How to give your pet medication
Tips for making your pet’s medicine go down more smoothly
How to give your pet medication:
When your dog or cat is hurt or sick, veterinarian‐prescribed medication may be part of their road back to health. Yet it can be a challenge to get a pet to swallow what’s good for them. Meds may have a bitter taste, and a pet may balk at being force‐fed for its own good.
The first time you need to medicate your pet, ask the veterinarian to show you how to administer the medication so that you can follow the best practice.
Protect Your Pet Against Sun Dangers
Humans, particularly residents of Florida, are well aware of the dangers of too much sun exposure and the risks of contracting cancers like melanoma. Cats and dogs have fur that offers partial protection from UV exposure, and unlike people, melanoma in pets is more often found in the mouth or nail beds rather than on sun-exposed skin. However, excessive sun exposure can increase the risk of other types of skin cancer in pets. Florida pet owners should take extra care due to the state’s higher UV index, geographic location, and the tendency for pets to spend more time outdoors year-round. Walking dogs on concrete or sand can increase UV exposure, particularly to sparsely haired belly areas, due to reflected sunlight and prolonged exposure.
Delivering Quality of Life Through Palliative Care
A cancer diagnosis can change a family’s world overnight. While some pets benefit from surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation aimed at controlling or eliminating cancer, palliative care is another important path. The goal of palliative care is simple: to keep a pet comfortable, minimize pain, and protect quality of life, for as long as possible.
At Animal Cancer Care Clinic, Dr. Evan Sones (DVM, MS, DACVIM – Oncology) explains that palliative care is highly individualized and can begin at any point during the cancer journey.
“Palliative care is about comfort and quality of life,” says Dr. Sones. “It can be used on its own, alongside treatment, or once treatment has concluded, depending on what a pet and their family need.”
Our Goal: Optimal OUTCOMES for each Animal Patient
HOPE, CARE, and Optimal OUTCOMES are at the core of the ACCC culture. From the moment a new Animal Patient enters one of our seven locations throughout Florida, our team works closely together to assess that patient’s individual situation, along with the needs and wishes of their owners.
Guided by the best medical expertise available, our highly trained veterinary oncologists, backed by ACCC’s strong 21-year history, develop individualized treatment plans that offer families clear choices. These options are based on the Animal Patient’s prognosis, the family’s available time and location, personal goals for their pet, and financial considerations.
The Immune Heroes: Assembling Forces Against Cancer
Two years ago, when Dr. Laura Greene, DVM, DACVIM, Senior Professional Services Veterinarian for Merck Animal Health, spoke about immunotherapy as part of the ACCC Summer Webinar Series, she reported that eight checkpoint inhibitors had been approved by the FDA for cancer therapy in humans. Today, 14 different checkpoint inhibitor therapies are approved to treat over 20 different types of cancer in humans.
Merck Animal Health has received a USDA conditional license for the checkpoint inhibitor drug, gilvetmab, for the treatment of mast cell tumors and melanoma in dogs.
Dr. Lyons presents “Getting Ahead of Head and Neck Tumors”
Nearly 70 primary care veterinarians from across Florida and the country tuned in to listen to ACCC’s Jarred Lyons, DVM, Board-Certified in Radiation Oncology, discuss head and neck tumors in both dogs and cats. The presentation was part of the How to Navigate through the Cancer Diagnosis annual summer webinar series sponsored by Merck. A recording of his full talk is available here.
Dr. Lyons explained at the outset that definitive research in veterinary oncology is limited; therefore, he stressed the importance of personal experience and evaluating each animal as a unique patient.
June Webinar Featured ACCC’s Newest Treatment Option
Electrochemotherapy (ECT), which is now offered at Animal Cancer Care Clinic’s (ACCC) Melbourne clinic, may offer some Animal Patients a faster, cost-effective option for cancer treatment.
The development of this technology began more than 40 years ago, when it was discovered that electrical fields could be applied to cell membranes to disrupt them and allow chemotherapy or other molecules to be inserted. It was a neat and practical method to improve the precise delivery of chemotherapy to fight cancer cells. With this approach, healthy cells are able to easily rebuild while the rapid growth of cancerous cells is disrupted, rendering them unable to regenerate.
Common Signs and Causes of Cancer: Part 2
Performing a monthly checkup of your pet at home is recommended to set a familiar baseline. By paying attention to the specific areas listed below, early detection of cancer becomes a practical and attainable goal for all pets. First, pay attention to any lumps or swellings in the skin. If these lumps or masses seem to grow over a period of time, they must be investigated further by your primary care veterinarian. Lymph nodes in the skin can become swollen quickly and indicate that lymphosarcoma may be present. Skin cancers are the most common type of cancer that we see in dogs. Any new skin masses that grow need to be addressed. In feline patients, breast cancer is almost always aggressive and malignant. Any skin lumps in the mammary region need to be addressed in both dogs and cats.
Common Signs of Cancer: Part 1
Pet owners want to understand and be aware of any possible signs and causes of cancer. Below are a few behaviors to monitor. When in doubt, always consult with your primary care veterinarian regarding any changes in behavior or physical appearance. Monitoring your pet’s appetite is an important way to determine if your pet is ill. Changes in the appetite can be the first sign that there is something wrong. Appetite changes can occur for numerous reasons. Tumors in the mouth or stomach can make it difficult for a pet to chew or swallow. Cancer in the liver or kidneys can interfere with the function of these organs and make the pet feel nauseated so that there is no appetite present.
Understanding Leukemia
White blood cells are an important part of the immune system in both animals and humans. When these cells, which come in various types, begin to divide out of control in the blood or bone marrow, they become the cancer known as leukemia. This type of cancer can be either acute or chronic.
Acute cancer cells are immature, while chronic cancerous cells are more mature. The acute cells tend to be more aggressive because they are more readily able to divide and do so at a rapid rate. In this type of cancer, the bone marrow is unable to produce healthy cells due to the presence of the cancerous cells overcrowding the marrow. It also tends to have poor responses to chemotherapy.