Veterinary medicine has always been at the forefront of technological advances. The medical care your dog receives today rivals that of most humans. Cutting-edge procedures and products promise not only to treat illness and extend longevity but improve our canines’ quality of life. Here are eight high-tech breakthroughs I think every dog parent should know about.<\/p>\n
Liquid biopsy<\/h3>\n
Cancer screening blood tests.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0Canine cancer can be tough to diagnose early, and early diagnosis is essential for better outcomes. With an estimated half of all U.S. dogs over age 10 developing cancer, simple, low-cost screening tests are more important than ever. Your vet can now take a blood sample and search for evidence of cancer nucleosomes, the earliest sign of many tumors. I\u2019m recommending this for my senior doggo patients, especially Golden Retrievers, Boxers, Flat-Coated Retrievers, Beagles, Bernese Mountain Dogs and others at highest risk of cancer.<\/p>\n Mast cell tumor revolution in a syringe.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0Speaking of cancer, mast cell tumors (MCTs) are the most common canine skin cancer and one of the most challenging to cure. That changed with the development of an innovative injectable cancer treatment called Stelfonta. Your veterinarian injects a tiny amount of this drug (derived from a plant discovered in the Australian rainforest) into the tumor site and, over a few weeks, the tumor dies. Researchers promise this is the first of many exciting pet cancer treatments to come.<\/p>\n Treatment for anxiety, pain and more.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0For decades, humans have used electromagnetic energy to help treat a wide variety of conditions including PTSD, depression, chronic pain and bone healing. Your dog can now benefit from applying targeted electromagnetic wavelengths to help overcome separation, noise and general anxiety disorders, acute and chronic inflammation, arthritis and after surgery. My favorite instrument is the FDA-cleared Assisi Loop, a halo-like device you use at home and place over an affected area a few minutes daily. Numerous vets and pet parents swear by it, and the scientific evidence continues to grow.<\/p>\n Arthritis and inflammation therapy.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0I\u2019ve been using class IV laser therapy (\u201ccold laser\u201d) on my patients for nearly 20 years. To say I\u2019m a fan is an understatement. Whether a dog has arthritis, hip dysplasia, wounds or nearly any inflamed tissue, chances are laser therapy can help. Modern therapeutic lasers are highly sophisticated and offer levels of precision that ensure your dog receives the safest and most effective treatment. Plus, you and your pooch get to wear those cool \u201claser glasses\u201d during the procedure!<\/p>\n More accurate X-rays.<\/strong> <\/em>|\u00a0You\u2019ve probably heard the terms \u201cartificial intelligence\u201d or AI, and now the power of advanced computing is being applied to your pet\u2019s X-rays. Many vet clinics are able to transmit your dog\u2019s digital radiographs to a veterinary radiologist equipped with cutting-edge computing to carefully screen for abnormalities potentially missed by humans. This \u201chuman-computer radiology\u201d or \u201csecond set of eyes\u201d approach has been used successfully for years in human diagnostic imaging, and now that the cost has been lowered, it is accessible to our pet patients.<\/p>\n Whether a dog has arthritis, hip dysplasia, wounds or nearly any inflamed tissue, chances are laser therapy can help.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Deciphering genetics to predict disease.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0When doggie DNA tests were first introduced, they were more \u201cWho\u2019s your daddy?\u201d than \u201cWhat diseases are you at risk for?\u201d Fortunately, we\u2019ve now cataloged the genetic profiles of many diseases (and it\u2019s growing!) and are able to use your dog\u2019s DNA to assess the risk of many life-threatening diseases \u2014 before they occur. By knowing that your dog has the genetic characteristics of certain conditions, you can be more vigilant and make lifestyle changes to help reduce the chances of your pet developing them. I\u2019m an advocate for every puppy (and kitten) to have their DNA analyzed and stored. This not only allows the identification of current potential problems, but future alerts as our disease DNA database grows.<\/p>\n Health apps get healthier.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0I\u2019ve long been a proponent of canine activity trackers, or \u201cdoggie FitBits.\u201d Originally they did little more than \u201ccount steps,\u201d but the current generation of wearable devices are capable of much more. For starters, integrating a GPS chip into a collar to help locate a lost dog is a gamechanger and an absolute necessity for any escape artist. Adding sensors to detect sleep, eating, drinking and breathing rates are transforming how we view our dogs’ daily habits. More recently, some smart collars are able to monitor body temperature, heart rate and even heart rate variability (HRV), an excellent way to detect stress or pain.<\/p>\n Vet visits at home.<\/strong> <\/em>|\u00a0Unable to take your dog to your vet? There\u2019s an app for that. During the pandemic, many vets began \u201cseeing\u201d patients virtually using videoconferencing programs, and these remote appointments worked well. If you have an existing relationship with your veterinarian, known in legal terms as a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), your vet can legally examine, diagnose, and even prescribe remotely, as long as they\u2019re comfortable with the pet\u2019s condition. I\u2019ve found telemedicine incredibly helpful in re-check exams, allergies and arthritis, behavior consultations and minor ailments. As in-home monitoring devices improve, I foresee a time when most routine visits can be conducted remotely, freeing busy vet clinics to aid more serious ailments.<\/p>\n These are only a few of the exciting and innovative technologies available today to help your dog live longer and healthier. As science and computing advance, I predict the human-animal bond will only grow stronger. Thank you, science!<\/p>\n The post Cutting-Edge Procedures & Products at Your Vet’s Office<\/a> by Dr. Ernie Ward<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Cutting-Edge Procedures & Products at Your Vet’s Office<\/a> by Dr. Ernie Ward<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Veterinary medicine has always been at the forefront of technological advances. The medical care your dog receives today rivals that of most humans. Cutting-edge procedures and products promise not only to treat illness and extend longevity but improve our canines’ quality of life. Here are eight high-tech breakthroughs I think every dog parent should know about.<\/p>\n Cancer screening blood tests.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0Canine cancer can be tough to diagnose early, and early diagnosis is essential for better outcomes. With an estimated half of all U.S. dogs over age 10 developing cancer, simple, low-cost screening tests are more important than ever. Your vet can now take a blood sample and search for evidence of cancer nucleosomes, the earliest sign of many tumors. I\u2019m recommending this for my senior doggo patients, especially Golden Retrievers, Boxers, Flat-Coated Retrievers, Beagles, Bernese Mountain Dogs and others at highest risk of cancer.<\/p>\n Mast cell tumor revolution in a syringe.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0Speaking of cancer, mast cell tumors (MCTs) are the most common canine skin cancer and one of the most challenging to cure. That changed with the development of an innovative injectable cancer treatment called Stelfonta. Your veterinarian injects a tiny amount of this drug (derived from a plant discovered in the Australian rainforest) into the tumor site and, over a few weeks, the tumor dies. Researchers promise this is the first of many exciting pet cancer treatments to come.<\/p>\n Treatment for anxiety, pain and more.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0For decades, humans have used electromagnetic energy to help treat a wide variety of conditions including PTSD, depression, chronic pain and bone healing. Your dog can now benefit from applying targeted electromagnetic wavelengths to help overcome separation, noise and general anxiety disorders, acute and chronic inflammation, arthritis and after surgery. My favorite instrument is the FDA-cleared Assisi Loop, a halo-like device you use at home and place over an affected area a few minutes daily. Numerous vets and pet parents swear by it, and the scientific evidence continues to grow.<\/p>\n Arthritis and inflammation therapy.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0I\u2019ve been using class IV laser therapy (\u201ccold laser\u201d) on my patients for nearly 20 years. To say I\u2019m a fan is an understatement. Whether a dog has arthritis, hip dysplasia, wounds or nearly any inflamed tissue, chances are laser therapy can help. Modern therapeutic lasers are highly sophisticated and offer levels of precision that ensure your dog receives the safest and most effective treatment. Plus, you and your pooch get to wear those cool \u201claser glasses\u201d during the procedure!<\/p>\n More accurate X-rays.<\/strong> <\/em>|\u00a0You\u2019ve probably heard the terms \u201cartificial intelligence\u201d or AI, and now the power of advanced computing is being applied to your pet\u2019s X-rays. Many vet clinics are able to transmit your dog\u2019s digital radiographs to a veterinary radiologist equipped with cutting-edge computing to carefully screen for abnormalities potentially missed by humans. This \u201chuman-computer radiology\u201d or \u201csecond set of eyes\u201d approach has been used successfully for years in human diagnostic imaging, and now that the cost has been lowered, it is accessible to our pet patients.<\/p>\n Whether a dog has arthritis, hip dysplasia, wounds or nearly any inflamed tissue, chances are laser therapy can help.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Deciphering genetics to predict disease.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0When doggie DNA tests were first introduced, they were more \u201cWho\u2019s your daddy?\u201d than \u201cWhat diseases are you at risk for?\u201d Fortunately, we\u2019ve now cataloged the genetic profiles of many diseases (and it\u2019s growing!) and are able to use your dog\u2019s DNA to assess the risk of many life-threatening diseases \u2014 before they occur. By knowing that your dog has the genetic characteristics of certain conditions, you can be more vigilant and make lifestyle changes to help reduce the chances of your pet developing them. I\u2019m an advocate for every puppy (and kitten) to have their DNA analyzed and stored. This not only allows the identification of current potential problems, but future alerts as our disease DNA database grows.<\/p>\n Health apps get healthier.<\/strong><\/em> |\u00a0I\u2019ve long been a proponent of canine activity trackers, or \u201cdoggie FitBits.\u201d Originally they did little more than \u201ccount steps,\u201d but the current generation of wearable devices are capable of much more. For starters, integrating a GPS chip into a collar to help locate a lost dog is a gamechanger and an absolute necessity for any escape artist. Adding sensors to detect sleep, eating, drinking and breathing rates are transforming how we view our dogs’ daily habits. More recently, some smart collars are able to monitor body temperature, heart rate and even heart rate variability (HRV), an excellent way to detect stress or pain.<\/p>\n Vet visits at home.<\/strong> <\/em>|\u00a0Unable to take your dog to your vet? There\u2019s an app for that. During the pandemic, many vets began \u201cseeing\u201d patients virtually using videoconferencing programs, and these remote appointments worked well. If you have an existing relationship with your veterinarian, known in legal terms as a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), your vet can legally examine, diagnose, and even prescribe remotely, as long as they\u2019re comfortable with the pet\u2019s condition. I\u2019ve found telemedicine incredibly helpful in re-check exams, allergies and arthritis, behavior consultations and minor ailments. As in-home monitoring devices improve, I foresee a time when most routine visits can be conducted remotely, freeing busy vet clinics to aid more serious ailments.<\/p>\n These are only a few of the exciting and innovative technologies available today to help your dog live longer and healthier. As science and computing advance, I predict the human-animal bond will only grow stronger. Thank you, science!<\/p>\n The post Cutting-Edge Procedures & Products at Your Vet’s Office<\/a> by Dr. Ernie Ward<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nInjectable cancer treatment<\/h3>\n
Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy<\/h3>\n
Laser therapy<\/h3>\n
AI radiography<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/1-1-548x400.jpg.optimal.jpg\")
\n
DNA tests<\/h3>\n
Fitness trackers<\/h3>\n
Telemedicine<\/h3>\n
Liquid biopsy<\/h3>\n
Injectable cancer treatment<\/h3>\n
Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy<\/h3>\n
Laser therapy<\/h3>\n
AI radiography<\/h3>\n
\n
DNA tests<\/h3>\n
Fitness trackers<\/h3>\n
Telemedicine<\/h3>\n