Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Julian Earl — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 10:34:22 GMT

Thanks Kath. I cannot be the only one to have seen a cat chew its own flank sutures out after 3-5 days and the wound has stayed together healing without any complication Sadly dogs are not quite so lucky to heal that fast!

Also, without any scientific evidence I do believe that stapled skin wounds heal quicker and more securely than sutured wounds. I suspect that the staples, being metal, hold the wound edges together more rigidly and prevent any microscopic distraction of edges as an animal moves.

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

KathW — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 11:13:09 GMT

We were told 10 days (80’s graduate) and I say 10-12-14 days for suture removal now so as to manage owner’s expectations (and allow for weekends etc. - owners often get concerned and stressed if we’ve said 10 days and then leave them in for 13 days).

I mostly do intradermal sutures now so it’s a 3 and/or 7 day post op check but no sutures to remove.

Over the years I’ve also seen a few cases where vets or nurses haven’t checked the notes and presumed a 3-7 day post op check was for suture removal- with rapid reopening of the wound in the consulting room or waiting room. Some cases left the “correct “ length of time also reopen but that’s less common. If I doubt I err on the side of caution or remove sutures over a period of several days.

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Julian Earl — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 23:23:28 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]We always leave all sutures in 10-14 days........[/quote]

I'm surprised. I had never seen anyone advise other than 7-10 days for eg spey wounds, or traumatic wounds etc. as I said, I leant the hard way through not knowing it should be different for the dorsum in dogs.

Thanks for your reply.

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 22:08:43 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]Taking sutures out earlier than ten to fourteen days can lead to the dog's wound "unzipping itself"[/quote]

We always leave all sutures in 10-14 days........

(used to say 10 days but then it often falls on a weekend so 14 days is convenient.)

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Julian Earl — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 10:55:41 GMT

That skin wounds along the top of the head or in the dorsum from occiput to base of the tail require much longer than the standard seven days to heal before it is safe to remove any sutures. Taking sutures out earlier than ten to fourteen days can lead to the dog's wound "unzipping itself" within 5-30 minutes! That is embarrassing if nothing else! Especially if it happens before the dog has even walked out of the door! was definitely not told this a university and in truth, I learnt this the hard way!

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Richard Carter — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 11:37:59 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]small terriers over represented. 2 -3 times the normal incidence of 0.5 to 1 % of dog population[/quote] is that because small terriers high numbers/ predisposed to HAC cf rest of population as well?

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 10:00:49 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]Back on track:[/quote]

Thankyou!!

That's really interesting

Neil

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Anthony Dennison — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 09:56:48 GMT

Back on track:

Think I've mentioned it elsewhere, but dogs with GI pain can sometimes present with odd neuro signs like fly catching, OCD behaviours and what seem to be partial tremors.

Omeprazole (which is better BID than SID dosing) normally resolves it.

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Wren — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 08:06:10 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]

Ha ho a well intentioned thread.....

Neil

[/quote]

My wholehearted apologies Neil, I shouldn't have bitten. Circumstances yesterday made me a little chippy! Next time I promise to bang my head off the desk quietly and move on. Please recommence the useful CPD tips!!

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Neil Wheadon — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 22:11:14 GMT

Ha ho a well intentioned thread.....

Neil

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Anthony Todd — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 21:39:23 GMT

[quote user="Wren"]I love that one of your examples of 'did you ever have anything go wrong' is actually something that a colleague did wrong! [/quote]

I thought I had admitted loads of things I did wrong eg weight of C/S, and etc.

And in large animals, I took 2 plus hours for a simple calving [head and 2 front legs back] and my boss took 2 plus minutes, even before he'd finished his fag which never left his lips.

I don't think anything in the ear splints went wrong in my hands. I pointed out the one failure we had purely as that, not as any transfer of blame, just something to be aware of.

Should I have said I did it?

Certainly results were cosmetically better than Xray film or buttons of various forms; the ones I saw, and have seen, anyway.

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Wren — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 20:52:03 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]I've had the "splinting" of an ear haematoma go very wrong when a colleague placed the sutures "across" the pinna, for example, but this isn't really a fault of the procedure. [/quote]

I love that one of your examples of 'did you ever have anything go wrong' is actually something that a colleague did wrong!

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Anthony Todd — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 11:06:27 GMT

[quote user="vetbl.locum"]

PS Anthony did you ever have anything go wrong ? It never seems to have??

Wish my career had been so 'rose tinged'

[/quote]

Oh for sure; there's quite a list, but not the things I've suggested strangely, and I think I've only commented on a few procedures.

Overestimation of the weight of a feisty small B&W long-haired cat spay would be top of the list......

[And I've replaced dislocated hips when the strapping slips or is soaked etc. but usually it was fine, if very uncomfortable for the patient.]

I've had the "splinting" of an ear haematoma go very wrong when a colleague placed the sutures "across" the pinna, for example, but this isn't really a fault of the procedure.

I've lost animals, usually on induction of GA, but nobody would suggest that therefore thiopentone etc. is bad.

Anyway, and even if I've forgotten some, I would suggest that a procedure's going wrong is almost always something unrelated to the validity of the procedure per se.

I have never been a fan of RJ bandages as they always got wet, or slipped, and lose their "compression" though they were all that was available prior to elastic bandages, which are vastly superior on any count IMHO.

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

vetbl.locum — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 18:29:30 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]Ehmer sling placement in dogs with dislocated hip. [/quote]

I suppose most dinovets did these routinely , or their version, [defined as rose-tinted], AFAIR they all did fine, after what would be a really uncomfortable "recovery".

What is the best and most acceptable treatment these days?

[/quote]

As a probable dinovet :

I quickly felt they were difficult to apply , useless and painful for dog

Stopped using them 25 years ago

Last luxated hip I replaced was last Christmas Just replaced and cage rest with nsaid

I don't think initial hip replacement is a technique for specialists only BTW

I preversely though still want to apply RJ dressing to my stifle ops Is that wrong?

Rgds

PS Anthony did you ever have anything go wrong ? It never seems to have??

Wish my career had been so 'rose tinged'

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Anthony Todd — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 17:20:32 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]Ehmer sling placement in dogs with dislocated hip. [/quote]

I suppose most dinovets did these routinely , or their version, [defined as rose-tinted], AFAIR they all did fine, after what would be a really uncomfortable "recovery".

What is the best and most acceptable treatment these days?

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Anthony Todd — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 17:05:32 GMT

[quote user="Julie Innes"]I had one (sorry, Neil!) It was a white boxer, imported from Spain, if that makes any difference...![/quote]

I wonder how genetically pure "boxer" the dog was?

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Neil Wheadon — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 14:44:42 GMT

Tel Rob Foale at DWR or Nottingham University

He did say he had maybe? one case. Guess this illustrates the value of Vet Compass who look at a wider community.

Ha ho, I'll keep putting things on this thread, anyone else?

Neil

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Julie Innes — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 14:41:34 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]Boxers don't get diabetes (has anyone seen a case)[/quote]

I had one (sorry, Neil!) It was a white boxer, imported from Spain, if that makes any difference...!

RE: Quick CPD things I've learnt - dogs

Neil Wheadon — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 13:47:11 GMT

Boxers don't get diabetes (has anyone seen a case)

small terriers over represented. 2 -3 times the normal incidence of 0.5 to 1 % of dog population

source Rob Foale from vet ecpd

neil