Nor'West News: April 16, 2019

6
Tuesday April 16 2019
NOR’WEST NEWS
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
News
McMaster & Heap
Veterinary practice
Bilateral anal Gland SurGery
Anal gland issues are
common problems
we see in our canine
patients today. The
anal gland has no
real function except
it’s the dogs “special
scent” or parfum.
This secretion has a
distinctive fish smell
to it making it very
unpleasant for us,
plus its heaving with
bacteria! Not a good
look or smell on the
new sofa.
Dogs present
because of pain and anal irritation leading
to scooting, licking or biting of the area.
Often it’s too painful for these dogs to toilet
so they become constipated. Severe cases
become infected and the anal sacs swell and
can eventually burst, discharging pus either
outwardly or inwardly around the perineum.
Occasionally anal sac fistulas develop which
persist for ages. Impaction of anal sacs can
lead to toxaemia and dermatitis. Some dogs
present because they leak anal gland fluid
constantly which becomes very difficult to live
with if your dog is an indoor pet.
No one really knows why anal glands become
a problem. Some cases present due to
diarrhoea, constipation or anal sphincter
laxity. Some cases are related to anal duct
obstruction which leads to infection,
abscessation and sometimes rupture of the
sac. Other cases are due to hypersecretion
which can happen with food allergies, thyroid
diseases and infectious skin disease.
Whatever the cause, my job is to rectally
express them which isn’t particularly nice for
the patient as often by this stage they are
painful. It is a procedure mostly I can perform
awake.
If the anal sacs are infected I either prescribe
antibiotics systemically or I instill an antibiotic/
anti-inflammatory ointment into the sacs for
2-3 treatments. Sometimes a prescription food
is recommended ( either for food allergies or
a diet high in fiber) and revisits are advised to
check the sacs.
In chronic, recurring and difficult cases that
don’t respond to
medical therapy,
often the best
option is bilateral
surgical removal.
This option can
completely eliminate
the disease and
make the owners
and dogs’ life far
more bearable. Dogs
can live without
these anal sacs – it’s
just a fiddley surgery
and great care has
to be taken when
working around the
anus to avoid incontinence issues.
I have had lots of practice removing anal
glands over the past 30 years – so much so
that I get referrals from other clinics.
Juno, a young Labrador cross is having
bilateral anal gland surgery. Juno presents
every 2-3 months with anal glands that just
leak and wreek everywhere. They are not
infected nor painful to squeeze. She has
received various medical treatments and is on
a Royal Canin hypoallergenic diet, but nothing
seems to help.
The surgery takes roughly 60-90 minutes,
because I am very careful around this delicate
area. Juno is maintained throughout the
surgery on intravenous fluids and Megan
my surgical nurse is monitoring all her vitals
(heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate, body
temperature and oxygen saturation) to ensure
a safe anaesthetic and quick recovery.
Juno was a star patient and the two anal
glands were removed. She was discharged
on antibiotics, pain medications and local
anaesthetic cream to apply to the surgical
area. I recommended an E collar to wear
initially to stop her worrying her surgical site
and a soft diet 5 days post surgery.
My advice is – don’t struggle with this
problem in your family cat or dog as it’s
not going away. These glands have no vital
function and can be removed safely and
effectively in the right surgical hands, leading
to a better quality life without the nasty
smells!!
Dr Michele McMaster
Redwood has a voice again
• By Jess Gibson
THE WHEELS are
in motion at the new
Redwood Business and
Residents’ Association.
About 20 residents,
business owners, church
members, community
workers and Papanui-
Innes Community Board
members attended the
group’s first meeting at the
Christchurch Function
Centre last week.
The former Redwood
Residents’ Association
went into recess eight years
ago.
Past secretary Gayle
Freeman said it was the
right time to reform a
community group. “There
is a real hunger to see what
we can make Redwood
into,” she said.
The previous association
was active for about seven
years before the February
Getting kids off to a good start
•From page 1
Bishopdale School
receives the donated food
from Fonterra, Sanitarium
and KidsCan.
At the school, the
breakfast club is open to
all pupils rather than just
those who need to be fed
and is even on offer for
parents who come in with
their children.
Before the breakfast
club, Mrs Mytton was a
22, 2011, earthquake.
Redwood Hotel owner
Alison Hume was one of
three people who set up the
meeting to see if there was
any interest in restarting a
group, which would meet
regularly to talk about
Redwood.
Ms Hume was “really
surprised” with the
turnout. The group talked
about the area’s needs –
including a community
hall, adequate facilities,
more resources, events
and making the suburb
enjoyable for young people.
She said there was
a positive discussion
about “the importance of
ensuring Redwood is a
welcoming, inclusive place
for people to live”.
Creating a more
village-like area has been
suggested as a result of the
Christchurch Northern
Corridor’s effects.
volunteer for the milk in
schools programme while
her grandchildren were at
Bishopdale School.
When Mrs Cleverly
asked Mrs Mytton to help
her start up the breakfast
club in 2017, she jumped on
board.
“I love seeing the kids
laughing and happy
because they are being fed
and it’s so nice seeing them
interacting around the
DISCUSSION:
About 20
people
were at the
Christchurch
Function
Centre for
the first
Redwood
Business and
Residents’
Association
meeting.
Ms Hume said the group
is due to meet again in a
month to discuss how it
will move ahead and there
will be an opportunity for
people to step forward into
leadership roles.
No capital projects are
planned for Redwood in
the city council’s Long
Term Plan 2018-2028.
But city councillor
Mike Davidson said the
group can partner with
the community board to
advocate to the council.
“The group can use this
as an opportunity to see
what’s needed,” said Cr
Davidson. ​
When the previous
association was active,
it was instrumental in
keeping the Redwood
Library open, making
traffic improvements and
the ensuring Graham
Condon Recreation and
Sports Centre was built.
table,” she said.
“It’s very rewarding.
You’re helping them in a
small way but it makes a
big impact.”
Bishopdale School
principal Sue Fisher is
thankful to have volunteers
who run the programme.
“We have to thank them
wholeheartedly for their
time. They take the time
every day to come in,” said
Mrs Fisher.
Open 7 days
Cnr Hoon Hay & Coppell place
phone 338 2534, Fax 339 8624
e. mcmasterandheap@yahoo.co.nz
www.mcmasterheap.co.nz
McMaster & Heap
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noun
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synonyms: flair, grace, poise,
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