Needling Chronic Pet Diseases

Some diseases like diabetes and heart disease have previously only been controlled in pets but not cured. Now a team of veterinary scientists at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in Alabama is investigating the use of gene therapy for these and other diseases.

While veterinarian and professor Bruce Smith was studying a muscle-wasting ailment, he found a form of gene therapy that specifically targeted the affected tissue. Initially the treatment involved injecting each muscle individually. This was not practical and was very uncomfortable for the pet. Further study revealed that using a portion of a virus, a purified ‘phage’, he could inject it intravenously and it would seek out only the tissue of concern.

Tissue specific phage protocols would be extremely beneficial for decreasing the adverse side effects of medications. Chemotherapy for instance, can be toxic to tissues other than the cancer. In the past, there were minimal ways to pin point where the medication acted. Now with these virus particles, preparations can be attached to the phages and delivered only where needed.

Tissue specific ‘phage’ protocols would be extremely beneficial for decreasing the adverse side effect of medications.

Phage therapy could be used for diabetes, heart disease and certain types of brain tumors. The cure for these maladies is on the horizon but in the mean time you can help to safe guard your pets’ well being by scheduling routine physical examinations. Even though your pet may look great on the outside, your pet’s doctor may detect a problem before it becomes catastrophic. Early treatment usually means a better outcome and a decrease in expended funds. The best reason to see your veterinarian routinely – it’s “Your Pet…Health Matters.”