Cannabis debate: Giving veterinarians a voiceNovember 22, 2018On an increasing basis, veterinarians across the country are faced with questions about the use of cannabinoids to treat their clients’ pets. In my own practice, it seems not a day goes by that a pet owner brings up the subject or asks whether cannabinoids can help their dog or cat.
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Conservative treatment options for partial and complete CCL tears in dogsNovember 1, 2018Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) insufficiency is the most common cause of hind limb lameness in dogs. In 2003 alone, dog owners in the U.S. spent $1.32 billion for the treatment of CCL injuries in their pets. As an important stabilizer of the stifle joint, the CCL’s three main functions are to prevent hyperextension of the stifle, internal rotation of the tibia, and most importantly to prevent tibial thrust in relation to the femur. Once torn, the damaged CCL leaves the stifle unstable and results in chronic, progressive lameness, predisposition to meniscal tearing, and ultimately, the formation of osteoarthritis.
Hyperbaric oxygen chamber helps pets suffering from smoke inhalationOctober 16, 2018Sechrist Veterinary Health has installed the first veterinary hyperbaric oxygen chamber at Woodhaven Animal Hospital in Woodhaven, Mich.
Strategies for equine dewormingSeptember 14, 2018Horse owners and veterinarians have focused on control of equine internal parasites using chemical deworming strategies for decades, especially with the advent of readily available, easily administered oral paste deworming agents. However, due at least in part to rather constant deworming, parasite resistance to deworming agents is now recognized as a significant problem. Thus, it is increasingly important veterinarians work with their clients to develop effective deworming strategies.
Nonsurgical treatment of CCL tearsAugust 17, 2018The message was from a colleague, a veterinary surgeon who was referring a Tosa Inu to Georgia Veterinary Rehabilitation Fitness and Pain Management, my rehabilitation-only practice outside Atlanta, for bilateral CCL tears. The owners had declined surgery for Mei Mei, a very lean 8-year-old 160-pound intact male who lumbered into my office with a significant limp in his left hind leg and short striding in the right hind. After confirming what my colleague had found—bilateral cranial drawers, medial buttressing, effusion, and a significant click on the left side—I discussed how to treat a torn CCL with the owners. As a board-certified rehabilitation specialist, I am the first person to recommend nonsurgical treatment for cases in which it is indicated, and in my opinion, this was not one of them. I have had great success treating torn CCLs conservatively in dogs less than 30 pounds or less active, older, and generally smaller dogs. Although not an active dog, Mei Mei certainly wasn’t small. However, Mei Mei’s owners were moving out of state in 11 days to an area with dozens of acres. He had not healed well from a mass removal on his hip the month prior and had chronic skin infections. Surgery was out of the question.
Rehab medicine gets pets back on trackJune 21, 2018Elmo, an obese sealpoint Siamese cat, had severe hip arthritis. His pain was so severe that he was unable or unwilling to use his litterbox. Elmo’s dedicated owners brought him for rehab to Marti Drum, DVM, DACVSMR, at the University of Tennessee.
The beat goes onDecember 15, 2017Dogs love their human families with their whole hearts, and the humans who love them back want to keep their beloved companions’ hearts healthy.
Diagnosing, treating Lyme diseaseDecember 5, 2017Lyme disease is a frustrating problem confronting veterinarians and horse owners in areas where ticks are prevalent. The disease, caused by a spirochete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted through the bite of infected deer, or blacklegged ticks. As ticks are virtually ubiquitous, the carrier of the disease is essentially impossible to eradicate.
The importance of adopting best-practice wound management techniquesNovember 8, 2017The subject of wound care is a broad one that encompasses the most superficial of skin dermatitis cases to severe deep tissue damage.
Causes of canine stomatitisJune 28, 2017I love the phrase “it is not uncommon.” If trying to convey that something is not uncommon, it would be more efficient grammatically to refer to the object in question as “common.”
