As a field of study, veterinary medicine is a mostly overlooked. It is not easy for those without pets to see how much time, research, and education goes into keeping them healthy. Dogs, cats and other animals are as susceptible to diseases as humans are, maybe even more so as they do not wash themselves as regularly as most people do.
There are also diseases that can effect both humans and animals. One good example of a cross species diseases is thromboembolosis. Thromboembolosis is the obstruction of a blood vessel by a mass-like air bubble or blood clot. Usually anticoagulants are administered via injection, but many pet owners do not approve of this treatment if given on a long-term basis. Therefore, an alternative method of treatment is needed.
Clopidogrel is an orally administered drug that is used to treat thromboembolosiswhen caused by excessive activation of blood platelets. It has been effective in rabbits, cats and calves. Little is known about its effects on dogs. That was, until scientists at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary medicine published a paper in the July 2010 issue of The American Journal of Veterinary Research, which summarized their findings on the effect of Clopidogrel on dogs. They found that Clopidogrel inhibited the platelet function within three hours of administration in healthy dogs. No side effects such as hemorrhage or bruising were observed. It was also found that the platelet function returned to normal within seven days of stopping the drug usage.
The scientists however warn that these results are valid only in healthy canines and not in diseased or terminally ill dogs. Further research on canine patients are planned, where the pharmacodynamic and phamacokinetic properties of the drug will be studied.
Tags: dogs, pets, veterinary