Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard cub (7 mos old) - Cape May County Zoo

Saturday, December 31, 2011

An Interesting Surgery with A Sad Outcome

Yesterday was a surgery day for me, as are most Fridays. I was extra happy to see that, besides the routine stuff, we had an exploratory on a 13 yr old cat. Though, admittedly, after reviewing the case, the odds were this wasn't going to turn out well for the cat.


This cat came in the day before for vomiting, lethargy and not eating. The doctor that saw her, felt a mass in her abdomen and there was an abnormal area seen on the abdominal radiograph. Blood work, as is usually the case with most masses/tumors, was completely normal. The next step was either ultrasound or exploratory. The odds are that the ultrasound would simply show a mass but not necessarily if it was surgically resectable. The best option was to just cut the cat!


So that's what I did.  First there was quite a bit of abnormal fluid in the abdominal cavity. It was cloudy and yellow in color, strongly indicative of infection.  Then I found the "mass" that we had palpated: 





It was coming off the colon but completely blocking it as well. It was very invasive and there was obvious spread of this cancer to the omentum (which is a cool "organ" that looks like a fine web of tissue - it acts as a band aid often times and will move to cover an injury, mass, etc) and the body wall. The omentum was adhered to this lesion as well.  There were little nodules EVERYWHERE. This mass had already become necrotic and was creating a lot of local inflammation.


The bottom line was that this was not something that could be surgically fixed even temporarily. The best thing was to euthanize the cat while he was sleeping, which the owner kindly gave us permission to do. 



Thursday, December 29, 2011

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Thank Your Vet For Doing These Things

Merry Christmas!!  Here are some "gifts" from your veterinarian that he or she gives you all year round!


Pretty cool that someone actually recognizes what we do:


10 Things Your Vet Does You Don't Know About




Vets on the whole are a humble crowd, and there are many things they do on a daily basis that you aren’t aware of. Here are some of the top unrecognized practices that an excellent compassionate veterinarian does that you likely don’t know about.
10. Giving up our time.
Many vets don’t get to leave the hospital for lunch, or even have time to have a designated lunch time while at work. We are often so busy and accommodate walk-ins that our “us time” must be spent completing diagnostics, medical records, checking on patients, returning phone calls, emergency surgeries…the list goes on.  The occasion we get off work on time is so rare it’s cause for celebration.  Vets almost ALWAYS stay late for clients and their pets.
9. Pulling up an injectable drug with one needle, and switching out the needle so your pet gets a new perfectly sharp and less painful needle for the injection.
This costs the vet more money (double the costs of needles in a vet hospital and it is not insignificant), and is only for the comfort of your pet out of kindness.
8. Using high-quality surgical practices.
Many clients don’t know or care what kind of surgical care their pet receives at the vet. An excellent vet will use IV catheters (not inexpensive) so they always have venous access in case something goes wrong–which sometimes it does. They also will provide IV fluids during surgery, as well as have different methods (EKG, blood pressure, pulse oximetry) to monitor your pet while under anesthesia. My anesthesiology professor in vet school told us, “Anesthesia is the closest the body will get to death without dying.” He is right.
7. Bathing your pet.
A shockingly high number of pet owners come into the vet with their pet covered in feces or vomit without having attempted to clean them up whatsoever. An even higher number of pets will soil themselves while at the vet, despite receiving appropriate potty breaks. We can’t send them home filthy, and have to bathe them. Think of how much a groomer charges to bathe, dry, and brush your pet. We do it for free.


6. Putting in phone time with you. 
How often can you get your medical doctor on the phone to discuss symptoms, or test results with you? Isn’t it usually the nurse? Vets put in a lot of time, and generate no revenue from phone time, but still choose to because we value the personalized connection with you, the pet owner.
5. Putting in phone time with other vets.Are you aware that most vets spend time –on their own clock–consulting with other vets about unusual cases? We do. You may be getting multiple expert opinions without even knowing it. I can think of many nights where Dr. Jed and I spent the evening in the office reading the latest journal articles and bouncing ideas off of each other. And it doesn’t just happen to veterinarians who happen to be married to each other–my best friend is a vet too, and we talk daily about cases.

4. Reviewing adverse reactions of medications with you.
Has your MD or pharmacist ever reviewed side effects of a drug with you? Likely, you just sign the slip or electric screen that says you are aware of the potentials, and they give you a handout. A good vet takes the time to make you aware of a drug’s side effects, and how it should be administered.
3. Typing up personalized instructions for you to read at home with tests performed, your pet’s diagnosis, what that means, and the step-by-step home treatments.This takes a tremendous amount of the veterinarian’s time. and we gain no revenue from this.  The vet that takes this time is out for your pet’s well-being, as we can do a stellar job in the hospital, but if the pet owner doesn’t understand what to do at home, the pet will remain sick.
2. Grieving with you.
When people find out I am a veterinarian, they always say, “I don’t know how your get used to that, putting animals down. I could never do that.” Well, we don’t get used to it. It never gets easy, and it’s something we have to mount up and do for the well-being of the pet and their pet parent. You may think this gets easier with time for your vet, but the truth is, most vets take it home with them. Not only the vets, but the staff as well. Your tears are not the only ones shed when that sad time comes, rest assured. We remember that face and that sloppy wet nose too.
1. Saving you money.
A veterinarian who wants to practice quality medicine and keep your budget in mind will offer to write you a prescription when possible to get generic drugs elsewhere, such as human pharmacies like Target and Walmart where hundreds of drugs are available for less than $4/mo. Instead of spending all your money on pills at the vet, this allows the pet to get the medicine it needs, as well as the diagnostic to ensure that we are treating the right disease.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Great News!

This is an awesomely exciting story out of Penn State, who despite the media crucifixtion plans, continues to do what any top university does best, continue to educate and pursue worthwhile research. Go State! (Guess they better not close down the university and guess the students and alumn REALLY don't have to hang their heads in shame...sarcasm folks..pure sarcasm here...). Since I lost a very special man, my wonderful grandfather, to this dreaded disease, I am very hopeful they are on their way!


What does this have to do with veterinary medicine? Well, animals are always used first as test models. In most cases, veterinarians are involved at one or more stages of early research - lab animal vets, veterinary pathologists, veterinary oncologists, etc. And in this case, the researchers are part of the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. It is often also the case that research developments benefit both animals and humans. 


Penn State Working on Cure for Leukemia



Thursday, December 22, 2011

Be Careful When Baking With Dough This Season

Many people would assume that if a pet ingested bread dough, it wouldn't be a big deal. It's just dough right?


This article explains why it's a serious danger:


The Dangers of Bread Dough Ingestion

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Toxic Things Hiding in Your Purse

This is an article from one of my veterinary journals that I thought would be important for my followers to read. It discusses some of the common toxic things many women carry around in their handbags.


Check It Out

Speaking of dangers, please don't use tinsel if you have cats. Anything "string like" poses a huge temptation for many cats. They can end up in surgery or worse, dead. Keep ornaments out of reach of cats, dogs, puppies and kittens. Do NOT feed your pets holiday goodies: remember our friend "pancreatitis?"
If they stress with company, please put them somewhere they will feel safe or ask your vet for a mild sedative. 


And please, spoil them - get them cool and cute toys and treats MADE IN THE USA and NOT CHINA! 



Monday, December 19, 2011

Yes, Your INDOOR ONLY Kitty Does Need Rabies Vaccinations!

This story illustrates exactly why we recommend keeping even an indoor cat or a small dog that hardly goes out, up to date on rabies vaccination.  


If A Human Can Get Bit By a Bat in Their Home, Why Can't Your Pet?

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Awesome!

This is a wonderful video showcasing an amazing cat and her team of surgeons and engineers. I am so glad that some people value life this way.  This does NOT mean I support doing ANYTHING to keep an animal going. No no no. In fact, I often have to advocate for the patient to have the owner let it go. Just because we can doesn't mean we should. However in this case, the cat is clearly not suffering!


Check It Out

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Sure..No Problem..Don't Listen...

..adjust your own meds..do what you want..but remember, there will be a price to pay. It is often at your pet's health but it will often also include your wallet.  


Here's an example. If your pet is on anti-seizure meds, you give them AS directed. You do not stop giving them because the pet is now "ok." When we recommend a referral..strongly..it's not because we get anything out of it. We don't get "kickbacks." It's about what is best for your pet.  


Seizures beget seizuries..it's called "kindling"  - ie seizures cause MORE seizures. Not a good thing. 


*sigh*


So now, after extensive sedation/drugs, your pet will have to go to an overnight care facility and you will have to spend a lot more than if you had done what your vet recommended. Oh well. I just feel bad for the pets.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Why Have A Pet?

Ok, giant sigh here. I go through this far too often. This feeling  of frustration and questioning why some people have pets.


Today this was brought to my heart and mind because of the owner of an older cat. This cat was in for a specific problem - an injury and subsequent infection. This was minor and with a little cleaning and antibiotics, he will be fine.  However as part of being a thorough and honest veterinarian, I discussed some other things that were going on with this cat:


-weight loss of nearly 3lbs since last year (very significant in a small sized animal - in this case, it was a 26% drop from last year - if you are 150 lbs, that is 39 lbs - may sound great to you but not if you didn't "try" to lose it..there's a problem here) so we need blood work to check out our organ function, etc


-ways to make the cat more comfortable as it was clear this kitty had arthritis and wasn't doing the things he loved or was able to before 


-an abnormal heart rhythm that could indicate hyperthyroidism (especially coupled with the weight loss) - we need blood work! 


No, no. And no. And why? You might guess money. The tests and recommended arthritis supplement are too expensive? No. No. Why you ask? Well, the cat's old. You know, when SHE gets old I am so sure she'll just decline any pain meds or anything needed to diagnose a potentially very treatable condition (hyperthyroidism). Yeah. Ok. 


Personally, I'd love to stick a label on these people so when they are old (and in their mind age is a disease apparently), their docs won't treat them. 


Pets are a responsibility. A lifelong one. That life "long" is usually theirs as we often outlive our pets - unless we get a Macaw when we are 60 years of age or something. And if people don't have the finances to do it all, that is one thing. But to simply act like "oh well, it's old" ? No. Not right. Get a stuffed animal. 



Sunday, December 11, 2011

Have The Darn Thing Removed When it's Small!

When we see pets for lumps or bumps, we see a wide variety of scenarios. This includes everything from the small tiny itty bitty thing you can hardly see (yet the owners want removed NOW) to huge bleeding masses that "suddenly" appeared (not really.)


But overall, they mostly fall somewhere in between. Most people are reasonable with them. I speak for myself ONLY here - I don't recommend removing every single mass. It depends on a lot of factors - where it is, what I think it is (based on appearance, location, my experience, breed, etc), what it looks look, if it will affect function or in the case of show animals, appearance and finally finances of the owner.


There are just a few cases I almost ALWAYS recommend removal of a growth:


1. Cats - high rate of malignancy period. I don't wait on any cat masses. 


2. Boxers (and some other breeds) with skin masses - high incidence of a malignancy called a Mast Cell Tumor


3. Growths on the toes, legs or ears/face of a dog. Why? Well, even if they are benign, we don't have much tissue to work with here. If they start to grow, they may get to the point that we may not be able to close the tissue.  


The growth below is on an older Golden Retriever (a breed with a high incidence of cancer anyhow.) We saw it mid summer and it was not this large at all. Now that the dog is licking at it and it's oozing on the floor/carpet and oh, probably that it's the holiday season with guests coming, we have it removed. Fortunately I was able to get enough apparently (key word) clean tissue around and under this mass and still close it. 


The pictures show pre op and post op. This is MOST likely a locally invasive malignant growth called a hemangiopericytoma  but we won't know until the pathology report comes back this week.







Thursday, December 8, 2011

Be Aware of Toxic Holiday Plants

People always think Poinsettias are toxic. They are not. They are, at worst, irritating to the mouth and intestinal tract. There are far worse plants on this list. Please be aware of it and keep them out of reach of your pets.  And know what type of plants are in your house too. This will be a huge help if your pet does ingest part of one. 




Speaking of Pets
Holiday plants and pets


Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011
 
The holiday season is upon us once again. Decorating for the holidays most always includes using plants and flowers to beautify our environment.

There are many plants and flowers that are toxic to pets but only a few of the most popular holiday plants will be discussed here. It is important to know what parts of the plant or flower are toxic and what symptoms your pet may experience.

• Holly is used in making wreaths or decorating mantles. It is the berries that are toxic. The severity of the symptoms usually correlates with how many berries are eaten. The symptoms seen after ingestion are vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.

• Mistletoe is customarily hung in doorways so that when two people are under the mistletoe at the same time they are obliged to kiss. The berries are toxic but some sources say that the leaves and stem are more toxic than the berries. Either way, it is important to make sure that these are not ingested. This plant can cause significant vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, decreased heart rate, erratic behavior, sudden collapse and even death.

• Amaryllis (with red or red and white flowers) is very popular during the holiday season. It is the flower that is most toxic. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, depressed appetite, excessive salivation, tremors, and sometimes abdominal pain.

• Poinsettia is probably the most frequently seen holiday plant. It is the sap from the leaves (not the flower) that can be irritating if ingested. If enough is eaten it can cause vomiting but it is basically non-toxic. 



The Rest of the List

Monday, December 5, 2011

Pets ARE a Luxury

I feel like this is truly MY mantra. Pets ARE a luxury.


You need food. You need shelter. After that, if you have kids, you need to provide those things for them. Then there's education. Then there's maybe some fun stuff for the kids. 


THEN. if you look at  the above, your household expenses and find that, with ALL of those, you have some disposable income and you do not need to FINANCE a pet and better yet will rescue one, you get a pet.


You get a pet and know that:


1. Simply to keep that pet healthy, they will require check ups as babies and as they grow (puppies/kittens into adults), vaccines, preventatives to keep them healthy. The need yearly maintainence = twice yearly if older, more if on meds or with problems. 


2. Anytime, a situation could arise where they could simply get sick or get into something. This situation will require a vet visit, testing and medication. Sometimes it could require 
hospitalization or surgery.  You are responsible for that.


3. It is not anyone's fault at the vet hospital that your pet is sick. We DO love animals. We also have bills to pay and mouths to feed. That same hospital needs to pay it's own bills - drugs, electricity, staffing, etc. YOU are responsible for your pet. If you can't be, relinquish it and do NOT get another one.


4. Pets cost money. Bad things happen that you can prevent and that you can't (just like with human children). Do not get a pet and fail to take care of it and then blame others for the fact that now you are facing a huge bill with a poor outcome.





Thursday, December 1, 2011

Maybe We Should Share This With Dogs in Bad Homes

Never thought I'd see this day....



Dog shoots man

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011 12:19 p.m. MST


BRIGHAM CITY — It wasn't his dog's bark or bite that had a Brigham City man concerned, it was his aim.
A man was recovering Wednesday after being shot over the weekend by his dog.

A 46-year-old Brigham City man and a friend were duck hunting Sunday about 8:30 a.m. on the north end of the Great Salt Lake near the bird refuge, about 10 miles west of Brigham City.

The two had their canoe-like boat in a shallow marsh area when the man got out of the boat to either set up or collect decoys. He laid his 12-gauge shotgun across the bow of the boat, said Box Elder County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Kevin Potter.