Conventional Veterinary Medicine: Definition, Preventive Medicine,, Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Immunology, Geriatrics, Pharmaceutical Medicine

Dr. Johnson's Cat "Bullet"

When he entered private practice, he worked with Dr. Pat Breen, a veterinary dermatologist, on the development of new approaches to the treatment of many skin diseases of the dog and cat. Dr. Johnson also became a veterinary consultant to Pilogenics, Inc. Many of these formulas are now available for human hair care under the "Nexus" brand label. During his many trips to New York City for Pilogenics, Inc., he made rounds at New York's Animal Medical Center, where he presented several original new procedures to the staff.

Common disorders of the skin include bacterial skin diseases, fungal skin diseases, parasitic skin diseases, allergic skin diseases (including allergic inhalant, food, contact, and autoimmune), hormonal (including hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, Sertoli Cell tumors, growth hormone related), nutritional, and inherited or breed related syndromes. Dr. Johnson has personally treated tens of thousands of these disorders during his career.

The blood circulatory system (cardiovascular system) carries the following: Antibodies are specialized proteins able to recognize molecules and cells foreign to the host: lymphocytes and monocytes are white blood cells capable of responding to the presence of such foreign material; and cytokines are messenger molecules by which cells of the immune system signal and instruct one another and, in some cases, direct other activities occurring in the body tissues. Among the more important cytokines, are gamma-interferon and the (at least) ten known interleukins.(U.C. Davis)

The lymphatic system is composed of a highly specialized, interconnected lacework of delicate vessels that transport a viscous fluid called lymph from body tissues back to the blood circulatory system. Lymph nodes are the small specialized structures within the lymphatic system that act a s barrier filters for the removal of foreign material, which is then subjected to destruction by the effector arm of the immune response. The lymph nodes immunologic filtering of lymph can be considered analogous to the spleen's immunologic filtering of the blood.

The end result of all this filtration and circulation is the creation of a highly desirable network of immune surveillance, wherein the cells and molecules of the immune system constantly scan the blood and lymph for signs of foreign intruders, abnormal cellular components (tumor cells or virus-infected cells, for example), and host cellular debris, all of which are appropriate targets for immunologic attack.

Two types of interrelated immune responses, humoral and cellular work in concert to attact foreign antigens simultaneously from different angles. Antibodies known as immunoglobulines (includes IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgE) are humoral. These substances may be found in the blood, but may also be adhered to mast cells and basophils. Examples of cells that may be a part of an immune response (cellular immune response) include T lymphocytes (T cells, helper T cells), B cells (plasma cells), cytotoxic T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells (NK cells), and eosinophils. (U.C. Davis).

Disorders of the Immune System occur as a consequence of an improperly functioning immune response. These disorders include allergy, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, autoimmune thrombocytopenia, sytemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), immune mediated arthritis, autoimmune skin diseases, lymphosarcoma, and congenital immunodeficiency syndromes.

Disorders he has treated include diabetes insipidus, growth hormone-responsive dermatosis, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus, beta cell tumors, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's Disease), and hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's Disease).

Many cases referred to Dr. Johnson for acupuncture, nutritional analysis, or natural medicine have established endocrine disorders. In many cases, however, the endocrine disorder has not been detected, and must be treated as the primary disorder. Natural medicine and nutrition can usually replace or enhance conventional medicine in the management of these conditions.

Signs of aging include: (1) decreased strength and flexibility, (2) decreased tolerance of cold and heat, (3) increased susceptibility to certain diseases, and (4) gradual deterioration of organ functions.

Problems of aging include behavior changes, chronic coughing, dental disease, impaired hearing, eye problems, lameness or weakness, loss of balance, urinary incontinence, kidney disease, digestive problems, skin problems, heart and circulatory disorders, liver disease, prostate disease, cancer and even senility.

Vitamin, mineral, enzyme, and hormone deficiencies are often found to play a part in the aging process. When these deficiencies are properly diagnosed and treated, the progression of the aging process may be slowed. In profoundly deficient disorders, the process may be actually reversed. An example is the cat or dog seriously deficient in thyroid hormone.

For most chronic disorders, or disorders related to aging, the natural medicine approach includes therapeutic nutrition, herbology, acupuncture and various physical therapies. It has been Dr. Johnson's experience that these therapies have given our animal patients a much better quality of life then was possible with strictly conventional care. In the area of conventional nutrition, however, many high quality prescription diets and others of equal quality have been developed that have been useful along with a natural medicine approach.

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