April is National Heartworm Awareness Month!

Heartworm Awareness and a Very Special Update

April is National Heartworm Awareness month, and our cardiologist, Dr. Gretchen Singletary, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), has some information for all dog and cat owners about this dangerous, but highly preventable disease:

"Heartworm disease affects increasing numbers of dogs and cats in the US every year. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and is most prevalent in warm and humid climates. Peak transmission usually occurs during July and August, although pets in certain areas such as the Southeastern US may be at risk year-round. Heartworm disease is a serious, sometimes fatal condition which can be safely and easily prevented using a monthly heartworm preventative medication. Yearly testing for heartworm is recommended for all dogs.

Pets infected with heartworm can develop damage to their blood vessels, lungs and heart. Symptoms include coughing, difficulty breathing, decreased ability to exercise and weakness. Severe infections can result in heart failure or death. There are approved treatments for infected dogs - including injections of a medication to kill the worms and removal of the worms using a minimally-invasive surgical procedure. There are no approved treatments for heartworm infections in cats. Prevention is key when it comes to heartworm disease!"

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 Dr. Gretchen Singletary, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)

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We at CUVS can't think of heartworm without also remembering Lucky. In 2011, we posted about Lucky, the mixed breed dog who was rescued in Los Angeles, and brought to CUVS by a New York rescue organization. When he was first brought to us, Lucky had suffered gunshot wounds to his legs, and needed several surgeries. While his injuries were already certainly enough for the scrappy dog to handle, it was discovered that Lucky was also suffering from a severe heartworm infection of his pulmonary artery. Fortunate for Lucky, our cardiologist was able to expertly remove the heartworms using flouroscopy and an incredibly steady hand. While heartworm extraction is a complex procedure with many risks involved, Lucky sailed through the procedure and after a night of recovery in CUVS' Intensive Care unit, went home heartworm free.




When Lucky was brought to CUVS, his injuries were severe.

 

Cardiologist Dr. Kleman was able to remove a sizable group of heartworms from Lucky's pulmonary artery.


Lucky then underwent surgery to repair the damage to his front and rear legs, caused by serious abuse before he was rescued. Thanks to the skill and care of CUVS' surgery department, Lucky's limbs were skillfully repaired and Lucky was able to regain full use of all his legs. At the end of Lucky's journey here, one of our staff members adopted him and provided Lucky with a happy ending in his new forever home. 

Lucky with Dr. Kleman, members of the nursing staff and his rescuers on his way home.


Lucky attended our Courageous Companions event in April, and CUVS staff had the opportunity to reunite with him and his supportive family. We're happy to say that he looks incredible, and along with his supportive family, enjoyed the spotlight with his colleagues.

Lucky attended the reunion looking better than ever!

Lucky was fortunate that his heartworm was discovered before it had progressed any further, and he serves as an example of why heartworm prevention is so vital to a pet's well-being. Speak to your primary care veterinarian about the prevention options available to you and take care of all those hearts that are so dear to yours!

2013 Courageous Companions - Portraits of Strength and Survival

Our 2013 "Courageous Companions"

 

On March 23rd, Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS) honored the lives of some of our most "courageous companions". At this very special reunion, our specialists and staff gathered to honor the remarkable bravery these animals showed, and demonstrated our appeciation for the support of their families. CUVS also offered each family the chance to sit for a professional photographer as a tribute to their beloved companions. We wanted to share these beautiful photos with all our readers, along with a few of their stories.

These pets, along with their supportive and invested families, remind us why we do what we do, and they will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Little Teddy became the mascot  for Courageous Companions when he, along with his mom and dad, charmed the cameras and shared his story with the world. In June of 2011, 5-year old Teddy was hit and dragged by a vehicle near his Larchmont, NY home and dragged. He sustained horrific injuries. Teddy’s prognosis was dire; he was in severe life-threatening shock, having lost at least two-thirds of his blood volume. Because Teddy had been dragged, the majority of his skin was detached, especially over his trunk and hindquarters. CUVS’ critical care team quickly stabilized Teddy with aggressive therapy that included multiple blood transfusions, IV fluid therapy, and advanced pain management. Tough little Teddy finally went home after four weeks of intensive care and multiple surgeries. Today, Teddy is living at home with his family, receiving as much love as he provides.  

Dave the (female!) cat enjoyed the festivities with her human siblings and parents. She survived extreme shock and received several blood transfusions to help with a serious blood clotting problem.

Chino the Great Dane, showed up properly attired to celebrate with his family.  Chino underwent  multiple surgeries to remove foreign objects from his digestive tract.

When Fluff, an 11-week old Burmese kitten, was referred to CUVS, she weighed a mere 1.5 pounds, half the size of her littermates. She was dull, lethargic, and not interactive. At CUVS, critical care specialist Dr. Elisa Mazzaferro recognized the severity of Fluff’s condition and suspected a rare congenital abnormality. Blood tests confirmed her suspicions; Fluff had congenital hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce thyroid hormone, essential for normal growth, metabolism and function. This condition is extremely rare, and most veterinarians will never see a case in their lifetime. Fortunately, once diagnosed, the condition is easily managed with thyroid hormone supplementation. Following therapy, Fluff quickly caught up – growing, running up the stairs and acting like a normal, playful kitten and enjoying the company of her human brothers.



Nemo the Sheltie attended the event with his entire, very proud family. Nemo survived mutliple emergency surgeries after eating his leash, among other objects.



Endy looked the part of "courageous companion" as he strutted through the celebration with his mother. CUVS' Internal Medicine department successfully treated his severe pancreatic infection.

 

Bo, a usually happy Labrador retriever, came to CUVS very ill. Chemotherapy was initiated shortly after the diagnosis of hepatic (liver) lymphoma. Given the poor prognosis for this type of cancer using standard chemotherapy protocols, oncologist Dr. Gerald Post employed a novel approach. Bo sailed through his treatments, never missing a beat. He has now been cancer-free for over a year!

Maya the Puggle was the center of attention for her parents and little brother. Dr. Marnin Forman treated Maya for severe IMHA - an autoimmune disease that causes the dog's body to attack its own blood cells resulting in severe anemia.

Fergus, a stunning Gordon Setter, celebrated with his mother. Fergus survived GDV, also known as "bloat".

Ziggy the Poodle struck a proud pose for the cameras as he and his dad enjoyed the reunion. Ziggy survived multiple issues including kidney failure, anemia and foreign object removal from his digestive system.

Alexander J. Pumpkin's mother could not have been prouder of her strong little Tibetan Terrier - and neither could we! Alexander J. Pumpkin (or AJP as much of our staff calls him), survived surgery to address intestinal cancer.



Shadie, the little Yorkshire Terrier, proves that bravery and strength can be found in even the tiniest packages. He survived Cushing's Disease and a severe heart condition.



Milly the Lab celebrated with her entire family, including her very proud brother and sister. Thanks to our ECC Department, Milly has survived severe sepsis (blood infection) and anemia.



Baron the Laborador Retriever smiled and wagged as he and his parents celebrated with his "courageous" colleagues. Baron is a survivor of epilepsy, among many other issues.



Lucky struck a pose, looking better and healthier than ever after his limb surgery and heartworm extraction.



Mack the Rottweiler took a break from his job as a therapy dog to celebrate his recovery with CUVS staff & his parents. Mack is a cancer survivor.



Of course, not every one of our "courageous companions" was able to attend the event, but we still received some amazing pictures from their families, showing them looking strong and happy...

Lulu the cat gave CUVS a shout out, posing with her medal and banadana at home. Lu Lu recovered from surgery on her hind legs and is climbing and hopping around the house like a kitten.

Riley the Yorkie's family shared this great photo they've entitled "One year and still going strong..."

We can't say enough how proud we are of all of our "Courageous Companions". They inspire us every day, and each of them holds a special place in our hearts as the strong, unique characters they are.

Courageous Companions Honors Patients' Recoveries & Strength

CUVS' Courageous Companions Event:

Honoring some of our bravest patients and their incredible journies to health.

 Surgeon, Dr. Oliver Morgan, presents a medal to Nemo the Sheltie.

We love all of our patients. But, every once in a while, we meet pets whose courage touches our hearts in a profound way. When those patients beat long odds to overcome a challenging prognosis and a long road to recovery, they inspire us all.

On March 23rd, Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS) honored the lives of some of our most "courageous companions" and their families. At this very special reunion, our specialists and staff gathered to honor the remarkable bravery these animals showed, and demonstrated our appeciation for the support of their families.

Dave the cat attended the event with her very proud mother.



Bo and his mom smile for the camera.

Dr. Marnin Forman presents a medal to Endy.

CMO Dr. Susan Hackner plants a kiss on Lucky after presenting his medal.

During a very unique ceremony, our specialists presented each of their "courageous companions" with personalized medals, and shared their stories. An incredible photographer was on hand to capture beautiful portraits of each pet, and the afternoon was filled with jokes, smiles and warmth.



Fluff finds a new use for her medal as she plays with her brothers.



We are so pleased that we were able to see these pets again in such good health, and are so privleged to be able to honor them in such a special way. We are so proud of each and every one of them and are grateful to their families for playing such integral roles in their care and recovery.

Check back next week to see the amazing portraits of our "courageous companions" and to hear more "tails" of their incredible recoveries!