Getting your clients to opt for treatment every timeNovember 25, 2020You chose the correct workup. You determined the proper diagnosis. You laid out the treatment plan. Yet, your client declined to move forward. How could they do that to you?
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Gathering vital patient information with ultrasoundMay 27, 2019Anthony J. Fischetti, DVM, MS, DACVR, department head of diagnostic imaging at the Animal Medical Center in New York, had just finished his shift. It had been an odd day; two dogs that had turned yellow had been brought into the clinic. The first patient, an older dog, had a tumor at the entrance of the gall bladder into the intestines—a common bile duct obstruction. The second patient had collapsed, experiencing diarrhea and vomiting. "I used the ultrasound to diagnose that it wasn't the liver," said Dr. Fischetti. "It turned out the dog was hemolyzing." An old, corroded coin in the dog's stomach was causing zinc toxicity. Thanks to the ultrasound images, the endoscopist retrieved the coin and the dog improved. Fischetti, who also is president of Veterinary Ultrasound Society of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists (ACVR), as well as other experts, say ultrasound is a safe and simple way to get more information on ailing patients. "I think the real value of ultrasound is its noninvasive nature," said Nathan C. Nelson, DVM, MS, DACVR, a clinical associate professor of radiology at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Why use ultrasound? Key considerations for adding …
Nonsurgical perspectives on CCL diseaseSeptember 14, 2018Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease is a multifactorial process: the consequence of slow loading injury, ligamentous inflammation, neuromuscular joint/thigh musculature imbalance, and cartilage and collagen fiber degeneration, all compounded by genetic/conformational/weight-altered factors and dynamics.
Diagnosing the bleeding patientJune 19, 2018Bleeding diatheses are a relatively common occurrence in small animal medicine, whether in general practice or emergency settings. Understanding the interactions between the components of the coagulation system in addition to a physical exam and patient history are key to making diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.
Why equine back pain isn't easy to diagnose—or fixMarch 1, 2018Back pain is one of the more frustrating problems for those who ride horses—especially performance horses. So much conflicting information exists about diagnosis and treatment. Back pain is not—or at least shouldn’t be—easy to diagnose or fix.
The beat goes onDecember 15, 2017Dogs love their human families with their whole hearts, and the humans who love them back want to keep their beloved companions’ hearts healthy.
Diagnosing, treating Lyme diseaseDecember 5, 2017Lyme disease is a frustrating problem confronting veterinarians and horse owners in areas where ticks are prevalent. The disease, caused by a spirochete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted through the bite of infected deer, or blacklegged ticks. As ticks are virtually ubiquitous, the carrier of the disease is essentially impossible to eradicate.
Orofacial manifestations of lymphoma in petsJuly 27, 2017The disease covered in this month’s column qualifies as rare. Each year, I see perhaps only two or three cases. However, it’s important to understand, as it can mimic other less serious diseases, often delaying diagnosis. One retrospective study noted that median time between onset and diagnosis was five months.
