Senior/Geriatric Pet Conditions
ARTHRITIS
Arthritis is inflammation of any joint in the body and can have many causes. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis which can be due to wear and tear on joints from overuse, aging, injury, or instability. The chronic, often progressive, form of arthritis is termed degenerative joint disease (DJD). It is estimated that twenty percent of dogs older than one year of age have some form of DJD.
Infection can be another cause of joint inflammation. Septic arthritis is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. Tick transmitted diseases such as Lyme, Ehrlichia or Rocky Mountian Spotted Fever can also cause arthritis. Auto-immune diseases, now termed immune-mediated diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis can cause swollen, painful, and inflamed joints. More rarely, tumors can cause arthritis.
Treatment for arthritis should be directed at eliminating the underlying cause, if possible. Joint instability often requires surgery whereas infections need antibiotic or anti-fungal therapy. Obese dogs need to lose weight to decrease the continued trauma on the joints. Once a dog develops DJD, a benign approach of neutroceuticals like cartilage protective agents such as glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM, polysulfated glycoaminoglycans (PGAGs) or hylaronic acid is usually attempted. Low level laser therapy is a low-risk procedure that has also been shown to be beneficial in treating arthritis. If the neutroceutical therapy is not enough to control pain and inflammation, then non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other pain medications may be added to the treatment plan. Steroids are commonly reserved for immune-mediated disease or dogs non-responsive to NSAIDs. Although there are many NSAIDs on the market, only NSAIDs approved for dogs should be used. Some of the NSAIDs used in people can be harmful and even deadly to dogs. NSAIDs block pain pathways, but they also block some of the protective mechanisms for the kidneys and the intestinal tract, therefore side effects can occur. Click on this link for more information about NSAIDs: http://www.healthypet.com/PDFs/NSAIDsInfo.pdf
REGENERATIVE STEM CELL THERAPY
Canine stem cell therapy is an exciting new area of veterinary medicine and is offered at the Tampa Bay K9 Rehabilitation Center. Mark C. Brown, DVM, CCRP is the first veterinarian in Pinellas County to become credentialed for harvesting and administering stem cells to aid in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. Dr. Kalen Faber is also credentialed to perform stem cell therapy for her patients. All cases that have received stem cell therapy in our facilities receive a special savings on follow-up physical rehabilitation services. Call our office to learn more about this new technological advancement.
GERIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
Degenerative spinal disease such as intervertebral disc rupture or bulge, spondylosis deformans, vertebral instability, lumbosacral stenosis, and degenerative myelopathy are conditions seen in various frequencies. Large breed dogs are more frequently affected by the majority of these conditions which may or may not be accompanied by pain. Neurological disease can present as difficulty rising from a lying position, an unsteady, wobbly gait, dragging the paws or scrapping the toenails on the ground, stool and/or urinary incontinence, and partial to complete paralysis. Treatment ranges from surgery to extensive rehabilitation. A definitive diagnosis may require radiographs (X-rays), a CT or an MRI.
GERIATRIC ORTHOPEDIC CONDITIONS
Considered to be the most common ailment of geriatric dogs, orthopedic conditions are significantly helped through the use of veterinary rehabilitation. In addition to targeting muscle strength and increased range of motion, we focus heavily on reducing or eliminating pain. Until recently, senior and geriatric dogs that didn't respond to drugs and supplements had very little recourse. Veterinary rehabilitation is a wonderful treatment to target a condition rather than treating just the symptoms.
PAIN MANAGEMENT
Pain not only hurts, but is detrimental to healing. It has been shown that surgical patients as well as those with medical illnesses heal quicker when pain is properly treated. Effectively treating pain usually requires a definitive diagnosis and typically responds best to multi-modal therapy which includes pharmacological treatment, veterinary physical therapy or rehabilitation, and sometimes surgery.
OBESITY
Obesity is a condition in which the natural energy reserve of mammals, which is stored in fat tissue, is expanded far beyond usual levels to the point where it impairs health. Obesity in wild animals is relatively rare, but it is common in domestic animals like pigs and household pets who may be overfed and under-exercised. While cultural and scientific definitions of obesity are subject to change, it is accepted that excessive body weight predisposes the body to various forms of disease, particularly cardiovascular disease. Interventions, such as weight loss and medication, are frequently recommended to reduce this risk, and many pet owners undertake weight loss regimens for their pets' health as well as for aesthetic reasons. Our rehabilitation center will tailor a weight loss program that may include: dietary counseling, pharmacological management, and physical conditioning such as underwater treadmill exercises.