Meadowlawn Animal Services

Regular dental care is essential for keeping your pet healthy and happy. Periodontal (dental) disease is a common issue among household pets that can lead to serious health problems. Those problems can include gum inflammation and infection, tooth loss, difficulty eating, and severe pain. If left untreated, bacteria can make its way to internal organs and cause more severe illness. Periodic dental exams help maintain proper oral hygiene and prevent future complications.

Meadowlawn Animal Services offers complete pet oral health services, including:

• Dental exams
• Annual dental cleanings
• Dental X-rays
• Extractions
• Oral surgery

Bad breath is often the first sign that your pet has developed dental disease. To schedule your pet for an exam, call the Meadowlawn Animal Services location nearest you:

• Conway: 843-347-7387
• Loris: 843-756-6560
• Market Common: 843-282-2287

Wellness Plans for Dogs & Cats

A better, easier, and more cost-effective way to care for your pet! 

At Meadowlawn Animal Services, we believe in offering a progressive approach to veterinary care that makes preventive care as accessible as possible for families. Our Wellness Plans make this routine preventative care easier to maintain, more affordable, and will likely save you money in the long term.

Our Wellness Programs focus on preventative medicine that’s based on the specific life-stage of your pet. The key to our program is an emphasis on the annual health examination. When your pet comes to see us each year, he or she will receive a comprehensive physical exam and additional age-appropriate diagnostics—such as blood pressure checks, parasite screenings, and blood work—to identify early signs of illness or disease.

Each patient is assessed individually based on factors such as species, breed, age, and environmental challenges. Then our veterinarian will make recommendations for prevention, nutrition, and diagnostic workups for your pet. We believe that the more information you have about prevention and treatment options, the easier it will be for you to make decisions and have more control of your pet’s health care. 

For participants in the Meadowlawn Animal Services Wellness Program, any vaccinations due at the time of the annual exam will be given at current participant rates. For patients with health-related concerns, we will recommend more advanced diagnostics if needed. Senior pets and those with chronic illness will likely need more frequent visits and evaluations.

Want more information on our Wellness Programs? Give us a call at the Meadowlawn Animal Services location nearest you and we’ll be happy to tell you more and enroll your pet.

• Conway: 843-347-7387
• Loris: 843-756-6560
• Market Common: 843-282-2287

Laser therapy is an innovative technology used to treat acute and chronic injuries as well as accelerate the healing process after surgery, alleviate joint pain, and treat degenerative diseases.

How it works

Laser therapy focuses red and infrared light on tissue at and below the surface of the skin. The light energizes the cells, producing a structural protein called collagen used to repair tissue. Lasers continue to promote healing by supporting vascular dilation and synthesis, increasing blood circulation to the affected region. The stimulation also releases the body’s own pain-relieving hormones.

The process generally takes between 5-10 minutes, with most patients seeing positive effects after 3-5 uses. The treatment continues to relieve pain and fight inflammation for up to 24 hours following the session.

Conditions improved with laser therapy:

• Hip dysplasia
• Post-surgical incisions and soft-tissue trauma
• Arthritis and degenerative joint disease
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Neuromuscular disease

Laser therapy is normally combined with other types of veterinary medicine including pharmaceutical regimens and alternative treatments. The many benefits and lack of adverse side effects have made laser therapy the preferred post-operative rehab method in veterinary medicine.

If you would like to know more about laser therapy and if it could benefit your pet, contact the Meadowlawn Animal Services location nearest you:

• Conway: 843-347-7387
• Loris: 843-756-6560
• Market Common: 843-282-2287

Going out of town? We have you and your pet covered with overnight boarding for your cat or dog! Our pet guests enjoy safe, clean facilities and get plenty of exercise and attention from our trained, pet-loving staff.

Boarding Amenities

• Air-conditioned rooms
• Outdoor play area
• Twice daily on-leash walks
• 24/7 professional veterinary access
• Food, water, and bedding for the duration of their stay

Our spaces go quickly, especially for weekends and around the holidays. As soon as your plans are set, give us a call at the Meadowlawn Animal Services location nearest you:

• Conway: 843-347-7387
• Loris: 843-756-6560
• Market Common: 843-282-2287

Enrichment for Senior Dogs
Samantha Zurlinden, Veterinary Student Class of 2023

What is Enrichment and Why is it Important for Senior Dogs?

Enrichment is offering experiences and opportunities to animals to encourage healthy natural behaviors and enhance physical and emotional welfare. Enrichment is often broken into two broad categories: environmental and social.  Environmental enrichment alters the animal’s space either by making changes to the environment itself or by adding novel items such as toys, feeding puzzles, exercise, and things to smell and explore. Social enrichment involves offering positive social experiences for the animal with people or other animals.

Enrichment is important for all species of animals, including people! Sometimes we enrich our lives and our animal’s life without even noticing, such as going for walks outside or eating a yummy treat. Sometimes enrichment takes planning, such as a vacation or assembling food puzzles for your dog. Understand that what is considered enrichment should be from your dog’s perspective and each dog needs to be able to choose if they want to participate or interact with the enrichment item or not. We can entice dogs to participate by offering their favorite treats or petting in their favorite spots but ultimately it will still be their choice to interact or not.

Dogs can have several age-related diseases that can result in behavior changes and welfare concerns, such as arthritis, dental disease, cancer, diabetes, and other endocrine diseases. Additionally, dogs can develop canine cognitive dysfunction, a syndrome that is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans.  Pain is more likely to occur in senior dogs with age-related diseases, leading to decreased activity, increased anxiety, restlessness, and occasional aggression. Due to these age-related challenges, we should find ways to enrich their lives and help manage these conditions. While senior dogs may not be able to participate in much physical enrichment, such as long walks, other forms can be mentally stimulating and tiring.

If you have noticed behavioral changes in your senior dog, work with your veterinarian to determine if there is an underlying medical condition that may be causing the behavior. You should also discuss your dog’s weight and nutrition with your veterinarian to keep them at a healthy weight and as comfortable as possible.

By working with your veterinarian to manage age-related health conditions and providing individual and age-appropriate enrichment, you can enhance your pet’s quality of life and improve your bond with your aging dog.

Enrichment Ideas for Senior Dogs

• Shorter walks outside – There is nothing like the great outdoors! Physical exercise, opportunities for social interaction, and new things to see and smell! Your walks may need to be a lot shorter than they were in younger years, but they are still beneficial. Just make sure to monitor how your pet is handling the walk and not to push your dog too far. Even sitting outside or taking a short walk focused on sniffing (sniff walk) can be enriching.
• Puzzle Feeders – There are many different puzzle feeders available for dogs. You can shop online, in pet stores, or make them yourself! You can use some or all of your pet’s regular diet in the puzzle feeders, and you can also use special treats. For a simple DIY puzzle feeder, put some kibble in a plastic bottle without the lid, or save toilet paper or paper towel tubes and put kibble inside with the ends folded. Just make sure your dog doesn’t try to eat the bottle or cardboard! Another simple idea is to feed your dog from a muffin tin; you can even put tennis balls on top of the muffin tin to make it more challenging. Sometimes, you can freeze food in puzzle feeders to make them last longer.
• Snuffle Mats – Snuffle mats look like extra shaggy rugs. You can purchase them or you can make them yourself. They can be used as a food puzzle or you can use them with scents. If you are adding scent, make sure that it is safe for dogs. Certain essential oils such as cinnamon, tea tree, peppermint, and wintergreen are not safe. Scents such as coconut, vanilla, ginger, and valerian are safe. Additionally, some dogs respond to catnip, and it can help them relax. Snuffle mats encourage sniffing and encourage normal foraging behaviors.
• Scavenger Hunts – Hide treats, food items, and toys around the house or yard. Some dogs enjoy playing hide and seek with their favorite toys. Hide items in safe places. Hide items near places the dog frequents, such as by their bed or water bowl, and then expand from there.  
• Positive Reinforcement Training – An old dog absolutely can learn new tricks! Positive reinforcement training will improve your bond with your pet at any life stage, and senior dogs are no exception. Positive reinforcement is rewarding your dog, usually with a food treat, for doing what you ask. Clicker training is a great way to use positive reinforcement to train your dog. You can teach useful behaviors such as sit, lay down, crate, and stay, or you can teach fun behaviors to your dog such as shake, target, speak, fetch. Positive reinforcement training is a great tool for senior dogs because it is mentally stimulating but does not require physical exertion.
• Socialize with other Senior Dogs or Calm dogs – If your dog enjoys the company of other dogs, arrange for play dates with other calm or senior dogs. Make sure that your dog enjoys this experience by monitoring their body language. Your dog should choose to engage with the other dogs, have loose body language, and be relaxed.

When it comes to enrichment, you can find something for all senior dogs no matter what their health or mobility status. 

Senior Dog Health Issues
Stephanie Cruz-Rincon, Veterinary Student Class of 2023

Aging is a natural process, not a disease. Just like people, dogs go through both mental and physical changes as they age. The muzzles of most older dogs turn gray and you can see a general decline in the quality of their coat; their skin becomes less elastic, causing hair loss and white hairs. Their eyes may also appear cloudy or bluish and pearl-like over time.

Older dogs tend to lose muscle and gain fat. As they age, their energy requirements decrease; they may not need the same number of daily calories they did as when they were young. Part of this is biological, part of this is due to increased sleeping and decreased activity. Many older dogs will not have the same endurance for play and exercise as they did in their youth. It’s a good idea to discuss their diet and energy levels with your veterinarian to avoid over-feeding and obesity.

Take your senior dog (see below for age ranges considered “senior”) to the veterinarian at least twice a year. Aging also increases your pet’s susceptibility to a number of different health issues. Regularly checking in with your veterinarian helps catch any potential issues sooner and provides an opportunity to address any changes you may have noticed in your pet. If you see a sudden change in your pet or notice a gradual worsening of their state, see your veterinarian.

Signs you don’t want to ignore:

• increased panting or difficulty breathing
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• change in appetite or thirst
• change in frequency of urination
• “accidents” in the house
• pain
• aggression

Defining Seniors

Where most veterinarians draw the line between an adult dog and a senior dog is different from where pet owners do. When a dog becomes a senior depends on their individual health and condition. The chart below provides a general guideline on when a dog is considered a senior based on their size. The ages veterinarians consider a dog to become a senior are much earlier than many owners think. It’s important to keep this difference in mind as your dog may be more likely to develop certain diseases earlier than you expect.

Dog size	Age considered senior
Small breed (2-20 lbs.)	7
Medium breed (21-50 lbs.)	7
Large breed (51-90 lbs.)	5
Giant breed (over 90 lbs.)	5

Sensory Changes

Many older dogs experience decreases in their senses. Their ability to see, hear, taste, and smell may be affected. Partial or complete loss of hearing and vision can decrease your dog’s ability to sense their environment. As a result, your dog may not sense your approach and startle more easily. To avoid scaring your dog, try to announce your presence with a loud greeting and approaching from within your dog’s line of vision. Minimize rearranging or adding furniture to the areas your dog has access to as it will keep their environment familiar and make it easier for them to get around if their eyesight is failing. Your dog may also be less responsive to voice commands if they have some hearing loss; it may be beneficial to teach them hand signals before this occurs as this allows you to continue communicating with your dog regardless of their ability to hear you.

As dogs age, the number of taste buds they have decreases. That decrease, coupled with a decreased ability to smell, may affect your dog’s desire to eat. Food becomes less tasty. Consult with your veterinarian if you note a decrease in appetite.

While sensory losses are a natural part of the aging process for many dogs, this may not be the case for every dog. There are several medical conditions and illnesses that cause visual, auditory and other sensory impairments in dogs. It’s important to have your veterinarian examine your dog to determine whether their changes are part of the aging process or whether there is an underlying disease or condition.

Behavioral Changes

It’s common for an older dog to slow down a bit and take more naps. It’s a mistake, however, to assume all changes in your dog are a natural part of the aging process. Behavior changes such as difficulty getting up or stiffness, anxiety, aggression, and other abnormalities may mean something is wrong. There are many health issues that cause pain and discomfort in your dog which lead to their reluctance to move or increased irritability. It’s important to bring up behavior changes with your veterinarian as some conditions are treatable and doing so helps maintain a good quality of life for your dog.

Health Issues

In general, the most common health issues older dogs develop are dementia, arthritis, and cancer. Other problems include heart, kidney, liver, and dental disease.

Dementia in dogs is called canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). It is similar to the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease in people. About 14-35% of dogs over 8-years-old are affected, a percentage that increases significantly as dogs continue to age. Dogs with CCD have a slow progression of behavioral signs, such as aimless wandering/pacing, staring into space, and more. If you notice any of these behaviors or the ones listed below bring it up with your veterinarian. They may be related to CCD or another disease.

Signs of cognitive dysfunction syndrome:

• decreased interaction with owner, other people, and animals
• inappropriate or excessive vocalization
• changes in sleep/wake cycle
• restlessness
• disorientation
• confusion
• anxiety
• house-soiling
• altered appetite 
• irritability 
• aggression
• apathy

There is currently no cure for CCD, but early diagnosis and treatment can improve your dog’s condition and slow progression.

Arthritis in older dogs results in pain and discomfort, which can lead to difficulty jumping up and down surfaces and decreased activity. If your dog is in significant pain, it may show signs of depression or irritability. There are many therapies to help alleviate discomfort including exercise, medication, nutritional support, and complementary therapies.

Almost half of the dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer. Symptoms of cancer vary depending on the type of tumor and its location but may include abdominal swelling, bleeding from body openings, difficulty breathing, non-healing wounds, and sudden changes in weight. Your pet’s prognosis, like their symptoms, depends on their individual situation but it is generally better to catch the disease early on.

As dog's age, changes to their internal organs take place. These changes can increase the risk of developing heart, kidney, and liver disease. Symptoms of heart disease include coughing, abdominal swelling, and exercise intolerance while symptoms of kidney disease include changes to urination and thirst. Liver problems can show up as general signs of sickness, such as vomiting and depression. The same symptoms could be caused by many different diseases so your veterinarian may need to perform several diagnostic tests.

It’s important to keep up with oral hygiene as tartar buildup can lead to infection. Aside from problems directly affecting the mouth, bacteria can pass into the bloodstream and directly affect the health of the heart and kidneys. Discuss an oral health care plan with your veterinarian to keep your pet’s teeth in good shape.

Nutrition
The diet a dog is fed should be tailored to their individual condition and health. Not every dog will need to switch from an adult diet to a senior diet as they get older. Many dogs do well if fed the same good quality adult commercial diet they are used to. Some seniors, however, may benefit from changes to their nutrition. One important factor to consider is how much protein and what quality of protein they are getting. Older dogs tend to lose muscle mass and feeding adequate protein can help prevent this. Another important factor to consider is the number of calories your dog actually needs on a daily basis. Senior dogs tend to have a slower metabolism and thus may not need as much food as before. Consult with your veterinarian to discuss how much to feed your dog and whether you need to feed your dog less or change them to a lower calorie diet.

There are many diets tailored to specific diseases dogs may develop. These include reduced-sodium diets for dogs with congestive heart failure, urinary diets for dogs with kidney issues, and many others. Supplements such as antioxidants can help reduce inflammation and boost brain function.

Prevention and Maintenance

There are many things you can do to support your dog’s health as they age. Regular play and exercise are great for maintaining a healthy weight and active mind. Try teaching your dog new tricks and commands. Learning new things can help keep them mentally sharp and improve signs of dementia. With a combination of appropriate nutrition, social interaction, and vigilance on your end for signs of illness, coupled with your veterinarian’s medical skill, your dog can continue to have a great life into its senior years. Remember that some age-related changes are not avoidable such as vision and hearing loss. It’s a good idea to check with your veterinarian to make sure there is not an underlying disease, but otherwise, these changes are manageable and do not have to decrease your dog’s quality of life. Your dog may just need some extra patience and care.

Surgery is an effective way to treat many serious injuries and disorders. Meadowlawn Animal Services is proud to offer state-of-the-art surgical facilities and equipment along with our experienced veterinary surgeons. Our hospital provides a large number of surgical services ranging from standard spaying and neutering to advanced, highly specialized procedures.

Surgery specialties

• Soft tissue
• Biopsies
• Orthopedic
• Neurological
• Dental
• Ophthalmic
• Foreign body removal

Patient safety and comfort is our main priority. Meadowlawn Animal Services’ experienced veterinary anesthesiologists provide skilled pain management during and after all surgical procedures, ensuring your pet recovers quickly and pain-free.

Our veterinary team educates you throughout the entire process, giving you the tools to make informed decisions about your treatment options. We understand surgery is a stressful time for any owner, we are available every step of the way to answer questions and put your mind at ease.

SURGICAL PROTOCOLS

A surgical procedure might save your pet's life, add years to your relationship, or enhance quality of life. Still, we understand your concern for your pet's well-being. Be assured that we take the welfare of our surgical patients as seriously as if they were human. Our strict AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) surgical protocols and sterile environment are designed to promote successful outcomes and rapid healing.

AAHA is a voluntary accrediting program. A veterinary hospital that holds itself to a higher standard of excellence may apply for accreditation. As little as 12 percent of animal hospitals in the United States and Canada receive this distinction.

Every case is different, but here is a typical surgical scenario at Meadowland Animal Services:

• Pre-op exam – The veterinarian conducts a physical examination to assess your pet’s current health status and determine if a surgical procedure is appropriate. If you are not a regular client, please be sure to bring your pet’s vaccine history to this appointment – they must be up to date before a surgical procedure. For dogs, this is rabies, Bordetella, and DHLPP; for cats, rabies and FVRCP.
• You drop your pet off at the hospital, the morning of the scheduled procedure for a pre-anesthetic blood panel. At this time, we also check body temperature and respiration. If the pet shows signs of stress, we administer mild, calming sedation. Our in-house laboratory returns results promptly. Information about liver and kidney function, blood sugar levels, platelets, and red blood cell count helps us safely tailor anesthetic and pain management to your pet’s needs. You are notified before anesthesia and surgery if the blood work shows abnormalities.
• An IV port is placed. The intravenous catheter allows medications to be administered more comfortably, and gives our surgical staff ready access to a vein, should an emergency arise. IV fluids are started, to replace fluid loss during the procedure, and to maintain blood pressure and flow of blood through the kidneys. IV fluids are optional for healthy pets under one-year-old, who are in for spay or neuter surgery.
• An appropriate combination of sedative, general anesthesia, and pain management medication is administered, based on your pet's individual needs. Our number one goal is to perform the surgery safely, while your pet remains as comfortable as possible.
• The animal is intubated and is given oxygen an anesthetic gas. The pet is brought to surgery table for final prepping and sterilization of the surgical site. Temperature management is an important facet of safe surgery and quick recovery. We use a heated surgery table for the procedure and take extra steps to be sure your pet remains comfortably warm during recovery.
• Once the patient is under anesthesia, vital signs are continuously observed with an ECG (heart rhythm monitor), pulse oximeter (to measure oxygen saturation in the blood), and a respiratory monitor. A surgical assistant observes and records vital signs and remains with your pet until the animal is fully recovered.
• The surgical site is dressed to reduce trauma and inflammation and promote healing. Pain management medications are started, and prescribed for use once your pet returns home, to minimize post-operative discomfort.

If you are considering veterinary surgery, please contact your Meadowlawn Animal Services veterinarian to schedule a consultation.

Preventative care is a pet’s first line of defense against illness and injury. Annual exams allow us to prevent, diagnose and treat disease in its early stages, often before you notice any symptoms. Treatment is more effective when it starts earlier, so preventative care helps your pet live a long and healthy life with you. Preventative care includes:

• Annual Veterinary Exams: Meadowlawn Animal Services’ comprehensive annual exams evaluate temperature, skin and coat health, hearing acuity, lung and chest health, internal health, oral hygiene, and visual responsiveness.
  
• Vaccinations: Updated vaccinations and booster shots are a highly effective way to prevent many common diseases and infections like feline panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and rabies.

• Dental Care: Your pet’s teeth and the health of their mouth can affect every aspect of their life. Annual teeth cleanings maintain and improve your pet’s well-being.

• Parasite Control: Preventing and eradicating parasites like fleas and ticks is easy when you administer anti-parasitic medication to your pet regularly.

• Skin and Coat Care: Grooming and washing are key for maintaining proper pet hygiene and can also prevent mange, matting, bacterial infections and more. Examination of skin and coat health can also help diagnose allergies and skin issues that can make your pet miserable.

• Nutrition: Proper nutrition supports all of your pet’s bodily processes, bolstering their immune system and ensuring normal aging, growth, and development.

• Behavioral Evaluation: Changes in mood or behavior are often symptoms of underlying medical conditions. Identifying these shifts helps us identify and treat the root cause.

Senior Animals

Preventative care becomes more significant for aging pets. Meadowlawn Animal Services recommends twice-yearly exams for elderly pets. As pets get older, they are prone to many age-related diseases that become increasingly difficult to diagnose and treat. To keep senior pets healthy and happy, we must adjust many preventative health measures to better suit their changing medical needs.

Blood Work is a Basic Evaluation Tool
Becky Lundgren, DVM

What does it mean when a veterinarian says she needs to run some blood work on your pet? Blood work – presurgical or otherwise – is usually a combination of a complete blood count (CBC) and a blood chemical analysis. Blood work is a basic evaluation tool. Pets, particularly senior ones, should have a CBC at every annual examination. In addition, blood work allows a veterinarian to monitor the progression of a pet's disease. 

When the blood sample is drawn from your pet, both the cells and the fluid they "travel" in are examined.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The cell part of the blood is examined in the CBC. The CBC determines the number of erythrocytes (red blood cells), the number and type of leukocytes (white blood cells), the number of platelets (thrombocytes), the hemoglobin level, and the hematocrit (packed cell volume, PCV). Erythrocytes carry oxygen throughout the body. Leukocytes fight infection and are part of the immune system. There are five different types of white blood cells: neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and monocytes. Platelets are clotting proteins and indicate how fast your pet's blood can clot; slow clotting can be a serious problem. A CBC can tell your veterinarian if your pet has an unusual number of erythrocytes (anemia, polycythemia), leukocytes (leukopenia, leukocytosis), or platelets (thrombocytopenia).

Blood Chemistry
A chemistry panel (blood chem, chemistry screen), tests kidney function, liver function, electrolyte levels, etc.  Blood chemistries are run on the fluid in the blood sample. (The CBC is the examination of the cells in the blood sample.)

The chemistry panel usually includes the following tests: alkaline phosphatase (SAP, ALP), alanine transaminase (alanine aminotransferase, ALT), bilirubin total (T Bili), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, creatine kinase (CK, CPK), sodium, potassium, glucose, total protein, albumin, etc. Alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, bilirubin, and albumin give your veterinarian information about the pet's liver function. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and creatine kinase tell your veterinarian how well your pet's kidneys are functioning.

Alkaline phosphatase
An elevated alkaline phosphatase is the most common biochemical abnormality seen in "normal" animals. (In other words, clinically normal animals can have mildly elevated levels.) Elevated levels are seen in liver injury, bone injury, pregnancy, dental disease, skeletal growth, reactive hepatopathies, and animals who are or have been taking glucocorticoids. Growing animals also normally have higher levels of this enzyme. Elevated levels can be used as a tumor marker, particularly with tumors that have metastasized to the liver. Low levels of alkaline phosphatase may not be clinically significant. However, in humans, decreased serum levels have been observed in hypothyroidism, scurvy, achondroplastic dwarfism, magnesium deficiency, malnutrition, cardiac surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass, and hypophosphatasia.

Alanine transaminase
Decreased ALT in combination with increased cholesterol levels is seen in cases of a congested liver. Increased levels are also seen in liver damage, kidney infection, chemical pollutants, or myocardial infarction.

Bilirubin (total)
Elevated in liver disease, hemolytic anemia, low levels of exposure to the sun, and toxic effects to some drugs. Decreased levels are seen in people with an inefficient liver, excessive fat digestion, and possibly a diet low in nitrogen bearing foods.

Blood urea nitrogen
Increases can be caused by excessive protein intake, kidney damage, certain drugs, low fluid intake, intestinal bleeding, exercise, or heart failure. Decreased levels may be due to a poor diet, malabsorption, liver damage, or low nitrogen intake.

Creatinine
Low levels are sometimes seen in kidney damage, protein starvation, liver disease, or pregnancy. Elevated levels are sometimes seen in kidney disease due to the kidneys job of excreting creatinine, muscle degeneration, and some drugs involved in impairment of kidney function.

Glucose
Elevated in diabetes, liver disease, obesity, and pancreatitis due to steroid medications, or during stress. Low levels may be indicative of liver disease, overproduction of insulin, or hypothyroidism.

Total protein
Decreased levels may be due to poor nutrition, liver disease, malabsorption, diarrhea, or severe burns. Increased levels are seen in lupus, liver disease, chronic infections, leukemia, etc.

Albumin
High levels are rarely seen and are primarily due to dehydration. Low levels are seen in poor diets, diarrhea, fever, infection, liver disease, inadequate iron intake, third-degree burns and edemas, and hypocalcemia.

Joint Injections for Canine Osteoarthritis
 
If you have a senior dog (7 years and older), you may have noticed that he is less playful, moving more slowly or having difficulty standing after lying down. These are just a few of the signs of canine osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disease that affects many senior dogs. Because dogs are very good at hiding their discomfort, many of them have undiagnosed pain related to arthritis.
 
While there are several interventions available, Meadowlawn Animal Services is one of the few hospitals offering Synovetin OA®, a veterinary device that uses novel, conversion electron therapy to target macrophages and synoviocytes in the injected joint.
 
Synovetin OA® is revolutionizing the treatment of arthritis in dogs' elbows; simple treatmentrelieves OA painup to one full year. It breaks the cycle of inflammation and pain, clinically improving mobility and providing long-lasting relief.

Watch our video to learn more or call us at (580) 353-0344 to see if Synovetin OA® could help your senior dog.