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. If left untreated it will quickly result in breathing problems,
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 if these changes last too long, or get triggered too
Euthanasia: a release from suffering Euthanasia means voluntarily ending the life of a dog suffering from a terminal or incurable condition. Some instances where Euthansia is likely the best option inlcude:- Irreversible disease that has progressed to a point where distress or discomfort cannot be controlled; Old age wear and tear that permanently affects the
Routine home examination of your dog can reveal problems early, when they are easiest to treat. Regular, weekly sessions will also train your dog to submit to, and even enjoy, the process; it is far easier for a vet to make a diagnosis on a dog that willingly allows itself to be examined. Do not
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 restarted within a few minutes if a dog is to
Facts The function of a healthy heart is to supply oxygenated blood to the body. First, it pumps blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen molecules, and pushes that oxygenated blood out to all of the organs and parts of the body. Once the oxygen is delivered, the blood returns to the heart to
Facts A heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound created by turbulent blood flow into, out of, or through the heart. Not actually a disease or illness in and of itself, a heart murmur is the result of another heart problem that causes the abnormal sounds. They may range from being minor to being indicative
Facts Heartbeat arrhythmia, also known as cardiac dysrhythmia or irregular heartbeat, is a condition that describes abnormal electrical heart activity. The heartbeat may be too slow, too fast, too weak, too strong, regular, or irregular. Some dogs live with a mildly irregular heartbeat with no negative side effects, while others suffer from associated effects. Severe
Facts Heartworm is really not a disease, but an infection of Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic round worm. While the name implies the worm resides in the heart, it actually starts out in the pulmonary arteries - the arteries that connect the lungs to the heart - and does massive damage to the lung tissue and
Facts Hemangiosarcoma is a malignant, very aggressive form of cancer that forms anywhere in the body where there is blood supply, but it most usually forms on the skin, in soft tissues, or on the spleen or heart. It develops in the lining of a dog’s blood vessels, and can cause a fatal blood loss
Facts Hypertension (HTN), also called high blood pressure or arterial hypertension, is a medical condition that describes elevated blood pressure in a dog’s arteries. When a dog has high blood pressure, its heart has to work harder than normal to circulate blood through its body. The condition may be either primary or secondary HTN: primary
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 the left ventricle. This causes the ventricular walls to become
Facts Hypoglycemia, also called low blood sugar, is an abnormally low concentration of glucose in a dog’s blood. Glucose is produced when the dog consumes carbohydrates, and is used as energy for all the dog’s cells, activity, and basic body function. When the dog produces more glucose than it needs, that glucose converts to glycogen
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 muscle, bone, or joint disorders is lameness, usually, but not
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 white blood cells (eosinophils, lymphocytes, platelets, basophils, monocytes, and neturophils),
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 exposed to second-hand smoke, its risk of developing the disease
FactsA dog’s lymph system is a network of lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels that are used to process and circulate disease organisms and foreign substances so that they may be presented to and destroyed by the immune system. Lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cells, are the main cells of the lymphatic system.
Facts Mammary cancer is the presence of a tumour or multiple tumours in the mammary glands. There is a very high risk factor for intact females, especially as they age and go through multiple cycles of heat. Lumps or masses can be benign or malignant and both require medical treatment. It is almost split right
FactsMast cells are part of the body’s immune system, and participate to fight off parasites that may attack the respiratory or intestinal tract or the skin. When the body detects an invader, the mast ells product an antibody called IgE. The IgE covers the mast cell and “grab” the antigen, then releases a chemical harmful
The simplest way to give medicine to your dog is to hide it in food. Hollow dog treats are commercially available, but hiding a tablet in a piece of meat or bread, especially if coated with peanut butter, works just as well. Always check with your vet first, however, since some foods should not be
Facts Oral cancer is one cancer that grows and then spreads quickly and is often very hard to treat. In fact, as far as cancer goes, it is one of the most difficult to treat. Tumours found in the mouth are quite common and can be either cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Mouth cancer is
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 metastasize quickly to the lungs and is usually fatal. Osteoblasts
Dogs suffer from a variety of internal and external parasites. Regular grooming will help you spot early signs of infestation. Even some internal parasites leave telltale signs on the fur and skin. Particular vigilance is needed with puppies, which can inherit parasites from their mothers, and in warm weather when parasite populations explode, making all
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) – a connection between the aortic arch and pulmonary artery.
