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| Dr. Tansey with her dog Buddy |
with Dr. Tansey, DVM
VCA All-Care Animal Referral Center
Dr. Tansey has 5 cats and 1 very big dog, named Buddy, with her husband, Mark. She is originally from an Irish-Italian family in Chicago and was an Irish Dancer for 15 years. Her first career was in Advertising (Chicago) but after several years, she decided to go back to school to become a Veterinarian. She earned her BS in Biology in 2003 from Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, CO and then became a DVM in 2008 after studying at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA. After a very long road of schooling and training, she is board eligible and is thrilled to have joined the wonderful team at VCA All-Care this past July 2013 in the Oncology Department.
Since she has 5 cats (!), Dr. Tansey really enjoys feline medicine as well as neurologic tumors, paraneoplastic syndromes and bone tumors. She also enjoys Emergency medicine and performing bone marrow aspirates and tumor biopsies.
Dr. Tansey also enjoys working with no-kill animal shelters, vaccine clinics and now that she lives in California again, volunteering with marine mammals. In addition, she hopes to volunteer with a pediatric oncology unit in the future.
In her little free time, she enjoys kayaking, yoga and drinking a pint of Guinness with her husband while listening to Irish Music.
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| Buddy |
How I arrived at Oncology, by Dr. Tansey
I always wanted to be an oncologist, but never really knew what it meant until I met a Golden Retriever, who coincidentally, was also named Buddy.
Buddy lived the first 5 years of his life at a rescue before being adopted in October of 2009. After spending only a few weeks in his new home, he was diagnosed with a terminal condition called hypercalcemic lymphoma that would likely allow him approximately 10 more months of quality life. Considering the few weeks Buddy had spent with his owner (we’ll call him Jim), the bond they had developed was inspirational. Jim dedicated countless hours before and after work caring for his companion. He had committed to not only make Buddy comfortable through medical treatment, but also take it a step further and do everything possible to bring Buddy joy during his remaining months. This seemed to have an incredible impact on Buddy’s resilience. It was at this point that I realized my role was not only to provide treatment for Buddy, but also to provide the support and encouragement to a family during a difficult time.
Jim and Buddy showed me that if I can make a positive difference in the lives of one pet and one person then I have done my job. I may not cure cancer, but if I can help someone through hardship, then I know I’m doing what I was meant to do. Buddy passed in June of 2011, living almost twice as long as anyone expected.
Q: My dog has diabetes and when he sleeps at night he moves after only about 30 mins, so he never sleeps all night. I feel bad for him. We had him on a dog food that had stuff in it for sore joints not long after he went in this food he became a diabetic. My question. is there something he can take that will help him sleep better? - Cheryl M.
A: There are several reasons as to why your dog may be having a difficulty time sleeping at night. Knowing that your dog has multiple medical conditions (diabetes and joint problems), his difficulty sleeping may be directly related to one of these known conditions. However, there are other diseases or imbalances within the body that can lead to difficulty sleeping and/or discomfort. It would be best to make an appointment with your dog’s general practitioner to better assess his symptoms. He/she may recommend some diagnostic tests to better determine the reason for his restlessness, but there are certainly options to help him sleep well and improve his quality of life. These options may include medications, dietary supplements, changes in exercise or even physical therapy or acupuncture. It is important to mention to your doctor that you felt your dog slept better when he was on a different diet as he/she may be able to help make the best choices for your dog with this specific information.
Q: I have a large dog, but he isn't mean or vicious. I went to a vet for a standard checkup and vaccinations and he made me put my dog in a muzzle before he would look at him. Is that something I should be concerned about or is it common practice? - Lynne V.
A: On occasion, some dogs that are usually very sweet and silly can become nervous which may lead defensive behaviors making examinations or procedures completed on your dog more challenging. In hopes of protecting not only the staff, but your dog as well, veterinary staff may place a muzzle on patients. This is usually not painful or harmful to dogs or cats, but is used to help keep everyone involved safe. If you are uncomfortable with this, do not be afraid to have an open and honest conversation with your Veterinarian.
Q: My dog of 14 years recently passed away. I’m doing okay, but I’m considering getting another dog, but of a different breed like a Golden Retriever which I have never had before. How can I be sure a puppy doesn't have any genetic problems like hip dysplasia, or back or joint problems? - Beth Q.
A: I am so sorry for your loss. You obviously did something right to have your dog live for 14 years. As part of the grieving process, we often try to find another pet who hopefully will not experience the same illnesses. Getting a puppy can be very exciting and having an orthopedic surgeon assess your new dog can be helpful is detecting any early signs of certain genetic illnesses, such as hip dysplasia, but that is not a complete assurance that they will not develop it (or other diseases) in the future. Some breeds are more susceptible to certain diseases, so doing your own research is helpful, but making an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss the best breed that would work for you and your family can be very helpful.
Q: Every time I see my vet he tells me to switch dog food brands. Are different brands of dog food really that much different? - Larry T.
A: Just as with humans, diet is a very important part of your dog’s health. There can be several reasons as to why your veterinarian may recommend switching dog food brands. Certain dog foods are formulated for specific conditions such as heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, joint pain and kidney disease. If your dog has a specific medical condition there may be a special diet that has shown benefits to dogs with these conditions. Besides specific medical conditions, there are diets that are formulated for different stages of your dog’s life- some examples include growing puppy, active adult and senior. These diets often contain specific nutrients and calories that are beneficial for your dog during those times of his/her life. There are currently many, many different brands of dog food on the market some may be better or worse for your dog than others depending on his/her weight, age and current health. The most important thing for your dog is that he is on a quality diet that is appropriate for him/her. It is important to ask your veterinarian the reasons for switching to a different brand of dog food, so make certain you can have an open and honest discussion regarding this topic.
Q: I have a very active and healthy Labrador retriever. We go to the beach quite frequently and he loves to play and chase down balls, normal stuff. Problem is, he sheds constantly. No matter how many times I brush him, I feel like he is losing an abundance or even unnatural amount of hair. What is normal shedding and how would I know if it’s abnormal? - Ranger M.
A: In general there is a cyclical “shedding” pattern in dogs that is driven by their natural hormones. Shedding is a very normal process for dogs, but there are certain breeds that seem to lose more or less hair than others. In addition, there are some medical reasons such as hormone imbalances, thyroid disease and skin infections that can increase hair loss in pets, so it is important to have a discussion with your veterinarian about this problem. If your pet has bald spots (alopecia), redness of the skin, is pulling his/her hair out or seems excessively itchy, please make an appointment with your veterinarian who may recommend some diagnostic tests to better assess the reason for the hair loss. Sometimes simple changes such as diet changes, addition of supplements, a change in flea prevention or a different grooming schedule can decrease the amount of hair your dog sheds therefore, it is important to talk to your veterinarian about your concerns.
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