Case Studies

Our referral vets see a wide range of interesting cases and we would like to share some of these with you. Every month, we will add a new one, and build this archive over time.

If you would like further information about any particular case study, then please call us to take advantage of our free advice line. If you would like to register with us to receive regular email alerts when new case studies are posted, click here.

History 1: Soft Tissue Surgery: Thymoma in a DSH Cat

Lilly was referred for investigation of a short history of dyspnoea.The owner reported the cat had been retching and coughing for 2 months prior to referral. More recently she had developed laboured breathing. Examination by the referring veterinary surgeon identified an increased respiratory rate. No heart sounds could be auscultated on either side of the thorax. Thoracic radiography revealed a large soft tissue opacity within the mediastinum displacing the heart................. more

History 2: Internal Medicine: Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia

A 7 year old Border Collie, Toby, initially presented to his own vets in with sudden onset lethargy and pallor. His PCV was initially 14%, strongly regenerative anaemia, which was Coombs positive. Screening radiographs failed to show any evidence of underlying disease, routine biochemistry showed mild increases in liver enzymes. Treatment with prednisolone 2mg/kg BID was initiated and when his PCV dropped to 11% azathioprine was added 2mg/kg SID. Over the following 2 months Toby's PCV slowly increased to 34%, but then started to decrease again. Danazol was added and Toby was referred........................more

History 3: Dermatology: Idiopathic Symmetric Lupoid Onychodystrophy (ILSO)

A male neutered three year old Rhodesian Ridgeback dog was presented with a history of all of the nails progressively becoming lose or splitting, including the dew claws, with some nails lost altogether.

On physical examination the dermatological findings were limited to the digits with the hind feet having several claws missing and the front feet having a number of dystrophic claws including some with obvious deviations in the dorsal claw material with a transverse line just distal to the claw bed. The dew claws had similar lesions....... more

History 4 : Lymphona in a dog - an unusual presentation

A 3 and a half year old female neutered chocolate Labrador was referred for investigation of snorting and sneezing that had lasted for 4 weeks. Her clinical signs had not been improved by non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. The owner also reported that the dog was reluctant to eat hard food. On clinical examination, upper respiratory tract stridor was evident and snoring and sneezing at rest. No nasal discharge was evident. Oral examination was unremarkable and no other abnormalities were evident on clinical examination apart from weight loss (0.5kg in preceding 4 weeks).......more