Veterinary Specialists Save Many Lives

by Steve Dale

Jitterbug is a little dog with a big smile. And no wonder. Modern veterinary medicine saved Jitterbug's life -- and the lives of four other animal survivors who appeared at a press event during the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum at the Anaheim Convention Center, June 9-12.

Maryanne Dell, of Cypress, CA, says she knew when she rescued Jitterbug that the pooch was special. The only problem was that Jitterbug had suffered an injury, leaving her without the use of her back legs.

The dog was lucky on two accounts. For starters, that Dell didn't assume there was no hope, which people often do with dogs who are paralyzed. Instead of euthanizing Jitterbug, Dell sought out a veterinary neurologist. Dr. Tammy Stevenson, of San Diego, CA, diagnosed Jitterbug's problem as a herniated disc, which is somewhat common. Odds were that surgery might solve the problem. It did, and today Jitterbug can do the dance for which she's named. She's also a Delta Society Pet Partner, visiting hospitals and other care facilities.

"I helped Jitterbug, and now Jitterbug is helping others by spreading her jitter joy," Dell says.

ACVIM veterinarians are boarded specialists in neurology, cardiology, oncology, and both large and small animal internal medicine.

"Sometimes we can cure problems, as in Jitterbug's case, and sometimes it's about improving the pet's quality of life then prolonging life," says small animal internal medicine specialist Dr. Saundra Willis, of Seattle, WA, who moderated the press event.

Joshua, an 8 ½-year-old Golden Retriever, was first diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma, a kind of cancer, in 2008. Today, five surgeries later, he's thriving. Josh had several rounds of chemotherapy, including a then FDA newly-approved form in June of 2009. After a relapse, he required another round of the drug in December, 2009.

Asked why he would put his dog through that, Al Baillif, of Escondito, CA, smiles, and pauses. "832 days normal. I counted each day. There were 35 days when Josh wasn't feeling well, either just after a surgery or before a surgery, or as a result of the drugs. That's 96 percent of the days since his diagnosis that he's felt good. That might be a better percent than most of us."

Baillif and Josh have hit the road a lot since the diagnosis. Together, they've traveled to Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Big Bear and Santa Barbara.

"I learned through Josh to appreciate life every single day," Baillif says.

Oncologist Dr. Brenda Phillips, of San Diego, CA, adds that Josh is the perfect example of how cancer treatment has changed in the past few years for pets and people.

"Sure, curing a cancer is ideal," she says. "But there are cancers both people and pets can now live with, and mostly feel very good on a day-to-day basis. Medications keep the cancer at a low level."

Because of how chemotherapy is administered to pets -- at fairly low doses -- they mostly don't have any adverse reactions.

Of course, Josh doesn't know he has cancer.

"The problem I have isn't getting Josh up and going after most treatments; it's keeping him down so he can rest," says Baillif.

Emma is a cat who wouldn't stop sneezing. Owner Sharon Golding, of Cerritos, CA, couldn't get to the bottom of the problem until she visited an internal medicine specialist. The veterinarian performed a rhinoscopy and identified a nasal mass, later found to be nasal lymphoma. Veterinary oncologist Dr. Mona Rosenberg, who practices in Orange County and Los Angeles, CA, began a chemotherapy regimen known by the acronym CHOP, the same as the one used in people. Emma has now been in remission for three years, and is causing as much trouble as any other cat might.

Amazingly, Golding has trained Emma to enjoy the taking her seven daily pills. From the start, she's paired the meds with chicken treats.

"If I'm late giving Emma her pills, she reminds me that it's time," Golding says.

Sometimes it takes a village. After shepherd-mix Missy was treated for cancer in 2007 and a type of kidney disease in 2008, she suddenly began to go downhill last year. No one was able to pinpoint the problem. It took internal medicine specialist Dr. Steve Hill, of San Diego, CA, to identify a rare form of a protozoan disease called Leishmaniasis, which never appears in the U.S. Treatment was relatively easy (and successful).

"We've had so many close calls with Missy," says owner Joy Koda, of San Diego. "Our family is so thankful for what veterinary medicine can do. So is our neighborhood. Missy is the neighborhood mascot."

Linda Hettich says, "Tessa wasn't supposed to make it, but here she is." The Labrador Retriever was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on Valentine's Day, 2008. Her treatment was radiation and a regimen of immune boosters. Two weeks after treatment , she returned to her favorite hobby, a canine sport called dock diving. Dogs dive off docks and are judged for distance.

In 2006, Hettich lost another dog to cancer.

"One in three dogs get cancer," she says. "I wasn't about to lose another one. Tessa was so young (only 4). Seeing a dog fight cancer, then get back to life is inspirational." Now wiping away tears she adds, "None of this could have happened without veterinary specialty medicine, which saved Tessa's life."

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