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Loading...Welcome Dr. Yale
- In this Issue:
- Welcome Dr. Yale
- Alternative Treatment of Osteoarthritis in Pets
- Dental Discounts
Welcome Dr. Yale
We are very pleased to introduce you our newest veterinarian at Hawthorne Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Sam Yale. Sam is a personable and caring veterinarian, and a skilled surgeon – and if you get out to see live music in Portland, you may have seen him playing the banjo with one of Portland’s finest bluegrass groups, Jack Straw.
Sam graduated from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002, and afterwards completed a year-long internship in small animal medicine and surgery. In the following years, Dr. Yale broadened his veterinary experience by working with emergency & critical care facilities, the Oregon Humane Society and general private practices. Sam is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and received his training through the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.
In his free time, Dr Yale enjoys cycling, kayaking, bird watching and playing bluegrass music. He and his wife Laurie live with their two dogs, Timber and Daisy, and MowMow the calico cat.
Alternative Treatment of Osteoarthritis in Pets
One of my greatest joys as the guardian of an intense and athletic Kelpie (my Australian herding dog, Hazel), was watching her leap high into the air, twisting and contorting her body with graceful acrobatic skill to catch a Frisbee. At the beach it wasn’t uncommon for her to elicit applause from amazed onlookers. But just as you don’t see many 40-year-old professional football or basketball players, Hazel’s days as a high-end athlete eventually came to an end. Now at almost 11 years old, Hazel still runs circles around my other two dogs at the park… but no more jumping for Frisbees. I do feel a little guilty. I admit I overdid it with her – but she truly loved it. Now Hazel’s joints show the ill-effects of all those years of pounding, and if she overexerts herself she will get stiff and a bit painful afterward. Hazel has moderate osteoarthritis of her front feet and shoulders, but she stays active and comfortable with joint support herbs and supplements – and if she’s lucky she’ll get a massage from one of our vet techs when she visits the clinic.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common conditions that we treat in companion animals at our clinic. It is especially prevalent in older middle- to large-size dogs, but it can affect dogs of all sizes and breeds. We frequently see it older cats too. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative, slowly progressive, inflammatory condition of the joints that can be managed, but rarely, if ever, cured. It can be caused by conformational (inherited) diseases such as hip or elbow dysplasia, nutritional imbalances, injuries, infections or simple age-related wear and tear on the joints (as in Hazel’s case). Symptoms are stiffness and pain of the joints that is typically worse when first getting up (then improving somewhat with movement), but most severe after overly intense exercise. (Sound familiar to any of you AARP members out there?) Some individuals are especially effected by the damp and chilly conditions common to our winters here in the Northwest. Treatment in conventional veterinary medicine usually involves the use of NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), that – while beneficial in alleviating the pain of osteoarthritis – have the potential for adverse and sometimes life-threatening side effects. Additionally, studies have shown that long-term use of NSAIDS may actually speed up the degenerative processes in the joints.
While we recognize the potential for improved comfort and mobility that drug therapy offers our canine and feline friends, we make every effort to make use of the multitude of safe and healthy alternatives to NSAIDS that are available. Most people are familiar with nutritional supplements for joints such as glucosamine, but omega 3 fatty acids supplements, antioxidants and enzymes such as bromelain have also been proven to have significant therapeutic benefits for the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. Herbs such as ginger and turmeric as well as numerous Chinese herbal formulas are also commonly prescribed at our clinic. Hot packs, massage and other physical therapies can be helpful. Certainly, light to moderate daily exercise is very important. Lastly (but certainly not least-ly), acupuncture and therapeutic laser treatments have proven to be of great benefit to many of our patients, and have shown the ability to slow down or even partially reverse the degenerative processes in the joints that no drug could ever do.
If your canine or feline family member is showing signs of osteoarthritis, give us a call and make an appointment. One of our doctors will be able to evaluate your pet’s condition and discuss the available treatments that we can offer.
Dental Discounts
The effects of the economic downturn are evident almost anywhere you turn these days, and things are no different at our clinic. Many of our very responsible clients are finding it difficult to afford veterinary care when their pets are ill, much less for routine health exams and procedures. When finances are tight, one very important aspect of pet health maintenance that tends to be neglected is dental health. Dental disease is one of the most common yet oft-overlooked significant health issues we see in companion animals. Typical problems include fractured or abscessed teeth, retained puppy teeth, cavities (cats usually), gum inflammation and infections, periodontal disease, significant tartar and calculus (mineralized plaque) accumulations and even oral tumors. Some of these conditions can be extremely painful, while others may lead to serious illness elsewhere in the body. Symptoms range from bad breath and excessive salivation to difficulty eating, rubbing or pawing at the face, and even more generalized symptoms of weight loss, lethargy and behavioral changes.
Treatments for these conditions range from simple cleaning, scaling and polishing to extractions and surgical excision of masses – usually under general anesthesia. Some conditions may even require a referral to a veterinary dental specialist. (Yes – they actually perform root canals on dogs and cats.)
Oral exams by your veterinarian are an important way to assess your pet’s dental health, so it’s important to keep up with yearly exams. And certainly if you notice any of the aforementioned symptoms, please contact us to schedule an appointment for an exam. To help you stretch your pet care dollars, we are offering a 15% discount on all dental procedures through the month of February to all those clients that mention this article. A pre-dental exam will be required if your pet has not been seen at our clinic in over a year, and a pre-anesthetic blood test may be recommended by your vet to ensure a safe procedure.
Please call us if you have any questions, or to schedule your pet’s exam.
