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Pet Health Articles

Treatment

  • Pain research suggests that multi-modal therapy is the best choice for managing the chronic pain of OA. In this approach, multiple approaches are used together to manage OA pain, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), joint supplements, nutraceuticals, nutrition, adjunctive medicines, physical medicine, and changes to the home environment.

  • Supportive braces can help dogs with many orthopedic conditions, including skeletal deformities, carpal hyperextension, and cruciate ligament disease. It is important to have any brace properly fitted to avoid complications. Braces are not considered equivalent to surgery for cruciate ligament disease.

  • Many cats instinctively hide their pain, as a survival mechanism; however, cats have a nervous system that is very similar to that in humans. This handout outlines how to know if your cat is in pain and how you can help.

  • Many dogs instinctively hide their pain, as a survival mechanism; however, dogs have a nervous system that is very similar to that in humans. This handout outlines how to know if your dog is in pain and how you can help.

  • Pneumothorax is an accumulation of air outside the lungs, but inside the chest wall. The air outside the lung prevents the lungs from inflating normally, and can lead to lung collapse. There are several variations of pneumothorax.

  • When your cat comes home after an operation, you must take special care to ensure she remains indoors with restricted activity and cannot lick or chew at the incision site. Monitor your cat for abnormal signs and contact your veterinarian if you see any.

  • When your dog comes home after an operation, you must take special care to ensure he remains indoors with restricted activity and cannot lick or chew at his incision site. Monitor your dog for abnormal signs and contact your veterinarian if you see any.

  • Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is the use of a generated electromagnetic field to affect changes in tissues of the body. PEMF is believed to have beneficial pain-relieving and healing effects but definitive clinical evidence or a positive benefit is currently lacking. Potential benefits and contraindications are discussed.

  • Radiation is a type of energy produced naturally by the sun, earth, and rocks and artificially by machines. Although several types of tumors can be treated with radiation therapy alone (e.g., nasal tumors, brain tumors, and certain types of lymphoma), radiation therapy is most commonly used to destroy or limit the growth of cancer cells left behind (i.e., microscopic disease) after a tumor has been surgically removed. Side effects depend on the type and location of the tumor and its surrounding tissues.

  • This handout provides a brief overview of the most common evidence-based modalities used in veterinary medicine. Pet owners need to discuss the risk of recommended modalities for their specific pet with a trained and certified rehabilitation therapist before starting a rehabilitation program.