MAIN ATTRACTION |
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As many of you know, "Charlie" lives with us here at the Martin Downs Animal Hospital. He is a great attraction and will talk and interact with you. Don't forget to come by and visit with "Charlie" the next time you're in the hospital. He may even dance for you!
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A NOTE FROM THE DOCTORS
MDAH was a Gold Sponsor of the 4th annual Fleet Feet "Run For Your Heart 5K" event on February 13th, benefiting Frances Langford Heart Center at Martin Memorial Hospital, a state of the art facility that our community is very fortunate to have. Dr. P. was not only a sponsor but also a participant in the race. He placed 2nd in his age group.
It is worth mentioning that the owners of Fleet Feet, Al & Susan Hastings have a very handsome yellow lab named Sadie who is a patient of ours.
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HOSPITAL UPDATES / SPECIAL
ANNOUNCEMENTS |
 | COLD LASER THERAPY OR THERAPEUTIC LASER
We would like to reintroduce this treatment option for your pets, available at MDAH, that has been widely utilized in Europe as far back as the 1970's.
What is Laser Therapy?
It is the use of specific wavelengths of light to create therapeutic effects. These effects include improved healing time, pain reduction, increased circulation and decreased swelling.
What does a treatment feel like? Does it hurt?
There is little or no sensation during the treatment. Occasionally the patient feels mild, soothing warmth or tingling. Areas of pain or inflammation may be sensitive before pain reduction.
How long does each treatment take?
The typical treatment is 3 to 8 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated.
What to expect?
There is no patient sedation or restraint required and the experience is usually pleasant and comforting to your pet. Although improvement is often seen after the first visit, most patients require several treatments (3 to 8) for the greatest benefit. For most conditions, we recommend a multi-visit treatment plan. A majority of patients exhibit great comfort and mobility within 12 to 24 hours after a laser treatment.
A sample treatment schedule is as follows:
-every other day for one week (3 total ), -twice the second week ( 2 total ), -once the third week ( 1 total ), -boosters as needed.
Numerous studies show that Laser Therapy can help with:
- Osteoarthritis, - Joint Pain, - Tendinopathies, - Edema and Congestion, - Ligament Strains, - Muscle Strains, - Puncture Wounds, - Post-traumatic Injury, - Post-Surgical Pain, - Neck and Back Pain, - Hip Dysplasia, - Burns, - Chronic Wounds, - Lick granulomas, - Hot Spots, - Ear Infections, - Rehabilitation, - Post-Orthopedic Surgical Recovery.
Laser Therapy can relieve pain, reduce swelling and increase range of motion.
DR. HARPER HERE AT MDAH
Here are a few dates when Dr. Harper will be working here: Friday 3/26, Monday 3/29, Friday 4/2,
Saturday 4/3 and Saturday 4/10.
Please make an appointment if you would like to see him.
SPRING BREAK BOARDING
Spring Break is almost here! Have you made your pet's reservation to spend the week with us? There is still time to schedule boarding in our deluxe facility. Please call us to make sure your pet is comfortable while you're away.
HOLIDAY GROOMING AND BATHING
Call ahead to schedule your pet's grooming for the holidays before they're all booked up! Treat your pet to a therapeutic hydrosurge bath and professional clip or furminator package.
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
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Sherri is pictured here with some newly hatched chicks at the 2010 Martin County Fair.
Sherri has been a part of the Martin Downs Animal Hospital team for 8 years. She started out in the kennel when she was a junior in high school, where she was in a vet program at South Fork High School. She slowly transferred to the medical side as a veterinary assistant and worked her way up to become a technician. Sherri is also our dental technician and has a great interest in pediatrics and dermatology. She has three pets of her own, they are all Miniature Pinchers named Britt, Brooke and Razor.
In February of each year Sherri volunteers at the annual Martin County Fair where she helps out in the livestock pavilion. She works with over 150 animals which include: swine, steers, heifers, goats, rabbits and poultry. She helps oversee the exhibitors who show the animals and reports the judge's notes from the livestock shows. Starting in 1996, Sherri was one of the exhibitors herself, where she started showing rabbits and lambs then eventually swine, and this is where she found her love for animals and decided on a veterinary career path. |
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BOARDER OF THE MONTH
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Duchess is our boarder of the month. She is a 6-year-old Welsh corgi. Duchess enjoys spending her vacations with us in our luxury accommodations while her parents are enjoying themselves on their vacations. One of her favorite pastimes is playing outside with some of our other guests in the spacious exercise area getting plenty of exercise and fresh air. Duchess is pictured here taking a stroll along our sidewalk in the exercise yard. |
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GROOMING CORNER
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The Grooming Corner's pet of the month is a beautiful
9-year-old Royal Standard Poodle named Armand. Armand comes in monthly for a hydrosurge bath, professional
groom and pedicure. His haircut is
called a "Royal Dutch" clip. This
particular groom is very complicated and time consuming that requires an
extensive amount of hand scissoring.
Poodles with full coats are the best candidates for the "Royal Dutch"
clip. Our head groomer, Cathy
Frazier, who has many years of grooming experience, performs this work of
art.
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FELINE FACTS
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Random but interesting facts about our fabulous felines.
1) In ancient Egypt, the cat was adored
to the point of worship and cat killing was punishable by death.
2) There are more than 53 recognized distinct feline breeds and this does not include mixed breeds.
3) The word for CAT is CHAT in France, GATO in Spanish, NEKO in Japanese, KATZE in German, GATTO in Italian, and KOT in Polish.
4) The cat became an artistic symbol of freedom during the French Revolution, 1789-1792.
5) The life span of a healthy cat can exceed 20 years.
6) Cats are CRESPUSCULAR, which means that they tend to be more active at dawn and dusk.
7) The phrase "the cat's pajamas" comes from the silk pj's made for the British elite in the 1700's by a talented tailor named E.B. Katz.
8) Cats see well in dim light and can detect the colors blue and yellow.
9) A 2-year-old cat is the equivalent of a 24-year-old person age wise.
10) The oldest cat on record, "Puss", from Great Britain, lived to be 36, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. |
| PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
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COMFORTIS: Month-long flea protection in a chewable tablet
Fleas can be a major problem for dogs and dog owners. One flea can produce 40 to 50 eggs a day and up to 2,000 in her lifetime. Comfortis chewable tablets began to kill fleas 30 minutes after administration and demonstrated 100% effectiveness within 4 hours. Tablets kill fleas before they can lay eggs. They are easy to offer and last a full month. Unlike topical application products, with Comfortis you can play with your dog immediately after treatment. No need to isolate your pet. Just treat and play.
In our experience it is the best flea protection product for dogs currently on the market.
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PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
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Canine Influenza. Know the Facts.
What is canine influenza?
A highly contagious respiratory infection of dogs caused by a novel influenza A subtype H3N8 virus.
Where does canine influenza occur?
At this time CIV is very prevalent in Colorado, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania.
Who is susceptible to CIV?
Dogs of any breed, age or health status are susceptible. CIV is a canine-specific pathogen and does not infect people or cause disease in other species.
How is CIV transmitted?
Transmission occurs by direct contact with infected dogs and by aerosol generated by coughing and sneezing. The virus is easily inactivated by washing hands, clothes and other items with soap and water. Disinfectants commonly used in kennels and veterinary clinics will kill influenza viruses.
What are the clinical signs?
CIV causes a transient fever, cough, sneezing and nasal discharge. Fortunately, most dogs recover within two to three weeks without further health complications. However, about 10% of infected dogs progress to pneumonia. While the overall mortality rate for canine influenza is low (less than 5%), the pneumonia can be life-threatening.
How is CIV diagnosed?
Canine influenza cannot be diagnosed by clinical signs because other respiratory pathogens also cause coughing, sneezing and nasal discharge. The best approach for diagnosis is the collection of nasal swabs and serum samples.
How is CIV treated?
Treatment consists mainly of supportive care and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Dogs that develop pneumonia usually require hospitalization.
Is there a vaccine for CIV?
Yes. Canine influenza is best prevented by the vaccinating of susceptible dogs. The canine influenza vaccine is a "lifestyle" vaccine intended for dogs who are at risk for exposure. Dogs that may benefit from the canine influenza vaccine include those who are already receiving the kennel cough vaccine (Bordetella and Parainfluenza virus), because the risk groups are the same. Also consider the vaccine for show dogs, working dogs, dogs in rescue groups and dogs that travel to communities where the virus is prevalent.
For further information please contact our hospital.
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CASE OF THE MONTH
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Kahlua" is a
labrador retriever, 9 years of age, weighing
101 lbs. In 2005 she had a
TPLO surgery to repair her right knee ligament rupture. By the end of 2009 she
started to limp on the other leg. Dr. P. confirmed the
rupture of the Cranial Cruciate Ligament. He performed a TTA surgery and
suggested post op physical therapy. The owner was in agreement and
"Kahlua" started PT at our hospital with Bryan and Laura. The results
were great. Two months later
"Kahlua" is looking pretty sharp.
Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA SURGERY) is possibly the BEST surgery for your dog's knee.
The most common knee injury with lameness in the dog is rupture of the Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL), also frequently referred to as the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). This injury can occur at any age and in any breed, but most frequently occurs in middle aged, overweight medium to large breed dogs. This ligament frequently can suffer a partial tear, leading to slight instability of the knee. If this damage goes untreated, it most commonly leads to complete rupture and possibly damage to the medial meniscus of the knee. The meniscus acts as a cushion in the knee. Complete rupture results in front-to-back instability, commonly called Tibial Thrust, and internal rotation of the lower leg, commonly called Pivot Shift. Untreated legs usually become very arthritic and painful from the instability.
An injured Cruciate Ligament can only be corrected by surgery. There are numerous surgical corrections currently being performed. The most common are 1) External Capsular Repair, 2) Tightrope Procedure (a variation of the External Capsular Repair), 3) Tibial Plateau Leveling Operation (TPLO), and 4) Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA).
TTA is the newest procedure and probably the best repair for most dogs. The forces within the knee are very complicated and change as the knee is rotated through its range of motion. In a normal standing position there is a tendency for the lower end of the Femur to slide backwards on the tilted Tibial Plateau. This is called Tibial Thrust. This force can be corrected by either cutting the Tibial Plateau and rotating it into a more flat position (TPLO) or by counteracting this force by changing the angle of pull of the very strong Patellar Tendon by advancing the Tibial Tuberosity (TTA). It has been shown that the TPLO procedure can still allow rotational instability (Pivot Shift) and this may lead to the progression of arthritis as the dog ages. This Pivot Shift does not seem to be a problem with the TTA procedure because it results in more control of rotation by the large quadriceps muscle which pulls on the Patellar Tendon.
The normal Knee Joint (also know as the Stifle joint, has
multiple structures which are important to its function. This drawing shows a
view from the front with the muscles removed. It is important to note that the
Patellar Tendon, a vital structure in the joint has been removed, so that you
can see "behind" it. The Patellar Tendon is a thick, tough band that runs from
the Patella (green dot) to the Tibial Tuberosity (red dot).
Thank you for reading and please take note that Dr. P. has a special interest in the science of surgery. Should you have any questions regarding surgical necessity, you may contact him directly.
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