Western News: June 28, 2016

4
Tuesday June 28 2016
McMaster & Heap
Veterinary practice
BLOOD SAVES LIVES
Steve Heap, at
McMaster & Heap,
has recently
performed 2 blood
transfusions in 5
days on young
dogs at the
Practice, both cases
in his own time.
This procedure
isn’t common
practice but when
you have a patient presented pale,
collapsed and bleeding out essentially, you
have to be geared up to immediately transfuse.
You also need a capable skilled team around
you as this isn’t a one person
job as you’ll see below. A blood
transfused patient needs to be
intensively monitored by a nurse to
make sure we don’t get transfusion
reactions ( ie tremors, vomiting,
labored breathing, swelling and skin
reactions, seizures, coma or cardiac
arrest). The important things are
having a team capable of performing
the transfusion and closely
monitoring the patient for reactions.
“Poppy” the Hungarian Visla made
a full recovery after her near death
experience of ingesting rat bait.
“Bella” the Airedale unfortunately
wasn’t so lucky. She initially improved,
but after a few weeks of intensive care
and huge amounts of love, was very sadly put
to sleep after complications with her kidneys.
This article is specially dedicated to Bella.
Obviously both cases required blood fast.
A dog can take another dogs blood ONCE
without being cross matched to check blood
type. We obtained 500mls of blood and 200mls
of plasma for Bella from the After Hours clinic
on a Sunday and Steve obtained 400mls of
blood from Clive, a German Short haired
pointer, for Poppy. We have the transfusion
bags and filters at work and the blood is
delivered slowly via IVF pumps over 2-3 hours.
A vet must sit with the patient the entire time
and monitor vitals. The blood is delivered via
large bore catheter into the cephalic vein. Both
dogs accepted the procedure
well – admittedly both
were very ill.
Having blood readily
available is helpful. We
didn’t but luckily were
able to source it fast. In
the past I’ve used Lola
for obtaining blood
from but since she’s had
cancer and received
chemotherapy, she now
isn’t a suitable candidate.
Six year old Bella presented initially for
unexplained bleeding from her bowel. After
a lengthy work up involving blood testing,
radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, bladder
catheterization and intensive care monitoring,
she deteriorated quickly and needed a blood
transfusion in the hope it would save her
life. She was losing large amounts of blood
from her urinary system and large bowel. Her
kidneys were failing, she was depressed and
inappetant. Despite intravenous fluids and
over 10 different medications she was still
deteriorating. We still don’t really know what
caused the huge blood loss but the transfusion
initially helped, providing her with clotting
factors, blood and an immune system to fight
whatever was going on.
Open 7 days
Cnr Hoon Hay & Coppell place
phone 338 2534, Fax 339 8624
e. mcmasterandheap@yahoo.co.nz
www.mcmasterheap.co.nz
Poppy, the 14 month old Visla, knibbled on
RAT BAIT 3 days before presenting near death.
This poison destroys platelets and coagulation
factors and causes their victims to bleed to
death because they can’t clot blood. Within
hours Poppy would have died due to blood
loss into her chest, preventing oxygenation and
ventilation. She presented collapsed, was as
white as a sheet and in total respiratory distress
– she couldn’t breathe at all. Our amazing
team moved quickly, calling in Steve and Kirsty
who worked together over 4 hours – Kirsty
draining the blood from her chest ( the blood
was around her lungs) and Steve transfusing
her with Clive’s blood. She was monitored by
two nurses throughout
the procedure.
Her recovery was
instantaneous – after
being transfused she
basically leapt into the
back of the car, totally
transformed. She was
monitored carefully
at the After Hours
clinic that evening
and returned to us the
next day.
These two cases
highlight to me the
need for speed and
urgency in seeing
these cases ( whether
it be late at night or over a weekend),
dedication to our patients, commitment to our
clients and skilled and passionate professionals
prepared to go the extra mile. Our nurse took
the call from Poppy’s owner seriously, late on
a Thursday night when we were getting ready
to close. At that stage we had no idea Poppy
had ingested rat bait. She was just quiet and
very lethargic. Not the norm for a 14 month
old Visla! Our nurse also asked the colour of
Poppy’s gums and was told they were white!!
This raised alarm bells. Our consulting vet that
night was fully booked until 7pm so our nurse
called Steve, who immediately responded to
the call.
A special mention must be made to the
dedicated clients who trusted in us and
allowed us a chance at saving their dogs by
giving blood, which in itself isn’t without risks.
When we undertake a transfusion, we have
no real idea of outcome but we all do our very
best. Our patients all deserve a chance.
Dr Michele McMaster
This is specially dedicated to “Bella” who
was so stoic and fought so hard to make a
full recovery. She was a patient I’ll never
forget. No matter how sick she felt, she
always had a tail wag for me. She was
kind, trusting of us all and brave until the
end. Not being able to pull her though
affected us all. RIP dear Bella. You are
never forgotton.
McMaster & Heap
News
Low cost fruit and
vege plan spreading
• By Tom Doudney
A SOCIAL enterprise
supplying low cost fruit
and vegetables which
started in Bryndwr has
taken off across the city
and is now spreading
around the country.
Reverend Craig Dixon
started Food Together as
a non-profit fruit and vegetable
co-operative about
30 years ago when he was
vicar of Bryndwr Anglican
Church.
“It started as a need in an
area of kind of low socioeconomic
households
who were faced with limited
income and a limited
knowledge of what to do
with a number of fresh
food products,” he said.
After operating the
single hub in Bryndwr for
many years, Mr Dixon
decided to expand the
service following the 2010
and 2011 earthquakes.
“We contacted a number
of churches, as we
generally work through
churches and community
groups, out around the
east where the need was
9 Witham St,
Hornby
Phone 349 7867
as seen on
all fabric
30% off
PFAFF SEWING CENTRE
Ends saturday 2nd July
9
Shands Rd
Prebbleton - Lincoln
A my es Rd
Springs Rd
greatest and we started to
supply produce out there,”
he said.
Since the earthquakes,
Food Together has gone
from having one Christchurch
hub to seven, and from
supplying about 140 orders a
week to more than 2000.
The main hubs are in
Bryndwr, New Brighton,
Opawa, Rangiora, Oxford,
St Albans and Hoon
Hay, with about 40 other
smaller distribution points
around the city.
People pre-order a mixed
bag of fruit and vegetables
for between $12 and $15
this
week
only
Carmen Rd
Main South Rd
Russley
Riccarton - City
(smallEst cut 0.5 mtr)
Also in Black
WESTERN NEWS
KEEPING
IT FRESH:
St Albans
Food
Together
hub
volunteer
Anne
Powley.
and then pick it up. Mr
Dixon said the prices were
typically about 40 per cent
below retail price.
Food Together Hubs
have also opened in Auckland
and Hamilton and Mr
Dixon said other groups in
Wellington, Dunedin and
Timaru, while not using
the Food Together name,
had been inspired by the
concept.
Mr Dixon said he didn’t
see the need for the service
disappearing anytime soon.
“Generally I think the
price of produce is increasing,”
he said.
on these great buys
Also in Black
$
89 .90
$
89 .90
Was $ 119 .90 Was $ 119 .90
$
129 .90
Was $ 219 .90
Hornby Shoe Outlet
383 Main South Rd, Hornby
Branston Shopping Centre | Ph 03 349 2936
Or visit:
Wairakei Shoe Outlet | 287 Wairakei Road
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