Arizona Health & Living Magazine - West Valley August 2016

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ASK QUESTIONS

expert talk

Q. How do I know if my cat’s bad Q. What is the difference between breath is caused by oral disease? stimulation induced pain relief versus "burning nerves" for pain relief? What A. As a pet owner, you may not usually check does all this mean for chronic pain your cat’s teeth on a regular basis. You may assume as long as he/she is eating, all is well. patients? However, all may not be well. Let’s take a closer look. Several signs that your cat may have an oral health problem that is worth investigating include: · Moves slower to go to the food bowl · Licks the juice and leaves the bites while at the food bowl · Refuses dry kibble · Acts irritable and/or aggressive · Is losing weight If you are unable to view your cat’s teeth and suspect a problem, it’s time to schedule an exam with your family veterinarian. Your cat should receive a complete examination that will include oral health to rule out all possibilities. If there is a problem, let’s get to the bottom of it so that we can help enhance your cat’s life, and give you more valuable quality time to share with your dear friend.

The information contained in this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian or other qualified health care provider with any questions regarding any possible medical condition.

A. Like two sides of a coin, pain relief can be

provided by either stimulating nerves or destroying them. Burning nerves or ablation prevents pain signals from reaching the brain by purposefully destroying the pathways that carry pain signals to the brain.

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August 2016 |azhealthandliving.com

A. The term “venous wound” encompasses a wide range of different types of injuries. Some of the most common ones include ulcers, bone infections, blisters, bites, diabetic wounds, burns, gangrene and blunt object trauma. Venous wounds typically happen or continue to happen due to a vascular or circulatory issue. Many times, vascular issues make it harder for a wound to heal properly and quickly.

A doctor will physically examine you first to determine what specific kind of wound you The other side of the coin is stimulation have and then determine the best method to induced pain relief. This method of pain relief treat your wound. is based on the fact that the human body has its own pain suppressing circuits that can be Here are some different treatments available turned on with proper external stimulation. for venous wounds: In a nutshell, it is often possible to turn one set of nerves “on” which indirectly affects other Local Wound Care: First, the wound will be pain-carrying nerves, turning them “off." A sterilized to help stave off infection and prevent modern example of this is called trans-spinal the wound from getting more infected. Next, galvanic stimulation. dead tissue will be removed from the wound in a process called debridement. Scientific studies have demonstrated that a mild galvanic current may activate four distinct Dressings: Act as a barrier to the outside world pain-killing circuits in the human body. This to prevent bacteria from creeping in and as therapy has local effects, changing pain related a way to foster healing too. There are many chemicals in tissues, it also has been found to different types of dressings available. switch “off” a part of the spinal cord that is a major relay center for pain transmission. The Compression Bandages: Apply pressure to the third pain killing circuit activated by this affected area to help promote proper blood therapy is in the brainstem. This circuit sends flow. pain-blocking signals down from the base of the brain to the spinal cord. Lastly, this therapy Biological Treatments: Occasionally, biological can cause the release of endorphins in the treatments like maggots are used to help fight infection. brain. Endorphins are the most powerful pain killing chemicals in the nervous system. Unlike ablative pain relief procedures, stimulation induced pain relief does not harm healthy tissues; providing pain relief without further damaging or injuring the body.

– Dr. Bennett Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine 623.806.7387 (PETS)

Q. How is a venous wound diagnosed?

–Dr. Kukurin Kukurin Chiropractic, Acupuncture & Nutrition Network 623.547.4727

Antibiotics: If a severe infection is suspected, oral antibiotics will sometimes be prescribed. I.V. antibiotics are only administered if there is an increase in wound size, increased pain and fever. Surgery: Most commonly, doctors will use stitches to help seal up a wound to prevent bacteria from getting in and promote healing. –Dr. Sharma Arizona Vein & Laser Institute 602.298.VEIN(8346)


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