Ranger's Foreign Body

This is Ranger – a 3 year old Great Dane mix who came in 2 days before Christmas because he couldn’t keep food down. In 1 week he had lost about 10lbs. We took x-rays of his abdomen and it looked like there was something in his stomach and possibly throughout his intestines. 

 After discussing things with his owners further, they remembered that Ranger had torn up a towel about 1 week prior, but they didn’t think that he had ate any of it. Dr. Marcum and Dr. McCall took Ranger to surgery and sure enough – he had a balled up piece of towel in his stomach that snaked its way into his small intestine. After 3 hours of surgery and taking out about 10” of his intestines, Ranger went to the emergency clinic for recovery. Ranger made it home for Christmas! He came in today to have his staples removed and he’s feeling better than ever; he has even gained a few pounds! We are so happy he is doing well.



                                                                                                     -Dr. Marcum

"Cancer in man's best friend"

“Cancer in man’s best friend” 

 An article by Dr. Blake Marcum

Did you know that animals get cancer? As technology in veterinary medicine advances, we are seeing increasing numbers of pets who are diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately, options for treatments have increased allowing us to treat many of these animals. Treatments for cancer, similar to humans, can involve surgery, chemotherapy, or ra...diation. For example, lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes, is a systemic disease that often responds well to chemotherapy; but sarcomas, which are tumors of the connective tissues, may have a better response to surgery or radiation. Unlike their human counterparts, treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy are incredibly well tolerated in dogs and cats. This allows us to prolong the lives of our patients without compromising their quality of life.
As human medicine has evolved, chemotherapy has become much more accessible and affordable. Previously, an owner would have to travel to the nearest metropolitan area or veterinary teaching hospital to find an oncologist to treat their dog or cat. Today, with increasing awareness of chemotherapy and the safety of the products, many general practitioners are able to provide chemotherapy to their clients. At Capitol Illini in Springfield, IL, we are able to provide treatment for patients for the more common diseases like lymphoma and mast cell tumors with the convenience of treating locally; but we also have options to send patients to nearby teaching hospitals at the University of Illinois and the University of Missouri for advanced or rare cases when needed.
For years animals have been used as models for many diseases, and this is true for cancer as well. Clinical trials with animals for treatments have not only benefited veterinary medicine, but also human medicine, because many of these cancers have similarities across various species. These studies have allowed for advancements that may save human lives in the future.
It is important to know that even if an animal is diagnosed with cancer – it does not have to be a death sentence. There may be options for treatment, and if we keep an open mind, maybe one day we can find a cure.

Blake A. Marcum, DVM
Capitol Illini Veterinary Services
Springfield, IL