July 2020
picture of happy puppy
SOONER OR LATER TO SPAY OR NEUTER?
Recently, investigation has begun into how or whether undertaking gonadectomy (surgical removal of the testes or ovaries) in very young animals increases disease risk. In our latest Ask a UW Veterinarian column in response to a reader question, Susannah Sample, assistant professor of surgical sciences, explains the current evidence surrounding when to spay or neuter, and where additional research is needed.

Related: Do you have a medical question for our veterinary medical experts? Send them by email for consideration for a future Ask a UW Veterinarian response.

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Pet Tips and Clinical Studies
cat in sun
HEARTWORM PREVENTION
With mosquito season underway, pet parents are reminded that heartworm is a preventable, but serious and potentially fatal, parasite that primarily infects dogs, cats and ferrets. Heartworms can only be transmitted from animal to animal by mosquitoes. Several FDA-approved heartworm preventives are available in a variety of formulations. Your veterinarian can recommend the best method of prevention based upon your pet's risk factors and lifestyle. A blood test for existing heartworm infection is recommended before beginning a prevention program. The American Heartworm Society recommends testing pets every 12 months and giving your pet a heartworm preventive 12 months a year.
 

photo of happy dog outside
CANCER CLINICAL TRIAL
UW Veterinary Care's Oncology Service is investigating a novel drug, trametinib, that specifically "targets" a growth signaling pathway found in cancer cells from pet dogs to determine the optimal dose that is both safe and effective in shutting down the cancer's growth signals in dogs diagnosed with aggressive cancers. The study will also test whether a simple blood test can quickly determine whether effective drug levels are present in the dog. Finally, preliminary evidence of meaningful anticancer activity will be documented to determine if this novel drug should be studied in larger populations of dogs with cancer. Dogs with any type of cancer that are not currently receiving chemotherapy qualify for the study.

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Radiation Therapy Update
From now  through the end of September, UW Veterinary Care is replacing its current TomoTherapy radiotherapy delivery system with a new Radiaxct system that incorporates several advancements. 

cat receiving radiation therapy treatment
While this installation takes place,  radiation therapy will not be available at UW Veterinary Care. In the interim, our hospital's Oncology service will assist current clients in identifying alternative locations for radiation therapy treatments. A nd we will continue to see and consult with new oncology clients about treatment options for their pets.

We plan to resume radiotherapy in October. Once installed, this new system will provide improved treatment planning speed, imaging detail, image-guided treatments, and tumor dose accuracy and delivery.  In addition, the machine's adaptive radiotherapy will allow for easy and accurate changes to treatment plans during treatment when tumors or normal structures change size or shape. This new technology provides real-time motion synchronization tracking; for example, during treatment a moving lung tumor will be tracked and the treatment beam will be adjusted in real time, allowing for an accurate dose to the tumor and better sparing of normal lung tissue.

Gifts to the School of Veterinary Medicine's Pets Make a Difference Fund helped to make possible this important equipment upgrade. We thank WeatherTech and all Pets Make a Difference Fund donors for their generous support in the fight against cancer.
UW Veterinary Care
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