Vetletter

Encouraging News About Hip Dysplasia

With early detection and surgery, hip degeneration can be prevented. A major study at the University of Wisconsin demonstrated the effectiveness of pubic symphydiosis (surgical closure of the pubic symphysis) in preventing dysplasia when performed on pups up to 22 weeks old.

The VTH Orthopedics Service is offering the treatment in conjunction with its own study building on the Wisconsin results. To be a candidate, the pup must be between 16 and 22 weeks old and have lax hips on palpation. The procedure—electrocautery used to destroy the pubic growth plate—is performed at the same time as a spay or neuter. Follow-ups at 1 and 2 years of age reassess hip stability and morphology.

For more mature puppies with painful hip dysplasia, the service offers Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO), and, where the dog’s hip is irreparably damaged, Total Hip Replacement (FHO). For more information, contact Dr. Simon Roe, 919.513.6588 or write ortho@ncsu.edu.

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New Pulmonary Test Improves Health and Performance of Horses

In a major clinical innovation, NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine has started offering a new non-invasive test to detect pulmonary problems in horses.

Dr. Sarah Gardner, Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences and head of the new testing service, said the new test will give veterinarians objective and quantitative data that will more accurately determine the proper treatment regimens. Treatment therapies may include inhaled steroids or other anti-inflammatory medications and bronchodilators. "That will result in a better quality of life and increased performance for the horse," Gardner said. "The testing is particularly helpful in diagnosing horses with inflammatory airway disease that may only have clinical signs of exercise intolerance and cough."

Horses must be transported to the vet school for the test. The procedure is $150 with a free re-check to monitor responses to treatment therapies. For more information, contact the Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Equine Medicine Service at 919.513.6640.

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Kidney Transplants Save Two Cats At Once

Owners of cats with chronic kidney disease no longer responding to medication now have another option. Veterinarians at the VTH have developed a successful kidney transplant program that helps cats with the disease, and at the same time gives homes to donor cats who generally come from shelters and rescue groups. Both donor and recipient cats are carefully screened to make sure they are in good health.

The procedure is costly (up to $5000) and requires a commitment to give anti-rejection medication orally twice daily for the rest of the cat’s life. In the thirteen years since the procedure was first performed, however, results have improved dramatically. Recipient survival times have steadily improved, averaging 1-1/2 to 2 years, and some cats have survived more than 8 years.

Dr. Kyle Mathews, Assistant Professor of General Surgery, set up the program in 1997. Since then, he has trained residents, technicians, and volunteer students here to work with renal transplant cases. NCSU’s advanced microvascular equipment allows for renal transplant procedures for dogs and cats, both in North Carolina and throughout the Southeast. For more information, go to the Feline Renal Transplanation Unit page, or contact Dr. Kyle Mathews, 919.513.6303 or kyle_mathews@ncsu.edu.

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Veterinarians Study New Ways to Control Canine Seizures

In recent years, veterinarians have made progress in controlling an inherited form of epilepsy in dogs. Many dogs, however, still don't respond to standard treatments. Researchers at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine are now looking to human health for a better way to treat canine seizures.

Dr. Karen Munana, associate professor of neurology, is investigating methods of controlling idiopathic epilepsy. "There's no underlying structural cause for the epilepsy. The brain, for whatever reason, is just wired to have seizures. It's not because of a previous infection or trauma," she said.

According to Munana, the two most common drugs used to control canine epilepsy are fairly inexpensive, but can have problematic side effects - phenobarbital can damage the liver, while potassium bromide can lead to sedation. She adds that as many as 30 percent of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy don't respond to standard treatments. "At that point we don't have a lot of options," she said.

As of November 2007, Munana is conducting a study to investigate the effectiveness of the pharmaceutical drug Keppra in dogs. "It's a new seizure drug that was approved recently for use in humans. It works very well for people who have not responded to conventional seizure medications. It also doesn't have a lot of interactions with other drugs, which is another benefit," she said.

Dogs with epilepsy are actively being recruited for this study. For more information email julie_osborne@ncsu.edu or call 919.513.6812.

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