Puppy found in drainage pipe is a visitor at First Regional Animal Hospital!

SENIOR PETS

Older pets tend to have a tougher time if the weather changes. If you’ve noticed your senior pet struggling to go up and down stairs, or having trouble rising up after a nap, they may be having an arthritic flare-up. We can prescribe them anti-inflammatory medications to help them feel younger again.

Duncan! Another Scottie, Another Tumor, Another Mystery

By Ken McLeod
With Dr. Patricia Kupanoff

Invasive tumor – two words which strike fear in the heart of any Scottie owner. It certainly was not the first time Carol and I dealt with cancer in one of our Scotties. This tumor - an invasive tumor was different.
Duncan is one of our Scottish Terrier rescues. He was found in early 2007 on a social networking web site listed simply as “Scottish Terrier – come get him.” That is exactly what Stacey Brainard of From the Heart Rescue of Austin, Texas did.
Stacy picked up nine month old Duncan from an individual who clearly had little interest in this tiny Scottie. Duncan was emaciated, did not appear to have ever been groomed and certainly had little or no medical care.
Stacey put out the word she had a special Scottie rescue needing immediate attention. On March 16, 2007, within two days from Stacy’s call we had Duncan in our hands. Stacey was headed to California with other rescues. We met just outside Chandler AZ where I met Duncan.
It was obvious Duncan needed immediate medical attention. Without delay I took Duncan to First Regional Animal Hospital in Chandler. Duncan weighed only twelve pounds. From the sparse records obtained by Stacey we determined that Duncan was about nine months old.
Tests showed Duncan had an upper respiratory infection, had been neutered and seriously underweight. He was started on Clavamox® and taken home.
Duncan was so sick I had to isolate him from our other Scotties. I was not sure if he would make it through the first few days. I was wrong.
Within a week Duncan was running all over the house, tearing up anything not bolted down and generally acting like a Scottie puppy should - capable of uncontrolled mayhem.
In less than four weeks Duncan went from one sick fellow to a happy and healthy Scottish Terrier.
Our other Scotties grudgingly accepted Duncan into the pack. Duncan quickly became the true Scottie we all expected him to be.
Interestingly enough, Duncan exhibited at least one non-Scottie behavior. He wasn’t snotty. Duncan liked everyone. When I take him places he is the first one to greet people with copious tail wagging and generous doses of hugs and kisses.
In May of 2009 I noticed a lump on his upper right arm. It was a very small mass. I felt it when I was bathing him. I waited a couple of weeks to see if the mass would go away – maybe it was an insect sting.
The mass not only did not go away but I could tell it was slowly growing in size. The lump felt soft – similar to fatty tumors called a Lipoma I have seen before our Scotties. A Lipoma is almost always benign.
A few weeks passed. The lump was continuing to grow in size so it was off to First Regional Animal Hospital to see Dr. Keith Joyner. Dr. Joyner has been seeing and caring for our Scotties in 1995.
Dr. Joyner suggested that we open the lump surgically to determine the nature of the mass and obtain tissue samples for biopsy. Later that day Duncan was anesthetized and a small incision made in his upper right arm. Samples were removed for testing.
What Dr. Joyner told me after the surgery came as a surprise to both of us. The lump was an invasive tumor! Dr. Joyner said that in his forty years of veterinary practice he had never seen this type of tumor.
Dr. Joyner referred me to Dr. Patricia Kupanoff, a surgical specialist with First Regional.
Dr. Kupanoff explained that based on the previous biopsy, the mass was an infiltrative lipoma.
Infiltrative lipomas do not typically spread to other sites, but have a tendency to recur at the same site due to the difficultly in completely excising the tumor. Many times, treatment includes surgical debulking followed by radiation therapy to treat the residue tumor cells.
Because Dr. Kupanoff thought the mass would continue to grow, I decided to wait a few more weeks to monitor the mass prior to proceeding with surgery.
Finally, I decided that Duncan’s invasive tumor had become large enough it was time for action.
Duncan and I visited with Dr. Kupanoff. We decided together that surgery was a necessary option.
On the day of surgery Duncan first met with Veterinary Technicians Dori Lamb and Jayne Gusse.
By this time the invasive tumor was about two inches inch across.
Duncan was prepared for surgery. He was anesthetized and placed on his back with his legs stretched forward. The right was shaved and aseptically prepped for surgery.
Dr. Kupanoff described the surgery in her notes as follows:
“A 5cm elliptical incision was made around the previous incision on the medial aspect of the right elbow. The tumor was dissected.”
“The subcutaneous dissection was continued approximately 2cm proximal and 1cm distal from the skin incision.”
“The tumor extended (deep) to the medial aspect of the proximal ulna and extended along the cranial aspect of the radial heal. Distally, the deep margin of the tumor was along the cranial aspect of the radius.”
“Proximally, a separate section of fat was dissected from the distal humerus. This involved 2cm of subcutaneous dissection proximal to the incision. This fat was submitted for histopathology and labeled distal humerus.”
“Distally, the deep fascia was sutured with 3-0 pds, interrupted. The subcutaneous tissue was apposed with 3-0 PDS, interrupted. The skin was apposed with 4-0 nylon, simple continuous.”
“Duncan recovered from anesthesia uneventfully.”
So, what about this invasive tumor? Here is what the histological report said:
“The mass removed from the humerus is a Lipoma and benign. That is great news. The mass removed from the right elbow is an Infiltrating Lipoma.” This is the diagnosis and finding I am most concerned about as are Duncan’s doctors.
An infiltrating lipoma may have a high tendency to reoccur unless widely excised. Time will tell if the entire infiltrating tumor was removed. If not, the next step will be radiation treatment. If that happens, there will be a sequel to this story.
The decision to have the surgery performed was necessary for the continued health of Duncan. Our Scottish Terrier population are cursed with breeding histories which leave a legacy of cancer and other serious diseases.
Responsible changes to breeding may hopefully reduce the need for surgeries of the type Duncan endured.
Today Duncan is a healthy Scottie – back to his usual pursuits and behaviors. He is a joy to have as a member of our pack.
I recognize our Scotties are healthy today because of the talents, dedication and training of Duncan’s entire medical team.
Author Ken McLeod lives in Chandler AZ with his wife of 40 years, Carol and their Scotties: Duncan, Sean, Mr. MacBean, Matie Mae and Ginger. Ken’s articles about Scottish Terriers have been published in Great Scots magazine. His first book “The McLeod Scotties – Living With Thirteen Rescued or Adopted Scottish Terriers” has received positive reviews and is available on Amazon.com.
Dr. Patricia Kupanoff is a surgical specialist at First Regional Animal Hospital in Chandler, AZ
Dr. Kupanoff graduated from Oregon State University as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

FIRST Regional Animal Hospital's Team Member of the Month

FIRST Regional Animal Hospital is proud to honor Matt Smith as our Team Member of the Month! He has been with us for over four years and is working towards completing his undergraduate work at Arizona State University and hopes to gain entrance into veterinary school. Colorado State's Veterinary School is his top choice and he hopes to eventually become a boarded surgeon specializing in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery. We appreciate all of Matt's contributions to our practice.

1st Emergency Pet Care Team Member of the Month

1st Emergency Pet Care is proud to honor Angel Torres as our Team Member of the Month. He is a graduate of the Apollo College Veterinary Assistant program. He has been with us since March of last year and is definitely one of the hardest workers we have! He has saved numerous strays in his free time that he has found, and if unable to reunite them with their owners, has worked hard to find them new homes. He currently owns two dobermans. We are glad he is part of our team!

Cats & Car Engines

If the weather starts to get chilly, make sure your pet has some place warm to stay. Look before you start your car, tap on the hood, or better yet, open it. Cats love warm places and they will often climb onto car engine compartments to get warm. Lacerations, burns and other injuries can occur for a cat when an engine starts. Always know where your pets are, especially if the weather starts to turn.

Hero Saves Poisoned Dog

Tip for Dogs with Dry Skin

Here’s a tip for dogs with dry skin...bathe them less often, and make sure to brush their coat in an effort to rid the skin of dander. When you do bathe your pet, make sure to use a shampoo and rinse made for their special needs. Do not use a shampoo or conditioner made for people. If you would like some help picking out a dog safe shampoo and conditioner, please bring it to our attention at your next visit.

January's Book Club Selection!!!

Attention Book Club Participants! It's time to reveal January's Book Club selection! This month's selection is 'The Art of Racing in the Rain' by Garth Stein. Take this month to read the selection and check in with us on Monday, February 14 to discuss the themes and topics of the book and post your feedback. Enjoy!

Click here to view the amazon.com site and learn more about the book.

New Year's Resolution

Does your New Year’s Resolution involve getting your pets behavior in check? We can provide advice regarding the correction of problems such as excessive barking, chewing, spraying, scratching, digging, house soiling and aggression. Make 2011 a great year for you and your pet!

Click the link below to view a pet behavior video from The Rachael Ray Show.

Heartworm Reminder

 Did you know that heartworm is a disease you can prevent your pet from having?  Heartworms are a constant threat to your animal, which is why our hospital recommends heartworm screening and prevention for your pet.  The most common signs of heartworm disease in cats are coughing, vomiting, breathing difficulties, weight loss and lethargy and are often mistaken for other conditions such as asthma, pneumonia and digestive problems. In fact, the most common clinical signs of heartworm disease in cats actually resemble bronchial asthma. The only way to know for sure is to have us examine and test your pet. This pre-emptive approach can spare your pet the pain of this often fatal disease.

Anti-freeze Dangers for Pets

Be mindful of dangerous chemicals normally used during the colder seasons, especially anti-freeze. Pets actually love the taste of anti-freeze and will sneak a taste any chance they get. Wipe spills or puddles and keep this poisonous liquid away from pets.  Even a teaspoon of anti-freeze can seriously harm your pet. Signs of anti-freeze poisoning include drowsiness, lethargy and depression. Even if you don't experience harsh weather, be mindful of chemicals you may have in your garage or within reach of your pet. Keep pets safe and away from danger this season.