Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs
Facts Diabetes Mellitus is a disease which occurs in dogs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin. In some cases, insulin production stops all together. Insulin tells the body how to properly use proteins, fats, and sugars. This lack of insulin means the liver...
Dog Eye Problems
Eye disorders account for a large number of visits to the clinic because they are amongst the easiest problems to recognize and always appear potentially worrisome. Understanding the signsCheck with your vet if you notice any of the symptoms below: they may simply indicate an...
Babesiosis in Dogs
Facts Babesiosis (also called Babesia infection) is a disease passed to mammals via ticks. The Babesia parasite is a microscopic organism that takes up residence the dog’s red blood cells and eventually destroys the RBCs, which causes the animal to become anemic. Babesiosis is the...
Canine Respiratory Problems
Problems may occur anywhere in the respiratory system – from a tickle in the nose producing a sneeze, to trauma in the chest causing laboured breathing and clinical shock. Infections and disorders can occur in either the upper respiratory system, including the nose and windpipe,...
Diabetes Insipidus in Dogs
Facts When a dog is diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidus it is essentially suffering from a disorder of water balance because of decreased production/levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). It causes the dog to get rid of highly diluted urine in huge abnormal quantities, because ADH is...
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Dogs
Facts A healthy canine heart has chamber walls that are flexible – they contract easily in order to pump oxygenated blood out to the body. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a type of heart disease with characteristics of thickening and concentric enlargement of the walls of...
Dog Brain Diseases
The brain, through its connections with the spinal cord and peripheral nerves, coordinates all activities, thoughts, senses, feelings, emotions, movement, and body functions. If the brain is damaged, this can lead to behaviour changes, seizures, loss of coordination, paralysis, or coma. Brain injures Brain injuries...
Canine Spinal Disorders
Damage to the spinal cord, whether it occurs spontaneously or results from an accident, can cause loss of voluntary muscle movement, changes in spinal reflexes or muscle tone, muscle shrinkage, and loss of touch and pain sensations. This damage may be irreparable. Paralysis Paralysis is...
Canine Mouth and Teeth Problems
Dogs use their mouth and teeth not only for eating, but also for defence, for grooming, for showing affection to others, or simply to explore, taste, play, and amuse. As a consequence there is a wide variety of potential problems. Mouth infections Infection or inflammation...
Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Dogs
Facts In healthy dogs, the pulmonary artery carries blood to the lungs to be oxygenated, then goes back to the heart to get pumped out to the body via the aorta. In the fetal stage, all dogs have what is called the ductus arteriosus (DA)...
Prevention of Dog Ill Health and Injury
Preventing dog health problems is better and cheaper than treating them.. Such problems include infectious diseases, internal and external parasites, physical accidents, unwanted pregnancies(naughty teenage dogs!), and diseases that might spread from your dog to you, or vice versa. Vaccination is the most important measure...
Testicular Cancer in Dogs
For male dogs that are not neutered, testicular cancer is among one of the most common conditions. Cancer can be described as a growth of cells in or on the body that has blown out of control. There are three different types of testicular cancer....
Osteosarcoma in Dogs
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in domestic dogs. It is an aggressive, malignant form of the disease that starts in the bones and spread to other parts of the body if not detected and treated. This type of cancer tends to...
Lung Cancer in Dogs
FactsLung cancer is disease that needs to be taken seriously and detected early. Lung cancer can be either metastatic or primary in dogs. No one gender or breed is more prone to it than another; however, just like with humans, if the dog is continually...
Leukemia in Dogs
Facts In a healthy body, the white blood cells (leukocytes) are an essential part of the dog’s immune system. They are produced in the bone marrow and work to defend the dog’s body against foreign invaders and infectious diseases. There are several different types of...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Dogs
Facts Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), also called tick typhus, Tobia fever, fiebre manchada, and São Paulo fever, depending on the country, is a disease caused by the infective parasitic organism Rickettsia rickettsia. This organism is passed to dogs (and humans, as well as other...
Giving your Dog Emergency First Aid
Brain cells have an enormous need for oxygen; if they are deprived, even for a few minutes, they are quickly damaged and can die completely. If a dog’s heart has stopped beating, oxygen is no longer being supplied to the brain. The heart must be...
Emotional Disorders in Dogs
Feelings like anxiety evolved to protect dogs from danger. The cortex of the dog’s brain recognizes a threat or a stress and communicates with the rest of the brain through the limbic system, triggering a cascade of chemical changes that affect the entire body. But...
Eclampsia in Dogs
Facts Occurring only in lactating (and sometimes pregnant) female dogs, Eclampsia is a life-threatening disorder that sets in extremely fast, resulting in low blood calcium levels. Other names used are Milk Fever and hypocalcemia. Eclampsia is a serious disorder that needs to be treated immediately....
Problems with the Canine Reproductary Tract
Many of the medical conditions affecting a female dog’s reproductive tract are extremely serious and can even be fatal, although risk of these disorders can be reduced by spaying. In contrast, few reproductive disorders affecting the male are life-threatening. Dangers During BirthThere are several risks...
Urinary Tract Disorders in Dogs
Facts The urinary tract is made up of the ureters, urethra, bladder, and kidneys, and prostate gland in males. The urinary system is responsible for producing, storing, and eliminating urine. Genital organs are also involved in the elimination of urine. Urinary tract disorders are diseases,...
Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome in Dogs
FactsBrachycephalic airway syndrome is a respiratory condition that most commonly affects certain breeds of dogs. It refers to a number of upper airway issues found in these breeds. By definition brachycephalic means a broad, short head, and these affected dogs usually have an elongated soft...
Issues with Dog Muscles, Bones and Joints
Dogs are highly active animals, and their skeletons and muscles are subject to great stresses. Injuries are fairly common, but muscle and bone tissues have a remarkable capacity for self-repair. Other problems can result from diseases of the joints or bones.The most common sign of...
Addison’s Disease in Dogs
Facts Known also as hypoadrenocorticism, hypocortisolism, and adrenal insufficiency, Addison’s Disease was first found in humans and then later found in dogs. The disease is described as an endocrine system disorder and takes place when the production of corticosteroid hormones decreases to such an amount...
Skin Diseases that effect Dogs
Skin problems account for almost half of visits to the vet mainly because it’s easy to see when something is wrong. Parasites, and particularly the flea, are responsible for the majority of irritating skin conditions. You may never see it, but a single flea can lead to...