Dr Bell-bio

Dr Stone-bio

Dr Gray-bio

Dr Tangney Gray, Owner

Dr. Tangney Gray-Dockham, a Casper native, graduated from Natrona County High School in 2003.  She then pursued her undergraduate degree in biology from Casper College.  During her undergraduate work, Dr. Gray began volunteering, and then working as a Veterinary Assistant at Altitude Veterinary Hospital (Popish Vet Clinic).  Dr. Gray moved to Fort Collins in 2006 to attend veterinary school.  In May of 2010, she graduated the Professional Veterinary Medical Program at Colorado State University, with honors.  At this time, she re-joined the Altitude team as an associate veterinarian.  In January of 2013 she became part owner, partnering with Dr Schwahn.  Her professional interests include internal medicine, surgery, and avian medicine.  Tangney married her highschool sweetheart in 2008.  She and her husband Kodi, share a home west of Casper with 5 German Shorthair Pointers, 2 parrots, and 1 cat. 

Dr Schwahn bio

Dr Richard Schwahn, Owner

Dr Schwahn joined the team at Popish Vet Clinic in 1999. In 2001 he became an owner/partner, and became full owner in 2011, when Dr Popish retired.  In recognition of this new chapter in the life of the clinic, we opened with a new name: Altitude Veterinary Hospital, in the fall of 2012.  In January 2013, Dr Tangney Gray become the hospital's newest partner/owner.  Dr Schwahn and Dr Gray have been privileged to work with an excellent team of doctors and staff, and look forward to many more years serving Casper, providing excellent pet care and community service.  Dr Schwahn's special interests include dentistry, and he pursues continuing education in this area as often as his schedule permits. He is also a member of the Casper Rotary Club.  Prior to entering the veterinary field, he served 3 years as a Military Policeman in the United States Army, during which time he was stationed in Germany.  Living overseas allowed Richard, and his wife Michelle, opportunities to travel and gather many valuable and exciting memories together.  Dr Schwahn and his wife have two children, a son, Taylor and a daughter, Madeline.  While their family tends to be spread around the country, their family in Casper includes their friends at First Baptist Church, where they enjoy a variety of activities.  Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Dr Schwahn is a fan of all things Husker, especially football.  Other favorite activities include hiking, yoga, home brewing, and spending time with family and friends, including his two furry friends, Rudy and Tino.

Senior Wellness

Everyone loves a cute, cuddly, playful kitten or puppy, but what about when those adorable furballs age?  They are loyal to us, waiting at the door each night when we get home, but do we give them the same attention we did when they were younger?  First we need to realize that our pets need different levels of care at different ages and stages, and then we need to remember that our pets age remarkably faster than we do.  We want to share with you four principles of senior wellness that will help keep your loyal friends comfortable and content well into their senior years.

• Health Fair Blood Work:  As our pets age (they do age faster than people), monitoring blood values becomes important. Regular Health Fair Blood Work can help establish baseline values, identify unseen disease processes at an early stage, serve as a pre-anesthetic health screen for any surgical or dental procedure, and monitor effects of medications.  

• Dental Care:  Over 80% of pets we see have some sort of oral disease.  Yes, this does include mild to moderate tartar.  Not so bad, but over time, this tartar buildup in senior pets leads to severe periodontal disease, including the destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth.  Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for us to see teeth from pets that are rotting out.  
  
  We recommend annual dental cleanings, as well as home care routines that help keep maintain your pets oral health.  Call today for a free dental check.  We will be happy to talk about your pets oral health, and the best practices to keep them clean.

• Nutrition:  Just as with people, as our pets age, their nutritional requirements change.  It is important to be educated and informed about what you are feeding your pet.  Marketing specialists are hired to market pet food so that when you catch site of fancy packaging, watch highly produced commercials, and read words on the labeling, they make you feel warm and fuzzy if you feed this food.  Keep in mind the contents may truly not match up.  At Altitude, we believe strongly in the power of good nutrition.  There are 3 things to consider when buying pet food.  If the pet food you buy doesn’t match up to these 3 considerations, we suggest you change diets.  We sell and recommend Hill’s Science Diet.  The vets #1 choice to feed their own pets. 

• Multi-modal approach to pain relief:  One final mode of senior wellness is pain relief.  As our pets age, being able to tell if they are in pain, can be difficult.  Some signs may include panting, appearing restless, or tenderness to touch of a body part, but it is also acceptable to assess by observation of behavior.  If your pet sleeps more, does not jump as much, or chooses not to go for walks, they may be telling us they are hurting.  When we think of helping our pet with it’s pain, employing different methods at the same time can have a positive synergistic effect.   If you think your pet may be painful, let us help.  There is much to gain in understanding from an exam and discussion of behavior.  

           Multi-Modal Approach to Pain Relief 

Dogs and cats experience pain just like people.  The main cause is aging, but other reasons include trauma, obesity, high activity, and large breed issues.  Whatever the cause, we may see our pet having difficulty getting up, whining, restless, panting with pain, and lameness (difficulty getting around).

One single way to treat pain can be quite effective but research and experience has shown that putting other modalities in use can dramatically help in reducing pain.  Using a combination of the below modalities can help your pet live comfortably and be more active.

1.      Anti-inflammatory

·         The release of inflammatory mediators, lead to a progressive cycle of cartilage degradation, joint membrane inflammation, and boney remodeling – all causing pain.  NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – similar to Ibuprofen) are usually the first choice of pain relief.  They posses pain relief via their anti-inflammatory effects.

2.     Adequan

·         The only FDA-approved disease modifying osteoarthritis drug that effectively slows the disease cycle of canine arthritis. It protects cartilage in a dog’s hips, knees, elbows, and other joints as well as provides key building blocks for damaged joints to repair themselves.  Another amazing aspect is its anti-inflammatory effect (pain relief).

·         It is administered in a series of twice weekly injections for four weeks, then once monthly.  We can do the injections for you at no extra cost or we can train you do it at home.

·         Cost is $15.00 per 50 pounds. 

3.     Weight Loss

·         Almost half the dogs seen by a veterinarian are overweight or obese, and those extra pounds may have more of an impact on your dog’s health than you realize.  Excess weight can hurt your dog or cat in various ways.  Examples are skin and hair coat problems, breathing difficulty, high blood pressure, reduced activity, and arthritis.

·         Weight loss can be accomplished simply increasing activity, feeding a light diet, or feeding a prescription weight loss diet such as Hill’s Prescription Metabolic Diet.  Increasing metabolism is tricky, so decreasing the amount of food may not always work.

4.      Cold Laser Therapy

·         Cold Laser Therapy (CLT) is a non-pharmaceutical way to manage pain with no side effects.  The laser beam (via photo biological action mechanisms) stimulates the cells to be healthy, thereby reducing inflammation.  When inflammation is reduced, then we see less pain, swelling, heat, and redness.  Treatment with CLT can take 6-8 sessions but varies depending on the condition.  Many clients see a positive difference within 3-4 sessions.  After the initial treatments some pets benefit with monthly follow up.

5.     Acupuncture Treatments

·         Acupuncture Simply stated acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body that have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiologic conditions to achieve the desired effect. It is a means of helping the body heal itself. Acupuncture has been used successfully for nearly 4000 years on animals, as well as human beings. Great for pain relief.

6.     Hill’s Prescription Diet J/d

·         Studies have shown blends of omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids help suppress the production of inflammatory mediators.  They also help with skin and hair coat, important with those having skin allergies.  Hill’s Prescription Diet J/d provides the right blend of fatty acids and glucosamine in a highly palatal diet.

7.     Other Pain Relief Medication

·         Tramadol -- a pain relief and cough suppressant that works on the opiate receptors similar to Codeine.  Not addicting.

·         Gabapentin – great pain relief medication used for exaggerated (“nerve root”) and chronic pain.

·         Amantadine – This medication helps reduce “wind up” and chronic pain.  Typically used with other medications, it helps the others work better, by lowering the “pain threshold.”

8.     Glucosamine/Chondroitin and Herbal Supplements

·         These types of supplements are touted to provide high concentrations of precursors for articular cartilage.  Since articular cartilage is damaged and degraded, having building blocks available is thought to help.  Quality and true availability in the body are considerations when using this supplement.

·         Herbs can help in an anti-inflammatory way as well as increase circulation.  By increasing circulation the body can heal better.

The First 3 Questions to Ask About Pet Food

The First 3 Questions to ask about Pet Food

Here at Altitude Veterinary Hospital we want what is best for your pet.  Nutrition is one of the key components for optimum Wellness.  We understand there are many resources when finding the right diet for your pet but please consider our words and advice for we are your pet’s primary advocate.

• Feeding Trial vs. Formulated?

• Formulated is a pet food recipe with minimal nutritional requirements whereas Feeding Trial goes through a 6 month process evaluating a) blood samples for physiological effects b) digestibility c) palatability d) weight loss or gain e) illness f) tested for specific life stage.  Formulated Diets do not assess these parameters.  Feeding Trials are expensive and time consuming and are considered the Gold Standard in pet foods.  

• Pet food made for all or specific life stages?

• Our pets have different stages of life each with a different nutritional requirement. “Growth” describes our young pets less than a year of age, “Adult” for pet’s 1-6 years of age, and “Senior” for those 7 and over.
• In the text book Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5^th Edition key nutritional factors are listed for dogs and cats.  The list gives the ideal parameters required for these different ages (as well as large breed).  When a pet food states that it is for “all life stages” it is made as a growth (puppy or kitten) formula.  This diet is then not suited for a senior pet.  The best nutrition for your pet is a diet created for his or her appropriate life stage.

• What does the Guaranteed Analysis tell us? 
• Only minimums and maximums are listed, not the actual amount of each nutrient.  Carbohydrate content is not listed.  The analysis gives no indication of the quality of the nutrients or it’s digestibility by the pet.
• The only way to determine actual amounts and digestibility is to contact the pet food manufacturer.  If they will not provide you with this information, then we advise you to switch pet foods.  If they do not disclose basic information, can they be trusted?

• If you do receive this information from the manufacturer, you must compare diets on a “Dry Matter Basis”.  This takes the moisture out and compares diets “apples to apples” so evaluating nutrients is made fair.  It is important to note that we want nutrients to be within the acceptable range for your pet’s life stage.  Again, these ranges are noted in the Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5^th Edition.

Just a few tasty tidbits about words used on pet food labels

Certain words in the pet food industry have legal definitions.  Since the bag is a legal document, these words cannot be printed on a food bag unless the food fulfills the proper definition.  However, you will commonly see variations of these terms on websites, pet food blogs, or commercials.  None of these are regulated sources of information.

• Light or Lite  This is the only terminology used that legally means a diet is low calorie.
• A “Lite” diet for a dog contains less than 3100 kcal/kg.
• A “Lite” diet for a cat contains less than 3250 kcal/kg.
• Natural  The use of the word “natural” indicates the food contains no chemically synthesized ingredients. The only exceptions to this rule are the vitamins and minerals that cannot be obtained through natural means.
• Organic  A food claiming to be organic MUST have the USDA seal located on the bag. If the seal is not on the bag it is not guaranteed to be organic.  If there is a seal on the bag, be sure it is indeed the USDA organic seal.         

                         

• Human Grade  There is no such thing as “human grade” ingredients! Due to the immense variety of the foods consumed around the world there is no way to define “human grade.” Legally, companies are not allowed to print this on a bag, but you will occasionally see it.

Terms that commonly misleads consumers:

• Low Fat or Reduced Fat  This may be true but compared to what?  To the manufacturer’s regular high fat diet?  Evaluating pet food by their guaranteed analysis on a dry matter basis is comparing apples to apples.
• Ideal Weight  Ideal as compared to what?  Breed specifics are helpful but pets are all made differently.  Ask your veterinarian about body condition scores.
• Weight Management  Is it really formulated to control weight or is the fat or carbohydrates still high?
• Healthy Weight  Veterinarians are trained to score your pet’s body condition.  Ask what they think.
• Holistic  There is no legal definition.  This is just a word to catch the consumer’s eye, but an empty statement.
• Organic  Organic foods are foods that are produced that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Organic foods are also not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.