Urban Wildlife Raising Risk Of LeptoOctober 5, 2010 Leptospirosis is the most common zoonotic disease worldwide, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control removed it from the reportable human diseases list in the 1990s because of a lull in diagnosed cases. According to those who research Leptospira interrogans, the bacteria that causes the disease, it now can be considered re-emerging. Leptospirosis has been diagnosed in more than 150 mammalian species. The leptospira bacteria is shed most commonly through urine and can be contracted through mucous membranes, abrasions and ingestion. Without mandated reporting on the human or animal side, attaching an accurate number to diagnosed cases is difficult, veterinarians say. But, based on veterinary diagnostic laboratory and practitioner reports, the disease’s prevalence is notable. Widespread in Nature “There’s good evidence to support an increase of diagnosed cases of leptospirosis in the U.S.,” says George E. Moore, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, an associate professor of clinical epidemiology and director of the clinical trials group at Purdue University. “Wild animals have remained a reservoir for the disease, which then spreads to dogs and potentially people. Lack of predators and increased food supply in suburban areas makes wildlife concentrations eight to 10 times higher …
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Ending Japan’s Permanent PetlessnessOctober 5, 2010 Last November, I spent a week in Japan presenting an oncology and end-of-life-care symposium for veterinary students at Nihon University in Tokyo. For three hours every day I taught and interacted with students, general practitioners and faculty. Dr. Tomoko Takahashi, head of oncology and radiation therapy services at the university, was my faculty host. Dr. Takahashi gave me an office in the teaching hospital to serve as my headquarters for the week. I set special hours for students to speak with me in private. The week started routinely. But when I lectured on end-of-life care, palliative therapy and pet hospice, which I call Pawspice, many students had teary eyes and used tissues to dab their faces as they took notes. It was obvious that a number of students were in emotional pain. I was surprised to see that Dr. Takahashi was filled with emotion as she interpreted certain aspects of attachment and grief management that are part of my lectures on palliative and Pawspice care. Starving for Information Students stayed and chatted with me at the end of the sessions. They told me they had never heard anyone discuss attachment and the human-animal bond and …
Treating Arthritis With Integrative MedicineSeptember 2, 2010 Arthritis generally is treated using NSAIDs, especially the newer COX-2 inhibitors, and often with the addition of tramadol if pain control is incomplete. But what can a practitioner do if liver and kidney function are compromised and tramadol is not enough? Glycosaminoglycans have become part of mainstream medicine, and the effectiveness of acupuncture is widely recognized. But these two treatments are just the beginning as far as other integrative methods are concerned. In addition, some clients are mistrustful of any drug, no matter how widely used, but for them there are options as well. Because complementary medicine acts in many different ways, rather than being various versions of the same basic action (as opposed to COX-2 inhibitors), practitioners often will find that using a number of different items works better than trying a single method. The use of supplements that decrease cartilage degradation, reduce inflammation and help with muscle spasms—rather than just looking to decrease joint pain—often give the best long-term effects. Add physical therapy to increase flexibility and muscle strength, and the maximum benefit will be given. Uneven Results Some studies of glucosamine and chondroitin in humans have cast doubt on their benefits …
Shedding Light On Surgical ExodonticsSeptember 1, 2010 Many indications exist for extraction of a firmly rooted tooth. These include endodontic disease (when root canal therapy is not economically feasible or medically desirable), tooth resorption and crowding of persistent deciduous and permanent teeth. Though tooth extractions occur daily in nearly every practice, many practitioners have not been taught how to effectively and efficiently extract firmly rooted teeth. Having the right tools makes all the difference. Exodontics is a fancy word for extraction of teeth. Considering how much work it is to remove a firmly rooted or ankylosed tooth, the procedure deserves a fancier word than “pulling”! This article will discuss the necessary armamentarium and things a practitioner should look for when making purchase decisions. Do you have a dental X-ray unit? Preoperative dental X-rays are a must for firmly rooted teeth. Anatomic variation in root shape, size, curvature and even number of roots makes taking a preoperative radiograph a good thing. Do you have a high speed/low-speed dental unit? Whether compressor-driven or nitrogen-driven, a high-speed unit is an important tool to remove bone on the buccal surface of firmly rooted teeth to create a window and to minimize forces necessary to …
Nutrition By The Book: Reducing The Figure Of Obese Pets Is A PriorityAugust 10, 2010 Only 7 percent of pets that could benefit from therapeutic food are on such a regimen, according to an American Animal Hospital Association study. This reality led an AAHA task force to develop nutritional assessment guidelines that can not only help identify the right diet but emphasize how proper nutrition can enhance pets’ quality of life and optimal health. AAHA’s Nutrition Guidelines The American Animal Hospital Association’s Nutritional Assessment Guidelines for Dogs and Cats are based on the notion that good nutrition enhances a pet’s quality and quantity of life and is integral to optimal animal care. “Incorporating nutritional assessment into the routine examination protocol for every patient is important for maintaining optimal health, as well as their response to disease and injury,” said Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, Dipl. ABVP, executive director of AAHA. “The goal of the new guidelines is to provide a framework for the veterinary practice team to help make nutritional assessments and recommendations for their patients.” The guidelines, made available through an educational grant from …
Pain Control A Necessity, Not OptionAugust 10, 2010 Some veterinarians still make pain control a client option. The availability of pharmaceuticals and the knowledge to mute pain pathways allow veterinarians to tackle acute and chronic pain more effectively than ever. So why not adopt a multimodal pain control protocol? Steps to Control Chronic Pain Make an accurate diagnosis after considering all of the animal’s adverse health influences. . Manage all aspects of disease along with pain. . Control weight. . Use a polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG), which can be administered subcutaneously. . Make sure the animal’s home has nonskid flooring and raised food and water dishes. Slings should be used when appropriate. . Apply heat/cold. . Break the pain cycle. Choose medications that …
Using Supplements To Fight CancerJuly 7, 2010 With cancer blamed for as many as half of the canine and feline deaths in the U.S., veterinarians and owners are looking for solutions and are more frequently turning to supplements. As veterinarians find clinical evidence to support aggressive supplement use, organizations like Morris Animal Foundation and the American Kennel Club are on board as well. “My colleague Cheryl London is investigating the use of curcumin, a derivative of the popular Indian spice turmeric and has Morris funding,” says Ohio State University professor C. Guillermo Couto, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM. “Her research is separate from mine, but we are both investigating ways supplements can affect osteosarcoma.” London, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM (Oncology), also is an Ohio State professor. Dr. Couto is clinically evaluating the effects of artemisinin, also known as sweet wormwood, an herb that has killed human and canine cancer cells in the laboratory. “From what we’ve found with its effectiveness in test tubes, it should be achievable to arrest the cancer cell cycle of dogs with osteosarcomas,” Coutou says. “Incubation with dihydroartemisinin—the active metabolite of all artemisinin compounds—resulted in biological activity against canine osteosarcoma cell lines, which included induction of apoptosis and arrest of …
Shining A New Light On Laser TherapyJuly 7, 2010 Therapeutic lasers aren’t quite a pain-management magic wand, but their adherents say they come close. When used properly, these light-emitting diodes perform virtual miracles in patients dealing with chronic pain, going through physical therapy or healing from trauma or post-surgical wounds—and they’re even proving to have regenerative effects, too. Photos courtesy of CAO Group Inc. A burn victim, top, and two weeks later after being treated with a diode laser. At the recent American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery conference in Phoenix, researcher Juanita Anders, Ph.D., of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences presented a study that showed how lasers trigger nerve growth. “The researchers showed that 980-nanometer wavelengths caused actual sprouting of nerves in a diabetic cell culture,” reports Ron Riegel, DVM, president of the American Institute for Medical Laser Applications in Mendenhall, Pa. “When they exposed it to laser, they tracked the mitochondria reproduction, which was higher, and they also found that they had actual neural sprouting in a large portion of the culture.” This kind of healing, inflammation relief and pain management is something Janet Van Dyck, DVM, of the Canine Rehabilitation Institute …
Crowns Can Be Long-Lasting SolutionJuly 7, 2010 Dogs can generate huge amounts of force when they bite an object. Just ask Cherry Hill, N.J., police officer Kevin Seta, the handler of a 10-year-old German shepherd named Boz. Cherry Hill, N.J., police officer Kevin Seta and his K-9 partner Boz. Photos copyright University of Pennsylvania Trainers of police dogs often utilize bite sleeves. During training, or in the throes of duty, large canine teeth can fracture from the force and leverage placed on them. When Boz was 4, his right mandibular canine tooth fractured during a bite work session. Seta knew to take Boz to the University of Pennsylvania’s Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service at Ryan Veterinary Hospital in Philadelphia. Boz’s fractured canine tooth was a complicated crown fracture, resulting in pulp exposure and the loss of about one-third of the tooth. Once Boz was placed under anesthesia, dental radiography was performed to determine the extent of trauma to the fractured canine tooth and to assess all other teeth. Pathology was limited to the fractured canine tooth, and radiographic examination showed that Boz’s tooth was a good candidate for endodontic treatment and placement of a protective crown over the tooth after …
Getting Started With Chinese HerbsJune 3, 2010 Some veterinarians are worried about the safety and possible toxicity of Chinese herbs,1 but this is not a concern when you buy from the companies commonly used by veterinary herbalists. Companies in China that do not have an American counterpart may add adulterants or toxic substances.2 Which companies have quality-control procedures and follow U.S. good manufacturing practices? Examples include Golden Flowers, Health Concerns, Jin Tang Herbals, K’an Herbals, May Way, Natural Path and World Herbs (Darcy Naturals).3 All these companies examine raw herbs to ensure the right species, avoid the use of toxic species and submit both the raw ingredients and the final product to laboratory tests. In addition, one company uses organic herbs. At least three of the companies import raw herbs from China and process them in the U.S. The companies belong to quality assurance groups such as the National Animal Supplement Council4 and the Chinese Herbal Medicine Coalition5, which work with the Food and Drug Administration to establish certification standards for safe and effective use of their products. All have experienced herbalists as founders or staff members. All give or sponsor continuing education, enabling practitioners to better understand …
