going on here? My instinct is to do an ovariohysterectomy to try and solve the issue but having never done this in a guinea pig I am unsure if this is being excessively invasive.

Thanks everyone. Holly.

HISTOPATHOLOGY:

SUMMARISED CLINICAL HISTORY: Guinea pig passed tissue and other similar lumps from her ? vulva. No known possibility of mating. Tissue submitted for histopathology.

TRIMMING NOTES: Received a tissue sample measuring 50 x 25 mm. Representative sections are placed in cassette 1. (SM 02/08/2023).

MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION: The sample primarily (95%) consists of necrotic tissue that is pale pink, amorphous and has lost most cellular details due to coagulative necrosis. There are extensive fine granular deep basophilic granules in the necrotic tissue, consistent with mineral deposition. Rarely, partial remnants of glandular structures are recognizable and these extend almost the full depth of the tissue sections. These glands appear to be simple branched tubular glands.

DIAGNOSIS: Uterine necrosis and mineralisation

COMMENTS: These histological changes are not specific for a cause to explain the tissue lumps expelled. The samples are not consistent with foetal tissue and do not support an inflammatory lesion. The glands seen in these sections extend fairly deep into the tissue. If this tissue is from the uterus wall, then it may be part of a uterine mass. An alternative to consider is metastatic calcification with subsequent tissue necrosis. Guinea pigs over 1 year of age can develop metastatic calcification due to low magnesium and high calcium and phosphorus. A diet high in calcium and phosphorus will interfere with magnesium absorption. The uterus is one of the organs where mineral deposition occurs. Other sites include subcutaneous soft tissues (elbows, ribs) and other viscera (lung, trachea, aorta, heart, liver, kidney, stomach and sclera). Further diagnostics such as ultrasound and / or exploratory laparotomy may be helpful, if feasible.

Is intermittent head tilt in a rabbit cause for concern?

alison silvester — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 15:34:56 GMT

Hello!

I have a 2yr old rabbit who is very well but occasionally tilts her head to the side. The owner has a few pictures of her doing it and her whole face looks drooped on the side she is tilting to?!! Lasts a minute or so, otheriwse fine. Ear and conscious oral exam unremarkable? Fully indoors. Vaccinated etc.

Otherwise was completely fine on exam!!

Would you worry? Further investigate?

Thank you!!

Alison

Young guinea pigs with suspected ringworm

Aida Navarro — Sat, 13 May 2023 15:06:37 GMT

Hi everyone!

I've just seen a guinea pig mum and her 3.5 week old pups with skin lesions around face, ears and neck. Skin scrapes negative although haven't been able to perform fungal culture for financial reasons. I would say it's more likely to be ringworm but what do you think? As some lesions are close to the eyes I'm worried about using topicals like Imaverol, but as the pups are also quite young I'm not sure how safe it would be to use Itrafungol either. Does anyone have any experience treating young pups?

Many thanks in advance,

Aida

P.S. I know, we forgot the gloves when handling!

Is it possible to avoid / reduce the smell when emptying skunk anal sacs?

cairncross — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 17:08:13 GMT

I had to empty the anal sacs of a skunk today . I set up a pop up theatre outside in the wind and wore 3 layers of PPE , not knowing what to expect.

All layers had to be incinerated .

The smell reached local village mile and a half away and frightened horses being galloped by local trainer some fields away . I have washed in tomato sauce three times now , I vomited one and a half hours later. I have never in 20 odd years of all sorts of death detritus and maggots.

Any tips on how to do this better how to rid smell I fear the skunk will return at some point with same problem

8 week old syrian hamster passing blood from prepuce

alison silvester — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 21:31:32 GMT

Hello!

Any ideas! Owner got hamster from Pets at Home, had BIOP few days and found fair amount of blood stained bedding in cage and blood around prepuce. Examination was unremarkable. Vet who saw first started antibiotics. Within that course he had another similar episode. It looks like blood vs blood tinged urine on the bedding and a reasonable quantity for a teeny hamster! I've sent the owner away on a mission to dip some urine to see if the normal looking urine in between bouts has blood in it.

Can palpate right kidney, couldnt palate left but very wriggly, no pain, bladder feels OK, prepuce looks normal. Hamster is about the size of the ultrasound probe! Not sure what I should be looking for?

Many thanks,

Alison

Ringworm treatment in guinea pigs

Rob Davis — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 15:05:31 GMT

What are folks currently using? Mycozole appears to be no longer available and itrafungol is frighteningly expensive...

RCVS considers private prosecutions for offences under the Veterinary Surgeons Act

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 18:04:00 GMT

RCVS Council has been considering the costs, advantages and disadvantages of bringing private prosecutions against people and organisations that breach the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

A paper introduced by the RCVS Registrar Eleanor Ferguson looked at the possibility of the RCVS prosecuting, for example, unqualified individuals undertaking veterinary work and courses falsely purporting to lead to a registerable qualification.

The paper also explored other options, including better educating animal owners about veterinary services and assisting people with concerns about the breaches of the VSA to raise them with the authorities.

Council heard that over the past year, the RCVS had assisted other agencies on investigations of suspected VSA breaches on a number of occasions.

It was considered that the RCVS could consider undertaking its own private investigations and criminal prosecutions when statutory prosecuting authorities did not have the resources to pursue these cases.

However, the RCVS has no statutory powers of investigation, so if it did pursue a private prosecution, it would have no powers to carry out a criminal investigation or compel evidence.

Council members voted for a further paper setting out a draft policy on private prosecutions, as well as what general information regarding breaches of the Veterinary Surgeons Act could be provided to members of the public and the professions.