Melbourne dog to have brain tumour removed by Australia’s only certified specialist veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon
Press release
3 August 2009
Victoria’s pet owners have access to sophisticated diagnostic tools and treatment options for their animals, including brain surgery, at the University of Melbourne’s Veterinary Hospital located in Werribee.
Two years ago, when Bridget Maus's beloved dog, Ruby, had a seizure, her vet wasn't overly concerned. However, when the seizures returned with more frequency, Ruby, a six-year-old Large Munsterlander, a breed traditionally used as a gundog because of its retrieving abilities, was put on epilepsy medication.
Bridget, whose daughter is a veterinary nurse, knew that MRIs were available for animals and requested one for Ruby. She took Ruby to her local vet, a recent University of Melbourne graduate, who referred Ruby to the University clinic. Much to Bridget's relief, an MRI was recommended. Ruby was diagnosed with a meningioma – a slow growing brain tumour - and an operation is scheduled to remove the growth next Tuesday.
As with all surgery, there is a risk. There's small chance Ruby's sight could be affected or that she may be weaker on one side of her body as a result of the operation. Blood loss is the main concern, but Ruby will be in very good hands. Dr Sam Long, senior lecturer in veterinary neurology at the University, is the only certified specialist veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon practicing in Australia. Dr Long gained his neurological qualifications in the UK and is working towards setting up a graduate neurological program at the University of Melbourne.
Following her operation, Ruby will be off to Brisbane where she will be able to receive the type of radiation most suited to her condition. It's a lot of trouble and expense to go to, but as Bridget says, "Cost doesn’t matter, I love my dog." Eventually, other animals may well benefit from her owner’s dedication. "The more vets are able to treat cases like Ruby's," Dr Long says, "the closer we come to the day when we can cure brain tumours in dogs."
According to Dr Long, brain tumours are slightly more common in dogs than in humans, occurring in around 14 to 15 dogs per 100 000 at risk. Without treatment, dogs with brain tumours commonly die within a month of diagnosis.
Pet owners are often unaware of the options now available to treat their pets for
conditions such as tumours, says Dr Long, and the University Clinic offers an
outstanding level of care and expertise, including sophisticated surgical facilities and an
intensive care unit. Bridget agrees, "When I tell people that my dog has had an MRI, they
can’t believe it."
Although Ruby's tumour may have been able to be diagnosed with a CT scan, only an MRI was able to give the high degree of detail that provided accurate information about the size and position of the tumour, as well as other factors such as the amount of fluid around the growth. It was these factors that determined its type, and that it was likely to be operable. An MRI is also commonly used to diagnose inflammatory conditions in the brain, spinal cord disease, abdominal conditions and vascular disease in the brain including strokes and clots. Dogs and cats are the most common animals to benefit from the technology, but it is also used by equine surgeons to diagnose conditions affecting horses' legs.
An even greater level of animal care and treatment will soon be on offer at the University clinic with the prospect of a new, dedicated, on-site 1.5 Tesla MRI to be installed at the end of the year (a Tesla is the unit of by which the strength of the magnetic field generated by the MRI is measured). It will be identical to existing hospital-based MRIs, and more powerful than existing dedicated veterinary MRI machines which are commonly 0.4 – 0.6 Teslas in strength. To give an indication of how strong these magnetic fields are, Dr Long points out that the large electromagnets used in wreckers' yards to lift and transport cars are typically only 0.2 Tesla in strength.
For further information please contact Hinalei Johnston, Marketing Manager, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Tel: 8344 7844 or email: h.johnston@unimelb.edu.au