Fluffy's going to the vet again.

[opabinia]

I know it sounds snooty. I wrote it that way on purpose. After all, lungfish medicine is very, very serious science.

-----Original Message-----
From: [Lepidosiren]
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 3:07 PM
To: Ritzman, Tracey
Subject: african lungfish with abscess

Hello, Dr. Ritzman. I hope you are well. I've acquired your email through the receptionist on the MSPCA Boston switchboard.
I'm writing about my African lungfish, named "Fluffy," which you saw a few years back. She has a bump, which has been growing for the past couple of months, located posterior and inferior to the left side of her mandible. It is the size of a marble, of medium consistency to the touch, and it moves to some extent with the skin. I believe it's a minor infection.
The fish eats well and behaves normally, but I wish to treat the problem before it worsens. I think I'd like to try draining the lesion with a syringe, and perhaps following up with a local antibiotic.

The fish is now some 30" in length, so transporting her is not trivial. I wish I could do this at home, but I don't have any anaesthetics or antibiotics at my disposal. Besides, I have no idea how to dose a lungfish. I could bring her in on a Saturday or Sunday -- could you see her on a weekend?

Thank you,

[Lepidosiren]


Hello Mr. [Lepidosiren],
Thank you for writing me. I am glad to hear an update on Fluffy.

I would be happy to arrange to help with Fluffy's new problem.

It would be ideal to be able to collect a needle aspirate sample (as you suggested) from the mass for a cytology analysis and culture. This would hopefully give a diagnosis as to whether this lump is an abscess versus tumor. Also, in fish
mycobacteriosis is quite common and a special stain could be performed on the cytological sample to rule that in or out.

I expect Fluffy will need to be sedation for the procedure. The aspirate itself is a brief procedure and I have performed on fish before.

I do have the fish anesthetic in stock here. It is a water soluble anesthetic and is prepared at a specific concentration in the water so the size of the fish does not matter.

If you would like to schedule a day to come in with Fluffy I would be happy to arrange the sedation and obtain the sample for you.

Weekend days are difficult to schedule procedures on as I have client appointments most of the day and not much time for other procedures.

Would there any weekdays you might have time to come in? If not I can try and arrange a Saturday for you, the next available for Saturday would be October 2nd if you prefer a Saturday.

Other dates I would have available would be Thurs Sept 16th or Sept 22nd or 23rd.

Just let me know what you would prefer.

Dr. Ritzman

Tracey Ritzman, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian
Avian & Exotic Pet Medicine
Angell Animal Medical Center-Boston
(617) 522-7282

From: [Lepidosiren]
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 6:13 PM
To: Ritzman, Tracey
Subject: RE: african lungfish with abscess


> Hello Mr. [Lepidosiren],
> Thank you for writing me. I am glad to hear an update on Fluffy.

Thank you for your prompt reply!

> It would be ideal to be able to collect a needle aspirate sample (as you
> suggested) from the mass for a cytology analysis and culture.

That sounds great.

> I expect Fluffy will need to be sedation for the procedure.[...] I do
> have the fish anesthetic in stock here. It is a water soluble
> anesthetic and is prepared at a specific concentration in the water so the
> size of the fish does not matter.

You'll recall that Fluffy needed an injectable anaesthetic, because her
vestigial gills don't permit much diffusion. :)
I believe you used something containing Butorphanol.

> Would there any weekdays you might have time to come in? If not I can try
> and arrange a Saturday for you, the next available for Saturday would be
> October 2nd if you prefer a Saturday.

October 2nd would be excellent. The bump has been there for some time,
and it does not look like an urgent matter.

Thank you very much, Dr. Ritzman.

[Lepidosiren]


Hello Mr. [Lepidosiren],

I will see you and Fluffy on Sat Oct 2nd then.

I will not be available until early afternoon- would it work for you to come in
around 1 pm that day?

Tracey Ritzman

Tracey Ritzman, DVM, Dipl ABVP-Avian
Avian & Exotic Pet Medicine
Angell Animal Medical Center-Boston
(617) 522-7282

Comments

[rojagato.livejournal.com]

Dr Ritzman walks on water, as far as I'm concerned. And now, I guess she'll have a chance to do it literally.

[water-childe.livejournal.com]

Dr Ritzman walks on water, as far as I'm concerned

I should say so! What an amazing sounding vet. I'll have to remember her when I finally get another pet snake. Good vets are worth their weight in gold, especially when it come to dealing with 'exotics'.

[alonewiththemoon]

I <3 Dr. Ritzman!! Definitely tell her that you're a friend of mine! She's been seeing my various ferrets for about 6 or so years now.

[julishka.livejournal.com]

i think fluffy is trying to reproduce by division!

RUN!

[jhimm.livejournal.com]

dunno how much you care,
but you left your real name in there once,
in your final reply.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

GAH! Fixed it. Thanks!