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How To Help Dogs With A Spinal Tumor Diagnosis

polypropylene meshAccording to the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology, spinal tumors in dogs are uncommon, but when they do happen, 90% of spinal tumors occur in large-breed dogs. Meningioma is the most common and presents most often in the cervical spinal cord. Regardless of the type of spinal tumor a veterinarian may face treating at some point in their career, it’s always best to be prepared. Recommending the best treatment plan for a dog with a spinal tumor diagnosis is critical, as spinal tumors are slow-growing and may need more time to respond to treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Tumors

Signs and symptoms of spinal tumors that dog owners may notice that require an immediate examination by a veterinarian include:

  • Changes in movement
  • Changes in coordination
  • Limb weakness
  • Neurological changes
  • Pain

These signs can include lethargy, difficulty getting up and down, dragging limbs or limping, depression, decreased appetite, or difficulty going potty. If a dog presents with any of the above symptoms, a vet may order some diagnostic tests for spinal tumors, such as:

  • CT Scan
  • MRI
  • Ultrasound
  • Chest X-ray
  • Bloodwork
  • Urinalysis
  • Biopsy

Spinal Tumor Treatment Options

A spinal tumor diagnosis can be frightening, but many treatment options are available for dogs today. The tumor type, location, and grade determine the best course of treatment, but these are the most common ways to help dogs with a spinal tumor diagnosis:

Surgery

Surgery for a spinal tumor can be complicated based on the tumor’s location. However, regarding veterinary neurologist technologies, Vetrix is an industry leader. Vetrix BioSIS for neurology is a platform technology that can be used for several surgical applications, including as a dural graft for spinal surgeries and spinal tumor surgeries. When used for these applications, the contact between BioSIS and the surrounding tissue allows cells to migrate, separate, and differentiate within the bio-scaffold. This matrix is easy to handle and simple to use but strong enough to hold sutures and support weakened tissue. If the tumor can be removed without impacting the functionality of the spinal cord, surgery is an excellent treatment option.

Chemotherapy

Chemo treats spinal tumors in dogs that have already spread or are at high risk for spread. Veterinarians make specific and informed recommendations based on the tumor type.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy may be used alone or with surgery as part of a dog’s spinal tumor treatment plan. Again, this recommendation will be specific to a dog’s tumor type.

Palliative Therapy

Palliative therapy includes things like antibiotics and painkillers that help maintain a dog’s quality of life but does nothing to slow the progression of the spinal tumor. Palliative therapy is meant to keep a dog comfortable when no other treatment options are available or have been exhausted.

Spinal Tumor Prognosis

As with any cancer, the prognosis varies by case, type, and tumor location. The earlier the cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances treatment will be successful. It also helps to have the best veterinary science technology and tools at your fingertips. 

For more information on any Vetrix technologies, contact us with your questions.

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Balancing Care and Cost for Gastrointestinal Surgeries

ultrasound diagnostics in caninesYour furbaby needs gastrointestinal surgery, and you have all kinds of questions. We’re here to discuss how you can prepare and what you need to know.

What Is Gastrointestinal Surgery?

Gastrointestinal surgery is an umbrella term for any surgery involving the stomach or intestines. There are numerous reasons a pet may need gastrointestinal surgery, ranging from blockages and biopsies to twisting stomachs or tumor removals. The exact nature of the gastrointestinal surgery depends on the animal’s individual needs and whether the surgery is planned or performed as an emergency.

How Much Does Gastrointestinal Surgery Cost?

Again, it varies. The cost of gastrointestinal surgery will depend on the following:

  • Type of surgery performed
  • Size of the pet
  • Severity of the condition
  • Time your pet needs to be hospitalized before and after surgery

On average, pet parents should expect a bill anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000. To help you balance the care and cost of gastrointestinal surgery, ask your veterinary team for a cost estimate before the procedure. 

Balancing Care and Cost for Vets and Pet Owners

A veterinary surgeon’s primary concern when a pet needs gastrointestinal surgery isn’t money. It’s helping the patient get better and live a comfortable, happy life. Be bold and ask questions or express concerns. While we must submit payment for services rendered, an excellent veterinary office is committed to:

  • Explaining any gastrointestinal procedure your pet may need
  • The process and what to expect
  • Providing a cost estimate
  • Follow-up and at-home care

Many veterinary offices will work with you to establish a payment plan if necessary. They can also often provide information about pet insurance that will likely cover some gastrointestinal surgery costs. In addition to working out the cost (and payment plan if needed), your vet should also work with you to ensure you understand aftercare instructions while your pet is recovering.

Some things your vet may tell you to do after your pet has had gastrointestinal surgery and finished its hospital stay include:

  • Monitor your pet closely and keep them calm to prevent tearing of sutures
  • Keep your pet’s cone on so they can’t lick or chew their incision as it heals
  • Feed your pet small amounts of bland food and plenty of water as they slowly transition back to their regular diet
  • Administer pain medication as instructed

Gastrointestinal surgeries are often a lifesaving intervention. As a patient, working with a vet dedicated to balancing care and cost makes a big difference in delivering as positive and stress-free of an experience as possible. As a vet, the ability to confidently deliver as positive of an experience as possible relies on your dedication to staying up-to-date on the medicine and technology available to you to help you perform your job to the best of your ability. 

For more information on gastrointestinal problems, surgery, and solutions (for both pet parents and veterinarians) we think you’d be interested in reading more here: How Regenerative Medicine Can Help with Gastrointestinal Problems and Surgery.

*Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet for an accurate diagnosis, treatment plan, and cost assessment of your pet’s condition.

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Common Skin Graft Procedures and How Vetrix Technology Can Help

Veterinary Neurology Vetrix

When a patient has a wound that’s too big to close on its own or a wound that becomes chronic and doesn’t heal by itself, treatment with a skin graft may be beneficial in obtaining wound closure. Skin grafts help quickly and effectively restore function and provide better cosmetic results than other treatment options. Additionally, skin grafts protect from infections and parasites. The Vetrix BioSIS Technology we provide is a regenerative medicine beneficial in remodeling, regrowing, and repairing wounds encountered in the veterinary field.

Two Common Skin Graft Procedures in Veterinary Medicine

When it comes to common household pets, veterinarians are often most likely to perform one of the following types of skin grafts when necessary for wound treatment:

  • Total Skin Graft (or Full-thickness skin graft): This skin graft includes the epidermis and dermis. It involves removing a piece of skin and the fat from the underside of the skin. This grafting procedure requires the donor site to have enough surrounding loose skin so the incision can be closed.
  • Partial Thickness Skin Graft (or Split-thickness skin graft): This skin graft involves shaving a thin layer of skin, 0.2 to 0.4mm, off the donor site. The cutting plane of this graft remains above the hair follicles so that no hair will grow from this skin graft. The donor site will heal independently and doesn’t require closure, but it may be more painful than a total skin graft because the exposed nerve endings will need time to heal. It’s typically used in burn victims with limited normal skin for grafting.

Veterinarians will guide their patients on the best skin graft option for their particular wound.

Treating Skin Grafts With Regenerative Veterinary Medicine

Once it’s been determined that a pet needs a skin graft to heal a wound, consider a regenerative medicine solution as part of your treatment. Unlike synthetic materials or other biological grafts, Vetrix Technology provides a structure for healthy tissue to grow across and incorporate into the extracellular matrix, resulting in wholly remodeled, vital, and fully vascularized tissues. During the healing process, Vetrix BioSIS is replaced with the body’s native tissue, developing into a permanent repair without the long-term presence of a foreign body. After healing is complete, patients are left with healthy, natural tissue.

BioSIS is a great regenerative medicine solution for skin grafts because it facilitates angiogenesis and rapid remodeling, allowing the body’s defense mechanisms to react and respond to any potential infection. It promotes safe and sterile healing of the wound.

Download the BioSIS Informational Brochure to learn more about this technology and how it can aid in healing skin graft patients.

Get the brochure.

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How Regenerative Medicine Can Help with Gastrointestinal Problems and Surgery

Dog being looked at by veterinarian

An upset stomach is one of the most common symptoms vets see their clients about. Pets chew on things they shouldn’t chew on and swallow something they shouldn’t eat. They get sick and suffer gastrointestinal issues just like their owners do. While some foreign objects are small enough to pass on their own, and some illnesses are short-lived, unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Gastrointestinal problems have many causes ranging from mild to severe health conditions.

 

It’s important to note here that if you’re a pet parent who’s found this article because your pet is exhibiting gastrointestinal problems like the ones you see on the list below, please call your vet to let them know what’s going on and assess if you need to bring your pet in for an exam:

 

Symptoms of gastrointestinal problems and other digestive issues:

 

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lethargy
  • Constipation
  • Increased gas
  • Abdominal pain/swelling
  • Bloating
  • Excessive drooling

 

When in doubt, it’s always best to call your vet or seek emergency veterinary care after hours when your pet looks pretty sick. Sometimes it’s surprisingly difficult to determine how severe a gastrointestinal problem is, and some conditions can be life-threatening. When a client presents with gastrointestinal symptoms, it’s a vet’s job to investigate them to deliver a diagnosis and treatment. 

 

How Regenerative Medicine Can Help with Gastrointestinal Problems and Surgery

During determining what’s causing an animal’s gastrointestinal problems, a veterinarian will work to understand the client’s medical history, perform a medical exam, and order some diagnostic tests based on what they suspect is the most likely culprit of the symptoms. Once the vet has determined an underlying cause, a treatment plan is implemented. Treatment is variable depending on what’s causing the problem, but some cases, like a pet with a mass, hernia, or intestinal blockage, will likely require gastrointestinal surgery.

 

Veterinarians who conclude that gastrointestinal surgery is necessary for the animal’s well-being in their care want to ensure that their patient heals properly, with resistance to infection and no enhanced inflammatory response. This is where Vetrix BioSIS ECM Technology can help. BioSIS ECM provides a natural scaffold that works with and encourages a patient’s natural healing process. Our technology is an acellular biomaterial that doesn’t encapsulate when surgically implanted, and it is gradually remodeled, leaving behind organized and healthy tissue. This is excellent news for gastrointestinal surgical patients, as BioSIS allows no foreign material to be left behind once healing is complete. But don’t just take our word for it. Dr. Lois Lassiter, DVM at Budget Vet, shared a story from 2019 using Vetrix BioSIS in a complicated resection and anastomosis (RNA) procedure. Without Vetrix technology in this gastrointestinal surgery, the dog would’ve been euthanized.

At Vetrix, we take pride in partnering with veterinarians who are just as passionate about using regenerative medicine to provide the best possible care to patients as we are. Click here to learn more about BioSIS. Contact us if you have questions about how our regenerative medical technology can help you with your gastrointestinal surgeries and other procedures and care. Click here to ask a question.

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Extracellular Matrix: An Effective Scaffold for Tissue Reconstruction

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex system of proteins bound together by tissue-specific architectures that helps them form into cells and grow. There is still much to be discovered about its intricacies and contributions to cellular makeup as a whole. But what researchers have found has proven promising and exciting in its contributions to tissue reconstruction. Keep reading to find out how this breakthrough in bioengineering could open the door to new healing possibilities for your patients.

What Is the ECM?

The ECM is an intricately dynamic fundamental ecosystem that relies on and is the deciding factor for cell phenotype and performance. Arranged in a 3D formation, the inner parts are comprised of collagens, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, mucins, elastic fibers, and growth factors. Because of this, it is the perfect biomaterial for tissue reconstruction.

It has the potential to be utilized as a self-reliant mold for constructive remodeling in addition to the more usual use as a simplistic surgical surface to bring together and solidify tissues. In addition to being a substrate for cell communication, the ECM also provides the foundational mapping for tissue and organs. Because it is highly dynamic, the ECM not only delivers communication to cells but is also able to receive cellular information that contributes to its system and substance.

Utilizing ECM for Tissue Reconstruction

Because of its ability to give and receive information from cells, known as “dynamic reciprocity,” the ECM is constantly changing as it breaks down and is reformed by cells. As this is happening, it is aiding in tissue reconstruction. The occurrence of this breaking down and building back up of the ECM is vital to the homeostasis of all tissues and organs.

An important factor to remember here is that as the ECM is separated from its source tissue and used as a conduit for tissue reconstruction, the formation of new tissue must match that which the ECM originally came from so as not to cause an adverse immune response.

Due to the ECM’s dual ability to be reconstructed and control cellular response, it is uniquely positioned to be used in tissue engineering compared to other biomaterials.

What It Means for Your Patients

There are at least 30 commercially available ECM-based scaffold materials available for clinical use at this time. Currently, viable applications in living hosts include treatment for esophageal diseases, volumetric muscle loss, and temporomandibular joint meniscectomy (TMJD).

For each of these applications, host cells latch onto the scaffold and propagate, resulting in a material transformation that is conducive to the growth of functional, site-appropriate host tissue. Instead of the natural mammalian reaction to generate scar tissue and diminish mobility, the ECM makes a return to life before injury possible.
Contact us today for more information on this topic, and head over to our blog for more topics on industry-leading science and medicine for veterinarians and their patients.

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