A Look Back:  How Veterinary Advances Help Our Pets

We’ve come a long way since America’s first doctor of veterinary medicine degree was awarded in 1876 to Daniel E. Salmon by Cornell University.  Since then, veterinary methods have advanced dramatically, enabling our dogs and cats to live longer, healthier and happier lives just like their masters.Pictured at the right is Dr. Matthew Breen, award-winning researcher in the areas of genomics, genome mapping and the comparative aspects of canine cancer.

A Veterinarian Reflects on Recent Advancements

For a glimpse back at some of the many changes in veterinary practices in recent years, we asked Elisabeth Zenger, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM of Bay Area Veterinary Specialists in San Leandro, California to share her observations:

"In the past twenty to thirty years, advancements in veterinary medicine have paralleled changes in people’s perspective of pets in their lives.  Dogs and cats have moved from the barn to the backyard to the kitchen to the bedroom.  Their names used to be Rover, Spot and Socks, now they’re Michael, Jessica, and Latte.  Pets are referred to as kids, the care takers as Mom and Dad.  As the bond between people and their pets has strengthened, the demand for specialized care has grown and the veterinary profession has become increasingly sophisticated and complex.

In the 70s there were only a handful of specialists in veterinary medicine, exclusively found in veterinary universities and a few large teaching hospitals, usually several hours away.  In the eighties, as specialties were added and the number of specialists grew, specialty medicine entered the private sector.  At the same time emergency veterinary hospitals were started so that private veterinarians didn’t need to be on call.  However, in the last ten years, as government budgets reduced funding for veterinary schools, there has been a mass exodus of specialists from academia into private practice.  Most large metropolitan areas now have not one, but several specialty hospitals to choose from.

Technological advances are the biggest area of change in veterinary medicine -- particularly in diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities.  In the 70s and 80s veterinary imaging was limited to X-rays; CAT scans began use in universities in the early 80s and ultrasound in the late 80s.  Today, ultrasound can be performed in a general veterinarian’s or specialist’s office on a daily basis.  There are also several MRI centers dedicated to pets in the U.S. and many specialty hospitals have CAT scanners.

In the 70s and 80s veterinary clinical pathology was in its infancy.  Some human blood analyzers could be employed for your pet’s diagnostic testing, but these were too expensive for general use and so the need for commercial veterinary laboratories arose.  Today, veterinary clinical pathology has become very sophisticated and most diseases affecting pets can be readily diagnosed.  Therapy has paralleled our diagnostic capabilities so that many chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney failure, and even cancer can be managed with good quality of life, often for years.  We are lucky to be living in an age where veterinarians can provide pets almost all the treatments available to human beings, and we often hear that our clients wish that we could be their own doctors.

To provide the high quality of service the public demands, today’s veterinarians utilize the skills of trained professionals known as veterinary technicians.  Students in veterinary technician programs receive a 2 year associate degree or a 4 year baccalaureate degree.  Some technicians decide to focus on areas of specialization such as emergency critical care, dentistry or anesthesia.  "

Today, conditions that were often fatal just a few years ago are now successfully resolved with such advanced techniques as spinal surgery, chemotherapy, CT scans and ultrasounds. Veterinary specialization has also become more common with currently over 20 veterinary specialties, including anesthesiology, dermatology, internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, neurology and radiology.

People and Pets Benefit Alike

It’s interesting to note that comparative medicine within specialties often advances both the veterinary and human medical fields. One such development is the area of wound healing agents that hasten the healing process for humans and animals. The old ‘cover and conceal’ dry bandage approach in wound management has recently changed to the use of moist but bacteria-free ‘interactive dressings’ developed by the pharmaceutical industry.  These materials, in conjunction with early wound flushing, oxygen access, relief of pressure, maintenance of humidity and a prescribed dressing change schedule, can result in very progressive healing for both humans and canines.

The area of genetic research has also been an integral part of the emergence of new treatments for a wide variety of canine diseases such as lymphoma, hypothyroidism, narcolepsy and cystinuria -- to name a few.  “In the last decade alone, canine genetic research has grown by leaps and bounds,” comments Erika Werne, director of canine research and education for the AKC Canine Health Foundation (AKC CHF). ”The completion of the canine genome sequence in 2005 has led to improvements in the prevention, treatment and cure for canine disorders ranging from cancer to copper toxicosis (excess copper in the liver) and everywhere in between. The AKC CHF is proud to lead the charge in the fight against these debilitating disorders, and to share those tools with other investigators, veterinarians and pet owners alike.” 

Planning Ahead for the Unexpected

The benefits of this progress often come with high price tags. A trip to your veterinarian for today’s advanced remedies might cost several hundred – or thousand – dollars for a serious condition.  A sampling of some recent treatment costs include: $3,716 for cancer treatment; $2,569 for intestinal surgery resulting from a tumor; $4,510 for pneumonia, $1,668 for a rattlesnake bite; $2,678 for ingesting rocks; $3,139 for a sock and $4,345 for stomach bloat.

Quality pet insurance coverage, such as the AKC Pet Healthcare Plan allows more pet owners to access advanced treatments.  It’s no surprise that increasing numbers of pet owners today are enrolling in plans to manage the healthcare needs of their pets. 

For more information about the range of AKC Pet Healthcare Plans for your dog’s wellness, accident and injury needs, visit www.akcphp.com

For more information about the AKC Canine Health Foundation, visit http://www.akcchf.org

For more information about Dr. Elisabeth Zenger of Bay Area Veterinary Specialists, visit www.bayvetspecialists.com