2023_NorthStarVets_Pets_Digital_Issue

HAPPY HEALLTHY PETS
To try and identify possible diagnosis,
multiple modalities may be employed.
The results of some will be available right
away, and some may be sent to a lab.
NorthStar VETS® may consider:
• Skin scraping for parasites
• Flea combing for fleas
• Cytology (cell analysis) of lesions in the
skin and hair coat that may show us different
bacteria and/or fungal elements
• Bacterial and/or fungal cultures for
severe skin or ear disease to identify
particular bacteria/fungal organisms
and target the most useful systemic
medication
• Blood work to rule out any underlying
systemic illness
• Skin biopsies if indicated
• Aspirates of masses/tumors found in skin
• Video-otoscopy (a miniaturized camera
that allows us to view and photograph
the ear canal and eardrum)
• CT scans/ MRI for evaluation of middle
and inner ear disease if indicated
Once NorthStar VETS® has identified
the cause of your pet 's skin disorder, the
team will have a differential diagnosis, if
not a definitive diagnosis, and work with
you and your primary care veterinarian
to develop a treatment plan. This might
include:
• Systemic and topical therapies to clear
infections in the skin
• Allergy vaccines for immunotherapy in
dogs with certain allergic diseases
• Dietary changes for dogs with different
allergic disease
• Long-term management of chronic
skin or ear diseases, which may require
ongoing treatment using the most
up-to-date medications and treatment
regimens
Conditions NorthStar VETS® diagnoses
and treats:
• Allergies, the most common cause of
skin problems in pets; allergies are
usually food-related, environmental, or
contact-related.
• Cutaneous and subcutaneous infection
of the skin, commonly caused by bacteria
and fungi
• Parasitic infestations due to fleas, ticks
and other parasites
• Immune-mediated disease, occurs when
the body's own immune system attacks
the healthy skin
• Ear infections, often breed-related (dogs
with flopped ears are more susceptible)
but can be caused by allergies
• Middle and inner-ear diseases
• Skin tumors
• Haircoat abnormalities
• Genetic abnormalities of skin and coat
• Endocrine and metabolic disease affecting
skin and coat
CARDIOLOGY
Just like humans, companion animals can
have heart (cardiac) and lung (pulmonary)
problems. These conditions
fall into two categories:
congenital (present
from birth) or acquired
(developed over time).
Hyeon Woo
Jeong, DVM,
DACVIM
Seeing a doctor who
specializes in cardiac conditions
can help your pet
achieve the best possible
heart and lung health—and that’s exactly
what you’ll find at NorthStar VETS®. The
Cardiology Department is staffed by highly
trained veterinarians who specialize in
diseases that affect the heart and lungs of
companion animals.
NorthStar VETS® provides a full range of
cardiopulmonary diagnostic and treatment
services to ensure the best-possible
quality of life for your companion:
• Cardiac consultation
• Heart murmur evaluation
• Breed screens for congenital and acquired
heart disease
• Thoracic and cardiac echocardiography
(ultrasounds)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) interpretation
• Diagnosis of thoracic and pericardial
neoplasia (abnormal tissue growth)
• Removal of fluid from the thorax (pleurocentesis),
the abdomen (abdominocentesis)
and the pericardium (pericardicentesis)
• Pre-doxorubicin (brand name: Adriamycin)
treatment evaluation to determine
if your pet’s heart is healthy enough to
withstand this cancer treatment
• Pre-Radioiodine (I-131) treatment evaluation
to determine if your pet’s heart is
healthy enough to withstand this hyperthyroid
treatment
• Pre-anesthetic evaluation
• Pacemaker implantation
• Valvuloplasty
Among the most common conditions that
NorthStar VETS®’ veterinary cardiologists
treat area:
• Congestive heart failure
• Pericardial and pleural space disease and
neoplasia
• Pulmonary (lung) disease
• Congenital cardiac disease (patent ductus
arteriosus, pulmonic stenosis, aortic
stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
• Acquired cardiac disease (valvular insufficiency,
dilated cardiomyopathy, muscle
disorders, pericardial disease)
• Arrhythmias
Tackling Your
HEALTH
CONCERNS
Our experts take your pet
health questions head-on
and provide important insight.
the concern
My pet appears
to be
having an allergic
reaction.
What should
I do?
If you witness
Ross Taylor, DVM
itching, redness,
facial swelling, hives, vomiting or
sneezing, have your pet examined
by a veterinarian. Some allergic
reactions can progress to severe
swelling, vomiting and troubled
breathing. Do not give your pet
medication at home without speaking
to your doctor. If you cannot
get immediate veterinary care, give
your pet a 1 mg per pound oral
dose of Benedryl if the animal is not
vomiting.
the concern
We were outside in the cold
for an extended period of
time, and my dog seems very
cold. What should I do?
Once inside, check your dog's axillary
(armpit) or ear temperature,
says Dr. Ross Taylor, a veterinarian
in the NorthStar VETS® Emergency/Critical
Care department.
A normal temperature for a cat/
dog is 99-102.5 degrees. If the
temperature is below 98 degrees,
your pet should be seen by a
veterinarian for supportive care
and/or diagnostics (bloodwork,
radiographs, etc.).
the concern
My dog got bitten by another
animal. What are my next
steps?
If there are visible wounds, have
your pet examined by a veterinarian
to see if they need stitches,
drains and/or surgery, says Dr.
Taylor. “It is also advised, if there
are wounds, to booster the rabies
vaccine to help prevent possibly
contracting rabies,” Dr. Taylor says.
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