Following His Heart: David Sisson, DVM, Dipl. ACVIMJune 2, 2010 David Sisson, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (cardiology), loves cutting-edge technology. His residency project at the University of California, Davis, veterinary school in the early ’80s involved intravenous insertion of pacemakers into dogs at a time when the fix was rare in animals and almost always done surgically. Today, at Oregon State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where he started the small-animal program five years ago, his prize piece of equipment is a 64-slice CT scanner that he says is better than those used in most human hospitals. It can scan a dog’s entire heart, down to the last blood vessel, in 15 seconds. “There’s nothing like being able to see the problem to be able to solve it,” he says enthusiastically. This veteran academic and cardiologist built his career by balancing his technological interests with a very practical philosophy: He believes in developing and using the most advanced technology possible to enhance animals’ lives and health but at a cost that’s reasonable to clients and to society. In his mind, that means concentrating on minimally invasive, less-expensive techniques for solving problems such as congenital heart defects. An Amplatzer duct occluder can block a defective …
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A Guide To Managing Osteosarcoma PatientsJune 2, 2010Muffin, an 8-year-old female Rottie, presents with a two-week history of right front leg lameness. The physical exam is within normal limits except for a firm mass on the distal forearm, which is painful on palpation. You suspect a tumor. How would you approach this case? What are your rule-outs? A: A suspicious lesion in the right radius of Muffin, an 8-year-old female Rottie. Photo by Dr. Phil Zeltzman Radiographs of the distal radius and ulna are the next logical step. They reveal a lytic and proliferative lesion with soft-tissue swelling (see photo A). Malignant long bone tumors include osteosarcoma (about 85 percent of the time), chondrosarcoma (5 percent), fibrosarcoma (5 percent) and hemangiosarcoma (5 percent). There is a small chance of a metastatic lesion. If this were a benign lesion, it could be an osteoma, chondroma or bone cyst. It also could be osteomyelitis from a bacterial or fungal infection. Euthanasia offered as a sole treatment option is not ethically acceptable and medically recommended in 2010. Primary bone cancer is a treatable condition that requires a thorough work-up before irreversible decisions are made. A standard work-up should include: CBC and chemistry. An increased alkaline phosphatase …
The Trouble With Pet SterilizationJune 2, 2010 Of all the e-mails and phone calls the last five years of blogging has brought my way, the most commonly queried issue has to do with how to source a tubal ligation or vasectomy for dogs. Apparently, it’s near impossible to find veterinarians willing to take on these simple procedures in some parts of the country. Which is endlessly frustrating to pet owners who have read up on tubal ligation and vasectomies for canine sterilization and decide this approach might just be best for their pet. As in: My breeder/community/veterinarian suggests that I spay or neuter my dog. I’d rather not because a) I want him to compete athletically. b) I’m not convinced of the health benefits of removing her sex organs entirely. c) I’m concerned about the health risks of spaying and neutering (obesity, osteosarcoma, cruciate ligament disease, longevity studies in Rottweilers, etc.). d) He or she has no imminent health or behavior problems that require a zero-sex-hormones approach. All I want is to keep him from potentially adding to the pet overpopulation problem. I don’t know about you, but in light of this kind of well-reasoned argument, I’m not capable …
Genetics Tell An ‘Out Of Africa’ StoryJune 2, 2010 How did Charles Darwin buck the accepted theory of creation during the 1800s without the help of genetics? He was the ultimate zoologist, observer and collector. Darwin had experts analyze hundreds of fossils and thousands of animals collected during his five-year trip to South America and the Galapagos Islands aboard the Beagle (1831-36). The ship was commissioned to map the harbors and coastline of South America. Darwin spent 30 years working on his theory before publishing his revolutionary book “The Origin of the Species.” His theory challenged the world to think of evolution by natural selection over the millennia. It was widely debated before being accepted during his lifetime. This is the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s book, and this year also marks the seventh anniversary since the human genome was completed. The cat, dog and horse genomes are now also completed. These achievements allow genomic scientists to track the true “origin of the species” by probing for shared ancestral mitochondrial DNA found in ancient bones from archaeological sites around the world. The Molecular Clock It is hard to believe, as we look at today’s genetic diversity, that humans, house cats, dogs and some horses shared …
Animal-Only Insulin Still In InfancyJune 2, 2010The lack of a steady, reliable insulin supply for the veterinary industry used to be an obstacle to regulating pet diabetes, experts say. Today, owner acceptance and education are additional hurdles, but manufacturers are working to simplify the management of the disease for clients and veterinarians. Instead of relying solely on human insulin makers, several drug companies are catering to the veterinary industry and seeking Food and Drug Administration approval of their products. They also are investing in research to discover how to make diabetes maintenance more successful. Lauren Boyd, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Michigan Veterinary Specialists in Grand Rapids, Mich., says she uses as many types of insulin as she can in order to understand them. “It’s a pain to switch insulin once the animal is regulated, but it is necessary sometimes when the product is discontinued or there’s a problem with it,” Dr. Boyd says. She says she follows advancements in insulin offerings and in making diabetes more bearable for the pet and owner, but she has questions about one company’s pending introduction of a transdermal insulin delivery system. Novartis Animal Health signed an agreement March 31 with Phosphagenics Ltd., an Australian pharmaceutical company, to develop the system …
Osteosarcoma StatisticsJune 2, 2010 Here are some numbers to keep in mind when dealing with osteosarcoma of long bones: Early peak in age: two years Late peak in age: eight years Breeds: most often large and giant Area most affected: the metaphysis of long bones Front leg: often “away from the elbow” Hind leg: “close to the knee” may be debatable Front vs. back: front limbs are affected twice as often as hind legs Without chemotherapy, 90 percent will metastasize within one year Average survival with amputation alone: four months Average survival with radiation therapy alone: four months Average survival with amputation and chemo: 10 months, though some say one year What on earth is limb sparing? Limb sparing, or “limb spare,” is a highly specialized limb salvage procedure that consists of en bloc excision of the tumor. Depending on the specific location, the missing bone may or may not need to be replaced with some sort of graft. The most common and practical location for limb sparing is the distal radius. The missing bone can be replaced with a variety of grafts: the distal ulna; the distal radius segment itself after radiation or pasteurization; …
VCA Antech To Acquire Pet DRxJune 2, 2010VCA Antech to Acquire Pet DRxVCA Antech to Acquire Pet DRxnewslinePosted: Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 12:43 p.m., EDT VCA Antech Inc. of Los Angeles, Calif., has signed a definitive merger agreement with Pet DRx Corp. for $41.25 million in cash. Pet DRx operates 23 animal hospitals in California and has annual revenue of about $64 million. On completion of the merger, the combined companies will operate more than 520 animal hospitals in 40 states. "I am very pleased with the combination of the two companies," said Bob Antin, chairman and chief executive officer of VCA Antech. "Both companies have hospitals in the California market, with a presence in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento and Coachella Valley. The combination will allow the hospitals to share valuable medical and management capabilities with a continuing focus on delivering the highest quality of veterinary care. "We are excited about the opportunities to explore and expand our teaching programs and the outreach that the combination of these hospitals provides. We look forward to combining the hospital management teams to build a more effective presence in the California market." Under the agreement, the $41.25 million in cash will be applied first to pay …
Thoracic Radiographs Effective Screening Test In Older Pets, K-State Researchers SayJune 1, 2010Thoracic Radiographs Effective Screening Test in Older Pets, K-State Researchers SayThoracic Radiographs Effective Screening Test in Older Pets, K-State Researchers SaynewslinePosted: Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 4:59 p.m., EDT Kansas State University researchers recently found that thoracic radiographs are an effective screening measure to detect nonclinical disease in geriatric dogs and cats. At K-State's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, senior animals can be enrolled in a program that includes screenings every six to 12 months. The exam includes a physical examination, blood work, urinalysis and fecal examination. A thoracic radiograph is included in the 12-month screening. Laura Armbrust, DVM, Dipl. ACVR, associate professor of radiology at K-State, and Dakota Chambers, a sophomore in biology, reviewed medical records from the teaching hospital of all dogs and cats that had undergone geriatric screening from May 2005 to September 2009. For the study, geriatric dogs were defined as 7 years old and older and geriatric cats as 11 years old and older. The researchers were most interested in looking for thoracic disease in animals that did not have signs of clinical disease. The researchers found that significant thoracic radiographic abnormalities were present in 17 percent of the cats in the study and 4 percent of …
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Found In ArizonaMay 28, 2010 The World Organization for Animal Health reported May 28 that vesicular stomatitis virus was detected in three horses in Cochise County, Ariz. The organization received the information from John Clifford, DVM, deputy administrator for the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS and the Arizona Department of Agriculture are conducting an epidemiological investigation of the event. The premises where the virus was discovered has been quarantined. The owners were advised to separate animals bearing lesions from healthy animals, implement on-farm insect control programs and use protective measures when handling affected animals to avoid human exposure to the disease. Vesicular stomatitis virus, last detected in Arizona in spring 2005, commonly occurs during warm months in the Southwest, particularly along river ways and in valleys, according to the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Texas and New Mexico had a few cases last year. Horses, cattle and swine are most susceptible to vesicular stomatitis virus. Infected animals may have blister-like lesions in the mouth and on the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, hooves and teats. The blisters swell and break, leaving raw tissue that may cause the animals to refuse to eat or drink and show signs …
APHIS Enforcement Of Dog Breeder Regulations CriticizedMay 27, 2010 The federal agency responsible for enforcing animal welfare laws was ineffective in achieving compliance with "problematic” dog dealers, according to a report released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). The report followed an audit of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) animal care unit, which is responsible for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act. In addition to citing the agency’s lack of effectiveness in enforcing the act, OIG took issue with how some violations were documented as well as how penalties were calculated and assessed. The report also highlighted how some large-scale breeders circumvent USDA oversight because they sell dogs over the Internet. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) said it hopes the findings will lead to better enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. Already, federal appointed and elected officials have offered administrative and legislative reforms. As part of its audit, OIG reviewed the animal care unit’s inspections of dog dealers with a history of violations. OIG also visited 81 dealer facilities in eight states. The report states that the animal care unit believed that education and cooperation would result in long-term dealer compliance and, accordingly, …
