University of Florida 3-D printer gives patients new chance at mobilityJuly 27, 2018Chance, a greater Swiss mountain dog abandoned with a severe limb deformity, is walking better. Bebop, a pot-bellied pig is back to rooting in his yard after a painful shoulder injury stopped him. Chance and Bebop are the first two clinical cases treated over the past six months at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine through a state-of-the-art 3-D printer that uses high-performance plastics and offers numerous advances in patient care, teaching, and research, according to UF veterinarians. Among the printer's capabilities are the ability to create bone models with which veterinarians can "practice" a surgical procedure prior to actual surgery, as well as patient-specific surgical guides that improve accuracy and reduce surgery time, according to the university. "We have the Rolls Royce of 3-D printers," said Adam Biedrzycki, BVSc, Ph.D., an assistant professor of large animal surgery at UF, who purchased the printer with startup funds when he was hired by the UF College of Veterinary Medicine three years ago. "It can not only print parts that are approved in the aerospace industry to go into aircraft but also parts that are biocompatible for medical applications. That is, they can be used in live tissues." …
SPONSORED CONTENTThe clear reco for hidden stressOur therapeutic nutrition targets underlying stress in cats with GI or urinary issues — helping provide relief to pets and their humans. + Learn More
Purdue vets perform total hip replacement on Bengal catJuly 25, 2018 The orthopedic team at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine had high hopes for Fridgey, a two-year-old Bengal cat brought in by his owner in 2017 for left hip issues. The orthopedic team performed a femoral head ostectomy (FHO), but Fridgey's problems then shifted to his right hip, and his owner again brought him to Purdue. This time, Mark Rochat, DVM, MS, DAVCS, clinical professor of small animal orthopedic surgery, department of veterinary clinical sciences, and Sarah Malek, DVM, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery, performed a total hip replacement. The procedure had never been performed on a feline patient at Purdue. Hip replacements have been performed on larger dogs for almost 40 years, but smaller dogs and cats had to hold off until the last 10 to 15 years, waiting for the technology to catch up, according to Dr. Rochat. "The technology has been around for years; it's just that the availability of the systems and training for the people performing the procedures weren't as commonplace in the past," Dr. Malek said. "Now it's much more commercially available and technically feasible." The first human hip replacement was inspired …
Client checklist: Tips for traveling with petsJuly 20, 2018Whether traveling by plane, train, or automobile, there are many factors to consider when vacationing with a pet.
Increase in DCM in dogs may be linked to dietJuly 19, 2018Instances of canine dilated cardiomyopathy may be correlated to specific ingredients in pet foods, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Heartgard producer launches feline parasiticideJuly 16, 2018A new monthly heartworm disease prevention product for cats has been announced by Boehringer Ingelheim. Applied topically, Centragard (eprinomectin and praziquantel transdermal solution) can also treat and control hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms.
What's the deal with CBD?July 16, 2018Perplexed or annoyed by the consideration of medical marijuana in veterinary medicine? I was. As a veterinarian who finds controlled substances a total pain to manage, I was put out by the prospect of one more item I had to oversee meticulously.
Using soft tissue surgical lasersJuly 14, 2018The key to the success of soft tissue surgical lasers is their ability to vaporize and coagulate the soft tissue at the same time, which makes many soft tissue procedures much simpler and far more enjoyable for practitioners.
Giving oral health a stronger biteJuly 13, 2018Over the past few decades, growing awareness among both veterinarians and pet owners alike about the importance of good oral health for companion animals—combined with clinical advances, better dental instruments, and more home dental care options—is brightening the dental health outlook for companion animals.
Supporting the aging petJuly 12, 2018The last 10 percent of a pet’s lifespan is when they struggle the most with different ailments that come with aging. Of course, not only are these animals struggling—their dedicated owners also are struggling.
How to reduce surgical site infectionsJuly 11, 2018Considering the emergence of resistant bacteria, having a solid plan to decrease infection risk becomes increasingly important. A surgical site infection (SSI) is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an infection occurring at the surgical site within 30 days following a procedure, or within one year of placing an implant. You can significantly decrease risk in your practice by scrutinizing four factors that contribute to SSI incidence: patients, environmental and human factors, and miscellaneous risks.
