Use of surgical lasers in small animal dermatology

In Pract. April 2023;45(3):144-154. 16 Refs

Jason Pieper¹

¹ Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, 1800 Christensen Dr, Ames, IA 50011, USA.

Author Abstract

Background: Use of lasers in veterinary medicine has significantly increased over the past decade. What was once a piece of equipment, almost exclusively used by veterinary specialists, has now become a common piece of equipment in general veterinary practices. It is imperative to know the appropriate situations and diseases for which lasers can be used.

Aim of the article: This article covers the basics of lasers, including discussion of both diode and CO₂ lasers. It also discusses several skin diseases and/or conditions in which lasers are commonly used.

Article Tools:

Email to me

Archives Highlights:

Diagnostic imaging of the equine cervical spine – Are radiographs enough? (Clinical Commentary)

Bone Marrow Aspiration in Dogs: Indications and a Step-by-Step Tutorial
In dogs, bone marrow aspirates are often collected from the proximal humerus or ilium. A special 14- to 18-gauge needle with stylet is placed into the bone marrow cavity, and cells are subsequently aspirated. These needles are designed to penetrate cortical bone without becoming obstructed. Other sites in dogs include the sternum, ribs, and proximal femur. Aspiration from the pelvis and femur is challenging, if the region contains abundant adipose tissue.

Immunosuppressant Therapy in Small Animal Medicine: What, When, and Why
Immunosuppressant drugs are categorized into steroid medications (e.g., prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, budesonide), calcineurin inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine), antiproliferative medications (e.g., azathioprine, mycophenolate, leflunomide), and mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitors (not currently used routinely in veterinary medicine). This article focuses on the first 3 categories.

Approach to dealing with acute heart failure in cats and dogs
The general principles of heart failure management can be applied to a broad range of cardiac diseases; identifying a cardiac cause for the clinical signs is therefore more important than making a definitive diagnosis in the acute phase of heart failure. Nevertheless, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ recipe for treatment and the approach needs to be tailored to the individual.

A review of adverse events in animals and children after secondary exposure to transdermal hormone-containing medicinal products.
The clinical signs reported in animals included persistent signs of oestrus, poor growth rate, and birth defects. In humans, reported clinical signs included precocious puberty, unresolved virilisation, accelerated growth rate, and female infertility.