Stem cell research often conjures images of political firestorms and futuristic science, yet it’s a field that’s already offering hope for humans and dogs alike. While the idea of fixing spinal injuries and curing disease may be a long way off, dogs treated with stem cells are enjoying a new lease on life.

Pepper, a 10-year-old standard poodle, is a case in point. Crippled with arthritis in both his hips, Pepper came to James Gaynor, DVM, M.S., medical director of Animal Anesthesia & Pain Management Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. His owners fully expected to have to put their dog to sleep. Conventional treatments hadn’t worked or had made their dog even sicker. 

Pepper’s owners were so sure nothing could be done that they bought another puppy. “At our 60-day recheck, the owner was hugging me and crying out of happiness because, in her words, we gave her back her dog,” Dr. Gaynor says. “The only problem is she now had Pepper and a puppy.”

Healthy Dog Bones

It wasn’t long ago that dogs like Pepper with arthritis had few options beyond conventional anti-inflammatory treatments that sometimes don’t work. These treatments include various non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Metacam, Previcox, Rimadyl and, phenylbutazone; steroid medications Prednisone; and disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) such as Adequan Canine. Now stem cells are providing an alternative. One California-based company, Vet-Stem, uses stem cells from dogs’ fat to treat animals in pain.

According to Julie Ryan Johnson, DVM, vice president of sales and marketing, studies have shown that fat is very rich in stem cells. This richness in stem cells makes fat an ideal source, and one that is nearly free from controversy, given that most of us don’t mind having a bit of fat removed. “The way we do this is a veterinarian will send us a sample of the dog’s fat,” Dr. Ryan Johnson says. “We isolate the stem cells from that and then send the stem cells back to the veterinarian who injects them back into the dog — for example, into an arthritic hip or elbow.”

Once in the dog, the stem cells communicate with other cells in their environment. While it’s not known precisely how they work, they do decrease the dog’s pain level. “It’s provided the veterinarian with another solution for helping these animals that have pain or difficulty moving,” Dr. Ryan Johnson says. “Most importantly, for the dog and the dog owner, it offers a quality of life.”

The Possibilities For Dogs

Richard Vulliet, Ph.D., DVM, professor, and director of the Laboratory of Veterinary Cytotherapeutics at UC Davis, says stem cells haven’t cured any diseases yet. Still, researchers are working hard to change that. “I think that stem cells, in general, will rewrite the medical textbooks in the next 10 to 20 years,” Dr. Vulliet says. “They will have an impact on human, canine, feline, and equine health and will allow us to treat diseases that we can only dream about at this time.”

Tony Kremer, DVM, an Illinois-based veterinary surgeon, says that as research progresses into the origin of diseases, there is hope that stem cell therapy might one day be used to treat diabetes and muscular dystrophy in dogs. “It is hoped that this research can repair or replace diseased organs, severed spinal cords, or brain cells destroyed by Alzheimer’s disease in humans and dogs,” he says.

Dr. Vulliet works with adult bone marrow stem cells to investigate potential cures for diseases that cause misery for many dogs. Your dog may soon be able to get breakthrough treatment in the following areas:

• degenerative myelopathy, a debilitating autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system, particularly of German Shepherds;
• enlarged and weakened hearts in Dobermans;
• lung and metabolic disorders.

“In the past several years, we have developed methods for recovering a therapeutic amount of bone marrow stem cells and safe, relatively non-intrusive methods for administering the cells,” he says. “We are now starting to enroll patients in these areas.” In terms of fat-derived stem cells, progress has been made in several areas of canine health. This progress includes muscle inflammation and a disease known as immune-mediated anemia, which is when the immune system destroys red blood cells, leaving your dog weak and listless.

There has been a lot of excitement over umbilical cord blood banks — centers that collect and store the blood from the placenta and umbilical cord after birth as a future source for blood stem cells — but don’t expect that to translate to the dog world anytime soon. “When the puppies are born, you would have to match that umbilical cord to the puppy, and that might be a little complicated since there are often multiple puppies in a litter,” Dr. Ryan Johnson says.

Taking the Plunge Into Dog Stem Cell Therapy

If you are going to consider stem cell therapy for your dog, it pays to think ahead. “The fat in the abdomen holds stem cells, so my recommendation is if, for example, a female dog is going to be spayed, as long as someone is in there, grab that fat, ship it to the lab, and bank those stem cells,” Dr. Gaynor says.

You’ll also want to think about the risks involved in putting your dog through stem cell therapy. Dr. Vulliet says placing safety first is the primary concern. After it was found that injecting stem cells into the coronary arteries of university-owned dogs created mini heart attacks, the procedures were stopped until the technique had been improved.

According to Dr. Gaynor, there are three things to consider. The first is the same as any operation — the general risks associated with anesthesia needed to perform the procedure. “But there always is some anesthesia risk, especially as patients get older

and sicker, but we can minimize that with good anesthesia,” he says. The second is the risk posed by the surgery itself. The biggest health threat he has seen is fluid pockets forming at the surgery site, a relatively minor problem.

Finally, there are the stem cells themselves. “Because they are the dog’s stem cells, there’s virtually no risk,” he says. “The biggest thing we’ve seen is a few dogs whose nails grow faster than expected; that’s as bad as it seems to get.” With the benefits likely outweighing the risks, there’s a good chance that many dog owners, perhaps even you, will be exploring canine stem cell treatments in the not-too-distant future.

Article written by Author: Kim Ribbink

Checkers and his owner, veterinary technician Bonnie Heitz, acted as heroes, even though their names never made the headlines. While this pair may not be familiar to you, Checkers, the Australian Shepherd from Concord, Calif., donated blood to save the lives of countless dogs that required blood transfusions to treat trauma, cancer, and other life-threatening conditions. These dogs were given a second chance because of Checkers. Both he and his owner helped inspire additional canine blood donations, which have led to organized dog blood banks nationwide.

Why Dog Blood Banks Are on the Rise

Much progress has been made in the canine blood banking industry since Checkers’ lifetime. Most donor dogs in the early 1980s, like Checkers, belonged to veterinarians or their staff. “Checkers was before anyone thought of blood banks for dogs,” says Heitz. The practice of banking canine blood is a relatively new concept, with most facilities opening within the last 15 to 20 years. One reason is that advances in veterinary medical technology have fueled the need for blood. Animals benefit from many of the advanced tests and procedures developed initially for human medicine, and blood transfusions are no exception. Also, more owners are treating their dogs as part of the family. They are willing to spend money on emergency and internal medicine, orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, and oncology, all of which can require life-saving blood transfusions.

Donating Dog Blood: The Requirements

Qualifying as a donor is relatively simple. While purebreds and mixed breeds can be donors, dogs must meet certain age and weight requirements, which vary from program to program. For example, one program requires that dogs be between one and six years of age and weigh at least 55 pounds. Another requires donors to be between one and eight years old, with a weight of at least 50 pounds. Another requires dogs to be aged between nine months and seven-and-a-half years old and weigh at least 35 pounds.

Also, dogs must pass a physical examination and meet additional requirements. These may include that the dog is:

• Healthy, obedient, and even-tempered, which helps to ensure a positive experience, and that each animal is a willing participant. Stressed or untrained dogs are more challenging to handle and are less likely to cooperate.
• Up-to-date with its vaccinations to make sure only healthy dogs enter blood donor programs. You can obtain copies of your dog’s vaccination records from your veterinarian.
• Free of heartworm, which helps to secure the safety, health, and well-being of donor dogs. Blood bank facilities perform testing. Heartworm-positive dogs require medical treatment and are therefore not donor eligible.
• Free of blood- or tick-borne diseases that can be spread from one dog to another through blood transfusions. Blood bank facilities perform tests to help guard against future problems.
• Taking no medications other than possible heartworm and flea or tick preventative. A dog that is on medication generally has an illness attached to it, which renders it unacceptable as a donor. Some medicines can be transfused in the blood.
• A dog that’s never received a blood transfusion. It is possible that a previous transfusion may not have been from a blood-matched donor dog. A recipient of unmatched donor blood could have been sensitized to some incompatible blood cell component that might result in an adverse reaction should this dog’s blood be transfused into a dog with unknown blood type history.

Screening and Typing Canine Blood

If dogs meet the pre-qualifications, their blood is typed and screened for pathogens, such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and leptospirosis. The blood is typed since dogs, like humans, have different blood types. A complete blood count and a chemistry screen then check the red and white cells, platelets, electrolytes levels, and general organ function. Screening potential donors is expensive.  Donna Oakley, director of the Penn Animal Blood Bank at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, says, “You can’t put a price on the blood we collect. It helps us practice better medicine, and it helps save the lives of pets.”

How Canine Blood Helps Other Dogs

Dogs that pass with flying colors are eligible to become donors. While dogs can safely donate monthly, most programs collect every seven to 12 weeks, with dogs between 35 and 50 pounds donating one-half pint and dogs over 50 pounds donating one pint. Once collected, the blood is processed into components, including packed red blood cells, which have a shelf life of about 30 days, and fresh frozen plasma, which can be stored for one year without losing its clotting factors. As a result, one unit of blood can theoretically treat three, four, or more dogs depending on the recipient’s size and status, according to Oakley. “The therapeutic impact is much quicker when you use only the components — that part of the blood that a dog needs.”

Laws Protect California Donors

California is the only state where commercial veterinary blood banks must be licensed and inspected yearly by the Department of Food and Agriculture. As a result, these facilities are required to house donor dogs on-site. Garden Grove’s Hemopet, a nonprofit facility that ships blood products nationwide and Canada and Hong Kong, houses racing Greyhounds rescued from Texas, Oklahoma, and Arizona. Hemopet’s dogs, according to Founder and President W. Jean Dodds, DVM, receive 24-hour-a-day, on-site veterinary care, and maintenance. Dogs remain in the program for approximately 12 to 18 months before being adopted by loving people within the region. “These dogs have given blood to save the lives of other animals,” says Dodds. “They have a special need to be adopted, and we have an ethical obligation to see that they are well cared for.” California facilities that collect and store blood for internal use, such as the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, are exempt from housing on-site donor dogs.

The Incentive Program

In addition to plenty of free cookies, kisses, and tummy rubs, some programs offer dog contributors free physical examinations, comprehensive health care screening, and blood tests to guard against infectious diseases as long as a dog remains a donor. Others provide free vaccinations and canine goody bags filled with toys, treats, and food. Some facilities, such as the Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank in Severna Park, Md., which ships 25,000 units a year, guarantee free blood for all donors. “For every unit of blood a dog donates,” says Theresa Connelly, Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank events coordinator, “that dog is guaranteed one unit of blood for free if it ever needs blood.” If the dog requires a transfusion throughout its life, EVBB will ship blood products, which normally cost upwards of $300 for free.

Canine Owners and Donors Are Indispensable

While closed colony or hospital-based donor programs were once the norm, many universities and blood bank organizations nationwide turn to community-based volunteer donor programs. They are using community blood drives that allow facilities to develop a comprehensive, reliable source of blood products without maintaining a colony of on-site dogs. “We are looking for people who care about people and animals. People who take good care of their pets and whose pets are in the best of health” says Donna Oakley. The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, where Oakley works, started the first volunteer donor program in 1985. The program currently has about 1500 active donors and the nation’s only canine bloodmobile.  

Canine Donors Are True Volunteers

Commitment requirements may vary, with some programs requiring that dogs donate 

blood as little as three times a year. Others require a minimum of six times a year, while still others need a minimum three-year commitment, during which your dog would donate blood three or four times a year. Dogs must be calm enough to lie on their side for about 10 minutes, approximately how long a collection takes. “This is truly a volunteer program from the owner to the dog,” says Oakley. “The dog decides whether or not to donate blood. We use no chemical or physical restraints. If a dog struggles, we don’t draw blood.” Despite the possible discomfort, with a bit of coaxing from you, your dog can be a Checkers-inspired hero and help save many canine lives.

Article written by Author: Tracy Libby

Like us, dogs benefit from stretching: Our muscle cells work the same. This fact inspired the Foster sisters — Sasha, a certified canine rehabilitation therapist, and Ashley, a certified pet dog trainer — to apply 20 years of research on human stretching to the canine world. The result is their book, The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog.

Below, Sasha Foster weighs in on the dos and don’ts of keeping your adult dog’s muscles supple.

Why You Should Stretch Your Dog

1. It May Help To Improve Your Dog’s Overall Fitness

Foster says stretching your dog helps maintain joint function. One reason is that stretching produces a muscle signaling molecule called nitric oxide, according to studies on animals conducted by University of Michigan researchers Nicole Lockhart and Susan Brooks. When this molecule is present, blood flow tends to increase, inflammation is kept in better check, and force is decreased during specific muscle contractions, all of which can aid joints and support limb function.

2. Stretching May Prevent Tendonitis In Your Dog 

Stretching can also prevent soft-tissue injuries like tendonitis, which Labradors and working dogs are particularly susceptible to sustaining.

3. Stretching May Reduce Your Dog’s Back Pain 

Stretching can be used to manage back pain when muscles in the lower back become tight, Foster says.

4. Stretching Can Alleviate Arthritis In Your Dog

Stretching can also decrease the achiness and stiffness often experienced by middle-aged to older dogs and can even minimize arthritis pain. “Arthritis occurs when the bones are rubbing against each other in the joint,” explains Foster. “If the muscles are nice and long, the joint is less compressed.”

When to Stretch Your Dog

Stretch your dog two to three times per week for 10 to 15 minutes at a time — but not until after your dog is at least two years old. “You do not want to stretch a puppy because its growth plates are still in flux,” explains Foster. For obvious reasons, you should also avoid stretching a dog with an acute injury.

Stretch your dog after it exercises. Research on human athletes has demonstrated that muscles need to warm up before being stretched. That principle is no different for dogs. “Stretching before the body is heated can cause injury. We want the muscles nice and warm — after a walk or a swim — before we stretch,” says Foster.

Where to Stretch Your Dog

Stretch your dog anywhere you would do yoga. “Your dog should be in a relaxing environment before you begin,” emphasizes Foster. She recommends that your pet lies down somewhere quiet and that you initially stroke or rock your dog before you begin to encourage muscle relaxation.

How to Stretch Your Dog

Once your dog is lying down and relaxed, put your hand over the joint, you will be manipulating. “If you’re stretching the shoulder, put your hand over the shoulder joint to relax the muscle. The nerves that turn the reflex off and on know your hand is there and keep the muscle from contracting,” explains Foster.

Next, lift the limb parallel to the floor and move it slowly in the stretch direction. For example, if you’re working with the shoulder, first move the limb toward the nose — it should take three to five seconds to get there. Once you’re there and feel a slight resistance, hold for 30 seconds before moving the limb back to where it started and lowering it to the floor. 

You should ultimately move the shoulder and hip joints in four different directions: forward toward the nose, back toward the tail, up toward the ceiling, and down toward the floor. Elbow and knee joints can only be flexed and extended. “Joints should only be stretched within their range,” says Foster. “Your dog’s joints do what yours do, so use your common sense.”

Foster emphasizes that stretching your pet will benefit not only its physical condition but also its emotional state. “You know how you feel after a good yoga class? Dogs feel that way after stretching,” she says. “It calms them down and just feels good.”

Article written by Author: Darcy Lockman

Dr. Carr Kelsey, a veterinarian at the Kelsey Canine Medical Center in Collierville, Tenn., spends his day with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Beagles, Yorkies, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and Labradoodles. He sees dogs with everything from ear infections and itchy skin allergies to heartworms and fleas. On his schedule, most days are the “midterm exams” that he emphasizes senior dogs should receive every six months.

What you won’t find — or hear — anywhere around the Kelsey Canine Medical Center is a meow or a purr; the Kelsey Center only serves dogs. “We’re honing in on veterinary medicine just for dogs,” says Kelsey, who opened his dog-only clinic in 2007. “There aren’t a lot of other distractions.

Veterinary medicine does grow and expand, and it’s hard to keep up with everything these days. Being able to focus on one species makes my practice better and more enjoyable for me.”

The Benefits of a Dog-Only Clinic

An American Veterinary Medical Association article published a few years ago made an argument for more dog-only practices. That made sense to Kelsey, a lifelong dog lover. He faced skepticism when he opened his clinic, but now some dog owners travel a considerable distance because they prefer the dog-centric focus, Kelsey says.

Dog-only clinics are still relatively uncommon, but these practices are expected to expand. The potential benefits of using a dog-only clinic include:

• Specialized Dog Expertise: 

Kelsey focuses his continuing education on dog-related health issues. He’s particularly tuned in to health matters that affect certain dog breeds. The repetition of seeing dogs each day helps in making diagnoses and developing familiarity with dog-related medical problems.

• Dog Behavior: 

Cat owners often choose cat-only practitioners to avoid the stress of sharing a facility with dogs, but being around other species can be upsetting for dogs as well. Your dog might be calmer and behave better in a dog-only clinic. “A lot of the dogs that might have had problems at other clinics act well here,” says Kelsey.

• Specialized Dog Facilities: 

At Kelsey Canine Medical Center, the exam rooms are a bit roomier. Two exam rooms feature lift tables so that large breeds can be easily transported from ground level to a comfortable exam height. At Gilroy Veterinary Hospital in Gilroy, Calif., Dr. Greg Martinez is a dog-focused veterinarian, though he does treat cats. However, he accommodates his dog patients with larger exam rooms and plenty of space to walk a dog.

• Allergies: 

If you own a dog but are allergic to cats, you may prefer a dog-only clinic.

The Value of Dog and Cat Clinics

There are also reasons to choose a traditional veterinary practice that treats both dogs and cats. First, it may not be easy to find a dog-only practice in your area. If you own both cats and dogs, you may want the convenience of using just one veterinarian.

There may be medical benefits, says Dr. William M. Fraser, a veterinarian who runs Mentor Veterinary Clinic and Brightwood Animal Hospital in Mentor, Ohio. “I can treat the whole pet family,” he says. “For example, if I find a parasite issue in the cat, I can check to see if the dog is also carrying the parasite. If there are behavioral problems with either the dog or cat, I can work with both to resolve the problem.”

Find the Right Veterinarian For Your Dog

It’s essential to make sure your veterinarian understands your dog’s breed or size. For example, Fraser provides medical and surgical services for micro-breed pooches that weigh less than 5 pounds. “Lots of species have specific health problems,” notes Martinez.

You want to choose a veterinarian who genuinely likes dogs and feels comfortable with your dog specifically. “We’re the dog’s advocate,” says Kelsey. “You’re helping dogs that can’t speak for themselves. The time has come for somebody veterinary-wise to focus in on dogs’ problems.”

Article written by Author: Kim Boatman

As Dr. Nancy R. Powel drives her mobile veterinary clinic around Baltimore and its environs these days, she makes house calls to dogs and cats — great and small — like a modern-day James Herriot.

Years ago, Powel read the All Creatures Great and Small books from Herriot, the English veterinary surgeon who wrote about traveling from farm to farm caring for animals in the 1900s. “The era might be a little different,” says Powel, who has been providing mobile veterinary care since 2006. “We have better pharmaceuticals and better diagnostic equipment today, but the stories could be the same.”

Mobile veterinary clinics are growing in availability from the San Francisco Bay Area to Orlando, Fla., and everywhere in between.

Based on the old tradition of veterinarians making house calls in farming areas, these services now focus on dogs and cats. Many mobile vets operate from vans or converted RVs equipped with everything they need to administer vaccinations, conduct checkups, do blood work, and treat minor ailments. Some even perform surgeries and are nicknamed “neuter scooters.”

Mobility Veterinary Care Brings Benefits

“I would never go back to a normal veterinary clinic,” says Lynne Moore of Charlotte, N.C., who has three dogs that are visited for care by Dr. Mike Thomann of Greater Charlotte Mobile Veterinary Services. She says her pets are not stressed when Thomann gets there. “They’re not taken into a back room where I can’t be with them. They love him. They jump inside when they see him.”

Other benefits include:

• Less Stress For Your Dog 

For dogs that don’t travel well, having a vet drive up to your door is a clear advantage. Additionally, the dog doesn’t have to sit in a noisy waiting room for 10 to 20 minutes or more with other animals it doesn’t know.

• Health Benefits For Your Dog

The mobile vet takes one patient at a time, so your dog isn’t intermingling with other pets that may have contagious ailments. “You don’t have fleas from other pets to contend with,” says Moore.

• Convenience For the Dog Owner 

The service is perfect for dog owners who have more than one pet, animals that don’t travel well, the elderly or infirm, and people with young children. “I think about the young moms who have an infant on their hip, a 2-year-old by the hand, and a Labrador dragging them across the parking lot,” Powel says. “This way, the infant can nap, the 2-year-old gets a lollipop, and it’s not an all-day ordeal for mom.”

• Recovery At Home 

When a veterinarian can provide surgery on a mobile basis, the canine patient can often recuperate at home. “They recuperate much faster when they’re at home as opposed to being in the hospital,” says Moore.

Quality of Life for Veterinarians

Veterinarians say they also enjoy life on the road instead of being cooped up in an office. “What appealed to me was that it’s a much more personal service you can provide, and 

you can create stronger bonds with your clients and their pets,” says Powel.

There are sometimes drawbacks, such as when pets have to be referred to an animal hospital because a veterinarian cannot do the procedure on the road.

Many veterinarians say that they would have a hard time returning to an office. “It’s a much more relaxed pace,” says Powel. “For each animal visit, I block off an hour. Some of that includes getting to the home and setting up at each stop. But I can also spend more time with people and do a better job of listening.”

Article written by Author: Elizabeth Wasserman

Staff members at your dog’s veterinary office may handle everything from checking your dog in, to collecting your dog’s vital statistics, evaluating your dog’s health, to cleaning the kennel if your dog stays overnight. While the roles can vary depending on the practice’s size or location, it helps to understand whom you might encounter on a typical veterinary visit.

Dr. Karen O’Connor, who recently opened her Coastal Georgia Veterinary Care practice in Richmond Hill, Ga., and Jessie Merritt, practice manager for Oswego Veterinary Hospital in Lake Oswego, Ore., explain the following roles:

Receptionist or Client Service Coordinator

“When you come in the front door, the first person you meet is one of the client service coordinators,” says O’Connor. Expect this staff member to welcome you, update your personal information (like your phone number and address), and direct you to either relax in the lobby or wait in an exam room, if possible. A client service person might also weigh your dog.

Veterinary Assistant or Veterinary Technician

O’Connor considers her assistants to be similar to nurses or nursing assistants in a doctor’s practice. They’re the lifeblood of many practices, serving multiple roles. “The nurses function as a filter. They’ll get a lot of basic information, get a preliminary exam, come in the back and present the case to me,” says O’Connor. “I’ve been in practices where I feel they’re underutilized. Here, I’m working these guys to the bone. They have a much more enjoyable experience; they’re learning medicine.” 

So, what’s the difference between a veterinary assistant and a veterinary technician? A veterinary technician has typically attended a school accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and has passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination, says Merritt. “These individuals invested time and financial resources to receive a level of training that enables them to perform procedures unlicensed veterinary assistants are unable to perform legally,” she explains. Those functions vary from state to state and might involve such work as taking blood or X-rays.

Veterinary assistants typically train on the job and often receive additional training through conferences or other classes, says Merritt.

Most people take a long time to choose their career path. Rebecca Rose, author of Career Choices for Veterinary Technicians: Opportunities for Animal Lovers (AAHA Press 2009), on the other hand, hit the ground running after she left school. “My mother worked for a veterinarian in the early 1970s,” says Rose. “I can remember helping her with the animals after school. When I was in high school, I researched my career options, and becoming a veterinary technician was the most appealing option.”

If you, too, enjoy working with dogs and other animals and relish being part of a team that takes care of them, becoming a veterinary technician is a great way to do what you love.

What Do Veterinary Technicians Do?

Most veterinary technicians handle basic medical tasks within an animal hospital. These tasks can include recording a dog or another animal patient’s medical history, assisting with surgeries and other medical procedures, collecting blood, urine, or stool samples, developing radiographs, preparing animals and equipment for surgery, and processing laboratory tests. Some veterinary technicians also serve as office managers for animal hospitals.

However, technical skills aren’t all a vet tech needs to succeed. “The most overlooked skill is that of great communication,” says Rose. “When a technician can properly communicate with clients, other team members, and veterinarians, that technician will reach higher levels of success.”

Many veterinary technicians work in a single animal hospital. Others find work in zoos, research laboratories, or several veterinary clinics, filling in as relief vet techs, depending on where they’re needed. Others parlay their skills into related dog-oriented businesses, such as grooming and dog day-care ownership.

And just as veterinarians can specialize in certain types of medicine or species, so can veterinary technicians. Among the specialties available to veterinary technicians are animal behavior, anesthesiology, emergency, critical care, and dentistry.

Additionally, some veterinary technicians like Rose work as consultants to help others develop their careers and reach their goals. In some states, technicians can even become practice owners.

Becoming a Veterinarian Technician

Not surprisingly, the skills a veterinary technician needs aren’t acquired overnight. Education and certification are a must. To gain hers, Rose attended Colorado Mountain College, a two-year college in Glenwood Springs. There, she earned an associate degree in applied sciences.

Most of the 160 veterinary technician education programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) are two-year programs. Another 20 are four-year programs that lead to bachelor’s degrees, and nine programs are distance-learning initiatives. Some institutions offer more than one program. For example, Northern Virginia Community College offers both a two-year on-campus program and a three-year distance-learning program. (The latter is tailored to individuals who already work in veterinary offices.) The AVMA Web site lists all vet tech programs accredited by the organization.

A typical two-year veterinary technician degree program includes course work in anatomy, behavior, chemistry, clinical practices, pathology, diseases, pharmacology, writing, mathematics, and public speaking. Admission requirements vary, but most programs seek applicants who have a high school diploma or equivalent, with passing grades in one course each of high school algebra, biology, and chemistry.

After students complete the course work, they must obtain a license from the veterinary regulatory board in their state. Licensing provisions vary from state to state but often require applicants to take the Veterinary Technician’s National Examination, a test administered by the American Association of State Veterinary Boards (AASVB). The AASVB Web site describes the examination and offers contact information for every state’s veterinary regulatory boards.

Becoming a veterinary technician is not easy, but it offers a rewarding career path for those who love dogs and other animals. Animal lovers with entrepreneurial skills can find success in this profession too. “There are numerous options and opportunities for veterinary technicians,” says Rose. “Truly, the sky is the limit, and technicians are limited only by their imaginations.”

Veterinarian

Your dog’s doctor will usually take information from an assistant or technician, then talk to you about your concerns in the exam room. He or she will conduct a thorough physical exam of your dog, then administer necessary treatments or order needed tests or procedures. Veterinarians must hold a degree in veterinary medicine and a license to practice. The competition is stiff to become a veterinarian, says O’Connor, since there are only 28 veterinary schools in the United States.

Kennel Assistants and Volunteers

These workers usually keep the kennels clean, walk dogs, and help with other necessary, routine tasks. 

Office Manager

An office manager may manage front-desk personnel, handling their scheduling and other paperwork.

Practice Manager

A licensed veterinary practice manager will oversee the clinic’s operation. “I am a certified veterinary practice manager, which means I had to meet specific and extended requirements involving length of experience, routine duties, and education, and then I sat for the CVPM exam and passed,” says Merritt. Merritt’s wide-ranging role includes human resources, business organization, labor law, marketing, accounting, internal controls, policy and procedure implementation, hiring and termination, and even team-building exercises. Utilizing managers to handle operations frees veterinarians to focus on your dog’s care, explains O’Connor.

The Veterinary Career Path

If you think you might be interested in a vet-related career path, both O’Connor and Merritt agree it’s best to gain some hands-on experience first. Working as a volunteer or kennel assistant lets, you see the inner workings and can help you decide if you want to pursue a veterinary medicine career.

You’ll likely find that no matter their position, most veterinary professionals share a “profound respect and compassion for the animals they work on daily,” says Merritt.

Article written by Author: Kim Boatman and Susan McCullough

“Fido Feng Shui,” as it’s sometimes known, has an increasing number of followers. Feng Shui is an ancient system based on the belief that the flow of chi, or energy, permeates both our inner selves and the environments that we inhabit. It has to do with the art of placing objects appropriately to improve overall well-being.

Feng shui can take on a spiritual approach or be considered from an interior design standpoint. There is no question that certain spaces make us feel better due to the lighting, furniture, color schemes, and more. Dogs also respond to all of these elements, so they can potentially benefit from feng shui practices.

Feng Shui for Your Dog

Wendy Nan Rees and Kristen Hampshire, authors of the Dog Lover’s Daily Companion: 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life With Your Dog offer the following tips:

• Don’t place your dog’s bed under a window or in a corner. Chi could stagnate in such spots, say Rees and Hampshire.
• There shouldn’t be any water elements where the dog sleeps since they could disturb rest, according to feng shui beliefs.
• Don’t place your dog’s bed directly across from an open door at the end of a long corridor. Feng shui holds that chi could flow away from the bed and out the door too quickly.
• Don’t put heavy objects above or behind your dog’s bed.
• Minimize usage of mirrors, which reflect light and could frighten your pet.
• Avoid using bedding made from synthetic fabrics.
• Put your dog’s bed against a solid wall away from any doors that could swing open.
• Consider placing your dog’s bed on the opposite side of the house from the active front door or garage.

Some of these tips are based on common sense. Heavy objects, such as lighting, shelves, or cabinets, shouldn’t be placed behind your dog’s bed in case they fall. There’s also a sense of awareness that we have around such objects. If you are standing under a heavy bookcase, for example, part of you might be concerned about it toppling over. Dogs may not have such a worry, but they would perceive the bookcase and therefore be affected by it somehow.

Feng shui also seeks to maintain balance in life. You are probably familiar with the terms “yin” and “yang,” representing opposite extremes. It’s just one belief system of many that, for followers, can help make life a bit more pleasant and harmonious for people and their pets.

Article written by Author: The Dog Daily Expert

From dealing with arthritic hips to recovering from recent surgery, dogs nationwide benefit from a new interest in animal pain management centers. These veterinary practices specializing in pain alleviation are now available to help you and your dog, no matter the situation, whether you have an elderly dog or one that suffers from a more chronic condition.

How the Pain Management Process Starts

All veterinarians offer pain medications, but you might want a specialist in pain management. If so, and depending on where you live, you might wind up at places like the Animal Pain Management Center in Snyder, N.Y.; the Downing Center for Animal Pain Management in Windsor, Colo.; or at Mountain Ridge Animal Hospital & Pain Management Center in Lafayette, Colo.

Even if you seek a second opinion, your dog will likely have to undergo routine blood work and X-rays. “These allow us to see exactly what’s going on,” says Michele Beveridge, practice manager of Mountain Ridge. Dogs may try to hide their pain and illness. Conversely, some of their behaviors might be misinterpreted as pain. It’s therefore essential to find out the truth behind the symptoms. “We cannot just pass out medications,” says Beveridge. “If medications are prescribed, we also have to run routine blood tests since each individual handles medications differently.”

Available Treatments for Dogs

Once a diagnosis is made, one or more pain medications may be prescribed. Alternative treatments are also possible. These could be offered in addition to the prescribed meds. They may include one or more of the following:

• Acupuncture 

Small-animal acupuncture care is becoming more common both nationally and internationally. Mark Bianchi, a holistic veterinarian at the White Oaks Veterinary Clinic in Edmond, Okla., is certified to provide veterinarian acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. “As pets age, natural wear and tear on the joins can lead to pain and reduce a pet’s ability to move comfortably,” says Bianchi. “Pets that have sustained an accident injury may also suffer recurring pain, even after the injury has healed. Pet acupuncture is a natural way to relieve this pain by restoring balance to the nervous system and enhancing a pet’s natural endorphins for pain relief.”

• Water Therapy 

“Dogs that are post-op, that are obese, have arthritis or other ailments may benefit from water therapy,” says Beveridge. Mountain Ridge offers a water treadmill where dogs can do cardiovascular exercise and limber up their joints while enjoying the buoyancy that water provides.

• Laser Therapy 

Laser therapy involves a low-light laser that is run over areas of the dog’s body. Doctors now use this kind of treatment on humans too. “It can decrease inflammation, improve blood flow to target areas, and may decrease pain,” says Beveridge.

• Stem Cell Therapy 

Some veterinarians now also use another carryover from human medicine: stem cell therapy to treat pain and chronic conditions. “It requires a surgical procedure,” says Beveridge. “Fat is removed from the animal’s stomach. Stem cells are harvested from the fat and are then later injected into trouble sites.” Rob Landry, veterinarian and owner of Mountain Ridge has successfully treated both dogs and cats with stem cell therapy, she says.

Dogs Can Live a Pain-free Life

Thanks to new therapies and animal pain management specialists, your dog has an excellent chance of living a long, healthy, and pain-free life. If your dog suffers from a serious illness, sometimes discomfort can hurt the possibilities for healing. For example,

many dog cancer patients suffer from appetite loss after chemotherapy. Bianchi believes acupuncture can help relieve pain following cancer treatments and prevent this loss of appetite that often happens. Your dog then has a better chance of eating, as usual, keeping your pet’s strength up at a time when fortitude is needed.

Your dog’s behavior might even improve for the better. “Many times, a pet may act out or be aggressive toward other humans or animals because of pain,” says Bianchi. “By relieving the pain, a pet’s natural even temperament emerges, resolving the behavioral problems.”

Article written by Author: Jennifer Viegas

Knowing what to do if your dog has a medical emergency can mean the difference between your dog’s life or death. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, one out of every four dogs may be saved if a pet first-aid technique is used before the injured animal arrives at a clinic. However, less than 1 percent of pet owners have a pet first-aid kit or have been trained in first aid, estimates Thom Somes, Pet Tech owner, a company that trains instructors and teaches pet first-aid classes across the country.

How are your first-aid skills? Aside from calling your local pet emergency hospital or contacting your veterinarian, would you know what to do if your dog faced a sudden medical emergency? If you think your first-aid know-how could use some brushing up, you’re not alone.

Pet First-aid Classes

Increasingly, dog owners are taking classes to educate themselves about medical first aid for their treasured pals. The American Red Cross, for example, offers dog first-aid classes at a number of its chapters across the country. At many chapters, you’ll find dog first-aid kits and a dog first-aid book for purchase.

Dogs are so cherished in Carmel, Calif., that the local Red Cross there keeps a stash of dog biscuits in the cookie jar on the front counter. The chapter’s dog first-aid classes are wildly popular, says Sharon Crino, executive director. “We live in an area where pets are like family,” says Crino. “It has been quite a success.”

The American Red Cross and Pet Tech provide a directory for pet first-aid classes on their websites. Courses include management of emergencies involving bleeding, choking, poisoning, and more. Students even practice mouth-to-snout resuscitation on dog mannequins.

Practical Advice for a Dog Emergency

While experts caution that it’s best to receive training in a class, there are basic first-aid practices you can put to use until you complete the training:

1. Assemble or purchase a first-aid kit

You’ll find inexpensive dog first-aid kits online or in pet stores, but Somes recommends assembling your own so that you’ll be familiar with its contents. (The Humane Society of the United States Web site offers a list of items.) Keep a kit at home and in your car. Ensure your kit includes some way to stably transport your dog, such as a blanket you can use as a stretcher. Include vital information in the kit. You’ll want to have your veterinarian’s phone number, poison control numbers, and the number and address for an emergency veterinary service in your area. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals maintains a poison control hotline at 888-426-4435. (The ASPCA may charge you a consultation fee if you receive assistance through the hotline.)

2. Assess the situation

Too often, dog owners react without thinking. “Make sure you have ‘scene safety,'” advises Somes, who calls himself “The Pet Safety Guy.” Don’t rush into the street to check on a dog that has been hit by a car, even if it is your own. Somes tells the story of a dog owner who was almost hit by a car herself as she raced to help her furry friend. “If it’s dangerous or appears dangerous to you, you don’t want to become a victim as well,” says Kevin Cole, who teaches the pet first-aid classes for the Carmel American Red Cross chapter.

3. Anticipate your dog’s behavioral changes

If your dog is sick or injured, it may snap at you. Read its body language first and approach cautiously. Look for ears laid flat, hair standing up on the haunches, or even a glare. Don’t place your face close to your dog’s face to give comfort. Dog first-aid classes teach muzzling techniques using soft fabric, such as a tie or a length of gauze.

4. Secure your dog

Restraint accompanies muzzling, says Somes. “The dog can make the situation worse by moving,” he says. “A dog will run with a broken limb.” It may take two adults to restrain a dog using a towel or blanket gently.

5. Stay calm 
   

   Dogs note when your heart rate and breathing accelerate or if your voice escalates in pitch, Somes says. If you can’t be calm, have another adult step in.

6. Don’t call 911

   It’s often our first reaction in an emergency, but it won’t help your dog. Unless an animal is endangering people, you’ll get no response.

The best way to prepare for an emergency is to know your healthy dog, says Cole. “Recognize what’s normal in your animal. Then, know how to respond when things aren’t normal.” Finally, understand that first aid doesn’t substitute for veterinary care. First aid is meant to stabilize your dog or alleviate a life-threatening situation before your dog can receive expert medical attention.

Article written by Author: Kim Boatman