What's your diagnosis?

Nielsen, L., Shaw, M. and Morris, J. (2007) What's your diagnosis? Journal of Small Animal Practice, 48(2), pp. 121-124. (doi: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2006.00145.x)

Abstract

A three-year-old, male, entire border collie was referred to the veterinary hospital due to an acute onset of lethargy and tachypnoea. The dog was adequately vaccinated and wormed and fed with a well-balanced commercial diet. Eight hours prior to showing any clinical signs the dog had been seen eating something in the garden. The owners identified this as meatballs containing white powder.<p></p> Physical examination revealed a heart rate of 130 beats per minute, a temperature of 38·5°C and a respiratory rate of 60 breaths per minute. The dog was 5 per cent dehydrated, had blue-grey mucous membranes, a grey-blue tongue, prolapse of both nictitating membranes, bilateral chemosis and pronounced facial oedema (Fig 1). The dog was hypersalivating. The rest of the examination including thoracic evaluation was within normal limits. Routine haematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis of a sample obtained by bladder catheterisation and a venous blood gas sample analysis were performed. The blood and urine had a distinct brown colour (Fig 2). Pulse oximetry was used while the dog was breathing room air and consistently showed oxygen saturation (SPO2) of 95 to 98 per cent.<p></p>

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: No
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Morris, Professor Joanna
• Authors: Nielsen, L., Shaw, M., and Morris, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Journal of Small Animal Practice
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• ISSN: 0022-4510
• ISSN (Online): 1748-5827