CASE OF THE
MONTH - NOVEMBER 2012
Louis' gall bladder blockage
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Louis
is a well known and loved dog amongst the veterinary team at St Francis. He
is a diabetic patient and had been managed on twice daily insulin for years
when suddenly he started vomiting and presented to the clinic jaundiced (yellow
colouring to the mucus membranes). Dr Pam Browell admitted Louis for an abdominal
ultrasound and diagnosed a blockage in his bile duct - thus preventing the passage
of bile away from his liver (where bile is made) and gall bladder (where bile
is stored) to the intestines (where bile is used for fat digestion). Left untreated
this condition is quickly fatal; however, both Louis' weak and diabetic status
made him a high risk for anaesthesia to correct the problem. Dr Pam Browell
managed his anaesthesia, and Dr Lucy James and Dr Graham Futter performed surgery
to re-route the passage of bile from the gall bladder directly to the intestines.
Within 24 hours Louis was already showing signs of recovery. Almost 1 year later,
we are happy to report that Louis is still going strong and his diabetes is
stable.