Paralyzed Donkey Improves After Stem-Cell TherapyFebruary 1, 2011 Eight months ago, little Eli the donkey was inexplicably savaged by his longtime companion Watson, a jack nearly twice his size. During the attack, Watson grabbed Eli by the neck and shook him like a rag doll, injuring his spinal cord. Five days later, as Eli’s condition rapidly declined, his treating veterinarian referred the donkey to Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, Calif. “We did a normal treatment of DMSO, anti-inflammatories and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but he was deteriorating very fast right in front of us,” said Doug Herthel, DVM, the founder of Alamo Pintado. An MRI revealed that Eli had severe trauma to the spinal cord and its blood supply. Swelling had compressed the cord, resulting in incomplete quad- riplegia, a lack of mobility but some sensory and motor function. Veterinary radiologist Travis Saveraid, DVM, delivered the diagnosis. Dr. Herthel also sought the opinion of Mike Kistler, M.D., in Cortez, Colo., a senior member of the American Society of Neuroradiology with more than 25 years’ experience in human spinal trauma. “In a human, a comparable injury would have been sustained by diving into shallow water, and the majority of those injuries would …
SPONSORED CONTENTHow can you help new pet owners keep their new dogs protected?See why new dog owners and their pets can benefit from simple triple protection in one monthly chew. + See the Difference
Bandage Often Best Choice On Equine WoundFebruary 1, 2011 Veterinarians contending with hard-to-heal wounds on equine patients welcome new ointments and therapies, but many wounds can be successfully treated from the start using bandages. “Some of the potions and lotions I’ve tried actually slow wound healing,” says Dean Hendrickson, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS. “I’ve had such great success with bandaging that I can treat 90 percent of equine wounds using the method alone, and I’ve even instructed colleagues of the right time to move to the next bandaging step by examining digital photos of the wound.” Dr. Hendrickson, a professor of surgery at Colorado State University, says using the same type of bandage throughout the wound-healing process is outdated. “The wound composition doesn’t stay the same. Why should the bandage?” Hendrickson comments. Using bandages at the beginning of wound healing is labor intensive, which can turn off some horse owners, Hendrickson says. But diligence pays off with faster healing and less scarring, he says. Rehydrate If Necessary For dry wounds that haven’t been treated, Hendrickson uses a hydrogel bandage containing glycerin, polymers and water. “After the wound has been rehydrated,” he says, “I use a debridement dressing that removes necrotic tissue and bacteria. …
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., with veterinarian Lisa Grim, who purchased a mobile dentistry unit from veterinarian Tom Allen of Missouri when he upgraded. The mobile unit allows horses to be treated more safely. They can be placed in stocks, which they can lean against. "They stay calmer, so you need less sedative," Griffin said. Horses are kept cleaner during procedures, as opposed to when services are performed in the stable or in the field. Exams are easier because the unit can be darkened so the veterinarian or technician can better see problems. Among the other benefits of the mobile unit are a state-of-the-art periodontal unit and a digital radiography machine. The rigs are custom-built by trailer manufacturers working with veterinary equipment companies. Turnbow …
The Race They Couldn't WinMay 27, 2007 After all they had been through, the decision to euthanize 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro wasn’t made easily. But Dean Richardson, DVM, chief of surgery at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center, knew the time had come. “We said all along that our decision would be based on whether quality of life was acceptable and whether we had any reasonable prospect of getting him to live a reasonably acceptable life,” Dr. Richardson said. For the first time since Barbaro shattered his right hind leg at the Preakness Stakes in May and through the complications that followed, Barbaro had been uncomfortable the night before, Richardson said. He was unable to sleep and clearly distressed. “He was a completely different horse,” Richardson said. “We meant it when we said if we couldn’t control his discomfort, we wouldn’t go on.” Barbaro was euthanized at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 29 with Richardson and owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson by his side. Barbaro’s fractures had completely healed, Richardson said. But a deep bruise on that leg resulted in an abscess. Foundering severely in his back left leg and with laminitis …
