Hip Dysplasia: Classic Changes On X-raysJune 2, 2009When evaluating dysplastic hip films, radiographic changes may include: A 7-month-old male Labrador suffering from severe hip dysplasia. • Hip subluxation, i.e. less than 66 percent coverage of the femoral head by the acetabulum. • The margins of the acetabulum and femoral head are not parallel. They form a triangle or a wedge. • Increased width of the joint space. • Thickening of the femoral neck. • Flattening or deformity of the …
SPONSORED CONTENTFeline heartworm diagnostic testingUnderstanding the new American Heartworm Society guidelines, why and when to screen cats for heartworm infection. +
Treating Congestive Heart FailureJune 2, 2009 Karsten Schober, DVM, Ph.D., recently concluded a clinical study at Ohio State University that sought to utilize cardiac ultrasound to identify and stage congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs. Twenty-one dogs with asymptomatic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 23 dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (MVD) and 10 dogs with CHF caused by MVD or DCM were enrolled, for a total of 63 canine patients. Any dog with dilated cardiomyopathy or MVD was welcome to …
Omental Lengthening 101April 24, 2009 The omentum is very useful in the abdomen as is. It can be even more useful in distant places by using a lengthening technique. After exteriorizing the spleen and the omentum, the dorsal leaf is retracted cranially to free it up from the pancreas, where it attaches. Hemostasis can be achieved with 3-0 or 4-0 PDS ligatures. When the dorsal leaf is extended caudally, you now have a wide, beautiful leaf of …
Products Help In Equine Oral ExamsApril 24, 2009 Equine dental technician Christine Griffin’s most essential tool is her new Enova Medical Technologies cordless headlamp. The device cost $800 and enables her to see inside a horse’s mouth better than any other lamp she’s used. "The lamp is brighter and it doesn’t get hot," she says. "You can really see so you won’t miss anything. And that’s much better for the horse." Griffin works in Ramona, Calif., …
First Impressions Of Fourth-Year RotationsApril 17, 2009What's interesting about transitioning from a student to a doctor is the way in which the everyday scenery around you changes. Like how the small-animal hospital, once a familiar and comforting place where real veterinarians work at a leisurely pace, modulates into a meshwork of clinicians whose lives are filled with never-ending patient cases, emergencies, constant pages and sleep deprivation. This is not obvious during the first three years of veterinary school. Veterinarians here (aside …
Using The Power Of The Press To Grow Your PracticeApril 17, 2009 Whether your practice is well established or you are planning a grand opening, you will want publicity to be a part of your marketing strategy. Practices that achieve the kind of publicity that media exposure offers grow faster and stay in business longer than those that do not. Media exposure is valuable publicity and can be even more powerful than paid advertising. Advertising is increasingly expensive for any business, new or established. Publicity …
Clean Vs. Contaminated SurgeryApril 17, 2009 Confused by the amount of contamination to expect during your patient’s surgery? The table below is a good start to help you predict contamination and refine your antibiotherapy: • Which type (s) of antibiotics? • What dosage? • How often? • For how long? Granted, such antibiotics should be based on a culture and sensitivity, but until those results are in, empiric antibiotherapy is in order. This surgery classification is derived from …
Clinics, Careers Look For Little ReliefApril 17, 2009 Economic challenges and shifting attitudes among younger veterinarians are contributing to a steady evolution in the supply and demand equation surrounding relief veterinary work. Ivette Nessim, DVM, manager of DC Relief Vets LLC, a relief services firm in the Washington, D.C., area, says she’s seen a general upward trend in demand despite the economic downturn. She says demand is driven by a shortage of veterinarians nationwide and an increase in …
Foundations Against CancerApril 17, 2009 Formed through a joint venture of Pets Best Insurance and Oncura Partners, the non-profit Pet Cancer Foundation maintains a Web site that provides pet owners with information about pet cancer treatment options and veterinarians with a link to a free initial oncology consultation with Oncura’s board-certified veterinary oncologists. The initial consultation provides the referring veterinarian with an initial diagnosis and recommended treatment plan. For Oncura, …
Vaccine Types Licensed For UseApril 17, 2009Vaccine types licensed for use for cats. Click to Enlarge