3 Groundbreaking Treatments for Your Senior Pet
Unfortunately, there’s no way to stop our pets from getting older. As they begin to age, health issues can crop up quickly. The good news is, the sooner your senior pet’s condition is diagnosed, the higher the chances are of finding a cure and improving the quality of life. Thanks to modern technology, new treatments are being discovered all the time that can give us more quality time with our beloved family members. Here are three groundbreaking therapies that might be used to help your senior pet.
1. Monoclonal Antibodies for Cancer Treatment
Monoclonal antibodies are a relatively new treatment being used by veterinary oncologists to treat certain forms of cancer in pets. These unique antibodies are designed to attach themselves to cancer cells. They are very similar to the antibodies that are naturally produced by the animal’s body as part of the immune response.
This treatment has been shown to shorten the necessary length of treatment when used along with a traditional 12-week course of chemotherapy. As the chemo kills the cancer cells, the monoclonal antibodies activate the animal’s own immune system. Although these antibodies are not an actual cure for cancer, they do show great promise for extending the length and quality of the pet’s life.
2. Radiosurgery for Cancer Treatment
Just like in people, cancer is becoming more and more common in our pets. There have been significant advancements in pet oncology, and veterinarians are having more success in slowing down the growth of cancer cells, and in some cases even eliminating the cancer altogether. Radiosurgery targets cancerous tissues (while avoiding the healthy ones) with an extremely high dose of radiation.
Radiosurgery has been used in human medicine for many years, but it is fairly new in veterinary medicine. Because the treatment is so precise, it can drastically reduce the number of radiation treatments the pet will need. That means less anesthesia, less stress, fewer side effects, and faster recovery times for your pet.
3. Cold Laser Treatments for Arthritis
Veterinarians have begun to use cold laser therapy to help pets with arthritis. This noninvasive treatment uses light to increase blood circulation and stimulate cells. It also lessons nerve sensitivity and reduces pain signals. Additionally, the treatments encourage the release of the body’s natural painkillers, called endorphins.
The treatment is based on the belief that cells absorb light. The process is called photo biotherapy, and it stimulates cell metabolism and protein synthesis, which improves the overall health and function of the cells. Treatments last about 10 minutes for a small pet and about 30 minutes for larger ones. It should be noted that this treatment is not recommended for use in pets that have cancer because it can stimulate the flow of blood to cancerous cells.
These three groundbreaking treatments can seriously improve the quality of life for your aging pet. If you think your pet might be a candidate for one of these treatments, call your veterinarian right away. Remember, the sooner you act, the higher the chances of success!
