Running With The Wind: Trago's Elbow Dysplasia Surgery And Stem Cell Treatment

Trago's story is shared with us by my friend and a fellow stem cell advocate Brian Feuer.

Trago is a 11 month old male Bernese Mountain dog. He is the funniest and most energetic dog we ever had!

One day Trago suddenly started to limp. We rested him for three days but the lameness only continued to get worse.

We took him into the vet hoping to rule out anything serious other than Pano.

Editor's note: Panosteitis, also known as "long bone disease," "wandering lameness," or "pano" is an abnormal bone growth affecting primarily long bones of young growing large breed dogs. It is typically seen in dogs between the ages of five to eighteen months.

It is a self-limiting disease that usually resolves with maturity. However, it is very painful. The typical symptom is acute shifting lameness and pain, usually with one leg effected more consistently. Fever might be present.

It is believed that puppy diets that are too high in protein may be a contributing factor.

Unfortunately, Trago's x-rays also revealed bi-lateral elbow dysplasia, and degenerative joint disease.

An orthopedic specialist discovered fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP) in both elbows and recommended surgery.

Editor's note: Elbow dysplasia is the most common cause of front leg lameness in young large breed dogs.

It is a condition involving multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow joint—osteochondritis, ununited anconeal process, fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP), and elbow incongruency.

Fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP) is a condition in which a piece of bone inside the elbow is malformed or separated from the ulna . This bone fragment then results in damage  to the lining of the joint and surrounding cartilage.

During the consultation we also agreed on stem cell injections at the same time if the surgery was a success.

The surgery was a total success and Trago also got his stem cell treatment.

Long story short, on Tuesday morning we practically carried him in for his surgery.

Thursday afternoon he was running down the hallway to greet me!

Trago's surgeon felt that only with the stem cell treatment his recovery could be so rapid!

It's been almost a year after his surgery and stem cell therapy and Trago has not experienced any lameness or problems since.

Knowing what i know now, I will never hesitate to do this to any other of our companions seeing how it helped Trago the way it did.

***

Brian Feuer, retired firefighter from San Luis Obispo County Fire Dept. Their dogs keep them very busy with dog shows, acting as actors in commercials.

Brian is a food nut and works closely with Grandma Lucy's, All American Pet Diner, helping to develop yummy and healthy dog food products.

Further reading:
Panosteitis at Veterinary Partner
What is panosteitis?
Panosteitis (Pano)
Elbow Dysplasia at Wikipedia
Elbow Dysplasia at Veterinary Partner

Related articles:
Stem Cells for Dogs? Oh yeah, baby!
Interview with Dr. Robert J. Harman, D.V.M., M.P.V.M. - CEO and founder of Vet-Stem
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child! 
Zeus Gets Stem Cell Treatment 
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment 
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In

Do I Have To Eat My Vegetables? Vitamins In Dog Nutrition

The good news for Fido is that not all vitamins he needs come just from vegetables. The bad news is that some, along with other goodies, do. (Though nowadays they usually come as supplements. But that's a whole other story.)

There is more to food than a full stomach.

Nature had it all running quite smoothly. But since we took control of our dogs' nutrition it is now up to us to understand these things if we want to do it right.

Long before vitamins were identified there was evidence that certain foods are important to maintaining health.

Even though he wasn't the first scientist to isolate them, the formulation of the concept of vitamins is attributed to Polish biochemist Casimir Funk. He named these micronutrients vital (from the Latin vita for life) amines.

So what makes vitamins so important?

Vitamins do not serve as building blocks of tissues and they don't provide energy and yet they are vital to your dog's health. So what do they do?

Each vitamin plays a unique and irreplaceable role in the dog's body.

Some of them have a function similar to hormones and regulate metabolism or tissue growth. For example vitamin D helps regulate the balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body.

Some vitamins, such as vitamin E, function as antioxidants.

B vitamins are necessary for fat and protein metabolism, production of red blood cells and a healthy nervous system and more.

Each vitamin is unique but they are generally classified as either water-soluble or fat-soluble.

Fat-soluble vitamins need fat to be absorbed and can be stored in fat tissues. Water-soluble vitamins get absorbed through the intestines from which they enter the bloodstream. Any excess is excreted in urine.

The way vitamins are absorbed is tailored to fit their respective functions.

The important consideration is the relative risk of deficiency or toxicity.

Because fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the dog's body the risk of deficiency is relatively low, while the risk of toxicity is relatively high.  For a dog to develop a deficiency in a fat soluble vitamin, he would have to eat a diet with low levels of that vitamin for a relatively long period of time.

With water-soluble vitamins it's the other way around. Deficiency is much more likely and appropriate amount should be provided regularly.  Toxicities can develop, but a dog would need to receive very large amounts of the vitamin to overwhelm his body’s ability to excrete it in the urine.

Water-soluble vitamins are also more likely to be lost during cooking process.

Three fat-soluble and eight water-soluble vitamins are essential for dogs.

An essential vitamin is one that cannot be manufactured by the body from other nutrients. It must be consumed in the diet.

Fat-soluble vitamins essential for dogs are vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin E.

Water-soluble vitamins essential for dogs are Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pyridoxine (B6), Pantothenic acid (B5), Folic acid (B9), Vitamin B12 and Choline.

What about vitamin C? 

Vitamin C is not an essential nutrient for dogs, although it is for humans. Unlike us, a dog's liver can make vitamin C from glucose. There is an argument as to whether or not supplementing vitamin C could be beneficial for your dog. I think individual consideration is important.

Vitamins K and biotin are also not essential for dogs. These are manufactured by bacteria in the dog's intestines.

Bottom line about vitamins in your dog's nutrition?

Too much or too little can be equally harmful. Know what you're doing.

If you are feeding a high quality, nutritionally balanced food and your dog is a good eater, vitamin supplements are likely not be necessary and in fact could do some harm. If, however, you are feeding a home-cooked diet or your dog is a very picky eater, vitamin supplementation is a good idea. 

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Related articles:
Feeding Your Dog: Commercial or Home-cooked?
Dog Nutrition And Proteins: The Building Blocks of Life
Dog Nutrition and Carbohydrates: The Essential Non-Essentials 
I Want Some Bacon! Fat In Dog Nutrition
Nothing Fishy About Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Trust Your Gut! The Story Of Blind Maximus

by BlindMaximus

Hello there. My story is kind of long and too much to get into here.

So, long story short, I'm blind. 

I wasn't always. But when I was 1 year old, because of an infected cat scratch, my left eye was replaced with an implant.

Then, when I was about 5, my RIGHT eye got scratched by a totally different cat and I underwent surgery to save it (aaand as my name might tell you, that didn't exactly "work." I'm as blind as it gets).

We animals are known for our instincts (uh, even when our instincts to defend the backyard against intruding neighbor cats ultimately cause us major trauma).

People have instincts too but for some reason choose to ignore them, rationalizing them away. 

Now, I'm all for thinking things through and not being a total spaz-head (even if I'm not so good at it myself) but we—animals and people—have instincts for a reason.

What does this have to do with anything?

We learned (the hard way) that a good vet is priceless. And unfortunately, sometimes very hard to find.

With my first eye "incident" we went to a vet that was well-established and well-liked. Now, we live in a small town so we only have two vets to choose from anyway.

He assured us that the little white dot in my eye was just a corneal scar, nothing to worry about, and maybe he gave me a steroid shot. 

That dot didn't go away. It got bigger.

So we went back and he just gave me another shot. At this point Girl was skeptical but wanted to believe it was nothing, and hey, he was a vet, he should know these things, right?

Her gut told her he was full of hooey but, well, maybe if we just gave him one more chance...

Finally it became painfully obvious the eye was getting way worse and the vet wasn't going to admit he was out of his element.

We went and saw the other vet who did drops to test for tears/punctures (which the other vet never bothered doing) and immediately he said we needed to get to a specialist. Which we did.

And that's how I ended up with my fake eye, because my eye was so infected it had to be removed pronto.

If the Girl had trusted her instincts and taken me to the other vet after our first unsuccessful visit, would I still have a seeing eye? Maybe. Possibly. But maybe not.

Regretting it now is pretty silly, because it is what it is. 

But we did learn an important lesson—vets are not all-knowing and are not created equal. Finding a good one, one that is willing to answer your questions and explain things to your satisfaction is so important.

It can truly be the difference between life and death. 

If we had continued with our original vet, telling us it would be okay "we'll try one more shot" I would have been dead from the infection spreading to my brain.

I know this blog is about dogs and dog health and stuff like that but I feel compelled to say that the "trust your gut" rule applies to your own people health as well.

Yeah, you'd think that would be obvious, but there are people out there who take better care of their pets than they do of themselves. 

And recently it seems like I've been running into way too many human people who are going along with their doctors...even though they feel like something isn't "quite right"...and then have unfortunate things happen as a result.

You have instincts for a reason. Trust your gut!
...unless, of course, it tells you to bark at that trespassing neighbor cat.

To read Blind Maximus' whole story visit Adventures of a Blind Dog in a Big World blog.

IMHA Is Not To Be Taken Lightly: Know The Symptoms

This story is shared with us by Susan Rakay. She has lost her dog to IMHA and she wanted to raise awareness of this condition because with IMHA time is of the essence.

Please do learn when your dog's symptoms are truly serious and require immediate medical attention!

I have already written about IMHA in Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde: Razzle's Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) article, and Dr. Mahaney shared the story of his dog Cardiff and Battling IMHA With Integrative Veterinary Medicine.

Razzle and Cardiff won their battle. Nikki wasn't so lucky.

Nikki's Story

It will be a year this coming Saturday that I lost Nikkilodiean to something I knew nothing about. She was my first dog ever but other dog owners I spoke to knew nothing about this disease either.

I took very good care of my little girl, vet visits when needed, grooming every month and brushing her teeth every day.

But one day hen I brushed her teeth her gums looked white and she was breathing as if she had a cold.

I thought it was a cold so I took her to the vet.

She was diagnosed with a severe case of IMHA. 

I immediately took her to the vet hospital in Phoenix and they did a blood transfusion, put her on IV, did a test to check for internal bleeding and other blood test. They could find no bleeding anywhere but she keep getting weaker and weaker.

Immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is a disease in which the body attacks its own red blood cells. To read more about IMHA check out the Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde: Razzle's Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) article.

Nikki stopped eating and got to the point where she didn't recognize me and she just wanted to sleep.

The vet kept telling me to give it time but after three days I was seeing no improvement and didn't want her to be in pain.  Nothing they did made any difference and I saw her slipping away before my eyes.  They said they didn't think she was in pain but I knew she was dying. I wanted to take her home (200 miles away) to the place she loved.

I brought her home to my vet during the day and she spent the nights with me.

I would sleep all day and stay up with her at night.  On the third day of doing this while I was sleeping my vet called and said to get there as soon as possible.  I dressed very quickly and rushed to the vet that was only two miles away but by the time I arrived my beloved little girl had already passed.

My vet and the animal hospital said I did everything I could for her. (I'm still paying the vet hospital bill of over $4,000).

But I know that if someone, anyone had told me about this disease/illness I would have kept an eye out of it and gotten her to the vet/hospital sooner and she may had lived.

I want to put the word out there about this.

Please be aware and if you see these symptoms in you dog, get them to the vet IMMEDIATELY no matter what the time is (even if it is the middle of the night pay the extra money and get you dog there quickly) as it may save their life!

What symptoms should you watch for?

Your dog will be obviously weak. He or she will have no energy and have lost interest in food. Urine will be dark orange or maybe even brown. The gums, as well as the whites of the eyes, will be pale or even yellow-tinged. There may be a fever. You (hopefully) brought your pet to the veterinarian’s office as soon as it was clear that there was something wrong.

(source: Veterinary Partner)

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Related articles:
Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde: Razzle's Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)
Battling IMHA With Integrative Veterinary Medicine (part 1)
Battling IMHA With Integrative Veterinary Medicine (part 2)

Further reading:
Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)

Buddha Recovers From Third Degree Burns

By Dr. Patrick Mahaney, VMD
 
Over 10 months ago, one of my favorite patients suffered one of the most horrific traumas I have seen in my 11 years of veterinary practice.

Buddha, a brindle, French Bulldog, incurred third degree burns over his neck and chest from an unknown cause.

Buddha’s owner was unwilling to undertake the financial responsibilities involved in treating such severe burns and intended to euthanize Buddha. As I have known Buddha since puppyhood, I couldn’t let him be put to sleep. I knew that he would heal with medical and possibly surgical treatment. Therefore, I had the owner surrender ownership of Buddha.

The Rascal and Chloe Fund, Inc. stepped in to finance Buddha’s extensive, long term treatment and placed him in a loving, permanent home.

Initially, Buddha needed to be sedated or anesthetized for bandage changes and debridement (removal) of dead skin.  With time, granulation tissue (“new skin”) filled in the gaps and scars formed.  As Buddha is an otherwise healthy adult, he has healed consistently and the burned skin gradually appears more normal.

Remarkably, Buddha has not needed surgery to close his wounds.

Buddha’s ongoing treatment includes acupuncture, Omega fatty acids (fish oil), regular bathing, topical ointments, and prevention of trauma and sunburn.  As hair regrowth causes occasional bouts of itchy folliculitis, Buddha occasionally must wear an array of stylish, skin protecting shirts.

As part of my house call based acupuncture practice at California Pet Acupuncture & Wellness, Inc., I provide dry needle and electroacupuncture treatments to promote Buddha’s healing process.

It has been truly amazing to see Buddha’s progress.

During Buddha’s treatment, I document the diminishing appearance of his scar and the surprising appearance of new hair growth.  Please view Buddha’s photo gallery (WARNING- some photos are graphic) showing his progress.

Buddha’s ongoing medical care is being funded by The Rascal & Chloe Fund, Inc. and the philanthropic donations good Samaritans make in Buddha’s name.  The Rascal & Chloe fund have been incredibly generous with their financial donations, time, and emotional support in taking responsibility for Buddha’s care.

Please consider helping to make an ongoing difference in Buddha and other pet’s lives by making a tax deductible donation to the Rascal & Chloe Fund.  

Follow the PayPal link on the bottom of their webpage.

Feel free to leave well wishes for Buddha in the comments section below.

Thank you,
Buddha and Dr. Mahaney


***

Dr. Patrick uses acupuncture on his own pet. He completed the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) basic course (2006) and he is now a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA).

He earned this certification after he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (1999) and completed an internship at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, D.C (2000).

Why does he believe so strongly in acupuncture for your pets, especially as a pain management tool? Because combining both Western and Eastern treatments can produce a better outcome for your pets.

Dr. Patrick also works with local Los Angeles rescue organizations to help those pets that have been given a second chance to live healthier lives, and he is currently sharing his pet care knowledge at his Los Angeles Pet Care Examiner column.

Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In

Jasmine got her stem cells injected last week as scheduled.

Of course it wouldn't have been Jasmine if she didn't find a way to make things more interesting.

She was getting the treatment for arthritis in her left elbow. I was worried about complications with the anesthesia but clearly Jasmine would have found that too boring, since that's what happened last year.

Friday evening, the weekend before treatment, she suddenly started limping on her hind left leg too! 

I can't begin to tell you how tired I am seeing her limp on one leg or another, and how much it hurts me! The only comfort was that her stem cell therapy was already scheduled and it was only matter of days.


But what was going on? She did so well through the entire summer!

The main task was making sure that we can get an additional dose of stem cells in. 

There was no time to assess the situation before the stem cells got shipped early Monday. However, we felt that getting the extra dose was the best course of action in order to avoid an additional anesthesia. We can assess on Tuesday, and we will already have the cells to put them where needed.

Vet-Stem was very forthcoming in response to our situation.

On Monday, one IV and two injectable doses were on their way.

Did that make me less worried about potential complications with the anesthesia? Not really, but it certainly provided sufficient distraction.

Needless to say that the week prior the treatment Jasmine got spoiled beyond comprehension. 

We decided that she should spend that week as if it were her last—with the best walks, time at the farm and gourmet steak dinners.

If there was a real reason to expect serious trouble we wouldn't have gone ahead with the plan. But with Jasmine, there doesn't need to be an obvious reason. There wasn't the last time. (If you're not familiar with that part of Jasmine's Odyssey, you can read about it on Dr. Huston's blog, Jasmine’s Condition Deteriorates: Another ACL Injury and an Abdominal Abscess.)

We were doing what we believed was best for her, but in case things did go wrong again, we didn't want to have any regrets.

On Tuesday she got a thorough evaluation of the lame hind leg, which turned out to have inflamed muscle. However, her right knee was also inflamed, and resisted bending. It was decided that the best plan was to inject the stem cells into her elbow and right knee and let the IV dose deal with the rest.

We were all set for potential delays at the customs and our plan worked out well. Hubby was back with the cells before Jasmine's oral cleaning and surgery were finished.

All was done by 3PM and the anesthesia was uneventful. 

Jasmine was further monitored before release.

When Jasmine came home she was still quite wobbly and dazed. By 10PM, however, she was steady on her feet and was looking for treats! That was a great sign!

I should have known better than think that things would just go smoothly for change.

Next morning she was limping on her front left leg so heavily that she almost tipped over! That was not what we expected! We were expecting improvement, not things looking worse!

I was quite sure that this couldn't have had anything to do with the treatment. When I called, Jasmines' vet confirmed that the elbow surprised him with swelling before injecting the stem cells.

What has happened?

I don't think we'll ever know. The upside was that the stem cells were already in and hard at work. Indeed, the leg improved almost before our eyes!

Today it's a little over a week since Jasmine's treatment. Her gait is still a little uneven here and there, but for most part—particularly when outside having fun—one would be hard pressed to see anything wrong.

We are truly hoping that she will have smooth sailing from now on. Fingers crossed.

Jana

Related articles:
Stem Cells for Dogs? Oh yeah, baby!
Interview with Dr. Robert J. Harman, D.V.M., M.P.V.M. - CEO and founder of Vet-Stem
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child! 
Zeus Gets Stem Cell Treatment 
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment

***

Vet-Stem has been providing stem cell training and services to hundreds of veterinarians in the U.S. and Canada since 2004. Over 6,000 animals have been treated for arthritis and/or tendon and ligament injuries, many of which were not responding to other treatment methods.

You can follow latest Vet-Stem news on Arthritis in Dogs Blog
or connect with Vet-Stem on Facebook or Twitter

Finding Dr. Wonderful And Your Mutt's Mayo Clinic: Getting Started

This post is another excerpt from Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life Dr. Nancy Kay agreed to share with us.

Did you get the book yet? Go get the book! Get the book! Get the book!

How do you go about finding the ideal family veterinarian who works in a great clinic?

Begin your search by asking friends and neighbors. If they are passionate in a particularly negative or positive way, learn why. Their reasoning may not be relevant in your case—your neighbor may be excited about the 'free vaccine with every office visit' policy, whereas such an enticement might not appeal to you. It may even be a turnoff.

Next, 'shmooze' with others at your community dog park, and see if there's a negative or positive consensus regarding the vets in your area.

Talk to dog trainers and the staff at pet stores, feed stores, grooming parlors, boarding facilities, and your local humane society. Ask them who they've chosen for their own dog's care.

If the same names keep popping up—whether in association with complaints or compliments—take note. Such information is likely quite reliable.
 

Although not necessarily easy to obtain, far and away the most trustworthy and accurate opinions come from staff at your local emergency hospital.

Many family vets refer their after-hour emergencies and patients requiring overnight case after a procedure to such a facility, and people working there readily acquire information (and form opinions) about the referring veterinarians—how they think and their ability to make important medical decisions.

Hospital staff interact directly with these vets, read their medical records, and observe the quality of their x-rays, surgical techniques, bandages, splints, and anesthetic recoveries. They also get a clear sense of clients' level of satisfaction with the care their dog has received.

Trust me—if a client is unhappy, the emergency hospital staff members are going to hear about it!

So how do you get the 'lowdown'? This can e a little bit tricky as staff may be reluctant to share their recommendations. After all, their business depends on referrals from general practitioners within the community.

If favoritism is perceived, the hospital's business will suffer. Here I've offered some advice (I hope you don't mind the little bit of bribery involved!)

1. Pay your local emergency facility a visit, ideally during a quiet time—call ahead to see if the waiting room is somewhat empty.
   
2. Arrive with your arms filled with home-baked goodies.
   
3. Give the receptionist a sense of what you are after, and ask to speak with the emergency vet, promising that you only need two minutes of her time.
   
4. If allowed access, try to have a private conversation and get straight to the point. Bend over backward to reassure the vet that you will be discreet. Say that you are looking for exceptional medical care for your dog, and ask for a few (not just one) recommendations. This way, she can feel she is not showing favoritism.
   
5. You can also provide her with a list of names already suggested to you.
   
6. Listen carefully and watch the doctor's response—she might be reluctant to give you an out-and-out negative opinion, but her body language may tell you a great deal.

Don't forget to also tactfully solicit opinions from other hospital staff. Although technicians and receptionists are not always forthcoming with recommendations, where they are, count your blessings.

You've received some exceptionally valuable information.

Related articles:
Speaking For Spot: The Single Most Important Dog Book You Will Ever Read
Making Tough Medical Decisions For Your Dog: Lily's Story 

***

DR. NANCY KAY wanted to become a veterinarian for just about as long as she can remember. Her veterinary degree is from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, and she completed her residency training in small animal internal medicine at the University of California—Davis Veterinary School.

Dr. Kay is a board certified specialist in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and published in several professional journals and textbooks. She lectures professionally to regional and national audiences, and one of her favorite lecture topics is communication between veterinarians and their clients.   Since the release of her book, Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life, Dr. Kay has lectured extensively and written numerous magazine articles on the topic of medical advocacy.  She was a featured guest on the popular National Public Radio show, Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

Dr. Kay is a staff internist at VCA Animal Care Center, a 24-hour emergency/specialty care center in Rohnert Park, California. As a way of providing emotional support for people with sick four-legged family members, Dr. Kay founded and helps facilitate the VCA Animal Care Center Client Support Group.  She also facilitates client communication rounds for VCA Animal Care Center employees.

Dr. Kay was selected by the American Animal Hospital Association to receive the 2009 Hill’s Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award.  This award is given annually to a veterinarian or nonveterinarian who has advanced animal welfare through extraordinary service or by furthering humane principles, education, and understanding.  The Dog Writers Association of America selected Dr. Kay for two awards.  The first was the 2009 Eukanuba Canine Health Award recognizing Speaking for Spot as the publication that best promotes the health and well being of dogs. The second award was for the Best Blog of 2009 (www.speakingforspot.com/blog).

Dr. Kay’s personal life revolves around her husband (also a veterinarian), her three children (none of whom aspire to be veterinarians) and their menagerie of four-legged family members. When she’s not writing, she spends her spare moments in the garden or riding along the beach atop her favorite horse. Dr. Kay and her family reside in Sebastopol, California.

To Booster Or Not To Booster: Jasmine's Parvo and Distemper Titer Results Are Back

Until two years ago I was an oblivious dog owner. I figured that taking my dog to a vet should be all I'd need to do. In a perfect world, I guess, it should have been.

Take the dog to the vet, do what the vet says. I didn't even realize that there was anything else I could have been doing.

The vets go to school, don't they? How can I add anything to that? 

Two years ago I received a brutal wake-up call. Five years of frequent vet visits didn't do anything for Jasmine's well-being! Instead, issues had accumulated to the point when things simply fell apart!

Faced with the situation as it were I realized two things:

1. Not all vets were created equal
2. It was time to take charge

First thing on the agenda at that time was figuring out how to deal with Jasmine's torn cruciate ligaments. Then tackling other issues one at the time.

Vaccinations were at the end of a very long list. 

As it wasn't the most pressing issue in the past two years, I continued with the traditional annual boosters as directed.

This summer, however, things have settled down enough that I had time to pay more attention to the matter.

After reading several books, including The Nature of Animal Healing by Dr. Martin Goldstein, and Speaking for Spot by Dr. Nancy Kay I started wondering whether annual boosters for Parvo and Distemper really were the best thing for Jasmine.

Yes, vaccinations are one of the daunting issues.

Many experts believe that we are dangerously over-vaccinating our dogs, many still believe that annual boosters are necessary, and some don't seem to really know which side they should be on.

How does one navigate through this? 

It caused me quite a bit of anguish. It seemed to me that all there is available out there are opinions unsupported by data. I am long past the point when I'm willing to make a decision based on anybody's opinion. What to do?

Of course I could have taken the easy way out and just booster and get it over with. 

Would that be the best thing to do for my dog? There are compelling arguments about the consequences of over-vaccinating which include things such as autoimmune diseases, allergies and even cancer!

Whether the data supporting this belief are sufficiently conclusive or not, it surely raises a serious doubt. With all the advances of veterinary medicine our dogs seem to be getting sicker and sicker. Could it be that over-vaccinating is one of the main causes?

I could have done the opposite and simply decide not to booster.

But the diseases in question are very dangerous and can be deadly. Should I dare to leave Jasmine vulnerable to this risk? That was a leap of faith I was not willing to take.

What other option is there? Titers.

What on Earth are titers?

Titers are a blood test that measures the actual level of protection your dog’s immune systems has against certain diseases. (source: The truth about vaccines: Dog and cat owners be warned).

If you think that there are no arguments about reliability of such testing, think again.

However, the consensus seems to be that if the antibody levels measure high enough, than the dog is protected against that particular disease. That's something, isn't it?

Jasmine's Parvo and Distemper titer results came back yesterday. 

A year and a half since her last booster she has plenty of antibodies for both. No booster is necessary! Next year we will test again.

Dilemma resolved.

Titers are more expensive than the booster itself. But it is a low price to pay for peace of mind.

Note: Some vaccines, such as for Leptospirosis and Lyme disease do provide protection for one year only. Before deciding on any non-core vaccines (vaccines other than Rabies, Parvo, Distemper and Adenovirus), I recommend a thorough evaluation of your dog's exposure and risk.

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Further reading:
The truth about vaccines: Dog and cat owners be warned
Dog Vaccines: Are You Over-Vaccinating?
To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate Your Dog or Cat: Which is Safest?
Vaccination Concerns and Potential Side Effects for Dogs and Cats
Vaccinations for Your Dog: A Complex Issue

Picking the Right Dog to Breed

by Jennifer Coates, DVM

Many dog diseases have a genetic component, meaning that to at least some degree, the genes carried within a dog’s DNA determine whether or not the individual develops a particular disease. 

Sometimes the inheritance of these genes follows the simple dominant/recessive pattern that you may or may not remember from high school biology. In other cases, multiple genes are involved and interact with environmental factors to create a much more complicated picture.

Depending on a disease’s inheritance pattern, responsible breeders can use information gathered from either phenotypic testing (i.e., examination of a dog’s body or biochemistry) or from genetic testing (i.e., DNA tests) to determine which individuals should be used in a breeding program and which should be spayed or neutered and become solely pets--a noble calling, to be sure.

Negligent breeders may choose to skip this step and focus only on producing “pretty” animals, but they do their customers and dogs a great disservice. 

If you are interested in purchasing a purebred dog, make sure you support breeders who are working to improve canine health and well-being.

Phenotypic Testing

When the genetics behind a disease are complicated, DNA testing is often not available and we have to fall back on phenotypic testing.  This is a less than ideal situation because, in many cases, the symptoms of the disease in question do not appear until after a dog is old enough to be bred.  These types of tests also do not identify individuals that can pass on a disease to their offspring but do not display symptoms themselves.
 
Hip dysplasia is good example. Multiple genes, husbandry and environmental factors all work together to determine if and how severely a dog will be affected. 

Because of this, genetic testing is impractical. To lower the incidence of hip dysplasia in at risk breeds, responsible breeders will screen their dogs’ hips with either PennHIP or OFA  x-rays before including them in their breeding population.  Over time, the use of these specialized x-rays has helped lower the incidence of hip dysplasia in several breeds.
 
Other examples of phenotypic tests include Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) testing for diseases that affect eyesight, brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing for deafness and thyroid hormone evaluations.
 
Genetic Testing

When available, genetic testing is the best way to screen animals prior to breeding.  These tests can be performed very early in a dog’s life, well before breeding decisions need to be made.

Genetic testing can also be very important when it comes to maintaining the health of a particular individual.

For example, Collies and related breeds have a higher than normal incidence of the MDR1 (multiple drug resistance) gene.  These dogs are at risk for having severe, potentially life threatening side effects from several commonly prescribed drugs.  Knowing that your dog carries this gene will help you and your veterinarian make both wise treatment and breeding choices.
   
Sources of Information

For a list of commonly available canine DNA tests and which breeds should be considered for testing, see the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website.  This organization is also an excellent source of information on phenotypic testing for a variety of orthopedic diseases, heart problems, thyroid disease and more.

Another good source of information is the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC).  Their website includes a list of breeds enrolled in the CHIC program and associated with each breed is a list of recommended phenotypic and genetic tests.  Both the OFA and CHIC websites also include searchable databases containing information on dogs that have undergone testing.

***

Jennifer Coates, DVM graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.  In the years since, she has practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado.  She is the author of several books about veterinary medicine and animal care, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-speak Deciphered for the Non-veterinarian. 

Jennifer also writes short stories that focus on the strength and importance of the human-animal bond and freelance articles relating to a variety of animal care and veterinary topics.  Dr. Coates lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and pets.

Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part V): Chronic Small Intestinal Diarrhea

by Dr. Laci, aka, Dr. Poop

Chronic small intestinal diarrhea is diarrhea that has been present continuously or intermittently for 2-4 weeks and hasn't responded to therapies. Some of the causes discussed under acute small intestinal diarrhea will slide into this category inevitably, if not diagnosed properly and treated.

Of all the four categories I am discussing, this one is the poozie.  

The possibilities and different causes seem far more  endless, but I will do my best to make the chronic small intestinal diarrhea, well, end.

Small intestinal diarrhea results in a larger amount of poop passed with a mild increase in frequency. It does not result in straining during defecation, and affected dogs will commonly lose weight, often vomit, and have increased gas.  Blood in the stool will be darker or black, as it will be digested.

History, physical exam, medications the dog is receiving, and previous GI surgeries are all important.

Learning if the dog is suffering from a systemic problem, such as liver disease or even herniated spinal cord discs are all possible causes of chronic small intestinal diarrhea. 

As with all diarrhea, how healthy or ill the pet is determines how aggressively initial tests are conducted.

Weight loss often accompanies chronic small intestinal diarrhea.

In the case of dogs with weight loss, oily grayish feces (steattorhea--feces with excess fat that really stink), ravenous appetite, it is necessary to learn why they are not getting the nutrition they need.

This is separated into inappropriate digestion (maldigestion), protein-losing diseases (protein-losing enteropathy/PLE) and inappropriate absorption without protein loss (malabsorptive disease).  Your vet will perform diagnostic tests to rule these conditions in or out.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is the most common cause of maldigestion in dogs.  

It can affect any dog, but we see it most often in young German shepherds.  Biopsy either by endoscope or exploratory surgery may be needed to accurate diagnose many diseases and conditions.
 
PLE is a syndrome, not a singular disease, and has several causes:  obstruction, toxins, inflammation, infections, and cancer (seen all too often).  

IBD (discussed under chronic large bowel diarrhea), neoplasia, and lymphangiectasia (abnormal dilation of lymph vessels causing the loss of proteins and nutrients) are are commonly seen causes.  With PLE, a protein called albumin may be lost in the diarrhea.  Albumin normally helps keep water in the blood vessels of your dog, similar to a sponge, but when it is lost in the stool, water starts to leak out of the blood vessels and into other places that gravity takes it, like the legs and the underside of your pet's abdomen and chest cavity.

If enough protein is lost, the pet may develop edema (fluid accumulation) of the legs or belly--as if they weren't uncomfortable enough being hungry constantly and having chronic diarrhea.

Two huge causes of malabsorptive diseases are small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome and dietary intolerance.

Unlike the large intestine which is rich with bacteria, the small intestine has significantly less bacterial organisms. When there is an overgrowth of bacteria, digestion is altered, malabsorption occurs, and diarrhea results.

Biopsy is required for a definitive diagnosis, but oftentimes trial therapy with antibiotic therapy is effective.  There are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches and you will need to decide which approach you want to choose with the help of your veterinarian.  I will discuss dietary intolerance in a future post.
  
Back to the big picture, chronic small intestinal diarrhea is often very difficult to diagnose.
Though many causes can be diagnosed with simple tests, invasive diagnostics may be necessary.  In veterinary medicine, this usually means heavy sedation, if not full anesthesia, which understandably frightens many pet owners.

It is important to remember though that chronic diarrhea is not normal or healthy.  

Small intestinal diarrhea means your pet is continuously losing nutrition. Imagine living in a state of continual ravenous hunger; if your pet suffers from small intestinal chronic diarrhea and is wasting away, this is what they are living with!  Try to imagine this and hopefully you will pursue the cause and solution more seriously.

Over time, chronic small intestinal diarrhea can have dangerous consequences, even if the cause of the diarrhea itself is not deadly.

If your dog is unfortunate enough to suffer from chronic small intestinal diarrhea, it may end up being one of those times you wish you had pet insurance. And tile floors.

Related articles:
A Tale of Many Tails—and What Came Out From Underneath Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part I)
Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part II): Acute Small Intestinal Diarrhea 
Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part III): Acute Large Intestinal Diarrhea (Acute Colitis)
Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part IV): Chronic Large Intestinal Diarrhea
Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire: A Symptom Is Your Friend, Treat It With Respect!
The House Is On Fire! Bridget's Pancreatitis
Help! My Dog Is Purple!
It's Your Dog's Health

***

Laci Schaible has always been an animal lover and wanted to be a veterinarian since the third grade. Eager to actualize her dreams, she left home and started college with a full scholarship at the age of 16. She graduated with honors at the age of 19, and then became one of the youngest U.S. trained veterinarians in history when she graduated with her D.V.M. at the age of 23 from Texas A&M University.

After practicing as an associate at an emergency / referral and general practice small animal hospital, she was anxious to lead and manage her own hospital, which she successfully did for years. Performing surgeries with her husband Jed (also a vet) is one of her favorite aspects of practice.

Together, after losing their beloved family dog Madison to terminal cancer, Laci and Jed realized the need for pet owners to have affordable unbiased guidance for their pet's health care beyond their veterinarian with office hours. 

Jed's entrepreneurial genes and Laci's creative passion motivated them to fill this need, and VetLIVE.com was born.  Check out their blog for a mix of pet health advice, funny stories from the vet perspective, and even cool video blogs from Dr. Jed!

You can also follow Dr. Laci on Twitter  or VetLive on Twitter  or Facebook.

Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part IV): Chronic Large Intestinal Diarrhea

by Dr. Laci, aka, Dr. Poop 

After your veterinarian has narrowed down the origin of the diarrhea to large intestine and if your pet is still suffering from diarrhea (continual or intermittent) for 3-4 weeks, it is definitely time to delve in with a more aggressive workup.

It is crucial to revisit the history and disease progression with your veterinarian. 

Perhaps something was missed.  Details that seem unimportant to you (or you don't even think of) often unveil the case.  For instance, knowing that the rescue dog you just adopted came from a part of the country where fungal infection are prevalent and providing this information to your vet may make all the difference in the world to you and your dog.

Dogs with chronic large bowel diarrhea usually appear healthy on physical exam.  

This is not always the case, of course.  If your dog shows signs of being clinically unwell in addition to the diarrhea, a minimum database of lab tests is important to gain more information about how your dog's health as a whole is doing.  This may point towards a systemic problem and give your vet the information needed to know how aggressively and quickly action should be taken.

After obvious and easier causes are ruled out, large intestinal diarrhea calls for more invasive diagnostics.  

These diagnostics include many that have already been discussed in the previous posts:  fecal cultures, rectal cytology, x-rays, abdominal ultrasound, and enemas with dye to outline the path of the colon.  After performing all these tests and hearing that your vet still has no answers is very frustrating, and probably getting rather expensive.  Hang in there.

A colonoscopy with biopsy is likely the least invasive of the next advanced diagnostics, and the most direct way to find out what is happening in the colon.  

Colonoscopy and biopsies could reveal a number of diagnoses:  fungal colitis, a mass (such as a malignant tumor or benign polyp), bacterial infections, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease often affects both the colon and the small intestine and has many different types and underlying causes.  They are classified based on the predominate cell type affected:  lymphocytic-plasmacytic, eosinophilic, neutrophilic, granulomatous or histiocytic and are each worthy of lengthy discussion.

Dietary hypersensitivity is all too often overlooked, and can result in signs of chronic colitis.  

Opposite of natural logic, dietary allergies are usually not associated with a recent diet change because hypersensitivities develop over time as a result of chronic exposure.  There currently is no wonderful simple test to find out if your dog has a dietary allergy; a strict exclusion diet for 6-8 weeks is required.  This can be a pre-made processed prescription diet or a home-cooked one.  This takes profound patience on the part of the pet owner while their pet is still experiencing diarrhea but is the only current way to rule out dietary allergy.

In summary, the cause of your pet's diarrhea is not the easiest thing for your veterinarian to diagnose, and certainly not the easy for a pet owner to continually have the patience required to find the reason, especially when it is a chronic problem requiring what feels like endless tests.  There is often an easy reason for your dog's diarrhea, be it intestinal parasites or eating human food to rich and fatty for your canine friend, but many causes are serious and fatal if left untreated, such as lymphoma of the GI tract.

In all cases, diarrhea is a symptom of a disease. Finding out the disease is the difficult part. 

The responsibility to pursue the cause of your pet's diarrhea, and clean it up, lies in your hands.  You are your pet's health care advocate. I encourage you to find a veterinarian that realizes this.

Chronic Large Intestinal Diarrhea Characteristics:

• Weight loss is rare
• Appetite is usually normal
• Vomiting occurs in a small percentage of patients
• Feces volume may be normal or even slightly smaller
• Normal to greatly increased frequency of defecation
• Increased urgency
• Straining
• Frank blood
• Mucous

Related articles:
A Tale of Many Tails—and What Came Out From Underneath Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part I)
Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part II): Acute Small Intestinal Diarrhea 
Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part III): Acute Large Intestinal Diarrhea (Acute Colitis)
Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire: A Symptom Is Your Friend, Treat It With Respect!
The House Is On Fire! Bridget's Pancreatitis
Help! My Dog Is Purple!
It's Your Dog's Health

***

Laci Schaible has always been an animal lover and wanted to be a veterinarian since the third grade. Eager to actualize her dreams, she left home and started college with a full scholarship at the age of 16. She graduated with honors at the age of 19, and then became one of the youngest U.S. trained veterinarians in history when she graduated with her D.V.M. at the age of 23 from Texas A&M University.

After practicing as an associate at an emergency / referral and general practice small animal hospital, she was anxious to lead and manage her own hospital, which she successfully did for years. Performing surgeries with her husband Jed (also a vet) is one of her favorite aspects of practice.

Together, after losing their beloved family dog Madison to terminal cancer, Laci and Jed realized the need for pet owners to have affordable unbiased guidance for their pet's health care beyond their veterinarian with office hours. 

Jed's entrepreneurial genes and Laci's creative passion motivated them to fill this need, and VetLIVE.com was born.  Check out their blog for a mix of pet health advice, funny stories from the vet perspective, and even cool video blogs from Dr. Jed!

You can also follow Dr. Laci on Twitter  or VetLive on Twitter  or Facebook.

Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment

Jasmine is headed for her next stem cell treatment next Tuesday.

She is not getting additional injections into the already treated joints though, this time it's her elbow. Her elbows didn't get any prior treatment because they were in a good shape back then. But now arthritis in her left elbow is really bothering her. The elbow is probably paying for her feeling so good overall.

Going with the stem cell therapy to treat the arthritis was an easy decision for us. 

We have seen it work! Jasmine had both her hind legs treated, together with each extracapsular repair, two years ago. She also got stem cells injected into her shoulders, and an IV dose.

Given Jasmine's history of bad luck I am a bit nervous about the anesthesia, but I have no second thoughts regarding the treatment itself. 

When it became clear that her lameness wasn't going away, stem cells was the first thing both us, and Jasmine's vet, thought of as a course of action.

While the anesthesia would have played some role in our decision, because Jasmine needs her teeth done also, it was a no-brainer.

Because it made sense to treat all areas that might need some help, Jasmine underwent a thorough examination to see if her back legs or shoulders might need an additional boost. But they don't.

They are in great shape, nobody could tell there was ever anything wrong with them.

There are other good alternative treatments for arthritis, such as acupuncture, laser therapy or physical therapy. Viva's spondylosis responded to acupuncture beautifully.

If your dog can tolerate anesthesia though, we believe that nothing compares to stem cell therapy.

Of course there is a cost concern too. We used a combination of  hydrotherapy, acupuncture and cold laser therapy to treat Jasmine's muscle injury last fall, thinking that it was going to be easier on our already hurting bank account. The treatment worked and her difficult to manage lameness resolved without any help of drugs
.
What we didn't realize, however, was how long that was going to take.

In the end, we spent more money on these treatments than we would have on the stem cell therapy. We learned that just because something seems cheaper—fifty dollars per session sounds low enough—it doesn't mean that it won't add up by the time all is said and done.

Jasmine has to undergo installation of the stem cells only, as she already has a bunch banked with Vet-Stem. 

These are not the original cells harvested—those have been all used up—these are brand new cells that Vet-Stem grew from Jasmine's retention sample! How cool is that?

Makes you feel like being in a science fiction movie, doesn't it?

Nope, no fiction, just very cool science!



We are a little worried about getting the cells through customs as this had been a regular problem for patients in Canada, Ontario in particular. Knowing about the potential issues though, we are ready for it, and hubby will be on a stand-by to pick them up in case hold up at customs does occur.

Bureaucracy gets you every time, doesn't it?

But since we are ready for it, we are hoping that everything will go smoothly this time.

It won't rain if you pack an umbrella!

The good news for dogs in Canada is that in June of this year, Vet-Stem has licensed the exclusive rights for veterinary stem cell services from fat tissue to Chemaphor Inc., so this will cut down on shipping costs and paperwork and eliminate trouble at customs.

While I can't help worrying about things, I am excited about getting Jasmine's leg all fixed up.

There is a lot we owe to VetStem, not only the treatment itself. Through VetStem we found Jasmine's wonderful vet. It if wasn't for him, I doubt Jasmine would have been still with us.

Fingers crossed that Jasmine doesn't come up with any new complications.
Jana

Related articles:
Stem Cells for Dogs? Oh yeah, baby!
Interview with Dr. Robert J. Harman, D.V.M., M.P.V.M. - CEO and founder of Vet-Stem
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child! 
Zeus Gets Stem Cell Treatment

***

Vet-Stem has been providing stem cell training and services to hundreds of veterinarians in the U.S. and Canada since 2004. Over 6,000 animals have been treated for arthritis and/or tendon and ligament injuries, many of which were not responding to other treatment methods.

You can follow latest Vet-Stem news on Arthritis in Dogs Blog
or connect with Vet-Stem on Facebook or Twitter

Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part III): Acute Large Intestinal Diarrhea (Acute Colitis)

by Dr. Laci, aka, Dr. Poop

Now that we've covered acute small intestinal diarrhea, let's talk about acute large intestinal diarrhea, aka, acute colitis.

Large intestinal diarrhea (both acute and chronic) is often seen in young or debilitated dogs. 

A closer look at acute large intestinal diarrhea tells us it is acute nonspecific inflammation of the colon. The inflammation causes mucosal damage which results in bleeding.

The blood seen with colitis is bright red, unlike the darker to black digested blood seen when the small bowel is the injured gut. 

The main functions of the large intestine are storage of fecal material and absorption of water.  When either of these is not working properly, the result is failure to store stool (increased urgency in defecation) and soft to watery stools.

Indicators that your dog is suffering from large bowel, not small bowel diarrhea: 

• semi-formed to liquid feces
• fresh blood or mucous in stool
• increased frequency of defecation (six or more times daily)
• straining, an urgent need to go
• and no weight loss.

Patients don't lose weight like they do with small intestinal diarrhea because the small intestine is the one responsible for more absorption of nutrients.  With large bowel diarrhea, the pet is still getting the vitamins and minerals needed for the most part and therefore, they aren't dropping pounds when they have large bowel diarrhea.

The good news about acute large intestinal diarrhea is that it is easier to break down and diagnose than other causes we have talked about so far. 

In fact, far more than 50% of the cases I have treated of acute large bowel diarrhea have parasitic or dietary causes.

Where I start as the veterinarian is with a thorough history.

Things you will be asked about include any medications your pet is on, dietary indiscretion (potential of eating spoiled food or foreign objects, dietary allergy or intolerance (less likely to be an acute cause, but possible with a food change), contact with other animals , and the pet is exposed to stressful situations which could predispose him/her to bacterial overgrowth.

If supportive treatment (withholding food then reintroduction with bland food) has failed and you find yourself at your vet's office, fecal tests are likely to be a starting point.

Unfortunately, there is more than one type of fecal test, and some parasites, like whipworms, shed infrequently, so your dog could be infected with whipworms and the test be negative if the worm wasn't shedding eggs at the time of the test.

The different types of fecal tests are direct smears, fecal floatation, tests specific for specific parasites (Giardia being an example), rectal cytology, and even fecal cultures.
 
Which tests are most appropriate for your dog will be determined by your veterinarian.

If your dog is otherwise clinically ill or your veterinarian finds abnormalities on the physical exam, even further diagnostics may be needed.  

If your vet requests to do these tests (such as a blood cell count and chemistry panel) they are trying to rule out causes of diarrhea that are non-GI in origin, or affecting the GI tract and causing the side effect of diarrhea when their is a more severe systemic disease occurring.

In summary, here is a list of some of causes of acute colitis:

• whipworms (Trichuris vulpis)
• garbage gut
• Coccidia spp.
• Giardia spp.
• bacterial causes (Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter spp)
• and food-induced allergic colitis

Like I promised, an easier list to sort from. Please keep in mind that multiple fecal tests may be needed, and some fecal tests may need to be repeated to try and catch those sneaky intermittent parasites. Try not to be frustrated with your vet; it is a frustrating place to be in when don't have the answers for you.

The good news is most cases of acute colitis will be solved and resolved within 72 hours.

Related articles:
A Tale of Many Tails—and What Came Out From Underneath Stories from My Diary-rrhea (part I)
Acute Small Intestinal Diarrhea
Acute Large Intestinal Diarrhea (Acute Colitis)
hronic Large Intestinal Diarrhea
Chronic Small Intestinal Diarrhea

***

Laci Schaible has always been an animal lover and wanted to be a veterinarian since the third grade. Eager to actualize her dreams, she left home and started college with a full scholarship at the age of 16. She graduated with honors at the age of 19, and then became one of the youngest U.S. trained veterinarians in history when she graduated with her D.V.M. at the age of 23 from Texas A&M University.

After practicing as an associate at an emergency / referral and general practice small animal hospital, she was anxious to lead and manage her own hospital, which she successfully did for years. Performing surgeries with her husband Jed (also a vet) is one of her favorite aspects of practice.

Together, after losing their beloved family dog Madison to terminal cancer, Laci and Jed realized the need for pet owners to have affordable unbiased guidance for their pet's health care beyond their veterinarian with office hours. 

Jed's entrepreneurial genes and Laci's creative passion motivated them to fill this need, and VetLIVE.com was born.  Check out their blog for a mix of pet health advice, funny stories from the vet perspective, and even cool video blogs from Dr. Jed!

You can also follow Dr. Laci on Twitter  or VetLive on Twitter  or Facebook.