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Reviewed for accuracy on April 22, 2019, by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM The past few years have seen a cultural shift in how people are caring for their animals, which has impacted not only the equipment used by veterinarians but also how much research is being done and the number of new treatments being developed. “Societal demands for quality veterinary care have resulted in the expansion and availability of veterinary services, including board-certified specialists in nearly every medical and surgical discipline that is available in human health care,” says Dr. Ryan Cavanaugh, DVM, assistant professor of small animal surgery at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and a veterinary surgical oncologist.  “And with the advent of specialty medicine, veterinary scientists have been driven to improve the technology utilized to help treat our companion animal patients more effectively,” says Dr. Cavanaugh. Some of the areas that veterinary science is delving into are 3-D printing, advancements in prosthetics and laser surgery, and the use of cannabidiol (CBD). 3-D Printing as a Tool for Veterinary Science The veterinary science industry is just starting to really explore the possible uses for 3-D printing, as it has become more accessible and affordable in the last decade. “Ten years ago, 3-D printers were expensive to purchase, and the software to run them was complex and costly,” says Dr. Rory Lubold, DVM, who actively uses 3-D printers in his practice at Paion Veterinary. “Prior to the entrance of 3-D printing into the veterinary science space, we were using books and 3-D renderings on computers—but this comes with the inherent limitations of not being able to visualize all aspects of an object,” says Dr. Lubold. Dr. Lubold says that there are a number of companies providing complete printing solutions today. They take CT images from hospitals, create a printed model and then send them back to the hospital, which makes getting 3-D models a very easy process for any hospital with access to a 3-D scanner (such as CT or MRI). Nowadays, 3-D models are being used extensively in orthopedics. “This helps surgeons to have a physical object to evaluate fractures and plan procedures, and there is at least one company (Orthopets) doing some really great work with 3-D printing to help with developing custom prosthetics,” says Dr. Lubold. Dr. Lubold says that 3-D printing is also commonly being used by veterinarians to help them visualize normal and abnormal anatomy as a part of soft-tissue surgical planning and vascular surgery. They will also use the 3-D renderings for the evaluation of cancerous masses for removal. Advanced Veterinary Care With Prosthetics For many decades, the use of prosthetics in vet science was limited to the setting of an exoprosthesis, where an external “splint-like” device is fashioned over a portion of an animal’s limb. These splints have been used to either stabilize that region or provide length to serve as an extension of the limb after partial amputation of an extremity, explains Dr. Cavanaugh. “Over the past five to 10 years, the veterinary scientific community has initiated quality research endeavors that have resulted in significant progress with regard to harnessing prosthetic technology,” says Dr. Cavanaugh. He uses prosthetic engineering to develop implantable biomaterials to reconstruct bone defects after they have been removed to treat a tumor. The field of medical prostheses has benefited extensively from 3-D printing, according to Dr. Cavanaugh. “Complicated prosthetics are able to be designed, printed and then manufactured into an implantable medical device that can be used to reconstruct sections of bone that were lost secondary to accidental trauma or even from purposeful removal when treating a tumor involving bone.”  “And although veterinarians have only recently embraced this technology, there have already been incredible reports of practitioners reconstructing patients’ skulls and facial bones after surgery to remove tumors and saving limbs that would have otherwise needed to be amputated,” says Dr. Cavanaugh. Using Lasers in Surgery and Healing Laser surgery is rapidly evolving in the veterinary profession, and its use is increasing every year—with the biggest boom occurring over the past decade. However, since the equipment is quite expensive and requires specialized training to use, surgical lasers are still found more commonly in Veterinary Surgical Referral Centers, like university teaching hospitals or specialty surgery centers, says Dr. Benjamin Colburn, DVM, from Palm Springs, Florida.  While the surgical laser has many applications, Dr. Colburn says it’s most often used to reduce pain and provide a quicker healing time in elongated soft palate surgeries and to remove sarcoids (locally invasive tumors) from horses. Laser therapy uses a very different type of laser than the one employed for surgeries. In simple words, the light emitted by this laser heals and changes tissue, rather than cutting into it, according to Dr. Colburn.  The technology itself isn’t new—Dr. Colburn explains that therapeutic lasers first appeared in medical literature back in 1968. But the use of laser therapy has exploded recently, and there are more companies than ever making therapeutic lasers.  “Lasers have allowed another noninvasive option for pain relief in animals,” says Dr. Colburn. “In certain cases, where pets have comorbidities (like liver and kidney problems) and can’t take pain medication because of the contraindications of some of those drugs, laser therapy is a valid option to consider for those patients.” Integrating Cannabinoids in Veterinary Care Cannabinoids have steadily become more common in human medicine, but until recently, there were only few studies about their benefits in veterinary medicine; however that, too, is rapidly changing. “The use of cannabinoids has evolved greatly over the past decade, although it has been used for hundreds of years for medicinal purposes,” says Dr. Joe Wakshlag, DVM, an associate professor at Cornell University who recently conducted a clinical trial on the use of cannabinoids on dogs with osteoarthritis. “The discovery that cannabidiol, or CBD, can stand on its own as a treatment option without THC, which is the psychoactive component, has gone a long way to make treatment more accepted in veterinary medicine,” says Dr. Wakshlag. Today, the use of cannabinoids has completely changed the way clinicians can treat osteoarthritis and multi-joint pain in pets, according to Dr. Wakshlag. “I had an owner literally crying in my office two days after starting the oil because her dog came up the stairs and slept in her room for the first time in two years,” Dr. Wakshlag says.  In fact, Dr. Wakshlag believes CBD oil is as good or better than many of the traditional prescription pet medications currently in use for pain management. “Right now, we are doing three clinical trials in oncology, seizures and post-operative pain management; we believe it will be an effective tool for addressing these areas of veterinary medicine, and our preliminary oncology studies show great promise.”  By: Diana Bocco Featured Image: iStock.com/kozorog

In This Article Establish a Relationship With Your Veterinarian View 9 More +

Dry Food vs. Wet Food The next step is to decide whether you would like to feed your dog dry food, wet food, or a mixture of the two. Both types of food have positive and negative aspects, and the choice to use one, the other, or both depends on the specific needs of your dog. For example, wet food: Has a higher moisture content than dry food and may be better for dogs that do not drink much water. Has a lower calorie density per volume than dry dog food, allowing dogs to feel fuller on fewer calories, which helps control their weight throughout their lives. Is often more palatable and appetizing than dry food, so it may be a great option for picky eaters or for stimulating the appetite of dogs that are less interested in food. Can be beneficial for dogs with oral abnormalities or dental disease, as it is easier for them to chew. By contrast, dry food: Can be a more economical option than wet food. Is a great option for easier portion control and for dogs that tend to graze throughout the day rather than consume a full meal in one sitting, as dry food will not spoil as rapidly if left out for long periods of time. Is beneficial for dental health, as the crunchy pieces act as an abrasive against the teeth during chewing and help prevent tartar buildup and thus tooth and gum disease. Can be easily used as a tool in puzzle toys for enrichment and mental stimulation. Is be used in slow feeders for reducing the rate at which dogs are able to consume their meals. When your pup eats more slowly, the risk is lower of them swallowing too much air and developing bloat, a potentially dangerous condition. Nutritional Requirements The final step in selecting the best adult dog food diet is to examine the Guaranteed Analysis panel on the bag or can of food and ensure that the formula meets a few major nutritional requirements. Look for a food that has: About 18% protein and 5.5% fat Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, and selenium Vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, pyridoxine, folic acid, vitamin B12, and choline From there, you may decide to look for other ingredients that you wish to feed your dog: Some adult dog formulas contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help support healthy skin and joints. Other formulas have glucosamine for joint health or probiotics for gut health. Some dogs are sensitive to chicken and do better on beef- or salmon-based formulas. If you are unsure of the additional needs for your dog outside of the key ingredients and nutrients listed above, consult with your veterinarian. Level of Activity How you go about feeding your young dog will depend on their occupational status and whether they are spayed/neutered. Working dogs and dogs that engage in agility work or endurance activities may require more calories and more fat (up to 10-20%) in their adult dog formulas. They can also make do with less fiber (around 5%) in their food. On the other hand, most dogs kept as pets may be minimally active and can be fed the “standard” adult dog food diet as described above. They may also benefit from diets with at least 10% fiber on a dry matter basis. This will help ensure gut regularity with less physical activity. Especially if they have been spayed or neutered, dogs with minimally active lifestyles can typically be fed 15-20% less than the amount recommended on the dog food label to avoid weight gain and its associated health issues. Remember that dog treats and other sources of calories in the diet need to be included when determining the appropriate amount of food for your young adult dog. How to Switch Your Puppy to Adult Dog Food Once you have selected the best adult dog food for your puppy, you are ready to transition them slowly onto their new diet. Because rapid diet changes can cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs, such as vomiting and diarrhea, it is recommended to introduce the new food slowly over a period of five days or so. Continue to feed your puppy as many times per day as they are used to throughout this process. The feeding schedule might look something like this: Day 1: Mix some adult food with the puppy food at a ratio of 1:4, or 20% adult food and 80% puppy food. Day 2: Increase the amount of adult food so your puppy is getting 40% adult food and 60% puppy food. Day 3: Increase the amount of adult food again to 60% adult food, and decrease the amount of puppy food to 40%. Day 4: Feed 80% adult food and 20% puppy food. Day 5: Feed 100% adult food. If your puppy develops vomiting, diarrhea, or lack of appetite, stop feeding the adult dog food and see your veterinarian. How Often to Feed Your Dog For large-breed puppies, it may be best for them to continue to eat three times per day. For medium-breed puppies, they should continue to be fed twice daily when they have been transitioned to adult dog food. For small-breed puppies, you may consider transitioning them to eating twice daily instead of three times per day after they are fully on adult dog food. This may involve providing more attention and playtime for your dog as they become accustomed to fewer feedings per day. Consider extra walks, extra playtime, or brushing to distract them from feelings of hunger. Some dogs may benefit from high-fiber adult dog food to increase feelings of fullness between meals. Your dog may also enjoy cleaned, raw fruits and vegetables such as sliced carrots, cucumbers, or apples without the core or seeds. If you have any questions about transitioning your puppy to adult dog food, contact your veterinarian. In addition, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist can be a great resource for any issues that come up, and they can help develop the best diet and feeding schedule for your new family member. Featured image: iStock.com/SolStock,The transition from puppyhood to adulthood is an important milestone in any dog’s life—and any pet parent’s life as well. Just a few months ago, your little ball of fluff was tumbling around, getting into mischief. Now that ball of fluff has grown up, and it’s time to consider the steps you need to take to ensure lifelong health for your pet. Fundamental to a dog’s lifelong wellness is nutrition and feeding. One of the most crucial questions to ask is, “When is my puppy ready for adult dog food?”