Why palliative care for pets is so importantJune 13, 2016Medical advances and the ever-changing dynamics of the human-animal bond are combining to make palliative pet care even more important today.
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The art of anesthesia in brachycephalic dogsJune 10, 2016Anesthetic management of brachycephalic dogs presents challenges before, during and after any surgical, dental or radiographic procedure, and even under sedation.
SynDaver labs launches synthetic canine modelMay 31, 2016The SynDaver Synthetic Canine will provide veterinary students with an anatomically accurate platform to practice surgical procedures, according to the company.
Tough decisions await when dogs bite kidsMay 19, 2016Diana Sweeney is the parent liaison in the Division of Plastic Surgery at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is the only such parent liaison for pediatric plastic surgery in the United States.
Spot the Abnormalities!May 18, 2016In this photo: Radiograph of a 16-year-old Terrier mix who was hit by a car. How many abnormalities can you spot? You should find at least 4.
Researchers discover rare human disease in dogsMay 17, 2016Researchers say they have discovered a rare, severe form of pulmonary hypertension in dogs. Up until this point, it had only been classified as a human lung disease.
Why the standards of care for spinal cord injuries are changingMay 16, 2016Veterinary medicine is experiencing a culture shift in the treatment of spinal cord injury and disk disease. With more veterinarians incorporating integrative physical medicine treatments (i.e., acupuncture, laser therapy and rehabilitation) into their practices, the standards of care for spinal cord injury could well be changing.
Why Ticks Threaten the Entire Pet-Owning FamilyMay 6, 2016One Health isn’t just talk any longer. It all began a couple years ago with the people dressed in green. Some wore homemade tick costumes as they marched down Michigan Avenue in Chicago chanting “Let’s fight Lyme!” It was quite a sight. I host a pet show on WGN Radio, and the studios are nearly like a “Today” show setup—facing Michigan Avenue and a concrete area called Pioneer Court, where the 50 or so marchers gathered. Hoping to gain radio attention, it’s not unusual for groups to stop there. Before my pet show began, I was sitting in with another host who asked the group on live radio, “Why are you here?” They spoke about Lyme disease and why awareness is important. As we continued chatting, they were amazed that I knew so much about tick diseases. I explained, “It’s because I attend veterinary conferences.” At a news break, I went outside to talk with them further. They showed me images and video from their phones of relatives whose lives have been altered as a result of a bite from a tick. Some were children. I was touched and moved …
How This Human Cardiologist is Bridging the M.D.-Vet GapApril 22, 2016Have you heard of TED talks? The 15-minute presentations enable a variety of fascinating people to share information on a variety of captivating topics—from science to technology to entertainment to business. What would happen if you typed “veterinarian” in the search box at www.TED.com? You’d be sorely disappointed to see only a few entries. One leads to a presentation by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, M.D., MA, a board- certified cardiologist in human medicine and a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. She advocates better cooperation and interaction between physicians and veterinarians. You can watch her talk below: Her TED talk, which has been viewed well over a million times, was so interesting that I decided to interview her and dig deeper. Q. How did you connect with veterinarians? I had been practicing cardiology at UCLA for almost 20 years when I got a call from the veterinarians at the L.A. Zoo asking if I’d help image some of their animal patients. I said, “Of course.” It was there, listening to the veterinarian on rounds, that I had my first much-needed wakeup call. I became fascinated by the overlap between …
As Nasal Tumor Cases Grow, So Do OptionsApril 22, 2016Nasal tumors are rare in companion animals, but experts are reporting more cases of the potentially deadly condition. And, rather than being random outbreaks, they may be a function of greater life spans. “We are seeing more cancer in animals, and some of that probably is related to better care and animals living longer,” said Nicole Northrup, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, an oncologist and associate professor at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Ironically, pet owners may have something to do with the anecdotal increase in the incidence of nasal cancer. More clients are willing to pay extra for diagnostics such as CT scans and biopsies to catch cancerous tumors in time to begin treatment, experts say. Just how many more cases experts have come across is not an exact science, said Philip J. Bergman, DVM, MS, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM. In fact, Dr. Bergman, director of clinical studies for the VCA hospital chain, said more tumors of all types are being discovered as the pet population lives longer. “As we get better with preventive medicine and continue to be …
