Pets, especially dogs and cats, are susceptible to many of the same medical conditions that afflict humans. Advances in diagnosis and treatment are directly related to funds available to fuel research. Unfortunately, pharmaceutical companies and researchers often lack the resources and motivation to pursue veterinary diseases with the same zeal as human conditions. Consequently, veterinary medicine is frequently left waiting for the "trickle-down" effect to bring new technologies to veterinary patients and their owners. Recently, new technologies have become available to pet owners thanks to several pioneering companies.
PetScreen
(www.pet-screen.com) is a company based in the United Kingdom that has developed an early detection and screening test for lymphoma in dogs. Lymphoma accounts for approximately 20 percent of all tumors in dogs. It is a common cancer affecting young to middle-aged dogs of any breed. Early symptoms usually go unnoticed, but as the cancer progresses, owners will notice decreased appetite, lethargy and, most notably, swollen lymph nodes around the jaw or shoulders. Most dogs with lymphoma are brought to veterinarians during this stage and, without treatment, will die within one month. Fortunately, lymphoma is highly responsive to treatment, and if caught early enough, can often be treated with success.
Using a small blood sample, PetScreen uses advanced technology to detect lymphoma biomarkers in the serum. Results can be obtained in as few as two days. If the test is positive, a lymph node biopsy will confirm the presence of cancer and treatment can be started. PetScreen also offers a Directed Chemotherapy Assay (DCA) which improves response to treatment by determining which drugs will be most effective against a particular dog's lymphoma cells. The company also is developing similar tests to detect canine osteosarcoma, a malignant bone cancer, and canine mast cell tumors.
Vet-Stem
(www.vet-stem.com) is a California-based company that is pioneering regenerative medicine through the use of stem cells harvested and concentrated from an animal's own fat deposits. Currently, treatment is limited to dogs and horses and is used primarily for orthopedic problems. Specifically, dogs have been treated for osteoarthritis of the hips, shoulders, and elbows as well as immune-mediated rheumatoid arthritis with good results. It also is being evaluated for use in treating neurological, heart, liver, kidney, and immune system diseases.
The technology utilizes a relatively simple process in which the veterinarian collects about two tablespoons of subcutaneous fat from the patient. The sample is submitted to Vet-Stem where the patient's stem cells are harvested and concentrated from the fat sample, packaged in a syringe, and returned to the veterinarian for injection into the problem site. Treatment can last from several months to a year.
If surplus stem cells can be harvested and concentrated, they will be stored in a bank operated by Vet-Stem and used for future treatments. This type of stem cell therapy allows an animal to create new cartilage, tendon, and ligament tissue and represents an exciting alternative to traditional therapies such as steroids (prednisone and dexamethasone) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Deramaxx, Rimadyl and Previcox).
Pawsitive I.D.
(www.pawsitiveid.net) is an Atlanta-based company that offers DNA testing services for dogs and cats. Utilizing a cheek swab from the animal, they are able to provide pet owners and breeders with a wealth of valuable information such as parentage verification, genetic predisposition toward disease and DNA "fingerprinting."
Genetic diseases are sometimes manifested early in life but, more often, lie dormant for anywhere from a few months to several years before they become apparent and start causing problems. Even if an individual is not affected by the disease, it may still be able to pass the disease on to its offspring.
A DNA fingerprint is your pet's genetic "serial number." This is an infallible way to identify your pet, as the chances of another animal sharing the exact DNA fingerprint are billions to one. Microchipping is a popular, easy, and reliable way to identify pets, but the chips have been known to migrate within the body and, rarely, have become inactivated. Fingerprinting can provide extra peace of mind for the owner.
The Wisdom Panel
(www.wisdompanel.com) is a DNA analysis offered by Mars Veterinary. Through a simple blood sample they can identify the breed composition of a mixed-breed dog. Their database includes more than 130 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. Knowing your mutt's breed composition will answer the obvious question of, "What kind of dog is that?" But more importantly, it can help to identify disease predispositions common to certain breeds.
While some of these technologies may seem more necessary than others, they all represent the arrival of a new era in veterinary medicine. In the near future we will see more screening and early detection tests and advanced treatments such as stem cell therapy become available to pet owners who wish to pursue such procedures. If nothing else, at least you will be able to definitively tell your friends that your mutt, "Tiny," is 13 percent Chihuahua and 87 percent Great Dane!