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 Happy New Year! 2011 was an exciting and eventful year for West Loop Veterinary Care. As we started our third year in business, we received the great honor of earning runner-up status for Chicago’s Best Vet in the Chicago Reader newspaper. I was truly humbled by this honor and want to again thank our clients and the West Loop community for their tremendous support. I’d also like to thank our excellent staff for their relentless commitment to providing outstanding veterinary care to our patients and superior service to the people who love them. Although we are honored to be recognized as one of the best veterinary clinics in Chicago, we are always looking for ways to improve our care of your pet and our service to you. Your feedback is valued and I personally welcome your input. So, please don’t hesitate to tell us what you think of our care for your pets and our service to you. Your comments can be sent to us via email at: info@WestLoopVet.com Since our opening three years ago, our team has grown and we’ve continued to maintain a state-of-the art facility. The most recent veterinarian to join our team is Dr. Ann Vestal. She joins Dr. Andra McKamey, Dr. Holly Pappas and me in providing veterinary care to your pets. You can read more about Dr. Vestal in this newsletter. Part of our commitment to delivering excellent veterinary care is making certain that our team continues to have the latest technology to help us diagnose and treat your beloved pets. In 2011, we invested in a new digital radiography system. In this newsletter, we explain how the system works and why it’s beneficial to you, your pets and the planet we all share. Also in this newsletter, you will read about winter hazards your pet can encounter, cat digestive issues, and our featured pet, Roo. We hope you, your family and your pet enjoy a healthy winter season. Regards, David Gonsky, DVM Founder & Medical Director West Loop Veterinary Care
Dr. Ann Vestal is the most recent veterinarian to join the team at West Loop Veterinary Care. Dr. Vestal received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Oklahoma State University. She has “an absolute love” for the profession of veterinary medicine. Like many veterinarians, Dr. Vestal has admired the profession since childhood. She places a strong emphasis on the special bond between people and their companion animals. “I am so happy to be a part of the West Loop family,” said Dr. Vestal. “It’s great to be part of a team with such a high standard of medical, surgical and wellness care. I appreciate working with this outstanding team and in this state-of-the-art facility.” Dr. Vestal is especially interested in internal medicine, preventative and wellness medicine as well as emergency and critical care. Prior to joining West Loop Veterinary Care, Dr. Vestal worked for four years at a small animal practice in Missoula, Montana. Having attended high school in the Chicago area, Dr. Vestal is happy to return home to family and friends. She is looking forward to extending her Chicago family to include her new clients and patients. In her free time, Dr. Vestal enjoys yoga, hiking, snowboarding and gardening. Of course, she also enjoys spending time with her beloved golden retriever/pit bull mix, Bella and her silly pug, Sushi, the “true loves” of Dr. Vestal's life.
Vomiting, diarrhea and cats When cats suffer from recurring bouts of vomiting and diarrhea, it can be very frustrating for their owners. There often is no apparent pattern to the problem. Of course, it’s no fun for the cat either! In addition to the stress of the situation, the cat may end up suffering from other health issues such as dehydration, weight loss and malnutrition. Recurrent vomiting and diarrhea can be symptoms of a variety of illnesses, including the difficult to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a common and chronic gastrointestinal disorder suffered by cats. The cause of this disease is unknown. It’s believed that a variety of factors contribute to IBD including genetics, diet, infections and autoimmune responses. Diagnosis of IBD For most cats, chronic vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss are the most common symptoms of IBD. Owners may also see increased mucous or blood in the cat’s stool and the cat may stop using its litter box. Unfortunately, these symptoms are also common to other health problems. Allergies, hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis and intestinal parasites also cause vomiting and/or diarrhea. In order to help determine exactly what is happening and why, your veterinarian may recommend blood tests, stool samples, x-rays and/or ultrasound testing to help rule out diseases. Once other possible illnesses are ruled out, if IBD is suspected a biopsy of the intestinal tissue may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis. Although a biopsy is the only definitive way to confirm the presence of IBD, it is not appropriate for all cats. Depending on the patient’s situation, including age and overall health, your veterinarian may discuss treatment for the disease without the desired confirmation of a biopsy. Treatments As there is no cure for inflammatory bowel disease, treatment focuses on successful management of the symptoms. The goal is to find the treatment that works best for the individual patient. One aspect of treatment for IBD usually involves management of the cat’s diet. Often, a prescription diet or specific foods to help ease the symptoms will be recommended. It is very important to keep the cat only on the recommended foods during a period of several weeks to give the new diet a chance to work. This means eliminating treats and other foods not specifically prescribed. Your veterinarian may also prescribe medication to help with the treatment of IBD. Corticosteroids, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications may be recommended. The type of medications used are typically dependent upon the symptoms or the results of the biopsy, if one is performed. While inflammatory bowel disease cannot be cured, a workable treatment plan can usually be developed to improve the cat’s quality of life by reducing vomiting and diarrhea and allowing the cat to return to a more appropriate weight. Winter can present many hazards for pets. Visitors, decorations, Super Bowl parties, plants, ice melt and antifreeze are all dangers that can cause serious health problems for pets. These hazards can lead to surgery, hospitalization or even death. It’s important to keep your pet’s routine and diet as close to its normal pattern as possible despite all the activity. Below are some winter hazards that can be especially dangerous for pets.
Our featured pet is Roo Burrows. Roo is an 8½ year-old neutered male boxer-pit bull mix. Last summer, Roo’s owners Joel and Jen Burrows, brought Roo in for an examination because they noticed a mass on his hind leg and another on his chest. “Some breeds of dogs are more prone to certain types of cancers. For example, mast cell tumors are seen with a higher prevalence in boxer dogs,” said Dr. Holly Pappas, who treated Roo. “So when Roo was brought in with the two new growths, it was important that we carefully examine his entire body.” Mast cell tumors are one of the more common cancers found in dogs. Although the tumors are more common in some breeds than others, they can be found in any dog. Breeds susceptible to mast cell tumors include golden retriever, Labrador retriever, Boston terrier, pug and Chinese shar-pei. Cats also develop mast cell tumors, but their tumors are less likely to be malignant. After examining Roo, Dr. Pappas took a painless needle biopsy of the mass on Roo’s leg. Using West Loop Veterinary Care’s in-house lab, Dr. Pappas was able to immediately examine the tissue sample microscopically. Though the sample contained mostly red blood cells, some mast cells were noted by Dr. Pappas. Due to the high risk of malignant mast cell tumors in boxers, Dr. Pappas consulted with Joel and Jen regarding her findings and Roo was scheduled for surgery to remove the possible tumor. In total, seven masses were removed from Roo. In each instance, Dr. Pappas took wide surgical margins around the mass to minimize the risk of the cancer spreading. Of the masses removed, two indeed proved to be mast cell tumors. Fortunately, surgical removal was curative for Roo’s mast cell tumors and subsequent chemotherapy or radiation treatments were not needed. Roo made a rapid and complete recovery from his surgery. “Because Jen and Joel brought Roo in for an exam shortly after they noticed the masses, Roo’s prognosis is now very good,” said Dr. Pappas. “With continued monitoring and prompt surgical treatment if additional masses appear, Roo should go on to live a long, full life.” |
In this Edition…Meet Our Team Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Winter Hazards for Pets Featured Pet Expanded HoursTo better serve our clients, West Loop Veterinary Care has expanded its hours. We are now open:  Please note that to help us continue providing outstanding care for your pet, we are closed on Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. for staff training and continuing education. For your convenience, we offer “DayStay” appointments. These appointments allow clients with busy schedules to drop their pet off in the morning and pick them up at the end of the day. Your veterinarian will examine your pet, consult with you by telephone, conduct any required tests and administer needed care to your pet during the course of the day. Please let us know of your interest in a “DayStay” appointment when you call to schedule your pet’s next visit. Digital X-Rays Aid Care
West Loop Veterinary Care introduces a new digital radiography system. Replacing traditional x-rays, the new system enhances patient care by obtaining quicker and clearer results while eliminating the use of unpleasant chemicals. The new system also makes the transfer of images to veterinary specialists quick and easy. Click here to read more. Spay/Neuter Discount in February February is spay/neuter month. You can receive a $40 discount to spay or neuter your pet during the month of February. To be eligible, your pet’s rabies vaccination must be current with a Cook County Rabies tag on file. If your pet needs a rabies vaccine, that can be provided the day of your pet’s spay/neuter procedure at West Loop Veterinary Care. Schedule your appointment today as space for these procedures fills up quickly. In the Community
Dr. Gonsky on FOX Chicago NewsWest Loop Founder and Medical Director Dr. David Gonsky was recently featured on FOX Chicago News talking about dangerous dogs and a recent attack on a lakefront jogger by two “pit bull” dogs. Dr. Gonsky addressed the need for owners to properly socialize and train their dog, no matter the breed. He stressed the effectiveness of training rather than breed specific bans.West Loop Vet Supports Local CharitiesWest Loop Veterinary Care supports local animal-focused charities through a variety of activities during the course of the year. In 2011, West Loop Veterinary Care helped raise more than $5,000 for pet-related charities. This effort is part of our ongoing work to make the world a better place for our companion animals.Prescription Diet Food AvailableWest Loop Veterinary Care has implemented a system to ensure that patients on prescription diets always have what they need. If your pet is on a prescription diet, please call a few days in advance of pick-up to place your food order. Our staff will call you when you order is ready. |
©Copyright 2012. Dr. David A. Gonsky. All Rights Reserved.