VETERINARY MEDICINE, Mar 1, 2006

Features

Is it pancreatitis?

By Jörg M. Steiner, med.vet., Dr.med.vet., PhD, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA

Dogs and cats with pancreatitis commonly display nonspecific clinical signs, so the condition can be difficult to diagnose. But there also has been a lack of diagnostic tests for pancreatitis that are both sensitive and specific. In this article, I provide an overview of the available diagnostic tests, including a new serum test.

Serial serum pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations in adog with histologically confirmed pancreatitis

By Brandy Porterpan, DVM , Debra L. Zoran, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM , Jörg M. Steiner, med.vet., Dr.med.vet., PhD, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA

A 15-year-old 15.1-lb (6.9-kg) castrated male Lhasa Apso was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Texas A&M University for evaluation of chronic vomiting of several months' duration.

Departments

Editors' Note: You be the judge

By Mindy Valcarcel

What did you think when you first saw this month's cover? Each month, we try to guess your gut reaction to the illustration.

Letters: A mentor and a gentleman

I read with interest the interview with Dr. Steven Swaim in the January issue. As a 1974 graduate of Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine, I grew to love and respect Dr. Swaim immensely.

An Interview with... Dr. Donald L. Piermattei

Even after 52 years, practicing medicine doesn't get old for this surgeon, teacher, and author. "I find that I enjoy my patients more each year."

Toxicology Brief: The 10 most common toxicoses in dogs

By Irina Meadows, DVM , Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, PhD

We compiled this list of the 10 most common hazards to dogs, based on the number of calls we have received at the aspca Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) between 2001 and 2005.

Clinical Exposures: Intervertebral disk disease: An unusual cause of a cat's lameness and tail weakness

By Tracy N. Prouty, DVM , Joli M. Jarboe, DVM, DACVIM (neurology)

A 10-year-old 8.6-lb (3.9-kg) spayed female domestic medium-haired cat had been evaluated by the referring veterinarian because of lethargy, right pelvic limb lameness, lumbar discomfort, reluctance to jump, and tail weakness.

Idea Exchange: Behavior modification can begin in the exam room

I always try to have dry kibble immediately available when examining a pet to reward its good behavior and, perhaps, to teach the animal a new behavior while the owner and I are talking.

Idea Exchange: A simple solution to a messy problem

For cats that urinate over the side of the litter box and also don't like covered boxes, take the lid off a covered litter box, flip it over, and fill the bottom with litter.

Idea Exchange: Marketing made easy

In an effort to better market our clinic's services, we placed laminated information about services and promotions inside inexpensive, animal-themed picture holders and displayed these holders in high-traffic areas of the clinic, such as exam rooms.

Idea Exchange: Add periodic blood testing to your medication protocol

For the safest use of long-term medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihistamines, our hospital follows a set policy of periodic blood testing.

Idea Exchange: Gelatin capsules help the medicine go down

We give a lot of metronidazole to cats. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to get cats to take the pills because of the bad taste.

Idea Exchange: Label stock bottles to save time and confusion

At our clinic, like many clinics, we put informational labels on the medication vials we dispense to clients.

Idea Exchange: Keep the anesthetic line in place

To keep an anesthetic line from falling off the table and putting tension on a patient's endotracheal tube, we attach the line to the edge of the table with Velcro.

Mind Over Miller: Confronting the urban mentality

By Robert M. Miller, DVM

When I was a boy, most Americans resided in rural communities. And most of our schoolbooks, probably written in the late 19th century, featured stories about cows, milkmaids, geese, Chicken Little, cornfields, and so on.