Senior Wellness Programs Bolster CareApril 17, 2009 You've probably had a scenario similar to this in your practice: A senior cat is presented for routine examination for the first time in 2 1/2 years. The owners report he has trouble eating, excess salivation, and sure enough, a monster tumor is identified, well seated in and under the tongue. Though these can carry a poor prognosis at any stage, we can't help thinking that it might have been salvageable if picked up at a very early stage. Other times the story has a happy ending for seniors, such as when a routine visit identifies a renal condition that stabilizes with therapy. The human population is undergoing a tremendous shift as baby boomers age; average lifespan tops 78 years. Our pet population has benefited from modern veterinary care and changes in lifestyle and nutrition, and is now also living a much longer average lifespan. Clients expect high quality care for their senior pet once they understand opportunities for preventive intervention, and because of the progressively greater proportion of our patients (~25%) in the senior life phase, it behooves us to develop a sensible senior wellness program. Many practices do not currently offer a …
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Successful Allergy Management Hinges On Awareness, Proper ProtocolsApril 17, 2009 For veterinarians and pet owners alike, few conditions in pets are as frustrating as allergies. But as awareness of the challenges associated with allergies continues to increase—as do the number of treatment options available—veterinarians are finding greater success in diagnosing and managing allergic pets. The list of allergies most commonly seen in dogs and cats has remained relatively constant over the years. “These allergies are to things they come in direct contact with, such as pollens, mites, fleas and molds,” says Dena Ware, a marketing manager for Heska Corp. “Additionally, they can have adverse reactions to foods they eat, which causes them to exhibit the same signs as contact allergens. “Until fairly recently, it was commonly believed that atopic disease is caused by allergens inhaled by the animal, but now it is understood that the allergens are absorbed into the animal’s skin,” Ware says. Some emerging allergic trends are evident. For example, Ware notes that the incidence of adverse reactions to foods has increased as the number of pet food choices has grown. Lowell Ackerman, DVM, Dipl. ACVD, a clinical professor in the dermatology and allergy service at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary …
Thyroid Diagnosis, Treatment Options EvolveApril 17, 2009 Options for diagnosing and treating the most common thyroid conditions in dogs and cats are far from stagnant. “I always tell our students that if we proportioned the hours of our teaching of endocrinology to be consistent with the likelihood of seeing a problem in practice, I estimate that we’d spend 70 to 80 percent of our time teaching about thyroid disease,” says Duncan Ferguson, VMD. Dr. Ferguson, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM and ACVCP, is a professor of pharmacology and head of the department of veterinary biosciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In dogs and cats, two thyroid conditions are by far the most prevalent. “In dogs, the most common thyroid condition is hypothyroidism, with 50 percent lymphocytic thyroiditis and 50 percent idiopathic atrophy,” says Julie Flood, DVM, who works in the internal medicine department at Advanced Critical Care & Internal Medicine in Tustin and Culver City, Calif. “It is currently unknown if the idiopathic atrophy is the end result of lymphocytic thyroiditis. “In cats, the most common thyroid condition is hyperthyroidism—with more than 95 percent secondary to functional thyroid adenomas,” she adds. “Thyroid carcinomas are rare.” Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism …
Surgical Advances Provide Options In Treating Common Eye ConditionsApril 17, 2009 Small animal ophthalmology has seen both incremental and significant advances in awareness and treatment in recent years. But multiple areas remain in which enhanced treatment options would be welcomed by specialists, general practitioners and pet owners alike. “If you look at diseases that affect the eye, I don’t think they’ve changed much over the years,” says David Wilkie, DVM, Dipl. ACVO, head of the comparative ophthalmology department at Ohio State University. “Many of the conditions are seen in purebred dogs because they are inherited or breed-associated. So what drives trends in ophthalmology are the breeds that are popular at the time.” Disease Trends One such breed-related condition is eyelid imperfections. “As the trend in breeding brachycephalic pets becomes more popular, we see a huge trend in poor eyelid conformation,” says Teresa Tucci, DVM, Dipl. ACVO, of Veterinary Specialists Inc. in Homestead, Fla. “Corneal neovascularization, pigmentation, ulceration and perforation can be incited by eyelid imperfections.” Dr. Tucci notes that many conditions related to poor eyelid conformation can be corrected or prevented, particularly if detected and treated early. Although occurrence of eye-related conditions in small animals remains fairly constant, the rate at which …
Pain Control In Cancer ManagementApril 17, 2009 As cancer progresses, tissue destruction occurs, causing the release of cell membranes, cytosolic proteins and nuclei acid. The inflammation created is painful and can stimulate additional angiogenesis, cell cycle initiation and cancer progression. In this Oncology Outlook, I want to propose a “pain ladder” that provides guidance in the management of cancer pain and reviews measures used in our clinical facility. Pain Levels The goal of a pain management strategy is to relieve pain and prevent or delay additional complications. In human medicine, the World Health Organization recommends the use of a one through 10 scale to characterize the severity of pain and provide guidance in selecting appropriate pain relief measures. While many others use scales, algorithms or charts to track an animal’s pain, I propose the following three categories of cancer pain and suggest some measures for additional relief. Mild to Moderate Pain: This occurs as a tumor compresses surrounding tissues and is possibly warm to the touch, but the general aches or stiffness do not limit a pet’s duration of normal activity. Cautious but regular use of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug would be the first choice. Following some reconstructive surgical procedures …
Vets Promote Summer Safety To Pet OwnersApril 17, 2009 With summer around the corner, veterinarians and animal organizations are preparing pet owners for the hot days to come. A lot of summer safety warnings concern how to beat the heat and prevent heat stroke. But other health concerns also loom, says Louise Murray, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, director of medicine for the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York. High-rise syndrome is a big concern, especially in Manhattan, she says. When the weather warms up, people open their windows, many of which don’t have screens. Cats (and even some dogs) looking out the window may slip or try to catch a leaf or butterfly floating by. “It is incredibly common,” Dr. Murray says, adding that they see about a case or more every day. If the fall doesn’t kill them, it usually causes severe injuries like ruptured lungs, multiple fractured limbs and fractured jaw, or even all of the above, she says. Veterinarians need to spread the word about window screens, Murray says. “You wouldn’t leave a window open for your kids., Why would you for your cats?” she adds. Veterinarians should be proactive and communicate with clients about summer safety, …
Technology Predetermines Dog SexesApril 17, 2009 The world’s first dogs to have been sex-selected before conception have been born, according to XY Inc., a company based in Fort Collins, Colo., that developed the XY Sex Selection Technology. The black Labrador pups—three female and two male—join a line of other animal species that the company says has produced sex-selected offspring. Species include the domestic cat, cattle, horses, sheep, elk, the bottle-nosed dolphin and the Mediterranean water buffalo. “Using sex-sorted sperm to artificially inseminate dogs is probably not too practical for typical breeding,” said Greg Burns, DVM, owner of South Mesa Veterinary Hospital in Fort Collins and part of XY’s research team. “However, for specialty breeding, this is a major breakthrough with great potential.” One example is in the case of Seeing-Eye dogs. Female Labradors are typically desired for their calm and gentle disposition and intelligence. “The Seeing Eye would find it very helpful if some litters could be produced that are mostly females, and I believe that access to sex-selection technology would be useful to dog guide schools around the world,” said Eldin Leighton, the Jane H. Booker director of canine genetics for The Seeing Eye, which breeds dogs. XY …
Nutritional Advances Aid In Prevention, Treatment Of IllnessApril 17, 2009 The importance of proper pet nutrition, long understood and preached by the veterinary community, is catching on among pet owners as well. “Veterinarians are being approached by clients on a more regular basis for recommendations on what their pets should be eating,” says Amy Dicke, DVM, technical services veterinarian for The Iams Co. in Dayton, Ohio. “Owners are becoming more concerned about their pets’ diets, so veterinarians have to be more comprehensive in dealing with the topic of nutrition.” Nutritional Trends A key trend driving nutrition for dogs and cats is the shift toward a preventive model of veterinary medicine. “Prevention is much easier than treatment,” says Brent Mayabb, DVM, technical services manager for Royal Canin Veterinary Diets in Saint Charles, Mo. “Many conditions in pets can be prevented through proper nutrition, and the veterinary community overall is becoming more savvy in this area.” Obesity in pets is one example of a condition that can often be averted with preventive nutrition and treated with specialty diets as well. As pet owners become aware of the need to manage their pets’ weight, they often invest in the growing number of veterinary diets …
With Prosthetics, Husky Walks AgainApril 17, 2009 A formerly abused amputee dog has regained the ability to walk thanks to a series of groundbreaking prosthetic implant surgeries. Triumph, a 4-year-old Siberian husky found on the side of a road in Adana, Turkey, with both her hind legs cut off, is the first canine to receive permanent prosthetic legs, according to Denver’s Alameda East Veterinary Hospital. Triumph was adopted by a woman in Nashville, Tenn., and taken to Robert Taylor, DVM, who performed the surgeries. The task of developing custom artificial legs and surgically implanting them began more than a year ago and required a three-phase approach. The initial implants for Triumph’s back legs were provided in late 2005. In 2006, Triumph returned to Colorado for follow-up visits and improvements. The most recent and final phase included another adjustment surgery in December. Triumph’s implant surgeries are now complete and she is walking and running every day with her new legs, according to the hospital. Taylor had the help of some key companies to give Triumph her permanent prosthetic legs, including Ultramet, which made the porous tantalum body for the implant, and BioMedtrix, which helped with the design. The material used to …
World’s Tallest Dog Helps Promote Heart Disease TestApril 17, 2009 Veterinary Diagnostics Institute of Irvine, Calif., has teamed up with the Guinness World Record’s tallest living dog to promote a new blood test designed to help diagnose heart disease or heart failure in dogs. Gibson is a great Dane owned by Sandy Hall, a breeder from Grass Valley, Calif. “Great Danes are among those breeds of dog commonly affected by heart disease,” says Steven R. Ness, president and chief operating officer of Veterinary Diagnostics Institute, also known as VDxI. “In fact, about 15 percent of dogs have some form of heart disease, often with no noticeable signs.” Ness says some dogs with heart disease are asymptomatic and others may exhibit signs that may be mistaken for other health problems. “Some signs include cough, lethargy and difficulty breathing,” Ness says. The company is promoting its new Canine CardioCare blood test that measures brain natriuretic peptide levels, or NT-proBNP. These levels flag potential cardiovascular disease and help veterinarians create diagnostic protocols to diagnose various diseases of the canine heart. Veterinarians interested in testing a patient’s NT-proBNP levels can visit VDxI’s website to sign up as a client. VDxI then sends a complete supply kit …
