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Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek
When I first started there I told him that I wanted to eventually have my own practice. He said that about 10% of domestic animals have some kind of heart disease, so it would be good for me.
I didn't know you were an expert in that area. Wow! Small world huh?  Well, I know who I can come to for questions when I'm stumped at 3am. 
Yep. It's very different. Well, they don't have atherosclerosis and the type of heart attacks that afflict people. In animals the problem is usually a weak heart muscle, with enlargement of one or both sides of the heart. Sometimes there's inadequate heart valve action or a rhythm that's too quick or to slow. Like in humans, cholesterol is really not a factor.
At work we generally look to see if there's a bluish discoloration of the tongue and gums during or after exercise. Sometimes there may be heavy breathing, wheezing, those sort of things which are signs of heart problems. |
Aside from "heart worm" that dogs and cats get, it is my understanding that several mammals (except primates) and non-mammals have 3-chambered hearts, which are cause for differing developmental patterns. I know in the mouse, the 2 ventricles are more pointy than humans and that if the apex is rounded, there is a ventricular dysfunction as seen on echo.
Horses and cattle have different kinds of hearts, even at the molecular level, like their Titan and myosin chains are much larger than a humans. However, the first tests on statins were done on mice, rats, rabbits, then pigs and humans. Pigs have the most similar hearts to primates... Dogs are the next group people study, until the animals gets heart worm. I believe pigs get some kind of heart infection, also. Humans get cocksakie virus and von Wildebrand's factor. Rarely do they get similar infections as seen in animals--but it has been known to happen. Pneumonia is another one humans get.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek
On another note, a lot of people don't want to talk to me. A lady called yesterday and she was freaking out. After her cat gave birth to kittens she freaked because her cat was eating the placenta. I tried to explain to her that it was normal and why she was eating it. She didn't want to speak to me because "I'm not a vet." She demanded that I put a vet on the phone.
Some people.  |
Wait till you get the schizophrenic that thinks the aliens are messing around with her cat... That's happen to a vet friend of mine... LOL...
Just remember to say you'll take a message to give to the vet and if possible they will call you back. LOL.
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