Attention Sentinel Users

We will be phasing out of Sentinel this month. Sentinel has been a fantastic heartworm preventative, internal parasite control agent and flea control tool! However, with the advent of the highly effective Isoxazoline flea and tick monthly products such as Simparica, Credelio, Nexguard and Bravecto, the need for Sentinel as a flea prevention tool has become outdated.
A new product called *Simparica Trio* will be replacing Sentinel in our pharmacy. It is a monthly chewable tablet that not only kills fleas and ticks within 2 hours, but also prevents heartworms and kills internal parasites.
Another available protocol for your dog is to use *Interceptor Plus and Simparica *monthly. This will be the most comprehensive preventative combination as Interceptor Plus not only kills roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms like Sentinel, but it also kills tapeworms. Another great option is to get a *ProHeart 12 injection* for a year’s worth of heartworm preventative and hookworm control and use *Simparica monthly* for flea and tick control.
If you simply must have Sentinel, no problem, you can get it on our online pharmacy located on our website www.ruckersvillevet.com or request a written prescription.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but as technology improves outcomes, we want to make sure we are offering you the best options at the most reasonable prices. Of course, we will do our best to clearly explain your options for the protocol that works best for your pet to keep them parasite and disease free.

Yours sincerely,
The doctors at Ruckersville Animal Hospital

Photodynamic Therapy Iv Laser

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and Intravenous Laser Therapy

What is PDT?

An exciting and revolutionary new treatment for cancers and many other diseases
Involves the use of a special dye called a photosensitizer (or photosensitizing agent) and a special type of light
When the photosensitizer is exposed to the right wavelength of light, it produces a form of oxygen that kills the nearby cancer cells
At RAH we use three different dyes that are each activated by a specific wavelength of light, and perform different functions in the body
All of this is done with very minimal (if any) side effects

What Does the Treatment Involve?

An intravenous (IV) catheter is placed, and the patient is placed on IV fluids
The photosensitizing (PS) dye is injected into the bloodstream via the IV catheter
The PS dye is given approximately 4 hours to be absorbed--the dye is absorbed by ALL of the cells in the body, but stays in cancer cells much longer than it does in normal, healthy cells...so we wait!
A special fiber-optic catheter (how cool is that??) is placed inside the IV catheter to administer the needed wavelength of light
The PS dye in the tumor is activated and produces a free-radical active form of oxygen that kills the nearby cancer cells
1. it also damages the tumor's blood vessels, cutting off its supply of nutrients and stimulates the immune system to attack the cancer cells
The PS dye and fiber-optic catheter can be placed directly into a tumor to improve the chances of killing more cancer cells, especially with large tumors
The patient may or may not be lightly sedated for the procedure--it all depends on how well they tolerate being hospitalized and having an IV catheter

So, What's IV Laser Therapy?

IV laser therapy is performed with the same IV fiber-optic catheter and the same wavelengths of light that are used for PDT, just without the PS dyes.
We use IV laser therapy to treat a wide range of diseases with great success!
IV laser therapy helps tissue repair itself, reduces inflammation and can help eliminate circulating bacteria

Pictures!

	PS dye being injected into the IV catheter
	PS dye being injected into the IV catheter
	A close-up of the fiber-optic catheter
	An example of the various wavelengths of light
	Another example of the fiber-optic cable in action!
	An example of insterstitial (intralesional) PDT
	Another example of interstitial PDT
	Interstitial and IV PDT being performed simultaneously
	A view of the process