Thatcher's 8th Birthday

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY THATCHER!



Thatcher the birthday boy.

 Last week the staff here received a surprising, beautiful and DELICIOUS birthday cake from one of our clients. The lovely frosting (it was cream cheese) stated "Happy Birthday Thatcher!" and there was a happy, blue number 8 candle all ready to be lit.

The card accompanying it read:

"Dear Drs. Forman, Post & Kramer, along with all our friends at Cornell,

Thatcher celebrates his 8th birthday on Thursday and it's all because of you! Please share some birthday cake.

Thatcher, John & Kelly"

Along with being delicious (it was an incredible carrot cake) the gesture was heartfelt, unexpected and sincere - something that makes everyone's job here that much easier and reaffirms why every single person here chose the industry they did - to help animals and their families live happier, healthier lives and give them a second chance they might not have otherwise.

In speaking with Kelly, Thatcher's owner, I asked for her experience here. Her account of Thatcher's story here at CUVS is below.

"It’s a story of hope that demonstrates the wonderful quality of medical care that is the hallmark of Cornell University Veterinary Specialists.
 Dr. Forman’s thoroughness in a pre-op physical for an unrelated condition revealed a previously unsuspected anal tumor that Dr.Kramer was able to excise and Dr.Post was able to successfully treat. I would also like to credit Dr. Rousseau for his wonderful save when Thatcher, early on, did have an adverse reaction to the combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
Thatcher had a severe drop in his blood count and was critical when we came to Cornell for supportive care. Dr. Rousseau and your wonderful critical care department got us through this rough patch, stabilizing Thatcher and positioning him to continue his therapy.
We are convinced that Thatcher is celebrating his birthday, almost a full year later, because of the wonderful team at CUVS  and the compassionate care you provide."

We are so happy to know that Thatcher is doing so well and we're so grateful to Kelly and John for their support and good wishes. Clients and patients like Thatcher, Kelly and John really make work here at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists worthwhile and as always, we LOVE a story with a happy ending.

Thank you Kelly for sharing this with us! And thank you Thatcher for gracing us with your fluffy, friendly presence - we love you!



We couldn't pick just one picture!



Bear Walks!

Bear Walks!

By Andi Bettencourt

     As someone who has worked with board-certified veterinary surgeons for over a decade, I’ve seen myriad orthopedic conditions – congenital defects, fractures, neoplasia, etc.  So when I looked at our schedule and saw a consultation for ‘complications following medial patellar luxation repair’ on an Akita, I grabbed my stethoscope and went out to the waiting room to collect what I thought would be a slightly gimpy patient.  Bear was laying in one of our dog beds and as I approached, his poofy tail started going a mile a minute.  As an Akita lover I immediately went to get some love and was rewarded with a thorough facial cleansing and a huge smile that only a dog can give.  I told mom that she could follow me to the appointment room and went to get Bear’s leash.  It was at this point that I saw the condition that Bear was in, and despite any immunity I might have developed in my years, it took more will power than I can say not burst into tears.  Watching Bear’s heroic effort to walk would affect any compassionate human being, but the happiness he continued to display as he moved and endured what could only be intense pain is what struck me the most.

     Bear DID, in fact, have a lot to be happy for – he had been gifted with two of the most loving and devoted owners.  Bear had gone through procedures before coming to CUVS that had caused him to develop laterally luxating patellas.  Luxating patellas are graded on a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being the worst.  Bear’s case was extreme; he was a grade 4 on both back legs, though he was able to support himself slightly better with the left.  His owners had seen him through all his previous surgeries and had continued to provide physical therapy to try and keep him comfortable.  They had developed a system for him to go to the bathroom lying down and kept the floors in their home carpet free so that he could pull himself along and not have to stand up.  They bathed him several times a day, as he was not able to urinate without partially soiling himself.  Now, they were determined to try and get Bear to a place where he could, literally, stand on his own.

     Dr. Alon Kramer was as affected as all of the staff who met Bear, and he was determined that we were going to help this dog and his owners.  Bear’s surgery was not easy as his anatomy was so disfigured and covered in years of scar tissue, each leg required hours of reconstruction.  He came through like the strong dog that he is and managed to earn not only the affection, but the respect, of the staff here at CUVS with his positive spirit and lack of complaint.  We went through weeks and then months of casting and bandage changes, each time Bear had a line of people coming in for their kisses and love.  His owners were using slings to help him learn to walk again with his back straight.

      It was a regular Wednesday filled with rechecks and consultations when I received a text message from Bear’s dad.  There was a picture of Bear standing next to a fence and a message letting us know that Bear heard a squirrel or another dog outside and when dad had opened the back door, he ran to the fence.  He ran to the fence.  Dad had never seen him do that before, and his admission of crying at the sight of Bear’s, admittedly awkward, run caused the tears to start pouring down.  They continued to flow from many eyes as I made the rounds to tell everyone the news.

     Bears journey wasn’t finished, he still required minor revisions on both knees.  As you can imagine, this was financially challenging for the owners, but through the generous donations to our Patient Assistance Fund, Bear’s revisions were performed.  After a couple more months of casting and bandaging, Bear gave us a gift that meant more than all of his kisses combined (though we would never give those up); he walked out of the hospital.  No splint, no cast, no sling.  Just Bear.

     Bear’s owners continue to be as devoted as ever to his care and comfort, providing him with physical therapy and unconditional love.    If you would like more information on how you can help patients like Bear through new discoveries in animal medicine, please contact Alison R. Smith at ars1@cornell.edu.

PDA

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

 Jamie was a 6 and a half week-old puppy when she was first brought to Dr. Chuck Noonan at Animal Doctors of Weston. She was acting normally and seemed to have had no issues in her first weeks of life. Dr. Noonan examined her and listened to her heart only to discover a significant heart murmur that was continuous throughout her heartbeat cycle. Dr. Noonan astutely recognized that this was likely a very significant heart defect that she was likely born with and recommended that Jamie’s mother take her to a veterinary cardiologist.

A week later, Jamie was seen by Dr. Mandi Kleman, a board-certified veterinary cardiologist at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Kleman performed an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), which revealed a structural abnormality called a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). A PDA is a congenital cardiac abnormality in which a connection exists between the aorta (the major systemic artery) and the pulmonary artery (the major vessel to the lungs). This abnormal connection results in the heart becoming overloaded by recirculating blood and typically results in heart failure within the first year of life. It was imperative, therefore, that we correct Jamie’s PDA.

There are 2 ways to correct PDAs. The first is via open chest surgery, to locate and ligate (tie off) the abnormal PDA vessel. This is the traditional method. The second option is to occlude (close off) the PDA vessel via an Interventional Radiology technique. Interventional Radiology is a method of surgery that uses video xrays (fluoroscopy) to allow the surgeon to see into the body and manipulate structures. This is a new technique in veterinary medicine, available at few academic and specialty institutions, including Cornell University Veterinary Specialists. The advantages of these techniques are that they are less invasive; there is no open surgery and thus, less pain and a faster recovery. For PDA correction via Interventional Radiology, an Amplatz ductal occluder or embolic coil can be inserted via a blood vessel until it is placed across the abnormal PDA vessel. The device then causes obstruction of blood flow across the PDA.

Here, at CUVS, both techniques are possible. In Jamie’s case, however, it was decided that surgery was her best option given her very small size. Dr Oli Morgan, staff surgeon at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists, performed the surgery - a left lateral thoracotomy via the 4th intercostal space. The PDA was carefully dissected and ligated, restoring normal blood flow. Jamie recovered smoothly in the Intensive Care Unit. Her heart murmur resolved. That evening she was already standing and eating! The next day, she was giving kisses and behaving like a puppy again. She was discharged to her owners care for at home recovery. After two weeks of exercise restriction she was healed. Her prognosis is excellent with a normal life expectancy.

PennHIP

PennHIP comes to CUVS! 

With our recent addition of Dr. Oli Morgan, VMD, DACVS, we are now certified to screen your dog's hips for early signs of hip dysplasia as well as degenerative joint disease (DJD) using the PennHIP program. 

What is PennHip?  PennHIP is the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program. It requires a series of very specific radiographs (Xrays) to be taken and submitted for evaluation. The radiographs are carefully evaluated by a select group of radiologists, and a score is given to determine your dog's probability of developing hip dysplasia and DJD.

What is the benefit of PennHIP and how will it help my dog? This evaluation provides important information for dog owners and breeders alike! It is, to date, the most accurate means to predict, at a young age, the probability of that dog to develop hip dysplasia. This affects breeding decisions in many dog breeds, but also affects the canine pet. Adjustment of environmental factors, such as diet and exercise, can mitigate the progression and signs of hip dysplasia. And, with the right information on probability, we can counsel you on these factors.

Is my dog eligible for screening?  In order to be eligible, your dog must be 16 weeks or older. 

How is it done? To obtain the best quality radiographic images, it's important that the dog be completely relaxed.  To this end, they receive short-acting sedation. But don't worry, they are recovered quickly and able to go home shortly thereafter. While sedated, they are positioned several different ways to obtain the required radiographs.

How do we get results and what do they mean? We will call you with results, and our surgeon will discuss findings, what it means, and options.

Where do I sign up? Give us a call at (203) 595-2777 to speak with a member of the surgery department to set up your appointment or answer questions. 

Can I get CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) performed at the same time? Yes! We can coordinate your appointment such that Dr Seth Eaton, our board-certified ophthalmologist will also perform an ophthalmic examination.