Wishing Everyone Very Happy Holidays

Patient Spotlight: Baby Girl

9-year-old Baby Girl started rehabilitation at BARC after becoming tetraparesis due to a suspected vascular event (FCE) in August of this year. Although non-ambulatory, Baby was not in pain. In addition to beginning rehabilitation to work towards the goal of Baby Girl walking on her own again, her owners were advised to change her diet from processed dry food to whole foods with supplements which would help her lose weight, decrease inflammation and level out her blood sugar. Her owners noticed a difference right away in her weight but also her energy level. There are many health risks of an overweight or obese pet such as diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, certain types of cancer as well as a more than two year decrease in life expectancy. In terms of rehabilitation, especially for a non-ambulatory pet, the excess weight and issues associated with it, can hinder their abilities during their treatments and slow down their overall recovery. At BARC, we believe that proper nutrition and a healthy weight is a very important part of a pet’s rehabilitation. Always consult with your veterinarian about the best food choice, amount and frequency of feeding for your pet.  To date, Baby Girl has lost 15lbs! She has more energy and her mobility is improving!

Service Spotlight: Cancer Screenings

We are now offering screenings for cancer at BARC! We have partnered with a lab in Southern California that has developed a technology and algorithm that allows us to take a blood sample from your dog or cat, to determine their risk of cancer. And for those of you with horses, it's available for them too! Our Cancer Risk Assessment Profiles use a ‘Neoplasia Index’ that looks at specific blood markers (TK1/CRP in dog and TKI/HPT in cats). TKI tells us if there are cells that are rapidly proliferating (high levels suggest cancer), and CRP or HPT is a measure of inflammation. Together, these 2 parameters allow our lab to use a highly sensitive mathematical model, that predicts cancer risk on a scale from 1 to 10. 1 = normal healthy dog/cat, no cancer to 10 = perfect score for cancer. These assessments allow us to “see” what’s going on before things lead to serious disease or monitor the response to therapy in animals with cancer. The Cancer Panel is not specific for any one type of cancer, location or size, but it is a very sensitive tool to help us assess overall risk, monitor response to therapy and provide therapeutic treatments for dogs and cats (and horses) that do have cancer. We offer natural and integrative therapies, in conjunction with your general vet or oncologist for the best outcome possible. We are offering this groundbreaking service because we want to prevent cancer for as many patients as possible, and for those that already do have it, early detection, and the ability to appropriately monitor, gives the best outcomes. Contact us at 310-542-2727 for more information or to schedule your consultation.

Get To Know Stephany - Rehab Assistant Where are you from? California What do you like to do when not at work? spend my mornings surfing, go bird watching, have bonfire movie nights with my family, rock climb with friends, cuddle with Charlie Favorite color? baby blue and amber Favorite food? Korean BBQ and tacos What got you interested in working in rehab? I was taught from a very young age to respect and care for all creatures, and I quickly fell in love with the field of rehab because it allowed me to care for patients that, not many years ago, would have otherwise experienced a steep decline in their final years. I enjoy the challenge of treating patients that can’t directly communicate what’s wrong and I find it very rewarding to not only be there for our patients but also our clients as they navigate through a phase in their loved one’s life that can be incredibly confusing and overwhelming. What is a fun fact about yourself? I used to pole vault Have you been on any fun or unusual vacation spots? Growing up I mainly travelled to Mexico to visit family and always savored the beauty of my culture and felt enamored by the simplicity of life there.

Dr. Debra Voulgaris DVM, CVA, CCRT - Medical Director

Cancer In Pets Cancer in Pets An estimated 6 million dogs and nearly 6 million cats will be diagnosed with cancer this year and 1 out of 2 dogs and cats will get cancer over the age of 10. Dogs are affected by more forms of cancer compared to other companion animals, often being diagnosed before the age of 10. According to The Veterinary Cancer Society, cancer is the leading cause of death in 47% of dogs, especially over age ten, and 32% of cats. These are alarming statistics. While genetics and environmental factors can play a role in the development of several types of cancer, other variables such as toxin exposure, radiation, chronic inflammation, viruses, or hormones can also contribute. Suppressed or deficient immune systems, long standing nutritional deficiencies and ongoing stress has shown to increase an animal’s risk of developing cancer which is the reason that at BARC, we discuss natural ways to boost your pet’s immune system with therapies like ozone, ...read more

In Loving Memory...

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Beach Animal Rehabilitation Center | PH: 310-542-2727 | Fax:310-542-2726 admin@beachanimalrehab.com | www.beachanimalrehab.com