Case 5: Frenchie

Case 5: Frenchie (Client Information)

General History:

Your dog, Frenchie, is a 7-year old, female spayed cockapoo. You are coming to the veterinary clinic today as Frenchie is due for her annual wellness appointment. You also want to ask about Frenchie’s diet as you suspect she has food allergies.

You recently relocated and this is the first time you are visiting this veterinary practice. However, you asked your previous family veterinarian to forward Frenchie’s medical record.

Systems Review:

If specifically asked by the veterinarian, you can give the following information:

• Attitude: You didn’t notice any difference in attitude. For a 7-year-old dog, Frenchie is still playful. Although sometimes less so after her meals.

• Appetite/weight change: Has a good appetite, is never a picky eater. Lost a bit of weight since last winter (owner doesn’t know how much) but is more active during the summer months.

• Water consumption/urination: Drinks well. You noted no problems with urination.

• Vomiting/diarrhea: No vomiting. Since 2 weeks ago, you have noticed bloating, lip licking and burping after her meals. Stools are formed but over the past 2 weeks you noted increased frequency.

• Skin/coat: You are concerned about face rubbing, scratching excessive paws licking, skin redness and overall dull coat. You note that Frenchie has received treatment by your previous family veterinarian, but although you saw improvement, the skin problems keep coming back and seem to be worse currently.

• Any other illness signs (e.g., cough, sneeze, etc): No

Previous medical history:

If specifically asked by the veterinarian, you can give the following information:

• Other than ongoing skin problems, you cannot think of any other health concerns you have had regarding Frenchie.

Current Health Status:

If specifically asked by the veterinarian, you can give the following information: 

• Preventatives: You give topical flea preventatives every year as directed by your previous family veterinarian. Frenchie also receives her vaccinations annually.

• Environment: Frenchie lives mostly indoors, but you walk her in the morning and in the evening, 3-4 km per walk. Frenchie also has access to a yard and loves to swim in the lake at the cottage during the summer months. There are no other pets in the house, but your daughter’s dog, 2-year-old miniature schnauzer comes to visit often and sleeps over sometimes. You live in Waterloo, Ontario, and Frenchie has not travelled.

• Feeding management: You are the only one feeding Frenchie, 3 meals per day, breakfast at 10 AM, lunch at 4PM and dinner at 8 PM. Frenchie often doesn’t eat her breakfast, but always finishes her lunch and dinner. She also begs for your food.

• Diet:

Current diet: Frenchie is currently fed a total of 1 cup of Carna4 Goat kibble in the morning and 1 cup in the afternoon. For dinner you give her 3-4 Primal Freeze-Dried Beef Nuggets soaked in bone broth. Frenchie has been on this diet since last fall, but two weeks ago the store ran out of the Beef Nuggets and you have been feeding her Primal Freeze-Dried Chicken Nuggets instead.

You noticed her skin signs have improved since switching to the Carna4 brand, but still flare up.

Previous diet: For 2-3 years prior to this, you cooked a homemade diet for Frenchie following online recipes including a variety of cooked meats, liver and vegetables. You also gave her leftovers of your own food. She was always hungry and often vomited yellow foam in the morning. Last fall she also developed diarrhea. Your family veterinarian prescribed Hill’s Prescription Diet d/d canned food at that time, which was recalled. Your vet has sent you the lot numbers of the cans to check if Frenchie had these but you didn’t keep the empty cans. You note that this was a very stressful time and you have lost your trust in this company.

You note that aside from skin/coat and food sensitivities/ allergies, quality of ingredients is most important for you when choosing a pet food for Frenchie.

Case 5: Frenchie (Veterinarian Information)

Frenchie is a 7-year-old female spayed cockapoo. Frenchie is a new visitor to your practice and is scheduled for a wellness appointment today. The owner recently relocated, and you have received the medical record from the previous family veterinarian.

Medical Record

Four months previously, the dog had acute pyotraumatic dermatitis (“hot spots”) around the face and a chronic lesion of lick dermatitis on the left metatarsus. The dog received medical treatment by the previous family veterinarian.

Today your assistant has weighed Frenchie prior to placing her in an exam room. She is 10.4 kg. This is not different from the weight that you noticed in the patient’s medical record.

Physical Exam

• Body condition score is 5/9
• Muscle condition is good
• Inspection of skin and coat reveals multiple subcutaeneous lipomas and evidence of moderately to severe acute inflammation in the bilateral axillary and inguinal regions. Moderate inflammation was noted in the interdigital region of the right forefoot and in the perianal area.