Who's happier in these scenarios: The pet owner or the pet? 🤔
Who's happier in these scenarios: The pet owner or the pet? 🤔
Canalevia®️-CA1 has been significantly helping my chemotherapy patients with their diarrhea for a couple of years now. At this point, I'm no longer using metronidazole and instead include Canalevia®️-CA1 in all my clients' just-in-case medications for my canine chemotherapy patients.
It's currently under review for general use in treating diarrhea in dogs, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it passes!
Canalevia®️-CA1 is not an antibiotic, which is also a big plus for me, considering the go-to medication for this symptom is an antibiotic, which I know is contributing to the greater issue of antibiotic resistance.
It’s plant-based and sustainably harvested, two factors that show environmental stewardship from the company that produces it, which is also very important to me. Shout out to @jaguaranimalhealth. 🙌🏻
As always, I know not every treatment or case is a one-size-fits-all, and the best treatment plans vary from case to case, but I’ll always share what I’m doing with my patients to help this community.
Have any questions about this drug? Ask me in the comments.
STELFONTA® is an incredible FDA-approved treatment option for mast cell tumors in dogs that is derived from the blushwood seed found in the Australian rainforest. 🌱
STELFONTA® is an incredible FDA-approved treatment option for mast cell tumors in dogs that is derived from the blushwood seed found in the Australian rainforest. 🌱
Its initial studies show that 75% of dogs will have a complete response with one treatment; 12% of these cases required retreatment. When they evaluated these cases that had one or two treatments, 87% of them had a complete response.
When assessing the treatment response of STELFONTA®, you want to wait at least until day 28. (I have a reel on my page that goes in-depth on this.)
At this 4 to 6 week recheck, if the wound is healed and there’s no mass, then there’s no need to perform a fine needle aspirate to check; however, if there is a mass or a nodule present, then you’d want to aspirate the mass to check for residual MCT.
Did you know that some cases will need retreatment with STELFONTA®?
Have any other questions about this process?
PART 2 of Top Brain Tumors | Today, we're covering Cats! 🐈⬛ 🐈
PART 2 of Top Brain Tumors | Today, we're covering Cats! 🐈⬛ 🐈
If you're a proud cat pawrent, tune in to learn about what the top brain tumors are, their symptoms, treatment options, and prognosis.
If you're a dog mom or dad, head back to my page for last week's video, in which we discussed the top brain tumors in dogs.
Thank you, @jbergdoc Dr. Jason Berg, for creating these educational videos with us!
Drop your questions below, or please share this with a cat parent!
Did you know that dogs get malignant melanoma? 🐾
Did you know that dogs get malignant melanoma? 🐾
It happens, and as opposed to humans, where we're used to seeing it in the skin (or on Khloe Kardashian's cheek), but in pets, it often occurs in the mouth. 👄
Keep watching to learn about its most common symptoms and for the
breeds that are reported to have predispositions for this cancer.
Follow me for part 2, where I'll cover the treatment options and prognosis and to stay up to date on all things pet cancer.
The mast cell tumors definitely should be, and here's why ⤵️
The mast cell tumors definitely should be, and here's why ⤵️
If you're new to my page, welcome; you're about to learn about one of my favorite non-surgical single-injection plant-derived mast cell tumor treatment options, STELFONTA®.
This solution starts to work within hours after injection, and then the MCT typically falls off within 3 to 7 days, leaving a pocket/wound where the tumor was.
The wounds they leave typically heal after 4 to 6 weeks to the point that you would never know a tumor was there. (Check my page to see numerous impressive STELFONTA® wound healing cases.)
To date, I've treated over 80 cases with STELFONTA®, and I'm continually amazed by the drug through its results and how it helps us to save limbs and sensitive locations that otherwise would have to be removed via surgery.
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It’s an incredible alternative to surgery when needed and a drug I’m a true supporter of.
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If you'd like to learn more about this, tap through my page, and you'll see dozens of posts I have on preparing for it, what cases to start with, etc.
To my vet friends, have you treated any of your patients with STELFONTA® yet? If so, I’d love for you to share your experience! 🐕
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For even more 1:1 support, I have a Mast Cell Tumor private FB group for veterinary professionals.
Just tap the link in my bio to request to join! You’ll be a part of over 1.8K members! 🥳
And for pet owners, there’s an incredible closed FB group with over one thousand members. It’s a great support group for asking questions and getting feedback from other pet parents who have gone through the treatment process with their pets, too.
Search: “Stelfonta injection for mast cell tumors MCT in dogs” on FB to find it.
Cancer Diagnostic Terms: Sensitivity & Specificity
Cancer Diagnostics Terms: Sensitivity & Specificity 🔬
Tune in to learn how I breakdown these common but complicated terms and how they apply to one of my favorite vet cancer screening tests, the Nu.Q.
Soon to come to my clinic - an in-house point of care test available from @antech_diagnostics that will allow us to run the Nu.Q and allow us to get the results in under 10 minutes.
Stay tuned for an upcoming reel where I’ll give a full walkthrough of the in-house diagnostic.
Top Brain Tumors in Dogs 🧠
🧠 TOP Brain Tumors In Dogs—Keep watching to learn about these tumors, which breeds are most affected by them, and what treatment options are available. 🧠
I'd also like to sincerely thank Dr. Jason Berg, owner of @guardianveterinaryspecialist, for creating some additional videos for us. 🙌🏻
Has your dog ever had a brain tumor?
How are they now, or how did they do?
If your pet is currently diagnosed with cancer, life feels a little heavier. 💔
If your pet is currently diagnosed with cancer, life feels a little heavier. 💔
Summertime is such an active and fun time, with BBQs, beach days, and long walks in the park. It's a fun time of year. However, based on your pet's energy, all those activities and this season can look slightly different now.
As we kick off summer, I wanted to take a moment to give you this encouraging reminder that it's okay and that you should still enjoy every day!!
Each day you have with your pet is a gift, and if your dog is up to the task and happy, let them enjoy what they can do to the fullest!
Also, if they’re showing pickiness in appetite, a few treats from the BBQ will probably do them some good. 😉 (Within reason and nothing fatty, and no corn cobs, please. 🙏🏻)
Lastly, it’s also easy to be very hard on yourself, even blame yourself for their diagnosis, but I want you to remember that you’re not alone and should never blame yourself for your pet’s disease. It could never be "your fault." They love you, and I’m here for you, and so is this community!
It’s never a dull moment, that’s for sure.
It’s never a dull moment, that’s for sure.
Every day brings its challenges: delivering heartbreaking news to pet parents, managing an understaffed and overbooked clinic, and advocating for the best treatments while balancing budget constraints (sadly, the most effective options are often the most expensive).
Despite these struggles, the hope I give to pet parents makes it all worthwhile. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.
Can you relate to your field? Let me know!
My top 5️⃣ tips on how to prepare for a chemotherapy recheck appointment
Watch to learn my top 5️⃣ tips on how to prepare for a chemotherapy recheck appointment.
Chemotherapy side effects typically occur within the first week after a pet's chemotherapy appointment.
Chemotherapy side effects typically occur within the first week after a pet's chemotherapy appointment.
During this time, if a dog experiences a gastrointestinal side effect such as diarrhea or soft stool, it will typically happen then.
Knowing this possibility, l've started including my current favorite antisecretory drug, Canalevia TM-CA1, in my clients' take-home meds.
It's proven to be very effective in my patients and has been FDA-approved for chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in dogs only since 2021.
Another bonus, Canalevia TM is easy to administer; pet parents just have to give it to their dog twice a day for three days. It's also not an antibiotic, so we know that by using this treatment option, we're not contributing to antibiotic resistance as we've inadvertently done to date by using the industry's go-to metronidazole.
Lastly, I'll recommend a probiotic to help maintain a good microbiome for the dog.
If your dog has received chemotherapy, did they have any side effects? How was their experience?
Disclaimer: If your pet is experiencing this, please check with your veterinarian or oncologist to see if this solution is best for your dog.
Can dogs be hospitalized from a chemotherapy treatment? Keep watching to learn.
My beautiful patient Cordelia, a young cocker spaniel, unfortunately, was hospitalized after chemotherapy; let’s talk about why it happened and what I suggested for the remainder of her treatment journey after this incident.
Keep watching to learn! 👀
Do you think you’re resistant to change, or do you lean into it? 🤔
Do you think you’re resistant to change, or do you lean into it? 🤔
I get that treating mast cell tumors in dogs with STELFONTA®️ might seem intimidating, but like with all things in our field, you get better as you go and learn more as you do.
That was exactly my case. I was new, and it was touchy, but I learned, and I leaned into it because the benefits were well worth the learning curve for these pets.
So, if you’re interested in using STELFONTA®️ to treat one of your MCT patients, I’d recommend starting with a small MCT.
When the tumors are smaller, the wound-healing process will be simpler to manage, and you’ll build up your confidence. The best part is that there are so many resources available to help you and your client feel confident and informed during the healing process.
Including my FREE MCT support group. (Link in bio) I hope to see you there!
Also, for pet owners, there’s an incredible closed FB group with over one thousand members. It’s a great support group for asking questions and getting feedback from other pet parents who have gone through the treatment process with their pets, too.
Search: “Stelfonta injection for mast cell tumors MCT in dogs” on FB to find it.
How do you feel about STELFONTA®️? Have you tried using it in a case yet?
Can you touch dogs & cats after they’ve received chemotherapy?
Hey, I’m having some lighthearted fun; it is social media, but the serious message is there’s a lot of misinformation that I try to correct or address online. 😬
I'm one of 450 board-certified veterinary oncologists in the United States. I've also been in practice for over 25 years, so I can confidently say I know a thing or two about chemotherapy in dogs and cats.
And it breaks my heart when I see misinformation floating around online because it contributes to the overall fear and stigma of cancer treatments in dogs.
🐾 Correcting this narrative is important because it changes how we practice in clinics and interact with these pets at home.
So here's what you should know about chemotherapy and pets.
🔹 It is 100% okay to be around, touch, pet, and snuggle with our dogs who receive chemotherapy the day of, the day after, and so on.
🔹 Most patients will excrete metabolites of the drug (breakdown products) 2-5 days after chemotherapy, so what we do want to be cautious about is handling fluids.
🔹 So that means to make sure to wear gloves if you're drawing blood or handling their pee or poop. P.S. If your dog is a big drooler, use common sense precautions around that as well.
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Disclaimer: if you're pregnant, want to become pregnant, and are immune compromised, please discuss this with your human doctor as well.
Do you have any questions about this, or did you think that they'd be toxic/contagious after receiving chemo?
Please share any of your thoughts or questions below!
Did you know?
Did you know that diarrhea is one of the most common reasons for vet visits? 💩🤔
CANALEVIA™️ is currently FDA-conditionally approved to treat chemotherapy-induced diarrhea but is NOW being investigated to be used for general diarrhea.
I can't wait to see the outcome since I've already seen the effectiveness of this drug in so many of my chemo patients. Are you just as excited as I am?
Let me know!
To all the dedicated vet students who've just graduated: CONGRATULATIONS! 🎉 🎓
You've poured your heart and soul into this journey, and now you're officially a veterinarian! Your hard work, late nights, and countless hours of study have paid off. And now you even know how to treat cows, pigs, horses, and household pets! 😂 You're simply incredible!
Vet school was one of the toughest periods of my life, but I want you to remember something I also keep in mind on the tough days, and there will be many.
Every life you touch, every wagging tail or purring friend you comfort, is a testament to your compassion and dedication. Every animal you give a second chance to, every family you keep together by treating their beloved pet, is the WHY you do what you've just studied so hard to do.
Welcome to this noble profession where you'll make a difference in the lives of animals and their human companions. It's worth it all, I promise you.
I want you to embrace every challenge, celebrate every win, and never forget the incredible impact you'll have. Don't ever stop believing and being kind to yourself. You'll need yourself throughout your professional career. 💙
Here's to the beginning of an amazing journey. Cheers to you, new veterinarians; you should be so proud! 🥂✨
CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2024
To all the dedicated vet students who've just graduated: CONGRATULATIONS! 🎉 🎓
You've poured your heart and soul into this journey, and now you're officially a veterinarian! Your hard work, late nights, and countless hours of study have paid off. And now you even know how to treat cows, pigs, horses, and household pets! 😂 You're simply incredible!
Vet school was one of the toughest periods of my life, but I want you to remember something I also keep in mind on the tough days, and there will be many.
Every life you touch, every wagging tail or purring friend you comfort, is a testament to your compassion and dedication. Every animal you give a second chance to, every family you keep together by treating their beloved pet, is the WHY you do what you've just studied so hard to do.
Welcome to this noble profession where you'll make a difference in the lives of animals and their human companions. It's worth it all, I promise you.
I want you to embrace every challenge, celebrate every win, and never forget the incredible impact you'll have. Don't ever stop believing and being kind to yourself. You'll need yourself throughout your professional career. 💙
Here's to the beginning of an amazing journey. Cheers to you, new veterinarians; you should be so proud! 🥂✨
🤯 This Scar Was - IMPRESSIVE 🤯
🤯 This Scar Was - IMPRESSIVE 🤯
But what’s even more impressive is that it completely heals within 4-6 weeks. Watch to see and be amazed... and likely grossed out. (Consider yourself warned.) 🤷🏼♀️
STELFONTA®️ tests you, but with an experienced eye, you’ll know that it’s all just a part of the healing process and truly is a medical miracle.
This surgical alternative approach allowed us to save Oliver’s prepuce.
Nuff said.
