Decision Making And Old CatsApril 17, 2009 I am frequently pulled into the decision-making process for old pets. One of our elderly feline patients named PP had successful brain surgery twice over the past five years. At both surgeries the neurologist removed a large meningioma. PP was 18 years old when the tumor recurred. Her family declined further diagnostic work up (MRI) because they did not want her to undergo a third surgery at her advanced age. PP was circling, blind, very tense, unable to use her litter box and in a two-month decline. The family was ready to euthanize PP but they met Dr. Katalin Grant, who referred them to me for an end-of-life care consultation. Six months have passed since then and PP is nearly back to normal. She responded to our Pawspice program's palliative brain tumor and immunonutrition protocols. The family could not be more pleased. Their other family cat is PP's 17-year-old offspring. He is on subcutaneous fluids for chronic renal failure. The decision-making process is alive and well for these families. But for many pet owners, their decisions can be greatly influenced or practically dictated by paternalistic doctors. Paternalism is abused when the attending doctor …
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Helping Clients With The Long GoodbyeApril 17, 2009 I want to share some insightful notes from Kimberly Fox, a pet caregiver who is providing pet hospice care for Rennie, her 12-year-old, 90-pound golden retriever. Rennie developed a rapidly growing mass involving his entire right pelvis. His case was considered inoperable bone cancer after a surgical consult. Kimberly was shocked. The Golden Retriever Club of America reports that 67 percent of large males and 57 percent of large females die of cancer. The scenario for Rennie is not unusual. What is very special about Rennie's case is that we are being given a most personal perspective by a devoted pet caregiver. She is making comments on needed and wanted professional service, which is evolving in veterinary medicine as a viable option for pet caregivers who feel inclined to care for their best friend until the end. Dr. Rachel Jones of Marina Pet Clinic referred Kimberly and Rennie to our new Pawspice care service at the Crossroads Emergency Care Clinic in Norwalk, Calif. Kimberly felt the need for expertise in management of the end of life care issues that were facing Rennie. She came in for consultation, pain management and palliative care. We were …
Human-Animal Bond Alive And Well At AVMA New OrleansApril 17, 2009 The American Assn. of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians (AAH-ABV) hosted the informative human-animal bond sessions at the American Veterinary Medical Assn. conference in New Orleans in July. Dr. Sam Costello, the 2007 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian Award recipient, gave the annual Leo Bustad Memorial Lecture. Dr. Costello’s topic, “The Healing Power of Therapy Animals,” was a wonderful presentation showing how community service with therapy animals has enriched his career. Dr. Martha Littlefield, president of the AAH-ABV, organized the sessions for the meeting. Her topic, “Public Awareness Programs for the Human-Animal Bond” promoted the value of education and information to help people take advantage of existing programs when they need help. Dr. Littlefield, Louisiana state veterinarian, was very involved in the Katrina Hurricane aftermath. She is particularly optimistic for the future of disaster preparedness for animal health and safety. She hopes that lessons learned at Katrina will help offset the suffering that occurred during the fumbled Katrina rescue efforts. Hilton Cole, who has a career in shelter care, addressed a touchy topic involving the media, “Being Ready for Media: Breed-Specific Bond Problems in a Community – Pit Bulls.” Some of the questions he addressed were: What do you …
Recessionary Relationships And RevivalApril 17, 2009 Recessionary Relationships and RevivalRecessionary Relationships and Revival03-10-2009bondbeyond, smlanimalBy Alice Villalobos, DVM After attending the North American Veterinary Conference, listening to the wildlife update at the Morris Animal Foundation luncheon and witnessing the global approval of America’s 44th president, it is plain to see that our profession, its allies and the world at large are concerned, yet hopeful. International veterinary meetings such as NAVC, the American Veterinary Medical Assn., the Purina Nutrition Symposium and the Veterinary Cancer Society allow us to mingle with colleagues from all over the world. Meetings serve as a forum to meld thoughts and opinions from colleagues of varied interests and locales. Veterinarians who work in communities afflicted with high foreclosure rates and job loss are experiencing the deepest financial difficulties. Since veterinarians and their staffs are among the most generous professionals on the planet, this brutal recession pits our caregiving nature against our business survival. One young veterinarian literally found herself in bankruptcy. She became insolvent by continuing to perform charitable work for individuals and groups who rescued dogs and cats from shelters. Personal Experience This same predicament nearly happened to me …
Jack Is Back With SkeeterApril 17, 2009 Dr. Jack Stephens is one of our profession's most deeply bonded veterinarians, an icon in the pet health insurance industry and a 15-year cancer survivor. He graduated from Missouri in the early '70s but it was during his cancer treatments in 1990 that Jack came to realize the intrinsic value and healing power of the human-animal bond. Jack witnessed the loyalty and companionship of Spanky, one of his wife's miniature Pinschers. Jack aligned himself with his own big dogs but it was little Spanky who stayed at his bedside during six months of his cancer therapy and recuperation. "Spanky was the catalyst for my focusing on something else besides the cancer," Jack said. "He wouldn't let me feel sorry for myself. Without any words, Spanky just knew when I needed him to come and be affectionate and he knew when I needed him to keep his distance and give me space. "He would simply sit off a distance and watch me. He knew my needs and moods. "There were days I didn't think I had the strength to brush my teeth, but his persistent nagging for a walk would get me outside, so …
Cremains Create Moments Of EmotionApril 17, 2009 The return of a beloved pet's ashes to the owner after cremation can be a very delicate moment. Below is a letter from Laurel Hunt, who edited and compiled two anthologies of memorial pet poetry, “Angel Pawprints” for dogs and “Angel Whiskers” for cats, available at Amazon.com. Hi Alice, Having recently lost Byron, my 14-year-old springer spaniel, I had that experience of dealing with cremains again. I know what an emotionally difficult moment it is and would like you to write about it. I remember when you were treating Marmaduke and I was silently agonizing over what to do with her body when the time came. I didn't know of any place to bury her so I had gotten as far as figuring we would have her cremated, but then what? I knew we would move from that house and I hated the thought of burying her ashes there and leaving her behind. One afternoon you asked gently, ‘Have you thought about where you will bury her?’ I said, ’I guess we'll have her cremated, but I don't know what to do with the ashes.” …
Volunteer Animal Transport To Foster Or Forever HomesApril 17, 2009 “Fifteen Legs” is a book by Bonnie Silva that reveals a network of human-animal bond proponents across North America. Most of us don’t have a clue about the amazing volunteer cyber-networking that goes into transports of doomed animals toward hope. Silva’s book contains excellent research and writing that illuminates a vital but mostly underground conduit of animal welfare and pet placement. Volunteers who work in cyberspace to coordinate routes and drivers who transport homeless animals are unsung heroes. This book salutes the volunteer drivers, including truck drivers and pilots, who transport furry passengers in their sedans, vans, SUVs, trucks and planes. When the mileage of all the legs is combined, an animal may be transported hundreds or thousands of miles. The purpose for the hundreds of e-mails that connect one shuttle after another is to give doomed, unwanted, homeless animals a second chance to survive and live in foster homes or to get to their adoptive forever homes. Silva originally wanted to create a documentary film on volunteer animal transport, but she was declined funding. One filmmaker said, “It’s just not of sufficient social significance.” Writing the book was her second choice. But since she was …
Theilen Tribute To Go Beyond The ExpectedApril 17, 2009 I have been working a University of California, Davis, group on fund raising for a spectacular cancer symposium at UC Davis. It is truly going to be one of a kind. Nothing like this has ever been presented in veterinary medicine in this country. Honoring an esteemed colleague on his 80th birthday is somewhat traditional in Europe but not so common in the U.S. The Theilen Tribute Symposium will be held May 30 and June 1 at Gladys Valley Hall on the UC Davis campus in honor of Gordon Theilen, the father of modern veterinary oncology. The occasion marks Dr. Theilen’s 80th birthday. Title of the symposium is “50 Years of Cancer Research: From Retroviruses to Cancer Genetics.” Important findings in comparative oncology reserach and genetics will be highlighted. Dr. Max Essex of the Harvard School of Public Health, the keynote speaker, will discuss AIDS in Africa. Dr. Theilen is a legend. He gave the world its first comprehensive veterinary oncology reference text, “Veterinary Cancer Medicine.” He also did research on cancer-causing viruses in horses, turkeys, cows, cats and primates and studied in Germany and …
Honoring The Bond Of A LifetimeApril 17, 2009 Aging is an inevitable and normal process of living. It should not be considered a disease. Aging is expressed as physical weakening, reduced stamina and deterioration of the organs and connective tissues in the body. It is associated with gradual changes in the body's phenotype the entire physical, biochemical and physiological makeup of an individual as determined both genetically and environmentally. Changes such as wrinkles in the skin and gray hair are due to the normal phenomenon of cellular senescence, the process of growing old. Many diseases, including cancer, involve a multi-step process that accumulates genetic damage over time. As our pets enjoy a longer lifespan, their bodies provide the time needed for the expression of senescence, disease and cancer. Living Long The human-animal bond grows stronger with the passing of time. People are very proud of their older pets and they want them to live as long as possible in good health. One of the biggest fears of caregivers of senior pets is that their pet will get cancer. The most common concurrent problems afflicting older pets are arthritis, dermatitis, dental disease, endocrinopathies, organ failure and obesity. The dilemma for caregivers …
Convenience Euthanasia? Just Say NoApril 17, 2009 His face was flushed and his ears were red. He was leading two big, beautiful German shepherd dogs toward the back of the clinic. I knew something was wrong. He was upset, exasperated, frustrated. He said that the owners of these dogs were going on a long vacation and they wanted the dogs put down. It was 1972, my first job, my boss. What could I say? What should I say? Something like this came from my heart: “You shouldn't do this if you don't want to. They can take their dogs to the pound where they might have a chance to be adopted. A pet hospital is not the place for healthy pets to be conveniently killed. If it is against your personal ethics, tell them to take their dogs elsewhere.” But he looked at me wistfully. Then he dutifully shrugged his shoulders and continued walking to the back, closer to the freezer. Death was in the air that day. Since foreclosure fever has added to the meltdown of the U.S. economy, more animals are being dumped in the nation’s shelters and veterinary hospitals. I will never forget that moment and the look in …
