Patient of the Month

February 2010

The votes kept pouring in for our February title winner

Kiwi.

460 votes proved to be enough to secure him the win!

CASE STUDY:
Kiwi is a Yorkie who is 11# at 3yrs of age.  Dr. Kristie Austin of Osage Veterinary Clinic sent her to us.  He had a 1-week history of rear limb paresis, and has been responsive to steroids; however paresis has worsened with each episode.  Dr. Dew observed upon examination Grade IV rear limb myelopathy.  There was deep pain present bilaterally, but it was reduced.
TREATMENT:
Dr. Dew used a dorsolateral approach to the Left T12-T13 Vertebrae.
Cerebrospinal centesis:  There was 2ml of clear CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) collected from cisterna magna.
Myelogram:  Dr. Dew injected 3ml iohexol.  He observed column thinning and elevation from T12-13, with a slight deviation of the spinal cord to the right.
Hemilaminectomy:  There was a large amount of acute disc material removed ventral to the cord.  Dr. Dew explored the spinal canal, used lavage for cleaning and applied a free fat graft for healing.  Kiwi’s prognosis is good for healing and improved neurologic function.  A transient worsening of neurologic function can be noted after a myelogram and surgery. This condition will usually resolve to the pre-operative state in 3-10 days. The nervous system is very slow to heal. Improvement can be expected for up to 5 months. Nursing care, physical therapy and exercise restriction all play critical roles in avoiding complications and aiding recovery.

Azzore’s Tomato Wars – Episode One

Meet the Warriors

Galleries – Cheree’s BDay

at Opal Mae’s (one of our favorite cafe’s) in March 2010

Patient of the Week

March 8th thru 12th, 2010

 CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???

LOUIE’S PEOPLE VOTED 961 TIMES. . . .

WOW!

CONGRATS LOUIE!

PATIENT SUMMARY:
Louie is a Boxer who weighs 34# and is 4mos old.  Dr. Kendra Kaufman with All For Pets has referred him to us.  Unknown trauma had resulted in right forelimb lameness.  Dr. Kaufman’s radiographs demonstrate transverse mid-diaphysis fracture of metacarpal bone II-V.  Dr. Dew discussed IM pin stabilization, need for bandage care post surgery, and good prognosis for healing and return to normal function.
TREATMENT: 
Dr. Dew used an anterior approach for Louie’s surgery.  He used 0.045 IM wires to stabilize the fracture, and left the wire exposed distally with shepherds crook.  The prognosis is good for normal osseous healing.  Exercise restrictions must be followed to maximize the prognosis for uncomplicated healing.

Patient of the Week Candidates

for the week of March 8th  thru 12th, 2010

Review the patient summaries below 
then  vote for your favorite patient.
The patient with the most votes wins the “Patient of the Week” title.

Then the POTW with the most votes in a month will
be dubbed Azzore’s Patient of the Month and will receive
an extra special prize package from Dr. Dew and the Dew Crew.

  

PATIENT SUMMARY:
Angel is an Italian Greyhound who is 15yrs old and weighs 8#.  She was sent to us by Dr. Doug Leach of Stanton Animal Hospital for acute onset of right rear lameness 2-3 weeks previous.  Dr. Leach identified a LPL which was manually reduced.  
Reluxation occurred shortly after reduction and Angel had progressive loss of right rear function since that time. Upon exam, grade IV LPL was noted. 
Radiographs suggestive of changes in proximal tibia, but the owners stated that limb function and carriage had been normal up until the time of injury.  Dr. Dew discussed LPL correction, prognosis and recovery.  There was time spent discussing Angel’s age.  The owners wished to proceed with surgical correction.
TREATMENT:
Dr. Dew used a medial approach with lateral release for Angel’s Tibial Tuberosity Transpostion.  He stabilized Angel’s patella with divergent pins, sizes 0.062 and 0.045.  Post surgically, he observed the patellas were central.  There was good hardware placement, and adequate hip conformation.  Her prognosis is good for healing, improved function and decreased progression of degenerative joint disease (arthritis). Nursing care, physical therapy, exercise restriction and the use of Glycoflex will play critical roles in an uncomplicated recovery and optimization of long term function.

(more…)

Patient of the Week

March 1st thru 5th, 2010

 with 11 votes, the winner is:

CHARLIE!!!

congratulations!

PATIENT SUMMARY:

Charlie is a Westie that weighs 12# and is 7mo old. Dr Kenneth Shaddox with Chestnut Small Animal Clinic referred him to us. On routine pre-op chemistry panel, Dr. Shaddox recognized hepatic abnormalities; the bile acid assay submitted returned results consistent with PSS (portosystemic shunt). Dr Dew discussed PSS medical and surgical therapy, associated prognosis and benefits. Charlie’s owners decided to proceed with surgery.
TREATMENT:
Dr Dew used a ventral celiotomy approach to repair the shunt vessel. Charlie’s liver mass appeared normal. The shunt vessel consisted of gastric and splenic veins; it joins to form 1 short shunt vessel into vena cava. A cellophane constrictor (3 ligaclips) were placed to correct the shunt vessel. The prognosis for an uncomplicated recovery after shunt surgery is fair. Hospitalization with fluid support may be needed for 4-5 days. The accumulation of abdominal fluid (ascites) and some abdominal discomfort may be noted. The long term prognosis will be dictated by the liver’s response to an increased blood supply.

Patient of the Week Candidates

for the week of March 1st thru 5th, 2010

Review the patient summaries below 
then  vote for your favorite patient.
The patient with the most votes wins the “Patient of the Week” title.

Then the POTW with the most votes in a month will
be dubbed Azzore’s Patient of the Month and will receive
an extra special prize package from Dr. Dew and the Dew Crew.

The winner of last week’s poll was
Olive with 45 votes. 
Awesome, Olive! 

Have a picture of your pet getting his/her prize pack in the mail? 
Email it to info [at] azzore.com and we’ll add it to the photo album on our website:
You’ve Got Mail!

PATIENT SUMMARY:

Gracie is a Mix Breed at 57# and 2yr 4mo. Her referring veterinarian is Dr Tammy Smith of Animal Medical Clinic. Gracie had been to us before for Bilateral Cruciate surgery, now she had presented with Bilateral Luxating patellas.

 
TREATMENT:
Dr. Dew used a medial approach on both of Gracie’s tibial tuberosity transposition surgeries on both knees. Her prognosis is good for maintained reduction of patellas and improved ambulatory function.
(more…)

Patient of the Week

February 22nd thru 26th, 2010

with 45 votes,

Olive wins!

PATIENT SUMMARY:
Olive is a Boston Terrier weighing 32# and is 2yrs old. She was sent to us by Dr. Amy Hawley of North Hills Animal Clinic. She had a history of intermittent left rear lameness. Dr. Hawley identified bilateral MPL (medial patellar luxation).

TREATMENT:
Dr. Dew used a medial approach for Olive’s surgery, and used 0.062 divergent pins to hold her patellas in place. Post-surgically, her patellas were central and Dr. Dew observed good hardware placement. Olive’s prognosis is good for healing, improved function and decreased progression of degenerative joint disease (arthritis). Nursing care, physical therapy, exercise restriction and the use of Glycoflex will play critical roles in an uncomplicated recovery and optimization of long term function

Patient of the Week Candidates

for the week of February 22nd thru 26th, 2010

Review the patient summaries below 
then  vote for your favorite patient.
The patient with the most votes wins the “Patient of the Week” title.

Then the POTW with the most votes in a month will
be dubbed Azzore’s Patient of the Month and will receive
an extra special prize package from Dr. Dew and the Dew Crew.

Last week’s voting was fun to watch! 
Brie closed up the win with 156 votes. 
Congratulations, Brie!!

PATIENT SUMMARY:
Olive is a Boston Terrier weighing 32# and is 2yrs old. She was sent to us by Dr. Amy Hawley of North Hills Animal Clinic. She had a history of intermittent left rear lameness. Dr. Hawley identified bilateral MPL (medial patellar luxation).

TREATMENT:
Dr. Dew used a medial approach for Olive’s surgery, and used 0.062 divergent pins to hold her patellas in place. Post-surgically, her patellas were central and Dr. Dew observed good hardware placement. Olive’s prognosis is good for healing, improved function and decreased progression of degenerative joint disease (arthritis). Nursing care, physical therapy, exercise restriction and the use of Glycoflex will play critical roles in an uncomplicated recovery and optimization of long term function.

(more…)

BioScaffold Implants

new treatments for old problems

We have been very pleased with our new Bioscaffold Implant procedure. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Wish we had some before footage to go with this, but you’ll have to take our word for how lame this dog was 2 days ago. Ike is a 3 year old, 80 lb, Border Collie mix who suffers from multiple orthopedic issues — particularly in his joints (hips, elbows and shoulders). He came to us after he had become acutely lame on his one “good” leg. This footage was taken the morning after multiple Bioscaffold Implants.