星空无限传媒

Bubbie, an 8-month-old cat, came to LSU Vet Med when she began showing signs of stumbling, lethargy, and decreased appetite. Upon presentation to the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the Ophthalmology team noted numerous neurological signs, leading to a consultation with LSU Vet Med鈥檚 Neurology team, who discovered Bubbie had feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)鈥攕pecifically the neurological and ophthalmic form. 

FIP was once considered a death sentence for cats. Thankfully, Bubbie鈥檚 condition coincided with a critical advancement in veterinary medicine鈥攖he anti-viral GS-441524 was finally widely available, enabling life-saving care. Bubbie began a course of the medication, along with dorzolamide and prednisolone acetate for her ocular symptoms. After just a few days of inpatient care, Bubbie showed signs of neurological improvement and was able to go home. While her ocular lesions appeared to be chronic and likely permanent, her overall prognosis was determined to be very good, with a relapse rate of less than one percent. Thanks to this collaborative approach and the trust placed in our Neurology and Ophthalmology teams, Bubbie鈥檚 future looks bright. 

 

Link

Link, a 2.5-year-old pit bull mix, first arrived 星空无限传媒鈥檚 Dermatology, Ear, and Allergy Service because he had ulcerative lesions on his paws, pinnae (outer ear,) and oral cavity. Skin biopsy and histopathology allowed our dermatology experts to determine that Link was struggling with erythema multiforme, a skin disorder caused by the body鈥檚 own immune system. Link also had elevated liver enzymes, requiring a careful and strategic approach to his treatment. Dermatology consulted with the Small Animal Internal Medicine Service, ensuring a comprehensive approach to his care. Link鈥檚 care team implemented a multi-faceted treatment strategy including changes in diet, shampoo, and flea medication, along with multiple medicinal therapies to stop the introduction of secondary infections and to address Link鈥檚 liver function.

Within weeks, Link鈥檚 owner reported that he was noticeably happier, more energetic, and enjoying an increased appetite, all thanks to the collaboration of LSU鈥檚 Dermatology, Ear, and Allergy Service and Small Animal Internal Medicine. 

 

Gidget

Gidget, a 9-year-old dog, landed in our Emergency Service in pain with suspected intervertebral disc herniation. She exhibited compulsive circling to the right and a moderate right head turn. On cranial nerve examination by our Neurology team, Gidget had central blindness and had trouble standing. After identifying these neurological deficits, an MRI of the brain was performed by Diagnostic Imaging to further investigate the cause of Gidget鈥檚 symptoms. A spinal tap was performed, which confirmed a diagnosis of bacterial meningoencephalomyelitis, a serious bacterial infection of the brain and spinal cord. Gidget was treated with a combination of steroid medication in addition to what we call our 鈥淣euro Trio鈥� of drugs. She slowly improved over the week and became brighter, ambulatory, and her cranial nerve deficits disappeared. While the prognosis of bacterial meningoencephalomyelitis is generally guarded, Gidget beat the odds with the help of her LSU Vet Med care team.

Taco

Taco, a 4-pound chihuahua from the Lafayette, Louisiana area, came to us after surviving a serious dog attack near his home. He arrived in critical condition with chest and abdominal injuries, requiring immediate blood transfusions and emergency surgery.

Thanks to the incredible teamwork across our hospital鈥攕tarting in ER with Dr. Hailey Penticoff, stabilization by our Critical Care team (Drs. Tomoe Kadowaki and Nancy Mitropoulou), surgery with Dr. Nimar Gill, anesthesia by Dr. Jeannette Cremer and team, and post-op care from Critical Care (Drs. Karla Fraga and Piyachat Saengsawang) along with our dedicated ICU nurses including Beth and Lacy鈥擳aco pulled through.

Surgery involved extensive chest repair, rib removal, and the loss of one kidney, but Taco never gave up. He got stronger each day, and he鈥檚 now at home to continue his recovery with his family. We鈥檙e so proud of Taco and the team that made his recovery possible. 

Jesse

Jesse, an indoor cat, was attacked by a dog when he escaped his home鈥攍eaving him with facial nerve paralysis. Things looked grim. His owner, Sara, was told he would likely lose his eye, since he could no longer blink or make tears. But hope came in the form of two acupuncture treatments from Dr. Kielyn Scott in our Integrative Medicine service. Incredibly, Jesse began to blink again. Then he started to produce tears. Today, Jesse is back to his old self鈥攂right-eyed and thriving. Sara says the teams in Community Practice (primary care), Integrative Medicine, and Neurology treated Jesse like one of their own. 鈥淚 knew he was in good hands. He is doing great.鈥�

Cash

Cash, the dog, was diagnosed with diabetes in February causing him to become extremely sick. 鈥淭he stress of the traditional routine鈥攆eeding, then giving the shot twice a day, 12 hours apart鈥攚as overwhelming,鈥� said his owner, Kelly.

In summer, Kelly brought Cash from Little Rock, Ark., to LSU Vet Med to see Dr. Patty Lathan, an endocrinology specialist. Dr. Lathan switched him to insulin degludec, a human insulin that鈥檚 often effective in dogs with just one daily dose.

To monitor Cash鈥檚 glucose, the team, including Dr. Jisoo Hong in Small Animal Internal Medicine, used the Freestyle Libre, a continuous glucose monitor designed for humans but increasingly valuable for dogs. 鈥淜elly could tell us how Cash was doing with each dose adjustment. It sounds like he's back to his old self!鈥� Dr. Lathan said.

鈥淗is quality of life is so much better鈥攁nd so is ours,鈥� Kelly shared. 鈥淗is turnaround has been nothing short of amazing. Cash is once again the bouncy, wildly playful dog he was before diabetes. We all have our lives back.鈥�

Firecracker

Firecracker, the goat, came to LSU Vet Med鈥檚 large animal emergency service in April suffering from goat ketosis or pregnancy toxemia, a condition most often affecting female goats in the last few weeks of pregnancy. It can be extremely dangerous for both the goat and the kids she鈥檚 carrying.

Dr. Clare Scully, assistant professor of food animal health maintenance, performed a cesarean section as it was Firecracker鈥檚 best chance at survival. To everyone鈥檚 delight, Firecracker gave birth to three healthy bucklings. Firecracker and her offspring are back home with their loving owners, healthy and safe.

鈥淎 lot of times you lose the babies, sometimes you lose the mom, very often you lose both which is why we are very happy they are all doing well,鈥� Dr. Scully said.

 

Joe Theismann

Joe Theismann, the goat, came into LSU Vet Med鈥檚 Food Animal service in April with a fractured tibia. He was struggling to walk. Joe was first treated by Dr. Clare Scully, associate professor of food animal maintenance. Surgery on Joe鈥檚 tibia was performed by Dr. Charles McCauley, associate professor of equine surgery. Next, Joe received rehabilitation from LSU鈥檚 Integrative Medicine service with Dr. Kielyn Scott, assistant professor of integrative medicine. After rehabilitation with underwater treadmill sessions by veterinary technician Jennifer Bridges and at-home physical therapy, Joe Theismann was finally able to run, jump, and take on goats bigger than him again, his owner said.

 

 

Hawk

Hawk, the chicken, was only 10 months old when her owner Dr. Melissa Blazevich, assistant professor of veterinary dentistry and oral surgery, brought her into the Exotics service 星空无限传媒 Vet Med. Hawk was unable to walk, losing balance often. Eventually, she was completely paralyzed. Both the Exotics and Neurology teams decided that Hawk鈥檚 best chance was acupuncture treatment, in addition to other medical therapies. After two acupuncture treatments by Dr. Kielyn Scott, assistant professor of integrative medicine, Hawk began recovering quickly. After just one week, Hawk was able to walk again and was even perching in the coop.

鈥淪he now has made a total recovery and is a normal, happy chicken,鈥� Dr. Blazevich said. 鈥淲hat a blessing it is to have so many smart minds to work with and to have the ability to consult with so many services 星空无限传媒.鈥�

Bug Mushroom

Bug Mushroom, a 2-year-old pug, was found along a roadside unable to walk in a rural area north of Shreveport. Ninna鈥檚 Road to Rescue brought her to Benton Animal Hospital, where Dr. Susan St. Pierre identified severe spinal malformation. Dr. St. Pierre referred Bug to LSU Vet Med Neurology service, where clinicians formulated a complex surgical plan complicated by the high risk of placing even the smallest implants into a narrow corridor within the 9 lb. dog鈥檚 spinal bones. There was a risk that the implants could puncture the lungs, the spinal cord, or result in significant life-threatening hemorrhage if not performed with absolute precision, according to Dr. Colleen Embersics, who performed Bug鈥檚 surgery. The benefits and risks of this procedure were explained to the rescue, and they immediately approved surgery to give Bug a chance to walk again.

Surgery was successful, and Bug is expected to move closer to walking over the next 4-6 weeks. House Officer Camryn Davis, pictured with a flyer she created, described how people can help support Bug. Yan Zermeno, fourth-year student, took Bug home as a medical foster and adopted Bug this year. He said she tries to use her back legs more each day and is the perfect patient.