Sterilization Effects Worse for Golden Retrievers Than LabsJuly 15, 2014 Golden retrievers are more likely than Labrador retrievers to be diagnosed with joint disorders or cancer after the animals have been spayed or neutered, according to the results of a study published Monday in the online journal PLOS ONE. Intact members of both breeds enjoy lower rates of joint disorders and cancer, researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine added. The researchers did not take a stand on spaying and neutering, which is done to an estimated 83 percent of all U.S. dogs to control the pet population and prevent unwanted behaviors. Instead, they stated that the study served to measure the long-term health effects of sterilization and to educate breeders and dog owners who are deciding when, and if, to spay or neuter their animals. When a golden or Labrador retriever is sterilized can play a role in the onset of joint disorders and cancer, the researchers stated. A connection was found between early sterilization—before the animal is 6 months old—and the appearance of joint disorders. About 5 percent of intact golden and Labrador retrievers of both genders suffer from a joint disorder, the researchers determined. The rate in dogs …
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What to Tell Your Clients About the Rumor of Ice Water & DogsJuly 9, 2014Have you been getting a lot of questions from clients and friends asking if ice water is lethal to dogs? It’s a rumor that’s circulating the Internet and worrying dog owners. The cautionary tale (titled "NO ICE WATER FOR DOGS...PLEASE READ ASAP”) was written in 2010, but the rumor has been circulating since 2007. It centers on a dog named Baran, and his owner who unthinkingly added ice cubes to the dog’s water bowl to help him cool off on a hot day. Shortly after, Baran appears to be in distress and is rushed to the animal hospital. The veterinarian tells the owner that the ice water caused the dog to experience violent muscle spasms in his stomach, which led to bloating. Bloat — also known as gastric dilation-volvulus—is a life-threatening condition in dogs. If worried clients come to you about this myth, take the time to educate them about the dangers of ice, heat stroke and bloating. What To Tell Your Clients About Ice Although eating ice technically is safe for dogs, ensure owners are aware that eating ice can pose a few dangers. Dogs that munch on ice can potentially damage or break their teeth, …
Step-by-Step Dental ImplantsJune 9, 2014Before one embarks on surgically placing and restoring a dental endosseous implant, a thorough and rigorous treatment planning process has to be performed. A detailed history should be taken especially looking for the etiology of the tooth fracture or loss. Pets that have habits that can lead to tooth abrasion and tooth fracture, or pets with underlying malocclusions, including tooth attrition, may not be suitable candidates for implants unless the underlying problem or habit can be modified or rectified. Pets with periodontitis may not be candidates for implants unless the periodontal disease is mild and is well controlled. The monetary outlay for an implant motor and surgical kits can be prohibitive for practitioners interested in placing and restoring implants. Other treatment options should be offered that may be more suitable or practical for the patient and the owner. PHOTO COURTESY OF DRS. CAIAFA AND MELE Placement of implant. A prognosis should be given for each option. Other treatment options may include root canal therapy, extraction and possible bridging of the edentulous space or simply extraction and no further treatment. Ethical considerations when dealing with hypodontia in breeding or show animals also need to be considered. Owners need …
New Thoughts on Gallbladder MucocelesJune 2, 2014 Gallbladder mucoceles are diagnosed with increasing frequency, most likely because of better clinical awareness and easier access to ultrasound. A mucocele is a surgical disease, and sometimes a surgical emergency. Let’s go over some recent discoveries that will improve your care of patients with mucoceles. Phil Mayhew,* a board-certified surgeon at the University of California, Davis, studied 10 dogs with extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction. Coagulation profiles revealed that all 10 patients were hypercoagulable due to high levels of plasma d-dimers and fibrinogen levels. Conclusion: Not all dogs with biliary obstruction need a routine injection of vitamin K. A coagulation profile should be performed before pre-treating blindly or out of habit. Mary Lauren Mesich,** a board-certified surgeon in Minnesota, investigated the association between endocrinopathies and mucocele risk in dogs. Dogs diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism are about 30 times more likely to develop a gallbladder mucocele than dogs without the disease. Conclusion: Dogs with a gallbladder mucocele should be tested for concurrent hyperadrenocorticism. Diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism did not increase the risk of mucocele. Eric Lindquist,*** a board-certified veterinary practitioner in New Jersey, owner of www.SonoPath.com and Pennsylvania Mobile Ultrasound, launched an interesting …
Arizona Animal–Massage Therapists Sue for Access to Veterinary PatientsJune 2, 2014 Despite the growing popularity of the One Health movement to “forge co-equal, all-inclusive collaborations between physicians, osteopaths, veterinarians, dentists, nurses, and other scientific-health and environmentally related disciplines,”1 practitioners must reckon with regulatory requirements regarding who can practice on which species, in which state and with what modality. The laws on this are confusing, continually evolving and differ between states, especially when it concerns practices such as anesthesia-free dentistry, farriery and complementary/alternative therapy (e.g., chiropractic, massage,2 etc.), unless one also has a license to practice veterinary medicine in that state.3 Thus, those joining forces in the spirit of One Health must at the same time recognize regulatory requirements instated with the goal of safeguarding the health and welfare of people, animals and public health. Or alternatively, as three massage therapists have decided to do in Arizona, sue the state board in order to gain access to animals.4 Arizona defines the practice of veterinary medicine as including veterinary surgery, obstetrics, dentistry, acupuncture, manipulation and all other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine. It exempts from this definition certified equine dental practitioners who work under the general supervision of a licensed veterinarian, animal owners or employees, and …
10 Ways To Improve Post-Op CareMay 30, 2014Just because a patient is out of the operating room doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods. In fact, most deaths occur after, not during surgery: 50 percent of canine and 60 percent of feline deaths occur in the postop period. It is important to avoid becoming complacent, despite the busyness of the day. Here are 10 steps to improve the care given to your postop patients. 1. Extubation The proper time to extubate is often based on a widespread misconception, sometimes called the “two swallow” rule. This is a very unfortunate urban legend that can lead patients to serious trouble. “Two swallows” may not mean that the patient is alert enough to continue swallowing and breathing efficiently on its own. The more appropriate time to extubate is when a patient is alert, preferably has lifted its head up at least once, and begins to chew. The next challenge it to pull the tube before the patient chews it in half. Ideally, each patient recovering from anesthesia and/or surgery should be under direct supervision of a technician until extubation. We still need to remain alert afterward: Being extubated doesn’t mean that recovery is over. It is just one step of …
Vet Shares His Story Of Putting His Dog To SleepMay 23, 2014 Douglas Palma, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) spoke in empathetic tones when any of his clients lost a pet. But he couldn't truly feel that empathy. He had never gone through that loss. As a veterinarian, Dr. Palma dealt with the difficulty of euthanasia every day. Part of his job is to help clients come to the best decision regarding their pets, and to help them when that decision involves loss. Chances are the day that decision was made will be stuck in his clients' minds for years to come. Three years ago this August, Palma received a call at work from his wife Eileen. Their beloved yellow Lab-Border Collie mix hadn't eaten that morning. A pet skipping a meal may provoke concern in some pet owners; some may wait to see if their dog eats later on then opt to take them to the vet that evening or perhaps even the next day. But Palma's response was a little more urgent. "Bring him to the hospital," he told Eileen, according to ABC News. It's been said that parents who are also doctors hear their child cough and fear …
Moist Food, Environmental Enrichment Can Fight FIC In Your Cat PatientsMay 6, 2014 Follow Veterinary Practice News on Twitter at @vetpetnews. For cat-owning clients, caring for a pet with feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) can be frustrating. As one type of feline lower urinary tract disease, FIC causes a range of aggravating clinical signs in cats, signs that often lead to trips to the veterinary office—or to the local shelter. "FIC is an unfortunate disease," says Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, of Wamego, Kan., president of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians. "Owners don't quite understand what's happening when their pets [eliminate] outside the litter box. It ends up being one of the top reasons owners bring their cats to the veterinarian, and then why they relinquish them to shelters." Besides describing signs like urinating outside the litter box, clients with FIC-afflicted pets may also report frequency or straining when their cats urinate, vocalizing or perceived pain when they urinate, or blood in the urine, says Claudia Kirk, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ACVN, head of the department of small animal clinical sciences at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Veterinarians and their health care teams can help, Burns says. "We in the profession can help …
Non-Healing Facial Wounds: A Tale of Two TerriersMarch 13, 2014Endodontic disease has long been known as a common cause of a non-healing facial wound.1 The most common manifestation of this is the slab fracture of the maxillary fourth premolar tooth, which often results in pulp exposure, endodontic infection and a draining cutaneous tract below the medial canthus of the ipsilateral eye. This column compares two persistent cases I’ve seen recently that presented with similar problems but different etiologies. Jasper the Westie Case No. 1: Jasper, a 5-year-old male neutered West Highland white terrier, was presented to me with a three-month history of a non-healing wound beneath his left eye. The wound resolved when the primary care veterinarian placed Jasper on antibiotics, but recurred once antibiotics were discontinued. One year earlier, Jasper had received a dental cleaning and extraction of the left maxillary first molar due to severe periodontal disease. Jasper was presented to me for evaluation of any other dental issues that might be causing the non-healing sinus tract and scabbing beneath the left ventral eyelid. On conscious examination, Jasper was reluctant to allow for a good evaluation of the left maxillary quadrant, but I determined that the left maxillary fourth premolar (tooth 208) was present and did …
A Disaster Turns Into A Happy StoryMarch 13, 2014 Daisy, a 9-year-old diabetic miniature Schnauzer was diagnosed with a mucocele. Four months prior, Daisy had been seen for a splenic mass. We performed a c. Sadly, the biopsy revealed malignant histiocytosis. She recovered well from this procedure, but never 100 percent, according to the owner. She returned for an abdominal ultrasound after the referring veterinarian noticed an enlarged liver on palpation. In addition, the owner complained of Daisy's abdominal discomfort, decreased appetite and abnormal demeanor. Ultrasound confirmed hepatomegaly. The gallbladder was mildly distended and a small amount of free fluid was noticed around the liver. Blood work was supportive of liver disease with gallbladder involvement. Among others, she had an elevated bilirubin and high liver enzymes: alkaline phosphatase (alk. phos.), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Exploratory surgery was recommended for what was considered by the ultrasonographer to be an early mucocele. A standard laparotomy and cholecystectomy were performed. Patency of the common bile duct was reestablished through a duodenotomy. All other abdominal organs appeared within normal limits. After lavage of the abdomen, closure was standard. Daisy recovered uneventfully and went home the next day. It was that simple. Overall …
