Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is the place to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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To dog pawrents, there are few words scarier than “cancer” and “oncology.”
The Southwest's Best Specialty Care
Since 2004, the Veterinary Cancer Care clinic has provided the most compassionate, modern cancer care in the Southwest. Founded by Dr. Jeanette Kelly, a board-certified oncologist and graduate of Colorado State University's vet school, the VCC team helped me successfully battle cancer while making my quality of life the number one priority. Thanks to their advanced treatment with Metronomic Therapy and their K9 Immunity clinical trial I participated in, I fought cancer longer than anyone ever thought pawsible.
In April, my pawrents returned to the VCC to see what they've been up to since our last visit in 2008. The clinic has grown tremendously, especially after relocating to a campus which also houses the Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Centers of New Mexico (VESC), a 24-hour animal emergency and specialty center.
The VESC is a one-stop-medical center where animals can receive the most modern specialty care available for surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, dermatology, oncology, physical therapy, dentistry, animal behavior, and acupuncture.
X-Rays, CAT Scans and MRIs: What's the Difference?
Dr. Hady will also discuss which technologies are best at diagnosing things like lung metastasis, cancerous growths and fractures. She also explains how fast osteosarcoma can grow in a dog's leg and lungs, as she shows us chest and leg X-rays of a bone cancer dog who wasn't a candidate for amputation.
If you're the patient of a dog cancer patient and wondering what technologies will provide the best look at your dog's cancer, remember these differences:
Computerized Tomography (aka "CAT Scan" or "CT Scan)
A CT Scan uses X-ray images taken from many different angles around the animal, which are then processed as a computer to show cross-sectional slices of the body. Dr. Louise Murray, DVM, author of "Vet Confidential," says that CT scans are best at detecting small abnormalities, such as metastatic cancer in the lungs. CT Scans require general anesthesia and sometimes contrasting agents must be injected into the body to enhance the images.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (aka "MRI")
MRIs give exceptional detail of soft tissues, such as the shoulder, brain and spinal cord. MRIs can be used to diagnose tumors, strokes and herniated spinal disks as well as neurological issues. MRIs require general anesthesia.
Stay tuned for more great canine cancer information and tips we learned from the good people at the VESC and the Santa Fe Veterinary Cancer Care center.
Many thanks to the good people at the Veterinary Cancer Care and Veterinary Emergency Specialty Center for spending the day with us! Catch our other VCC / VESC interviews:
- VCC / VESC Interview #2: Tripawd Max Does Swimmingly Well, Even After Hip Replacements
- VCC / VESC Interview #3: Bisphosphonates: When Amputation isn’t an Option
- VCC / VESC Interview #4: How to Pick a Veterinarian for Amputation Surgery
“Veterinary Cancer Care P.C. is committed to providing compassionate, high quality treatment to all pets with cancer. Using state of the art therapies, nutrition and kind care, we treat the whole patient, not just the cancer. To alleviate the hardships of cancer, our staff provides a positive family atmosphere, filled with love and hope. We hold a great respect for the human-animal bond, and will always honor your relationship with your pet above all."
"Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Centers of Santa Fe is a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital that provides emergency care for injured and sick dogs and cats as well as specialty medical and surgical treatment by skilled doctors on a referral basis. "
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Very interesting discussion! Thanks for posting it!
I just wished it wasn't so darned expensive to get a CT or MRI! Maybe it's just the place I went but my CT estimate with all of the stuff you have to do with putting the dog under: $4059 (with $352 of that being radiographs).
For those of my friends that didn't think I had a spending limit on Comet - I DID!
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Glad you liked it.
Ouch. I know that at Davis when Jerry got DXd a MRI was somewhere around $3500. He had a CT scan instead, and I can't recall the price. I think I'm blocking.
Just another reason why Pet Insurance is beginning to be the norm these days.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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