Introducing Mojo…

Mojo is a very friendly, black and white, nine year old cat. In March of 2012, his owners had noticed one of his shoulders sticking out in a peculiar way with a firm lump on it. They brought him in to our hospital to see his doctor. After taking a few x-rays it was determined that poor Mojo had a tumor in the bone which was cancerous. A few more x-rays were taken of his chest to make sure the cancer had not spread. Thankfully---his lungs were clear of any masses. The following week his leg was amputated to remove the cancer and prevent the chance of any further complications.

“Osteocarcoma” or “OSA”, is a type of bone cancer. “Osteo” refers to bone and “sarcoma” relates to cancer. It is rare but extremely aggressive and can spread very quickly to other parts of the body. It can develop in any bone but is most commonly seen in the limbs. The cancerous tumor causes degeneration and breakdown of the bone becoming more painful as the disease progresses. It basically destroys the bone from the inside out, replacing normal bone tissue with cancerous cells. The bone become less strong as a normal bone and can break easily.

Bone cancer can be seen in both cats and dogs but is so rare in cats that it is found in about 5 out of 100,000! Cats are fortunate in the fact that it is less likely for the cancer to spread to other parts of the body than it is for dogs. It has been found in all ages of cats with the average being about 10 years old. Currently there is no research linking genetics or gender to this type of cancer in cats, but it does seem to appear more often in larger breeds of cats. Specific breeds of dogs however can be linked to osteosarcoma.

Most symptoms of osteosarcoma are subtle. The symptoms can include limping, pain, or swelling. In Mojo’s case, he was not limping, did not seem painful, and was running around the house normally. The only symptom he had was the lump felt near his shoulder.

X-rays are used most commonly to diagnose osteosarcoma. Other tests such as CT scans or biopsies can be used as well. Amputation of the affected limb is the standard treatment for OSA and resolves the pain associated with the tumor. Most pets function well with loss of a limb and adapt fairly quickly. Some studies show the average survival time after amputation for cats as 2 years. Unfortunately there are currently no known preventative measures against bone cancer in animals. Mojo recovered well from his surgery and is getting around just fine!

Tammy Burkon, CVT

MEET WILLOW….

Willow is a two year old dachshund. Her loving family adopted her from a rescue organization in 2010. In February of 2012, she started urinating frequently so they brought her in to see the veterinarian. After taking a radiograph (x-ray) of her abdomen, the doctors at Hoffman Estates Animal Hospital learned that Willow had a bladder stone. She had surgery performed at our hospital to remove the stone and now Willow is feeling much better!

Bladder stones are called termed “uroliths” in veterinary medicine. They are formed by an excessive amount of crystals in the urinary tract of the pet. This can happen in both dogs and cats. Like in humans, the stones can form anywhere in the urinary tract including the urethra, kidney, and bladder. In dogs and cats they are most commonly found in the bladder. The stones cause irritation to the urinary tract which can cause pain and often blood in the urine. In certain cases the stones can block the output of urine. This makes urination very painful and impossible. If there is a blockage it can be life threatening if not treated quickly.

The symptoms of bladder stones can be very similar to other urinary tract disorders. The symptoms can be seen as blood in the urine, leaking of urine, frequent urination, straining to urinate, pain, loss of appetite, and depression. Not all animals with stones in the bladder will show all of the symptoms or any symptoms at all, so it is important to have your pet checked by a veterinarian if anything seems unusual.

There are many factors that can lead to uroliths. They can appear at any age of the pet but are usually seen in animals between two and ten years old and occur equally in both males and females. Blockages are more common in males because the urethra is narrower and longer than in females. Uroliths are seen more commonly in smaller breed dogs than larger breeds. Diet has been directly linked to stone formation, especially diets high in certain minerals. Sometimes the cause can be from the urine pH, bacteria, abnormal metabolism in the liver, not drinking enough water in combination with not being allowed to urinate frequently, or sometimes the cause is never determined.
There are different types of urinary crystals. Stones are usually formed from one type of crystal but sometimes can be made up of more than one different kind. Each type of stones and crystals is affected by different nutrients and minerals in the diet. If a stone is found it is important to identify which type of stone it is so a proper diet can be prescribed. These diets reduce the specific minerals and adjust the pH of the urine to help prevent future stones from occurring. Each diet is formulated to treat a specific type of stone. 20 to 50 percent of patients will have a recurrence if a preventative diet change is not done.

Bladder stones come in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes there is only one stone present and other times there are multiple. Willow had one stone, about the size of a quarter. To surgically remove the stones the animal must be placed under general anesthesia. The procedure is called a “cystotomy”. This means to make a surgical opening into the bladder. During the surgery the bladder is cut open to remove the stone (or stones). The stones will then be sent to a laboratory for analysis. The bladder is flushed thoroughly before sutured closed. Recovery is quick and most pets are back to normal within a few weeks.

Willow is doing much better after her cystotomy and her bladder is much more comfortable without a stone rolling around in it! Her caring parents recently gave a great report that she is back to her normal, bossy, silly self!

Tammy Burkon, CVT

Introducing Izzi…

Izzi is a very sweet 3 year old cocker spaniel. From the outside she looks like a normal canine companion. In March of 2011, she had surgery to have her ear canal removed. She had a very persistent infection that caused irreversible damage to her ear. The tissue in the ear canal actually started to turn into bone and was very painful. She still has the outside of her ear so she looks normal, but the inside of the ear is no longer there.

The canine ear is made of three main parts, the external ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Ear infections can affect any part of the ear. Different signs can occur when different areas are affected. When the ear is chronically infected, like with Izzi, the canal can become thickened and calcify. The ear canal is “L” shaped making it difficult for fluid to drain or for air flow in and out of the canal. When the canal becomes inflamed or thickened it is even more difficult. Ear infections can affect any dog but they can be very common in specific breeds, like cocker spaniels.

The surgery to remove the canal is called an “ear canal ablation and bulla osteotomy”. This procedure removes the entire diseased ear canal. The middle ear, or bulla, is opened up in order to remove infected tissue in the middle ear. The surgical area is sutured closed to heal. After the surgical area has healed, there is not an opening to the ear. The ear “flap” is still there just covering skin instead of an opening. This type of surgery is successful in resolving pain and discomfort from the ear in 90-95% of cases.

Owners of specific breeds, like cocker spaniels, or dogs with allergies, should be extra prepared for ear problems. If an infection is present it should be treated promptly to prevent inflammation or thickening of the canal. When your pet is at our office for an exam, it is routine for our doctors to check your pet’s ears for any sign of infection.

We love having Izzi visit us at Hoffman Estates Animal Hospital! She may have lost her ear canal but she didn’t lose her sweet personality.

Tammy Burkon, CVT

Meet Tessie….

Tessie is a ten year old mixed breed. She is one of the sweetest dogs you'd ever meet! She also performs some impressive tricks, if you have enough treats! You'd never know that she is no longer has a gallbladder.

In January 2011, Tessie did not feel good. She was vomiting severely and was lethargic. Her owner brought her in to see the doctor. After an ultrasound we found that Tessie had some “sludge” in her gallbladder. She went to a specialty center to have her gall bladder removed. By the time surgery began her gallbladder had ruptured. The surgeon actually had to peel away her gallbladder from the liver. After a few days of hospitalization and strict care Tessie was able to go home where she recovered very quickly.

The gallbladder is the organ that is found between the lobes of the liver and stores bile. The bile is produced in the liver, then stored in the gallbladder, then excreted into the small intestine through the bile duct. Bile helps in the digestion of fat. The gallbladder acts as a “storage garage” for bile.

Gallbladder disease can occur when there is either an obstruction in the gallbladder or in the bile duct which results in a restricted flow of bile. If this happens, the bile can become more concentrated and thicker, and can produce inflammation or gall stones. Problems with the gallbladder usually happen in dogs that are at least middle-aged and according to “The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook”, poodles, cocker spaniels, and Shetland sheepdogs have an increased risk for developing gallbladder problems. If the gallbladder ruptures it is very serious and is an emergency situation. The bile leaks into the abdomen which can cause infection and peritonitis, which is an infection of the lining of the stomach, and can be fatal.

The sooner the diseased gallbladder is caught and treated, the better the prognosis is for the pet. Dogs can survive with a normal life expectancy after gall bladder removal, just like humans. The bile directly flows from the liver instead of being stored in the gallbladder. The dog will need to be fed a low-fat diet the rest of its life after surgery. The surgery will also eliminate the risk for pancreatitis in the future of the health of the pet.

Tessie is doing just fine without her gallbladder. She is doing well and is as good as new. She may have lost her gallbladder but she didn’t lose her sweet personality.

Tammy Burkon, CVT...

Introducing Bailey….. 

  Bailey is a ten year old Golden Retriever.  In February 2011, we found out Bailey had a tumor on her liver which ruptured.  A lobe of her liver was removed in an emergency surgery, which included having several blood transfusions.  

Late one cold winter evening, Bailey’s family took her to the emergency vet because she was acting lethargic, weak, panting a lot, and had pale gums.  The doctor also noticed her belly seemed distended and firm.   The hospital took x-rays which diagnosed the tumor in her abdomen.  Bailey then went to another hospital to have emergency surgery performed to remove this tumor, which happened to be actively bleeding.

During surgery, the doctor found approximately 2 ½ liters of blood in her abdomen, which came from the ruptured tumor.  All of the fluid was removed and the tumor, including part of the liver, was taken out of her abdomen.   Due to so much blood loss the surgeon started blood transfusions during surgery and Bailey was hospitalized with strict observation and care for a few days.

The tumor was sent to a laboratory for biopsy.  The results of the test came back as “hepatocellular carcinoma”, which is a type of liver cancer.  Bailey was started on chemotherapy and was given a fantastic prognosis of surviving one to two years.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a type of malignant tumor of the tissue that lines the surface of the liver.  This type accounts for more than 50 percent of all types of cancerous liver tumors in canines combined.  This type of cancer is not breed specific and generally affects dogs that are over ten years old.  There usually are no symptoms until the disease is advanced.  Surgery is almost always needed for treatment, and up to seventy-five percent of the liver can be taken out without loss of function.

Bailey has been on chemotherapy that she takes by mouth and recently had blood work done which showed no evidence at all of any liver damage or cancer.  The cancer did not spread and was caught just in time to save her life!

Tammy Burkon CVT... 

Meet….Madison!

Meet Madison Cooke….a beautiful, one year old Golden Retriever.   Madison is a “good dog, doing good”.  She is a therapy dog.  She visits nursing homes and long term care facilities to provide comfort and affection to sick and elderly people.

 Therapy dogs, like Madison, are trained to visit various settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and special care centers with their handler to provide emotional benefits to those in need.  Therapy dogs are specifically trained to provide companionship, affection, and comfort.  Increasingly, therapy dogs are used to help people with learning disabilities and those in disaster situations such as medical personnel and first responders.

Therapy dogs are different than service or assistance dogs.  Service dogs undergo prolonged training to assist their owners. Although, Service dogs, unlike Therapy dogs, cannot be distracted while working.  Service dogs are covered under the “Americans with Disabilities Act” and have the legal right to accompany their owners to most places.  Therapy dogs do not have this legal right and it is up to the individual institution to decide whether or not to permit therapy dogs on their premises.  Many have strict guidelines, testing, and requirements for therapy dogs to be allowed to visit, which can include passing the American kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Exam or equivalent of that exam.

While a Therapy dog is visiting a facility, the residents may touch the dog, brush the pet’s coat, watch the dog do tricks, have the dog sit on their lap, or simply just look at the dog in hopes to have their minds taken off of their own personal illness or problems and think about the dog, if even for a few minutes.  The affect pets have on humans can be unreal.  They can help greatly in times of fear and pain.

There is no specific breed or mix of breeds that is better than another for therapy work. The most important factors are personality and temperament, like being gentle, friendly, and affectionate. They must be willing to accept the attention of strangers and enjoy contact with humans.  They also must be willing to tolerate the sometimes awkward handling done by both adults and children.  Children especially love to hug therapy dogs, while most adults are content sitting and petting the dog.

Studies show that animals can help relieve stress, raise spirits, and lower blood pressure in humans.  According to National Geographic, a recent study scientifically proves that even brief weekly visits by canines to nursing homes have a positive therapeutic impact and reduces the level of loneliness in the elderly.  They have also helped with the treatment of emotional and speech disorders in children.

Madison began her training at 4 months of age and has successfully completed courses in Beginner Training, two levels of Intermediate Training, Advanced Training, and Advanced Canine Good Citizen.  In August, Madison passed the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Exam.  She is currently enrolled in a class preparing her for a certification for hospital visits.  She is going to continue visiting the local senior citizen centers but will be acquiring the certification to also visit veterans in the nearby hospitals. Madison’s owner has been a client of Dr. House’s for over thirty years and we love when Madison comes to visit us too!

Volunteering time and your pet can be so rewarding, just knowing what a difference one animal can make in the life of another.

Tammy Burkon, CVT

Meet Abigail!

Abigail is a 5 year old yellow Labrador retriever.  In June 2011, she was outside playing ball when she suddenly started limping on one of her rear legs.  She did not want to apply any pressure to that leg and was only touching the ground with her toes.   After a thorough physical exam, radiographs of her knees, and a consult with a specialist, we found that she had a 90% tear in her cranial cruciate ligament.  After surgery to repair the ligament, her leg is more stable.  The surgery also decreased the possible progression of degenerative joint disease and Abigail feels much better. 

 There are several ligaments within the knee that help with stabilization.  Two of them cross each other inside the knee joint.  These are nick named the “cross ligaments”.  The cranial cruciate ligament is the more common of the two to be involved in injury.   It is similar to a hinge on a door.  If the hinge is not working properly, the door is not very stable when opening and closing.  When this ligament tears, either partially or completely, the tibia (lower leg bone) moves more freely beneath the femur which causes the dog to limp or not want to walk on it.  A lot of football players can tell you how it feels to tear this ligament!

 Cruciate injuries are one of the most common orthopedic complications seen in our canine friends.  Obese, overweight, and large breeds are more prone to cruciate injuries than other dogs.  The cruciate ligament can tear when the dog slips, turns suddenly when running, or in more traumatic injuries like being hit by a car.  Surgery is generally the preferred method of treatment.

There are many surgical techniques used to repair cruciate ligament problems.  Each dog’s anatomy can help decide which the best option is.  One of the surgeries is called a Tibial Tuberosity Advancement, or a TTA, which is what Abigail had.  This type of surgery involves removing damaged tissue, cutting the tibia to make it a different angle, and also inserting hardware into the knee.  

Five times as many dogs as people undergo cruciate surgery in the United States.  Dogs that injure one cruciate ligament are at an increased risk of injuring the cruciate ligament in the other knee. 

After a few weeks of recovery and rehabilitation, Abigail is using her leg well and is back to normal.  She will hopefully run a little carefully next time she plays ball with her loving family.   

 Tammy Burkon,CVT

Introducing…….Luca!

Luca Hollingsworth is an adorable 2 year old Cocker Spaniel and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mix. One spring day in March of 2011, he was having a case of the “terrible twos”. He, with the help of his sister Cady, had gotten into a bottle of Ibuprofen. His mom rushed him over to see us. We induced vomiting, placed an IV catheter to run IV fluids, and ran some blood work. We also gave him activated charcoal to coat his stomach. After close monitoring in the hospital he was released to go home with his tail still wagging.

Medications that are safe for people can be toxic to pets. The ASPCA Poison Control Center rates Ibuprofen as the number one reason for dog poisoning. The poisoning usually happens from either the dog having consumed the medication after chewing through a bottle of Ibuprofen or the dog being purposely given the drug by a well meaning owner as a type of pain reliever.

Ingestion of Ibuprofen in dogs can cause stomach ulcers, kidney failure, seizures, coma, and even death. Symptoms can take anywhere from 12 hours to several days to start to show up. Removing and flushing the medication out of the pet’s system as soon as possible improves the chances of a full recovery.

It is very important to keep all human and pet medication safely locked away to prevent accidental ingestion. According to an ASPCA study about generic drug exposures in dogs and cats, ibuprofen was the most common drug involved. Dogs were the species most commonly poisoned by ibuprofen; and most exposures were like Luca’s, a result of ingesting tablets after chewing a medication bottle. In some cases, ibuprofen was administered to pets by their owners in the belief that it was a good pain medication. Unfortunately, that is not the case and it is highly toxic.

Cats are thought to be twice as sensitive as dogs to ibuprofen and don’t forget about our furry friends the ferrets. They are especially sensitive to ibuprofen’s toxic effects due to their small size.

The prognosis after an animal ingests Ibuprofen depends on the amount ingested, severity of symptoms, and type of treatment. The faster treatment can be performed the higher the chances of a full recovery.

Thanks to Luca’s caring mom he was brought to us just in time for proper treatment and a speedy recovery. Hopefully Luca learns to chew on toys in his doggie toy box instead of the plastic bottles he found in his sister’s backpack.

Tammy Burkon CVT

We’d like to introduce you to…Cinder!

Cinder is a 15 year old lovable feline. In 2009, he was diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes, which is an abnormal increased pressure within the eye. He had dilated pupils, mild eye enlargement, and could not see. Glaucoma in pets is usually much more painful than in humans. The pain presents itself in the form of a constant migraine headache but cats and dogs usually do not tell us when they have pain, especially a headache. He was referred to Animal Eye Consultants where he had both eyes removed to relieve the pain.

In a normal eye, there is constant production and drainage of fluid called aqueous humor. When there is a problem with the drainage of aqueous humor, the pressure within the eye can increase. The increased pressure within the eye from glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve and decreases blood flow to the retina. When the pressure in the eye stays increased, even for a few hours, the retina can degenerate, resulting in permanent vision loss.

The main treatment for glaucoma is focused on pain relief and decreasing eye pressure. If caught early enough there are some medications that can be used to try to decrease the eye pressure, but usually glaucoma is diagnosed too late and one of the options for treatment can be enucleation, which is removal of the eye, with the eyelids sutured shut to heal.

The only way to diagnose glaucoma is to have the intraocular pressure measured by a veterinarian. The sooner it is diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated. Eye drops are first placed in the eye to temporarily numb it. Then a small device is pressed gently against the eye to measure the amount of pressure within the eye.

Cinder has adjusted without his eyes just fine. He is able to eat, drink, find his litter box, and play with his feline brothers and sister. He is always a gentleman when he visits us at Hoffman Estates Animal Hospital and we look forward to seeing him at each appointment.

--Tammy Burkon, CVT

Introducing....Marty Smith!

Meet Marty Smith, an eight year old Boxer, rescued from Tennessee.  When Marty was rescued, she had many health problems but was as sweet as Tennessee honey.  She was thin, had a heart murmur, and also was diagnosed with Stage II heartworm disease.  Since her rescue in October of last year, she has gained enough pounds to be considered a healthy weight and her parents are saving her life by treating her heartworm disease. 

In December, Marty underwent x-rays, ultrasounds of her heart, and painful injections of medication into her back muscles to kill the heartworms.  After strict rest and lots of tender loving care, she finished treatment in January.  In May, we rechecked a heartworm blood test only to find out that poor Marty still had heartworm disease.  After more x-rays, she is now being treated with an oral medication.  After going through all of this, she still hasn't lost her southern smile!  It's always a delight to have her visit us at Hoffman Estates Animal Hospital!

Sadly, heartworm positive dogs have been found year round in all of the 50 United States.  All dogs ar susceptible to the disease regardless of age, sex and breed.  Fortunately, after a lot of time and research, this disease can be easily prevented.  According to the American Heartworm Society, adult dogs should have a heartworm test prior to using perventative medication and then annually for their lifetime.  Year round prevention is the best way to protect your pet and help decrease the spread of the disease.  As you know, heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes and "man's best friend" is highly susceptible to becoming infected.  Canines serve as the main reservoir of the infection but our feline friends and even ferrets, too, can potentially get the disease.

Even though heartworm disease can be treated, prevention is much more economical and safer.  Puppies should be started on a heartworm preventative, such as Interceptor, at about 8 weeks of age and then given just once a month.  Thanks to cell phone and email reminders, pet parents can easily be reminded of this monthly task.  An added bonus of giving preventative year round is that most brands also prevent against some intestinal parasites, too, which many can even be transmittable to humans! If, by chance, a dose is forgotten, it is highly recommended to have a heartworm bloodtest about 6 months after the missed dose.  When given as directed, it is close to 100% effective and one of the safest medications used in veterinary medicine.  Annual testing is still needed because it insures the disease was prevented or, if the pet does test positive, then a more timely treatment can be provided. 

We all wish Marty the best of luck with the remaining portion of her treatment.  She is very lucky to have such caring parents, who are replacing the nasty heartworms with nothing but love.

--Tammy Burkon, CVT