pain control - vaccination - drugs - supplements - veterinary reference - articles by Dr. Tom Beckett
Pain Control
Vaccination
Tests
A Blood Test for Heart Disease in Dogs: this test has been used
for humans in the Congestive Heart Failure Program at St. Francis
Heart Center in NYS for several years and is now available for dogs.
Multi-Drug Sensitivity: Ivermectin is only one of the drugs that may cause problems for dogs with the recessive mdr1-1Δ mutation. Collies are particularly likely to have it but some other breeds may carry this mutation as well. "Dogs with the mutant gene cannot pump some drugs out of the brain as a normal dog would, which may result in abnormal neurologic signs. The result may be an illness requiring an extended hospital stay--or even death. A test has recently been developed at Washington State University to screen for the presence of the mutant gene. Instead of avoiding drugs such as ivermectin in known susceptible breeds, veterinarians can now determine if a dog is normal, in which case the drug can be administered, or abnormal, in which case an alternative treatment can be given."
It is worth noting, so I do with a specific quote from the American Working Collie Association webpage, that:
"Two common medications administered in an oral monthly tablet for prevention of heartworm (ivermectin and milbemycin oxime) have been given to Collies "pure" for the mutation mdr1-1Δ without incident. These two forms of heartworm prophylaxis are equally safe at the monthly prophylaxis dose, and both are toxic at higher doses.
"At least one published study contains anecdotes that (moxidectin used in the 6-month injection for heartworm prevention) can cause acute and sometimes fatal neurotoxicosis in susceptible Collies."
Dr. Beckett, our mentor and advisor on Tick List, is what I call a holistic veterinarian: he is well-versed in conventional or traditional vet med but he is also open-minded and will use anything that works, in his view, to help a dog (or horse). One of those things is Tellington Touch, which he discusses in the three articles linked below.
Veterinary Partner: affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network
Pet Education: Drs. Foster & Smith
Critter Advocacy: Bob Rogers, DVM
Second Chance: Ron Hines, DVM, Ph.D.