Complete Care for Your Aging Cat - Amy Shojai [51]
In general, veterinary specialists typically have a wider range of equipment, such as ultrasound and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) for diagnosing and managing health problems. Specialized equipment and treatment techniques are often too expensive for every local veterinary office to afford. Therefore, most advanced treatments are available only at veterinary teaching schools—there are 27 in the United States—or at multidiscipline specialty practices usually located in larger cities. Oftentimes, mobile practices bring specialists and their advanced technology, such as cardiac Doppler ultrasound and orthopedic surgery, to the general practitioner's office.
The specialists’ training provides them with the skills necessary to perform advanced surgical techniques and treatments, from radioactive iodine therapy (for hyperthyroidism) and kidney dialysis to chemotherapy and cataract surgery. You will find the same kinds of specialists in veterinary medicine as practice in human specialty medicine.
There are currently only three certifications available in complementary alternative veterinary medicine: acupuncture, chiropractic, and homeopathy. “A new certification program in physical therapy was just started at the University of Tennessee,” says Dr. Beebe. The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association provides a list of qualified complementary alternative practitioners on their website.
People now recognize veterinarians are physicians practicing in a medical field, and understand why a general practitioner would want to refer them to a veterinary specialist. Dr. Marks says it’s quite common for people to tell him, I wish my grandmother had gotten the care that you’re providing for my cat. There are a few differences, though, that you might not expect. “People have no problem calling me at three o’clock in the morning, which they would never do with their physician, even for their child!” says Dr. Marks.
The strong correlation between human and veterinary medicine also has some negative effects when a human family member’s medical experience has been less than pleasant. “When I say chemotherapy they say, Oh no!” says Dr. Kitchell. Pets treated with chemotherapy rarely have the side effects we’ve come to expect with the human treatments. They don’t lose their fur, for example.
Specialty care tends to be more costly, just as it is in human medicine. Surgery or radiation therapy can be expensive, while herbal medications and diet changes might be comparatively less. Never hesitate to ask your veterinarian about options. Universities may be seeking candidates to participate in reduced-cost experimental trials, or they may offer delayed payment plans. Dr. Kitchell says some drugs are no longer under patent, which makes them not only affordable alternatives but also offer very similar results to the patented drug. Any therapy you choose must be right for you and your cat, including the state of your pocketbook.
Specialties for Aging Cats
· Behaviorists (American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, or ACVB)
· Dentists (American Veterinary Dental College, or AVDC)
· Diagnostic imaging specialists, including cancer radiologists (American College of Veterinary Radiology, or ACVR)
· Eye specialists (American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, or ACVO)
· Feline specialists (American Board of Veterinary Practice-Feline, or ABVB (feline)
· Internists, including cardiologists, neurologists, and cancer specialists, (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, or ACVIM)
· Nutritionists (American College of Veterinary Nutrition, or ACVN)
· Skin specialists (American College of Veterinary Dermatology, or ACVD)
· Surgeons (American College of Veterinary Surgeons, or ACVS)
Geriatric Research
Veterinary science is constantly changing.