Chevy 
Canine POTM
February 2020

Chevy is a handsome, 4-year-old, English bulldog. He came to the Animal Hospital of Statesville because he was not feeling well. He did not want to eat or drink and he was vomiting. He also had a few urinary accidents inside which was very unlike him and his urine was dark in color.

On physical exam, he was having hard time urinating but was able to produce urine each time he squatted. We were concerned he could have calculi (stones) in his urethra on the radiograph, but he was still able to urinate around it at first. We started an antibiotic and scheduled him to return for sedation to pass a urinary catheter and for blood work. While trying to pass the urinary catheter, we found a stone in his urethra. We were able to flush this stone back into his bladder. However, before we could schedule his surgery, he tried to pass the stone again and it got lodged a second time in his urethra! At this point, referral to a specialist was needed because if the stone could not be retrieved from the urethra, he would need a more specialized surgery.

The surgery Chevy would need is called a prescrotal urethrostomy. This surgery creates a permanent opening for the urethra just in front of the scrotum. The type of stone Chevy had is called a cystine calculi. These can be found in English bulldogs and several other breeds. It is thought to be hereditary. We can help prevent their recurrence with veterinary prescription diets but they do have a tendency to recur. In some male dogs, neutering can prevent recurrence.

Now that Chevy has had the specialized surgery, he will most likely not obstruct again and will be able to pass these stones if they do recur. Chevy was a trooper throughout all of this. That is why he is our Pet of the Month!

Chester
Feline POTM
February 2020

Chester was a young male cat that wandered up to his owner’s house. Chester’s owner wanted to try and get Chester some medical care and make him an indoor kitty. Chester was quite fearful and was too afraid to be captured. Chester’s owner fed him and slowly he tamed a bit.

One day, the owner noticed that Chester had bloody feet and bloody paw prints. He was walking on his front tip toes. Thankfully Chester finally allowed himself to be caught that day. Chester was examined and his front feet had excoriated, (area where the skin is torn or worn off) infected growths on his large front paw pads. Chester was admitted to the hospital. Bloodwork performed was unremarkable. Infectious disease blood testing was submitted to see if he was infected with anything that may transmit to other indoor cats he was eventually to be mixed with. In addition, this might also help to determine if there was an underlying cause to the foot growths. Chester, overall, was healthy. He was sedated and the growths removed with a cutting laser and the paw pads sutured closed. He was also neutered and given antibiotics.

The tissue from the paw pads was submitted for laboratory testing. The testing showed a rare condition called plasma cell pododermatitis. The is an inflammatory condition in which inflammation causes the tissue of the paw pads to swell and in this case, burst through the skin and get infected. It is an auto-immune type disease in which the underlying cause is not well understood. Chronic infections or inflammation from viruses and dental disease may play a role. Chester tested negative for most cat infectious diseases so the underlying cause is still a mystery

Chester’s feet healed perfectly and have not relapsed. He now has a good home and has adapted well. His feet are being closely monitored. He is a special cat with a very dedicated owner and that is why he is our feline Pet of the Month.