These days, people are treating their pets more like family members. They want the same kind of care for their pets as they would ask for their children. In some ways this has really moved veterinary medicine along. We find that, quite often, the new technologies for Veterinary medicine are really human medicine adapted to work for pets. Animals now have procedures that were not available to them ten years ago. Here are some new technologies available to pets around the world.
Eight Amazing Strides in Veterinary Medicine Over The Last Decade
1. State of the Art Diagnostic Equipment- Pets today have the same technologies available to them that we have. MRI, used to find cancer and tumors. It can also be used to view internal organs and bones. Ultrasound, used to “see” things such as the retina, spinal cord, and fetuses. Endoscopy, this is used to see inside the internal organs by inserting a tube with a camera on the end of it into the body.
2. Cancer treatment for dogs- A pill called Palladia is used to treat mast cell tumors. It works b blocking the blood vessel development that supplies the tumor. At the end of the study for this drug, 60% of the dogs showed some sort of change in their tumor’s growth. Their tumors were either gone, shrinking, or had stopped growing. This is fantastic news for the 1.2 million new cases reported every year.
3. Prevention of fleas and ticks- There are medicines available as a topical oil, pill, or oral liquid that kill the fleas and ticks. There is also a lawn treatment available that has live organisms which feed on flea larvae.
4. Pain management- There has been a patch that goes on the animals skin developed for animals so they receive a continuous, even pain management rather than taking pills or injections.
5. Microchip- This is a computerized identification chip implanted in the animal directly under their skin. If the animal is found, the chip is scanned and the rightful owner can be found.
6. Dental- Proper dental care prevents more serious infections in the body. The bacteria that cause infections in the heart and kidneys are found in the mouth. Dental care increases the length of these animals’ lives and they can feel their best.
7. Laser surgery- This is used in many routine procedures in the veterinary office. The benefits to this type of surgery is less pain, less swelling, less bleeding, and less time in surgery. The down side is the equipment is very expensive and probably won’t be seen in a small vet office.
8. Laparoscopy- Veterinarians no longer have to perform dangerous, sometimes fatal, diagnostic surgery. The Vet has to make only a small incision and insert the camera to view the inside of the animal’s body.
L. Lubel generally writes about how to become a veterinarian technician and which schools offer online programs.
