PASE Articles

As a board-certified veterinary surgeon, surgical oncology cases are a large part of what I see on a day to day basis. Understanding the surgical approach to these cases not only enhances our teamwork but can also significantly improve patient outcomes. Here, I’ll share insights on how we can effectively address tumors in our canine and feline patients from a surgeon’s perspective and how we can best collaborate on these often challenging cases.

Keppra (levetiracetam) is an anti-epileptic drug that is familiar to most veterinarians. It is commonly used in human and veterinary medicine for the treatment/control of focal and generalized seizures. But in addition to its neuromodulatory and neuro inhibitory effects, multiple studies have suggested neuroprotective properties for keppra in both epileptic and non-epileptic conditions.

Feline mammary carcinoma is the third most common tumor in female cats, particularly affecting older, unspayed cats or those spayed later in life. These tumors are often aggressive, with Siamese cats being particularly predisposed.

Blood transfusions are delivered often in the emergency and critical care setting. From patients with trauma, to immune mediated diseases, to even rodenticide ingestions, we find ourselves administering blood products frequently. During the pandemic, we saw an increase in pet ownership. With the increase in pet ownership, there was an increase in the demand for blood products.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) in cats is a common endocrine disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from either insufficient insulin production or insulin resistance. While insulin therapy remains the cornerstone treatment for cats, recent advancements have explored alternative therapies, including sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for insulin resistant cats who may maintain some endogenous insulin production.

The “acute abdomen” is a term for the syndrome that consists of sudden onset abdominal pain combined with any gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting, retching, diarrhea, anorexia, constipation, or nausea. The causes of the acute abdomen can range from mild conditions that can be managed medically on an outpatient basis, to ones that are life threatening and may require emergency surgery.

Heatstroke is a critical medical condition that poses a severe threat to life if not promptly and decisively addressed. Urgent intervention is crucial in order to prevent death or impairment of vital organs. Among the primary components of immediate treatment, active cooling plays a paramount role. The general outlook for dogs suffering from heatstroke stands at a 50% survival rate, with the majority of non-survivors succumbing within a day.

Hip luxation is the most common joint luxation, and occurs most frequently secondary to vehicular trauma. 75% of luxations occur in a craniodorsal direction, so we will focus on treatment options for this type. More emergent concurrent injuries and trauma should be addressed prior to intervention for an injury to the hip.

The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine recently published an updated consensus statement on canine leptospirosis, which you can find here. This monthly newsletter summarizes the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease.

In the bustling airport, the marvel of modern aviation often goes unnoticed as passengers board flights. Yet, through standardized procedures and advanced monitoring, the industry has drastically reduced fatal accidents, paralleling advancements in anesthesia safety, prompting reflection on improving safety in veterinary practices.