Q: Rosie, our pit bull pet, has a smooth lump the place her stomach button ought to be. Once we push on it, it disappears briefly. What’s it, and may we be involved?
A: It feels like Rosie could have an umbilical hernia. Your veterinarian can do a bodily examination and let you know whether or not it wants quick surgical consideration or might be repaired later, when she is spayed.
The lump most likely comprises fats that’s protruding from her stomach button. The hernia, seemingly inherited, shaped when Rosie was born.
Usually, at start, the umbilical wire falls off, the belly wall closes the place the wire had been, and the pores and skin comes collectively to kind a stomach button, or umbilicus.
Nonetheless, Rosie’s belly wall didn’t fully shut, and stress within the stomach is forcing a number of the belly contents out the outlet.
If her intestines have been compelled out of the stomach, they may strangulate—an emergency that might require quick surgical procedure. If the hernia is small and comprises solely fats, and your veterinarian feels it may be repaired when Rosie is spayed, monitor it intently till then.
Q: Koosh, my 13-year-old cat, has continual kidney illness. His veterinarian prescribed a canned renal food plan, fish oil and weekly subcutaneous fluids, all of which have been preserving him energetic.
Nonetheless, as a result of Koosh’s kidney illness is progressing, the vet is recommending we do the fluid therapies extra usually. The issue is that Koosh doesn’t tolerate the automobile experience to the vet very nicely. Can subcutaneous fluids be given at house?
A: Cats with continual kidney illness regularly lose their capacity to filter toxins from the blood and preserve water. Because the toxins construct up and dehydration worsens, the cat loses his urge for food and vitality.
Including fluid to the physique within the type of canned meals, which is 80% water, and subcutaneous (“underneath the pores and skin”) fluid helps keep the cat’s kidney well being and high quality of life. Fortuitously, subcutaneous fluids can simply be given at house.
In your subsequent go to to the animal hospital, ask if somebody can train you methods to administer the subcutaneous fluids, nicknamed “sub-Q” fluids, and dispense the required provides. These fluids are equivalent to the sterile electrolyte fluids given intravenously. Nonetheless, it’s a lot simpler to manage fluids right into a cat’s giant subcutaneous area than it’s to provide them intravenously.
You’ll begin by situating Koosh the place you and he are comfy, ideally with a number of treats in entrance of him when you’re studying. You might also want for a cat-knowledgeable pal that can assist you throughout your first house session.
Droop a bag of sterile fluids above Koosh, and connect a brand new, sterile needle to the tube exiting the bag. If you happen to’re right-handed, have Koosh sit or lie along with his head to your left, and use your left hand to lift the pores and skin over his shoulder blades to kind a tent.
Together with your proper index finger, gently really feel the sub-Q area, the realm between the raised pores and skin and the underlying muscular tissues. Use your proper hand to insert the needle into the sub-Q area, open the fluid line and let gravity do the remaining. Reward Koosh whereas the prescribed quantity of fluid runs from the bag.
Then, shut the fluid line and take away the needle from his pores and skin. His physique will take up the pillow of liquid over the following 12 to 24 hours.
Most cats with continual kidney illness really feel finest when sub-Q fluid administration is repeated each one to a few days.
