The Shih Tzu is now so energetic and inquisitive that it
was so hard to believe that she was causing so much
distress to her caring lady owner for many weeks before
treatment. She had literally a mouthful of "tumours" as
you can see from the picture as follows:
"This is an auto-immune disease that will return if not
treated with drugs," I explained to the owner that the
dog's bodies produce antibodies to attack her skin
cells.
"Why?'
"Nobody knows exactly the cause," I replied. "It could
be due to old age or something from the environment, her
food or her genetics affecting her immune system. The
drugs can control this disease for some time and prolong
her life."
At this review 2 weeks after surgery, it was sunshine as
this old companion looked almost normal. What's more,
she could eat and run, like a "reborn" dog. She would
have had died if she was not treated as the bacterial
infection of the mouth tumours and painful ulcers made
her lose appetite and interest in living.
14 days after electro-surgery and
treatment
"Is there another
tumour inside the mouth?" the young lady asked me. The
Shih Tzu objected to me opening her mouth. She twisted
her head here and there. So, I took a picture when she
yawned. "It is hard to say if she has another tumour
inside the mouth," I replied. "Wait another two weeks."
I asked her to take the two types of auto-immune drugs
and will review 2 weeks later. The dog had put on weight
and the hair in the body had grown more. She looked so
much prettier now that the hideous lower lip and other
mouth tumours had been excised by me using
electro-surgery 2 weeks ago.
The drugs must be given at the lowest safest dose and
this is why reviews and 3-6 monthly blood tests (to
check for kidney and liver damage by the drugs) are
necessary. In most cases, I don't see the owners coming
for reviews after the first time. This is the culture of
city living in Singapore and that is the way it is.
TOA
PAYOH VETS
