Dr. Crouch Attends Conference In Aspen, Colorado

Dr. Crouch recently attended the Veterinary Orthopedic Society Conference in Aspen, Colorado. The purpose of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society's annual conference is to present a forum where individuals involved in the area of orthopedics can meet to discuss or exchange ideas pertaining to the advancement of the field and improvement of patient care. Veterinarians from over 30 countries worldwide were in attendance. Dr. Crouch is thrilled to have had the opportunity to attend this prestigious conference. Staying on the forefront of 21^st century science helps to provide the very best care for our beloved veterinary patients.

Causes and Signs of Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis (OCD) occurs commonly in the shoulders of immature, large and giant-breed dogs. The lesion appears on the caudal surface of the humeral head (Figure 1). Although your dog may be lame in only one leg, this condition is often present in the opposite leg. This condition results in a cartilage flap found on the humeral head. In some cases, the resulting defect occupies half of the area of the humeral head. The cartilage flap may completely detach from the underlying bone and become lodged in the back of the joint pouch.

Causes
The causes of OCD considered to be multifactorial with input from management, genetic and nutritional interactions in young growing dogs.

Incidence and Prevalence
Large and giant-breed dogs are commonly affected. Males are more commonly affected than females.

Signs and Symptoms
Clinical signs often develop when the dog is between 4 and 8 months of age. Dogs usually show a lameness of one forelimb. In many cases, there is a gradual onset of lameness that improves after rest and worsens after exercise.

Risk Factors
Risk factors for OCD include age, gender, breed (genetic), rapid growth, and nutrient excesses, primarily calcium excesses. The hereditary nature is suggested because of high frequency of occurrence within certain breeds of dogs and within certain bloodlines. Males are more commonly affected than females.

When to Seek Veterinary Advice
If your young large breed dog is persistently lame in a forelimb, especially after exercise, you should have a physical exam performed. If the dog is painful on palpation of the shoulder, usually during shoulder extension and flexion, then radiographs of the shoulder should be made to evaluate for OCD.

Please contact Western Carolina Veterinary Surgery for further information.
828.684.0019

- Information provided by American College of Veterinary Surgery.

Financial Aid

Our pets are more then just four legged animals, they are family. Below is an article provided by In Memory Of Magic , also known as IMOM, a charity whos mission statement is "Helping people help pets". This article features an option for emergency financial aid for crisis situations concerning your pets.

Financial Assistance From IMOM
http://www.imom.org/fa/index.htm

"Due to the current economic crisis and decline in donations, IMOM presently accepts applications for life threatening emergencies only. Life threatening emergencies are defined as follows:

A life threatening emergency exists when it has been confirmed in writing by a veterinarian that your pet will die or have to be humanely euthanized if care is not provided within ten days from the date of diagnosis.

You are understandably under stress and want to get through this process as quickly as possible. Everyone who volunteers for IMOM is well aware of that. We will always do our best to help you help your pet if you qualify. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as simply exchanging a few emails and IMOM sending a check to your veterinarian.

You need to take a deep breath and try to relax as much as you can. Following the steps as we have them outlined is not nearly as daunting as it looks.

There are no shortcuts. As you read through the step-by-step instructions please keep in mind that IMOM is a federally registered charity. We have to justify every penny we spend to the IRS, our donors and grantors. In order to do that we need to have complete files on each and every case.

If you follow our step-by-step instructions, making sure to send the proper documents, our financial aid committee can usually have an answer for you in less than two hours after receiving your application -- sometimes less. However, please keep in mind that sometimes we sleep or take breaks to :)

The bottom line is this -- we've been doing this since 1998 and we know what works. All of our volunteers know exactly what is needed to get your pet the care they need, if you qualify. We are here and ready to do our jobs but we are helpless if you don't do your part.

The reality

As much as IMOM would like to help everyone who comes to us, it is simply not possible. We are working with very limited funds and an overabundance of requests for help.

IMOM presently accepts applications for life threatening emergencies only. Life threatening emergencies are defined below:

• A life threatening emergency exists when it has been confirmed in writing by a veterinarian that your pet will die or have to be humanely euthanized if care is not provided within ten days from the date of diagnosis.

Click on "Financial Aid" then "Step 1" in the menu on the left side of this page to get started.

PS...

If you feel like it's just too much to read and too many documents to provide, you should know that since 1998 IMOM has help more than 1800 pets and paid out more than 1.5 million dollars to veterinarians nation wide. Our system works so that we are able to comply with the IRS and to help you help your pet."

Tracheal Collapse

Tracheal collapse is a chronic, progressive disease of the trachea, or windpipe. The trachea is a flexible tube and, similar to a vacuum cleaner hose, it has small rings of cartilage that help keep the airway open when the dog is breathing, moving, or coughing. The rings of cartilage are C-shaped, with the open part of the C facing upward. Between the two ends of the C is a long band of tissue- the dorsal membrane- that runs the length of the airway. In some dogs, the C-shaped cartilage becomes weak and begins to flatten out. Initially it becomes U shaped but, as the dorsal membrane stretches, the cartilage rings get flatter and flatter until the trachea collapses (Figure 1). The collapse can extend all the way into the bronchi- the tubes that feed air into the lungs, resulting in severe airway compromise in the animal. Figure 1. Diagram of tracheal collapse. Tracheal collapse is graded mild (Grade 1 = 25% collapse) to severe (Grade 4 =100% collapse). The trachea in dogs most often collapses at the thoracic inlet (green arrows) where the trachea bends to enter the chest. Initially dogs may present with a harsh dry cough that sounds like a goose honking. Coughing may occur when the dog is picked up or if someone pulls on its collar, since either may put pressure on the airway. As the disease progresses, the dogs may develop exercise intolerance or even turn blue with excitement. The strain of breathing may cause secondary heart disease. Some dogs may also have laryngeal paralysis along with tracheal collapse; the cartilages at the entrance to the windpipe will not open properly and the dogs will develop a wheezy noise when they breathe inward. Small breed dogs are most commonly affected with the disease, particularly Yorkshire terriers, Pomeranians, poodles, and Chihuahuas. Affected dogs are often middle aged or older, though it can be seen in some young dogs as well. Dogs that are overweight or that live in household with smokers may be more at risk or at least more likely to show clinical signs. Medical management includes weight loss, cough suppressants, antispasmodics or bronchodilators to reduce airway spasms, and sedation to reduce coughing and anxiety. Some dogs may require heavy doses of sedation to break the coughing cycle, since coughing will irritate the airway and lead to more coughing. Additionally dogs should be kept away from smoke and other environmental pollution (coughing may be even stimulated by smoke or other irritants brought in on clothing and hair). Dogs with infections are treated with antibiotics. Medical management may work for up to 70% of dogs, particularly those that have mild collapse. Some animals do not respond to medical management, however, and require surgical or interventional treatment. Collapse of the trachea in the neck or thoracic inlet- the front part of the chest where the trachea bends- is treated by surgical placement of plastic rings (Figure 6, 7) or spirals around the outside of the trachea. If the collapse is deep within the chest, it can sometimes be corrected by placing a stent- a spring like device- inside of the airway to hold the trachea open (Figure 8). Most dogs that receive stents will require ring placement in the neck or thoracic inlet region as well. Medical management is continued after the surgery, and most dogs are placed on a course of steroids to reduce swelling and irritation from the ring or stent placement. Owners must continue to keep their dogs thin and avoid exposing them to smoke or other airway pollutants. Also, they should use a harness that is specially made to fit low on the chest so that no pressure is put on the neck area when the dog is being walked. In winter months, a humidifier may help relieve irritation from dry, heated air. At this time there is no known prevention for tracheal collapse, although reducing weight or exposure to airway irritants such as smoke may help. About 70% of dogs that are treated with medical management alone will show some improvement. About 20% of dogs that undergo tracheal ring placement will require a tracheostomy- a temporary or permanent breathing hole in the neck. About 75% of dogs improve after surgical placement of rings. Dogs that are older than 6 years of age or that have laryngeal or bronchial disease have more complications and a poorer long-term outcome. Of dogs that receive stents, 95% are immediately improved and 90% are markedly improved at the time of recheck. Control of coughing is important for a good outcome, and dogs with bronchial collapse (and therefore continued coughing) are much more likely to have problems after stent or ring placement. This information on Tracheal Collapse and much more can be found on the American College of Veterinary Surgery's website! acvs.org