The new movie Dolphin Tale is inspired by the real-life story of Winter, a bottlenose dolphin who lost her tail after it was injured in a crab trap near Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Winter learned to swim again, but her body compensated with a side-to-side motion, which threatened her spine and internal organs. With the help of prosthetics specialist Kevin Carroll of Hanger Orthopedic Group and a team of veterinary and marine specialists, an artificial tail was created to allow Winter to swim without hurting hurself.

Though Winter’s story is getting the big Hollywood treatment, (read other Vetstreet stories about Winter here and here), other animals are also benefiting from high-tech prosthetics.

Helping Dogs Walk

Denver-based OrthoPets manufactures devices for about 165 animals per month, with dogs accounting for 95 percent of  patients.

“The goal is to get pets back to an active lifestyle,” says Amy Kaufmann, who founded OrthoPets with her husband, Martin, in 2003. And although the majority of the patients are dogs, Kaufmann stresses that each device is custom designed to best suit the individual animal. The company works with local veterinarians to ensure that each device fits perfectly. Environmental factors are also taken into consideration.

“A pet who lives in New York City needs a different type of prosthesis than a dog who lives near the beach,” she says. Prostheses that take the place of missing limbs give extra confidence to three-legged animals, which is particularly important as they age and the remaining legs weaken. While a three-legged dog can get along well for many years, Kaufmann says that a four-legged dog does better.

Prosthetics are also saving the lives of animals who, in the past, would likely have been euthanized. “Nothing is off the table,” Kaufmann says.

One of OrthoPets’ more remarkable cases involves a dog named Nakio, who was fitted with four prosthetic paws. Nakio was just 5 weeks old when he was found in an abandoned foreclosed home with his paws stuck in an icy puddle. He had barely survived the Nebraska cold, and all four of his feet grew into rounded stumps. Thanks to prosthetic paws, Nakio now can run, jump and play just like other dogs. Like most prosthetic devices, Nakio’s are “socket prosthetics,” that is, the stump of the limb goes inside the prosthesis, and straps and other attachments hold the device in place.

“As long as the device is expertly manufactured and fits properly, most pets adjust to the prosthesis quickly and do very well,” says Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little, an orthopedics professor at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. But Marcellin-Little is helping create other, potentially permanent options.

The Cutting Edge

Marcellin-Little is at the forefront of what many consider the future of animal prosthetics. He has pioneered a procedure called osseointegration. Osseointergration involves fusing the prosthesis to the bone. The artificial limb then remains fixed in place as opposed to being removed each night as with traditional prostheses.

In March, Marcellin-Little successfully performed the state-of-the-art procedure on a 5-year-old Siberian Husky named Zeus, who lost his front paw when another dog mauled him as a puppy. It was the first time osseointegration was performed on a front limb. The professor hopes that the continued success of osseointegration will lead to its use in larger animals such as horses, who are typically euthanized when limbs are damaged. He says that, ultimately, veterinarians may be viewed as trailblazers for the introduction of osseointegration for human amputees.

In the image above, Zeus is wearing his “training foot,” which helps him get ready for the final prosthetic. According to Marcellin-Little, “The training foot is a relatively simple foot that is placed so that a dog can walk. The final foot is more sophisticated. It may have a better energy return (bounce), be light, wear resistant, have a fine-tuned length, an ergonomic shape, and features that would protect the bone-implant interface if excessive stress is placed on it (called mechanical fuses). We are doing research on this topic at this time.”

“We see the possible benefits for humans — implants that allow the prosthetic limbs to attach without chafing and limbs with a more natural range of motion,” he says. “The implications for this procedure are huge.”

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As nearly anyone who has adopted a dog or cat from a shelter can attest, there’s something special about a rescued pet; it’s as if the animal senses he’s been given a second chance at life. That’s certainly the case with Juno, a Belgian Malinois who was rescued from a shelter just days before she was to be euthanized. But since coming to live with her family in Alcoa, Tenn., Juno has taken on the role of rescuer to four-year-old Lucas Hembree.

Lucas suffers from Sanfilippo syndrome, an inherited, metabolic disease caused by the absence or malfunctioning of an enzyme needed to break down long sugar molecules. As the disease progresses, children lose the ability to speak, walk and eat. The disease also causes severe neurological damage that leads to aggressive behavior, hyperactivity and seizures.

“The most catastrophic thing parents hear when they learn their child has this disease is that there’s no cure or treatment available,” says Lucas’ father, Chester.

Unless that changes, Lucas isn’t expected to live past the age of 15 and may be in a vegetative state by the time he is eight. Realizing that every moment is extra precious, Chester and his wife, Jennifer, want their son to experience as much as he can while he still has the capacity to enjoy it.

So when the disease started to take a toll on Lucas’ joints, Chester looked into getting a service dog to keep Lucas steady when he walked. “I was told that a service dog would cost at least $15,000, and that Lucas wasn’t a good candidate because of his deteriorating abilities and his behavior,” Chester says. “I refused to accept this answer.”

A combination of prayer and persistence led Chester to Juno. “I came across a posting about her on a rescue group’s website,” he says. “I had the feeling in my gut that I had to go see this dog.”

The whole family made the two-hour trip to meet Juno, who was being held at an east Tennessee shelter. “She was emaciated, and was days away from being euthanized,” Chester says. “She had been surrendered to the shelter because her previous owners didn’t understand the Belgian Malinois.”

Fortunately, Chester did. He’d gotten to know and love the breed while working as a law enforcement officer years earlier. “I used to help with the training of police K-9s, and our dogs were Belgian Malinoises,” he says. “I loved their desire to work and their ‘never quit’ attitude.”  In addition to being a popular choice for police dogs, the breed is often used in combat. In fact, it’s believed that the dog that helped Navy SEALs take down Osama bin Laden was a Belgian Malinois.

But while the breed has proven its prowess on patrol and in combat, Chester needed to be sure Juno would be a suitable service dog for his little boy. “I put her on a loose leash and she walked with me and never pulled,” Chester says. “Next came the Lucas test. They took to each other immediately, like kindred spirits.”

The Hembrees brought Juno home and showered her with love and affection. “I wanted to make sure she had plenty of time to adjust to the family before I started the formal training,” Chester says. Yet, from the beginning there seemed to be something instinctive about their relationship. One day, Chester noticed Juno circling Lucas while he was in his wheelchair. “She was whining and nudging him with her nose,” Chester says. “I checked his oxygen levels and they were very low.” After giving him oxygen, Lucas returned to normal and Juno greeted him with licks and affection. 

“That’s when I knew she had the ability to pick up on his neurological changes,” Chester says. “Now she alerts us when Lucas is about to have a seizure or if his oxygen levels drop really low. She has saved him several times."

Juno has become a literal shoulder for Lucas to lean on when walking, and a calming influence when he’s agitated. And while Chester makes sure that Juno gets time off, he says that it’s hard to get Juno to leave Lucas’ side. “You don’t see one without the other close by,” he says. “It really feels like it was meant to be.”

To learn more about Lucas you can go to the Facebook page that his dad writes from Lucas' perspective.
 

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In canine-loving households, The National Dog Show Presented by Purina is as much a part of Thanksgiving as turkey and pumpkin pie. For the 10th consecutive year, NBC will air The National Dog Show Presented by Purina immediately following its telecast of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Some 2,000 purebreds from 170 breeds will vie for the coveted Best in Show title at the prestigious event, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. This year, six new American Kennel Club (AKC)-sanctioned breeds make their debut at the event: Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Norwegian Lundehund, Xoloitzcuintli, American English Coonhound, Cesky Terrier and Finnish Lapphund. (Click here to see our photogallery of the new breeds.)

John O’Hurley of Seinfeld fame and the season one winner of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars will host the show. O’Hurley will be joined by analyst David Frei, the voice of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on the USA Network and one of America’s top authorities on the sport. (Check out their video below on how to watch a dog show.)

According to the AKC, the goal of dog shows is to evaluate breeding stock in order to find the best dogs who can produce the next generation of purebreds. The judges evaluate teeth, muscles, bones and coat texture, as well as view each dog in profile to assess overall balance and see how the features fit together in action. Judges then give awards according to how closely each contender compares to the mental image of the "perfect" dog described in the breed's official standard, including specifications for structure, temperament and movement.

The elite canines must prevail through several levels of competition in order to capture Best in Show. The dogs are initially judged against their own breed, with the first-place winners advancing to compete in one of seven group competitions — Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding. Four placements are awarded in each group, but only  first-place winners advance to the Best in Show competition. Last year’s Best in Show winner was a 3-year-old Irish Setter named Clooney (aka GCH. Windntide Mr. Sandman).

NBC’s broadcast of The National Dog Show Presented by Purina airs Thursday, November 24, 2011, from noon to 2 p.m. in all time zones.

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So Vetstreet consulted three renowned experts — Dr. Ernie Ward, animal trainer Andrea Arden, and Stephanie Shain, chief operating officer at the Washington Humane Society — about the 10 most important questions to ask yourself before you adopt a pet.

1. What will your life be like in five or even 10 years?

A dog or cat can live 15 or more years, so envisioning how pet-friendly your life will be in the future is important. “Consider whether you’re likely to be married, have children, move, change careers or undergo other major life changes,” says Dr. Ernie Ward, a small animal veterinarian in Calabash, N.C. “And keep in mind that as pets age, their needs change as well.”

2. Will you be adopting the pet by yourself or with someone?

If you have a roommate or spouse, make sure that he or she is totally committed to a new pet,” Dr. Ward says. Otherwise, expect drama. “I’ve seen many couples fight openly over the care of their pet,” he adds.

And even if everyone is on board with the idea of getting a pet, it’s important for people in the household to express concerns ahead of time, Shain says. “For instance, if shedding is a problem for someone, you may want to aim for a dog with a shorter coat.”

3. How much time can you dedicate to your pet each day?

Though dogs generally require more time and attention than cats, you should be able to give any pet your undivided attention. “Dogs and cats who don’t receive daily interaction have a greater risk of developing behavioral problems, anxiety and obesity,” Dr. Ward says.

And don’t forget energy. “If you regularly come home late at night only to plop down in front of the TV, that’s not a good sign,” Dr. Ward says. “Pets need and deserve real engagement, such as playing and walking, in addition to cuddles and snuggles.”

4. Can you afford to own an animal?

Even if the cost of the pet itself is negligible, you need to factor in food, supplies and vet visits. According to the ASPCA, dog owners should expect to spend about $1,500 on a dog during the first year of ownership; cat owners should set aside at least $1,000 for that crucial first year.

If you plan to split the costs with someone, make sure you’re all in agreement about the amount that will be spent on the pet. “Talking about costs in advance helps avoid surprises,” Shain says. “For example, is everyone on board with buying premium pet food? Do you want pet insurance?” While we’re on the subject, Dr. Ward advises owners to consider insurance when pets are young. “It can save you thousands of dollars should a medical crisis arise.”

5. Do you have support from others if you’re working late or traveling?

“Many behavioral problems and even bladder infections result from not having a reliable system in place to relieve pets who are confined indoors,” Dr. Ward says. “Imagine not being able to use the restroom for 14 hours.” That’s why he suggests looking into boarding facilities, sitters and daycare before you adopt.

Arden, who lives in New York, also recommends securing a network of people who can help you in a pinch: “Make sure you have trustworthy friends and neighbors who will be there for you in an emergency.”

6. How much household destruction can you tolerate?

Accidents are a given when you bring a pet into your life. “There will be misunderstandings, miscommunications and missed potty breaks,” Dr. Ward says. “My best advice: Be patient. Within a few weeks of regular training, you’ll be well on your way to a dream relationship.”

For Arden, the real question is how prepared an owner is to commit to early and consistent training. “Destructive behavior, like garbage raiding, can be hazardous to your pet’s health,” she says. “A pet who’s well-mannered and focused on toys is sure to be happier — and so is the family.”

7. If you already have a pet, is that animal likely to accept a new housemate?

The good news is that most pets, even the most spoiled cats, crave companionship,” Dr. Ward says. “I’m a fan of multipet households — they help reduce stress and anxiety and foster healthy interspecies behavior.”

Of course, it may take some time for an existing pet to accept a new addition, so Arden suggests introducing animals to each other before adoption. “It gives you a chance to watch them interact and see if they’ll be amiable housemates.”

8. What do you hope to get out of the relationship?

“Too many pet owners get a big dog only to complain that the dog is difficult to travel with, while others regret getting a miniature dog when what they really want is a running partner,” Dr. Ward says. So he suggests listing the activities you see yourself doing with your pet, such as playing ball or going for car rides. “Our best friends are often those we enjoy doing things with,” he says. “So make sure you have a plan to find the best buddy for your lifestyle.”

Arden adds that you should consider not just what you expect from a pet, but what you have to offer your new pet. “The best chances of a great match start when you identify expectations and remain realistic about the relationship.”

9. Do you have the time and resources needed for proper training?

Arden, the author of Barron’s Dog Training Bible, says that pets need plenty of guidance when it comes to abiding by human rules. “Companion dogs exposed to the world outside of the home generally require a greater commitment in regards to petiquette,” she says. “This means focusing on socialization and handling, so they’re comfortable around people.”

This, of course, requires a serious commitment on the part of the owner. “Too many new pet parents believe that they can simply enroll in a puppy class and — voilà! — a perfect puppy,” Dr. Ward says. “Puppy classes are only the beginning.” The real education happens at home — several times a day. “It’s not hard or even that time-consuming,” he says. “But it must be done in order to have a well-mannered companion.”

10. Do you have small children?

Contrary to popular belief, there is no species or breed that comes ready to live with kids. “If you have children, you must first teach them the rules of safe pet conduct: No teasing, pulling, pushing or climbing on animals,” Arden says. You’ll also need to spend ample time meeting different animals, so you can observe tolerance levels, responsiveness to training and the ability to bounce back from jarring incidents.

Now that you’re ready to adopt a pet…

There’s one more important question every potential pet parent needs to consider: dog or cat?

There are certainly “cat people” and “dog people,” but Dr. Ward has found that most of us are just “pet people.” Although there are periods in life when a cat may be a better mate, and times when a dog feels like the right fit, he says that “you’ll find a place and time when both may be best.”

He also points out that potential owners shouldn’t rule out adopting an older animal from a shelter. “Many of these pets are already house-trained and in desperate need of loving homes.”

On that note, Shain says that it’s also important to consider a pet’s personality and temperament — and avoid making a decision based on appearance alone. “Like any relationship,” she says, “you need to remember that looks may change.”

More on Vetstreet:

• Decoding Your Kitten’s Body Language
• Best Small Dog Breeds for First-Time Owners
• How to Pet a Dog: The Technique That Will Make Dogs Love You

The post The Top 10 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before You Adopt a Pet appeared first on Vetstreet.

The Basic Job Description

“The job of the veterinary technician is to take care of technical tasks, so the veterinarian can focus on his or her job,” says Marianne Tear, MS, LVT, the director of the veterinary technology program at Baker College in Clinton Township, Mich. Tear is also the Chief Technician Editor of Vetstreet’s sister publication, Veterinary Technician.

The tasks vet techs often take on include drawing blood, placing catheters, assisting in surgery, managing anesthesia, and giving medications. In actuality, their duties encompass much much more. In fact, it’s easier to list what they can’t do: make diagnoses, perform surgery or prescribe medication.

Veterinary technicians typically work wherever you find veterinarians — private practices, hospitals, research labs, and zoos. While they are clearly an important part of the professional veterinary team today, this hasn’t always been the case. The first “animal technician” program was created in the 1960s, before then, veterinarians hired students or office workers to feed the animals, clean the cages, answer the phone, and do other routine tasks. As the field of animal health became more complex, a need arose for a well-educated staff that could take on greater responsibilities.

Getting the Education and Experience

A desire to work with animals is a big part of what makes a great vet tech, but Tear believes a solid education is just as important. “There’s no quick way to get the education you need,” she says. “A lot of people say they want to become a tech because they love animals, but you have to be willing to put in the time and effort.”

A licensed veterinary technician, or LVT, has earned an associate’s degree or higher in veterinary technology from an accredited school, and has passed a national exam demonstrating specific knowledge and competencies. Training consists of laboratory and clinical work with live animals.

Coping With Challenges

The scientific aspects of the job aren’t the only things that vet techs need to prepare for, however. Tear says the hardest part of working as a technician is dealing with the relatively short lifespan of animals. “Our patients live anywhere from five to 15 years,” she says, “so there’s quite a bit of grief.” Another challenge is getting by on the salary, which, on average, skews quite a bit lower than comparable jobs in human medicine. “This isn’t a career you go into for the money,” Tear adds.

What the position lacks in monetary gains, it makes up for in stability. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for veterinary technicians is “excellent,” meaning the occupation is projected to grow 20 percent or more through 2018.

What the Future Holds

Tear also predicts major growth in the veterinary technician field. “I just heard about a technician, who used to be an EMT, starting an ambulance service for animals,” she says. Veterinary technicians are also expanding into the areas of hospice and home care.

“The future is pretty much limitless,” Tear says. “We’re just bound by our own imagination.”

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