Editor’s Note:
Treating cats and dogs with diabetes is among practitioners’ top clinical concerns. March’s cover article, the first in a two-part series, presents a step-wise, systematic approach to treating particularly difficult cases of diabetes in cats. March’s issue also describes surgical techniques for eyelid reconstruction and wound management and summarizes the recently released ACVIM guidelines for managing canine chronic valvular heart disease.
Read on for more details about this article and others in March’s issue—available in print and online at dvm360.com.
DIAGNOSTICS, ENDOCRINOLOGY, FELINE MEDICINE
Difficult-to-treat diabetes: Cats
Cats with diabetes can be challenging to monitor and treat because of the complex pathophysiology of the disease and their propensity for stress-related hyperglycemia. Also, the small size of feline patients makes insulin dosing more difficult. This article reviews the reasons for poor diabetic regulation and outlines a logical approach to difficult cases of feline diabetes.
OPHTHALMOLOGY, SURGERY
Eyelid reconstruction after entropion surgery in a dog
Surgery to correct an inward-turning eyelid (entropion) is commonly performed in general veterinary practice. It’s not technically difficult, but the results must be cosmetically acceptable as well as functional. However, even common procedures can have complications—as pointed out in this case. A dog was presented to specialists at Colorado State University with excessive tearing after undergoing surgery on both upper and lower eyelids.
SURGERY
Skills Laboratory
Walking sutures
Dr. Steven Swaim explains step by step—and with multiple photographs—how to perform this wound management technique.
CARDIOLOGY
Hot Literature
A summary of the ACVIM Consensus Statement: Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of canine chronic valvular heart disease.
March Parasitology supplement
The March supplement to Veterinary Medicine presents highlights from the November 2009 CAPC/Coastal Medical Veterinarian and Physician Collaborative Seminar: "Pets, People, and Pathogens: Emerging Diseases."
The seminar was developed to help promote collaborative ties that support the American Veterinary Medical Association and American Medical Association's "One Health" initiative to improve animal and human health.
The seminar focused on zoonotic diseases—those diseases shared by people and animals--and covered bacterial resistance, parasites, and emerging diseases. Specifically, the four topics covered and speakers were:
1) Bacterial resistance to antibiotics
Speaker: Richard Glew, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, discussed MRSA and other resistant bacteria in people.
2) Parasites: You get what you eat and drink
Speaker: Dwight Bowman, PhD, a veterinary parasitologist at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, discussed internal parasitic infections in people and animals and why every pet should receive year-round broad spectrum parasite control along with heartworm, flea, and tick preventives.
3) Emerging diseases: Bartonellosis
Speaker: Ed Breitschwerdt, DVM, an expert in veterinary infectious diseases at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, discussed Bartonella species infections in people and animals.
4) Infectious diseases: Influenza
Speaker: Steve Opal, MD, a nationally-known infectious disease expert, discussed influenza in people—H1N1 and avian.
In addition, the supplement will include a “Research Update” on the prevalence of intestinal nematode parasitism in dogs. Additional Research Updates may be included depending on space.
Note: The Parasitology supplement polybags with the March issue of Veterinary Medicine.
Ad Close Date: February 12, 2010
Materials Deadline: February 18, 2010
