Sting in the wagging tail
TIG walked amiably into my consulting room, sat down and looked up at me, wagging his tail.
Despite him being six years old, I had never met him before. Indeed, his owner was new to the practice and first consultations such as this one generally involve a wee chat about medical histories etc.
This time, there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary. Tig was a Lhasa Apso who had been regularly vaccinated, had the occasional worm tablet and that was about it.
He had been presented for treatment today because he had sore eyes. While a receptionist telephoned his previous practice to arrange for them to send his records, I set about trying to make him feel a bit better.
After determining which end was which (the moving tail helped), I lifted him on to my table and, after brushing some hair out the way, realised his owner was certainly right about his eyes.
They looked hideously painful. The conjunctiva was red and angry. The eyelids were thick, with a sticky, purulent goo that threatened to glue them together and the skin around his eyes was matted and similarly polluted.
Explaining that the entire problem was most likely caused by a reduction in tear production, a condition called dry eye or keratoconjunctivits sicca, I suggested that the first part of the healing process would be to get the whole area clipped and cleaned, so Country Park, in conjunction with Dundee Canine Club’s Open Show. Judging not before 12.30pm June 10 ■ Golden Retriever Club of Scotland’s Open Show in Cochrane Hall, Alva at 10am ■ St Andrew’s, Cupar and District Canine Club’s Open Show in Fife Ice Arena, Kirkcaldy at 9.30am as to provide some relief from discomfort and reduce the level of contamination.
Leaving Tig’s owner in the waiting room, I scooped him up and retired to the prep room where, with the nursing staff all occupied at various important tasks, I enlisted the help of a veterinary student to hold Tig as I sorted him out.
Tig was quite the wee gentleman. He blinked as I clipped the hair and cut at the mess around his eyes.
His tail swished happily as warm cottonwool compresses began to soften the crusty discharge. He licked my finger twice as I used scissors to remove the last little bristles around his upper eyelids.
Then he suddenly bit me extremely hard. Later, his owner told me that’s why his previous vet had refused to treat him anymore.. ■ Ayrshire Collie Club’s Open Show in Hurlford Community Centre
FUTURE SHOWS July 1 ■ Hawick & District Canine Society’s Open Show in Kelso. Schedules from Secretary, Mrs. J. Campbell, 18B Whiteloch Road, Macmerry, East Lothian EH53 1PG. Tel 01875 898259.