Pet's Family doctor

Research on Canine Blastomycosis

2008-09-01T00:58:00.000-07:00

Blastomycosis (Blasto) in the dog is a commonly misdiagnosed systemic fungal disease of dogs, humans and other mammals. It is a great pretender and opportunist that can be mistaken for cancer, viral infections, Lyme Disease, or other systemic fungal diseases such as Valley Fever. Many dogs die or are euthanized each year due to delay in treatment as the result of a missed or erroneous diagnosis. Involvement of the eye may cause loss of vision or necessitate the removal of the eye. Relapse is also a concern, more often reported in females.

Canine Blastomycosis is caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis. This parasitic fungus grows as a mold in moist soil or decaying vegetation and releases spores into the environment that can be inhaled by animals or humans. Young dogs that have access to the outdoors are prime candidates for blastomycosis infection, but infection has been documented in all canine breeds, cats, horses and ferrets. Normally, blastomycosis infection will begin in the lungs after spores are inhaled and transform into large thick-walled budding yeast, which can multiply and disseminate to other areas of the body. Dissemination into organs, lymph nodes, eyes, joints, skin, as well as the central nervous system, is a grave risk.

A diagnosis of Canine Blastomycosis must be made promptly in order to begin treatment with antifungal medications. Unless Blasto is suspected, valuable time is often wasted testing and treating for viral and bacterial infections while the fungus disseminates. Without quick recognition, accurate diagnosis, and access to reasonably priced medications, many animals are unnecessarily lost to Blasto.

Blastomycosis cannot be eradicated from the environment, however, one may attempt to avoid or remove possible sources of contamination, such as mulched areas of flowerbeds, paths, bedding, areas of wetlands, etc. The idea of a commercial fungicide has been discussed, but there are none currently available that are effective against Blasto. With the advent of compounding pharmacies and generic antifungal medications, treatment is now more effective and affordable, making successful outcome for these animals more attainable than ever.

Risk Factors: Endemic Areas, US - Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio River valleys, Eastern Seaboard, areas adjacent to the Great Lakes. States with highest endemnicity are Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Other endemic states include Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama. However, cases do occur outside the endemic areas. Endemic Areas, Canada - Blasto is prevalent in Kenora, Ontario. Also found in Manitoba, Ontario (Kenora, Sault Ste. Marie, Chapleau), Quebec, New Brunswick, in particular areas around the Great Lakes and in a small area a small area in New York and Canada along the St. Lawrence River. Has also been increasingly reported along the Georgian Bay coastline (including Midland and Penetang), Dryden, and in Southern Ontario at the Rockwood Conservation area.

Environment: Research shows that exposure to wet or decaying organic material, recently disturbed soil, rotting vegetation, bird droppings, and landscaping projects is a strong indicator of disease possibility. Some research has shown a strong link to wood mulch and importation of non-local soil. Patient history will often reveal exposure to mulched areas and disturbed soil in parks, yards, walking paths, etc.

Breed/Age: young, large-breed dogs with the highest rates of infection are normally Coonhounds, Pointers, and Weimaraners. This is normally attributed to higher exposure to endemic areas due to use in hunting. Breed, size, and age, however, are not a reliable indicator of susceptibility, as all are at risk

Symptoms: After initial spore inhalation, incubation can range from days to weeks. The presentation of Blasto is often non-specific, and can imitate a range of other diseases. Symptoms include:

Lethargy
Persistent fever of 103 degrees or more
Anorexia
Vomiting
Persistent, usually non-productiive cough
Exercise intolerance
Respiratory symptoms, fungal pneumonia
Ocular infection, sudden blindness
Depression
CNS symptoms: twitches, stumbling gait, loss of coordination
Skin ulcerations, non-healing lesions
Lumps, nodes, swellings
Weight loss
Hair loss
Lameness, fungal arthritis
Hematuria
Diagnostic Testing: Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, a thorough patient history, and laboratory findings. Not all findings are specific, some tests are faster and more efficient, and some cases may benefit from antifungal treatment even before definitive diagnosis.

Cytology: New Methylene Blue stain used to identify organisms from exudates of skin abcesses/lesions/sputum/fluid aspirated from lungs appears to be the fastest, most reliable and cost-effective method. Not all cases, however, will present with accessible material, necessitating further diagnostics. MiraVista Diagnostics Antigen Assay: Very high sensitivity with urine (studies show 92.9% sensitivity, specificity 79.3%), slightly less sensitive with serum. 4-5 days for results, at a cost of approx. $100. Also useful in monitoring the efficacy of antifungal therapy. Chest X-Ray and signature snowstorm pattern. Area Bone Radiograph Lymph node biopsy / fine needle aspiration. Serum Antibody Titer: regarded as a fairly poor diagnostic tool for Blastomycosis. Tracheal wash. Ultrasound

Be Aggressive:
Excerpt: Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2004, p. 4873-4875, Vol.
42, No. 10. Most patients with blastomycosis exhibit progressive illnesses that
require antifungal therapy. In one study, diagnosis was delayed for more than 1
month in nearly half of the cases. Blastomycosis was correctly suspected in only
20% of patients, resulting in unnecessary surgeries and treatment delays. In
two-thirds of patients who died of acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by
blastomycosis, the diagnosis was either not suspected or considered only after
the patient became moribund.
Treatment Options*:
Itraconazole (Sporanox) capsules: First line preferred treatment, given with a fatty food to increase bioavailability
Amphoterericin-B: Higher efficacy in patients with CNS involvement
Itraconazole (Sporanox) suspension: Shorter shelf-life, but can be given without food
Ketoconazole (Nizoral): In initial treatment w/Ampho-B, similar results as
Itraconazole - slightly less expensive
Fluconazole (Diflucan): Somewhat less effective than Itraconazole
Posaconazole: Higher cost, similar effects to Itraconazole, few studies
Voriconazole: Higher cost, somewhat better efficacy in cases w/CNS involvement, few studies
Prednisone: For treatment of inflammatory issues
In the past, Amphotericin-B was the only known medication useful against Blastomycosis and the other systemic fungal organisms. It was given intravenously and with care to keep the dose from harming the kidneys.

More recently, research has provided oral azoles that are highly effective in treating fungal infections. Itraconazole (Sporanox), Ketoconazole (Nizoral), and Fluconazole (Diflucan) are available as capsules and oral suspensions that may be administered for 3 to 6 months (depending on the severity of infection, treatment may be even longer).

Compounding pharmacies have made these medications much more affordable and available in custom dosages for different sized animals. Generic and brand name medications are equally effective, and given the very high cost of brand names, the generic compounded alternatives are saving lives that may have previously been lost due to the cost and length of treatment.

Treatment: Once Blasto is diagnosed or is highly suspected, treatment can be started with the appropriate antifungal medication. In the early stages of treatment large numbers of fungi begin to die in the lungs and often elicit an inflammatory response. Prednisone is sometimes prescribed to help reduce inflammation issues. Many of these animals are fighting a fungal pneumonia. As a result, respiratory distress is often a significant problem in the first few days following initiation of therapy. Since the severity of the infection will determine the amount of fungi inhabiting the dog’s lungs, early diagnosis and treatment is an efficient means of reducing post-treatment respiratory distress and can significantly influence a dog’s chances of survival.

The animal’s prognosis will always be guarded, and antifungal treatment is never a guarantee of recovery. Intense supportive care and a high level of commitment to recovery on the part of the owner are imperative. Round the clock care is often necessary. Removal to a medical facility for IV treatment and hydration may be helpful and sometimes unavoidable, but can be very stressful for a compromised animal. If the owners are able to provide care, the security of home and loved ones may reduce stress. The outcome will also vary with the degree of infection, whether Blasto has disseminated into other organs, CNS, bones, or in the event of secondary bacterial or viral infection.

Eye involvement may result in blindness or necessitate removal of eye(s). Recently some experimental treatments have reported some success in the nominal recovery of vision. These treatments can be fairly expensive, and are not a guarantee of sight recovery. (**See Dogs In Canada, by Rick Hayworth.)

During the first few weeks of therapy, the animal may become alarmingly ill, anorexic, and may have to be force-fed. Weight loss may continue; hydration and calories are important. During this time, the idea of eating healthy may need to be suspended in favor of getting any nutrition possible into the animal. Owners who have successfully treated their animals recommend the following:

Ensure Plus: added protein with about 300 calories per can; well tolerated, may be bottle-fed
Hill’s A/D canine "prescription" dog food: can be mixed with water and given by syringe
Canned Tripe
Sav-A-Calf Electrolytes Plus: very good reported results, may be bottle-fed
Canned Dog Food
Cooked chicken, chicken broth
Meal Bones-Whole meals
Stewed meats, soups
Burger
Peanut butter: lots of fat and calories, and they pretty much cannot avoid swallowing it
Frozen Gatorade
Frozen Ensure
Frozen Pedialyte: also helpful when used in a squirt or spray bottle
Cheese
Ice Cream
Margarine
Sausage
Eggs
Yogurt
Medication: Sources and Cost: Antifungal prescriptions from retail pharmacies can range from $4 to $9 per dose. As treatment must be continued for as long as 12 months, cost will be an issue that affects the owners’ decision regarding treatment vs. euthanasia. Compounding pharmacies have made generic and custom doses much more affordable. For example, the cost of generic Itraconazole 150 mg. from Pet Health Pharmacy in Arizona is approximately $1 per dose. Overnight shipping is available at a cost of about $8-$10 extra. These medications appear to be equally effective as brand name varieties and make the option of treatment more feasible for the owner.

Dog Health--Prostate Cancer

2008-09-01T00:53:00.000-07:00

All intact (not neutered or not castrated) male dogs are more prone to prostate problems as a result of the effects of testosterone (male hormone) on this gland over time. The testosterone most commonly leads to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) in older male dogs.

Symptoms
This condition results in an enlargement of the gland that as the name suggests (benign), is not a truly cancerous condition. The enlarged gland however, tends to be more prone to infections (prostatitis) because the blood flow through the enlarged gland tissue area is less efficient, and if bacteria lodge here, the infection can be difficult to control and clear.

The gland of an intact male dog is known to be more susceptible to cancer. This has been confirmed in scientific studies, and because of the delicate location of this gland around the junction of the bladder and the urethra (the tube leading to the outside via the penis), the cancers can be difficult to control or cure in this location.

You are obviously a responsible pet owner, and have been careful about preventing unwanted litters by keeping your male away from females. Unless you have firm plans to use this animal in a formal breeding program, the best prevention strategy for prostate problems is the surgery (castration).

Treatments
Many owners express concerns about surgery and anesthesia for their pets; this is a natural response. Dog lovers want to do the best for their "best friend", and need reassurance about surgery and the attendant risks. Your veterinary team can go over the steps involved, and many facilities will let you tour their establishment so that you can become familiar with the advanced medicine and surgery suites that they offer, and the focused care that they provide.

There is no such thing as zero risk for any procedure, anesthetic, medication, or other intervention, but with modern medicine, we are proud of, and have a great deal of confidence in our current level of practice. Most practices use the same anesthetic agents, equipment, and many of the monitoring systems that your own physician would use in a human hospital. Veterinary technicians (nurses) that assist the veterinarian during the procedure and anesthetic are highly trained paraprofessionals (look for AHT, RVT etc. on their name tag for proof of their certification).

The surgery itself is not a long one. The average procedure would take 10-20 minutes, and complications are rare. With proper post-operative rest and care, the chance of a problem is very low indeed. Most practices will see the dog back for a "post-op" check in 7-10 days, and during that early healing phase, they are especially willing and able to address any questions or concerns that might arise.

The risk of a routine surgery is very low, and it would not be considered an endangerment to health to make this decision on a dog's behalf. It is often helpful to review information, and discuss the decision further with the health care team before making the final decision. The potential devastation from possible future prostate problems would be generally viewed as a much more worrisome scenario than a sterile surgical procedure performed in a modern veterinary practice by an experienced veterinary surgeon and their support team.

Dog Cancer

2008-08-29T22:07:00.002-07:00

Dog cancer, like human cancer, refers to any type of malignant tumor or growth (neoplasia) that invades the surrounding tissues, spreads to other parts of the body via the bloodstream, is likely to recur after attempted removal, and can cause death unless it is adequately treated or removed. While cancer can occur at any age, the chances of getting cancer increases with age, and because pets are living longer, the incidence of cancer has been increasing accordingly.

Symptoms
There are many signs that can be associated with cancer. Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow, sores that do not heal, bleeding or discharge from any body opening, difficulty eating or swallowing, a persistent lameness, difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating, or persistent coughing are examples of specific signs which may arise. Weight loss, fevers, decreased appetite, and loss of stamina, though vague and non-specific, may also be suggestive of cancer.
There are literally as many types of cancers as there are types of cells. It is not known why normal cells become cancerous and begin to divide and multiply out of control. Environmental factors, genetics, toxins, and other biological factors are all possible contributors.

Treatments
Despite the poor prognosis that one normally associates with cancer, effective treat- ments are available for many types of cancer. Once a tumor has been detected, the eventual outcome can often be favorable if early detection is followed by timely intervention. A biopsy can usually determine what kind of cancer is involved and thus helping set the appropriate course of therapy.

Surgery is the treatment of choice with some cancers. A localized tumor can usually be effectively excised surgically and, when detected early, the procedure carries an excellent success rate. An attempt is made to determine if there has been any spread (or metastasis) to adjoining organs or tissues. Staging the disease helps to set the prognosis. If the growth turns out to be malignant, the veterinarian will suggest an appropriate course of action and will help you understand what might be expected in the future. In cases where a tumor proves to be inoperable and surgery is not curative, radiation, biological, or chemical therapies may be a viable alternative. During radiation therapy, the malignant cells are exposed to high levels of radiation to kill them. Similarly, chemotherapy utilizes medication to kill cancer cells while sparing normal healthy cells that are not dividing quickly. Sometimes a combination of therapies is prescribed such as surgery plus radiation. This is often the case when aggressive tumors are identified and this strategy helps to increase remission rates while reducing side effects.

Modern cancer management is much more than just the application of the above therapies. Nursing care advances such as nutritional support, pain management, grooming, soft bedding for comfort and ulcer prevention, physical therapy, and other supportive techniques have all contributed to improved expected outcomes, and the improved quality of life for a pet with cancer.

Treatment options should be discussed with your veterinarian and the average expected success rate of each option will be explained. In some cases, your veterinarian may refer your pet to an internist or a cancer specialist (oncologist) for further treatment. You are an important part of the care team when dealing with cancer, so make sure you understand what you can do to help the health care team at your practice optimize your pet's treatment.

Dog-Bone Wobblers Syndrome

2008-08-29T22:07:00.001-07:00

Wobblers Syndrome is caused when the neck’s spinal cervical vertebrae narrows or doesn’t form properly, and then exerts pressure on the spinal cord near the lower neck vertebrae. This causes a mild to severe abnormality in the dog’s gait. It’s important to note, however, that several other conditions mimic Wobblers Syndrome’s symptoms, and that the only effective way to accurately diagnosis Wobblers is through a mylogram procedure, a test where dye is injected into the dog’s spinal column.

Symptoms
Wobblers normally first appears in a dog’s hind legs as a slight uncoordinated gait, and then can escalate to the front legs as well. Severely affected dogs move like they’re drunk, especially when they’re walked into sharp a turn. In the early stages of the disease’s progression, an unsuspecting owner might simply conclude that the dog is just clumsy.

Treatments
The method now used to treat Wobblers Syndrome depends on the current state of the disease, and can include the use of corticosteroids, a neck brace and, as the last resort, surgery. The surgical procedure used to treat and correct the syndrome typically involves fusing together the two unstable vertebrae, which relieves pressure on the spinal cord. Surgery, however, isn’t always successful, and can cause more stress to occur on the adjoining vertebrae, which can cause reoccurring pain and instability. Dogs that undergo the surgery, on the other hand, usually live long and pain free lives with little or no need for additional treatment.

Bone Osteochondrosis

2008-08-29T00:12:00.001-07:00

Osteochondrosis, or OCD, is a relatively common and painful congenital bone defect disease that is characterized by abnormal cartilage-to-bone transformation, which causes cartilage and bone fragments to break off into your dog’s joint space, which, in turn, causes mild to extremely severe discomfort and pain.

Osteochondrosis isn’t a form of arthritis, although it can and often does lead to arthritis. Larger breeds of dog have a genetic predisposition towards the condition, which generally results from rapid growth. The pain created by osteochondrosis is similar to “growing pains” experienced by many dogs as they mature from pups to adolescents to adults.

Cartilage is the bone tissue that contributes to pain-free motion. Osteochondrosis is a congenital defect in joint cartilage development that leads to the development of a loose piece or flap of cartilage. This loose cartilage can give rise to secondary degenerative joint disease. Secondary degenerative joint disease, which generally develops as a result of osteochondrosis, occurs early in the dog's life as opposed to the "wear and tear" arthritis that many dogs experience later in life.

Areas most commonly affected by osteochondrosis include the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle.

Symptoms
Unlike most diseases, the various forms of OCD don’t produce immediate, obvious symptoms. There are, however, several clues you can watch for, particularly if you have a larger dog:

Lameness and pain in the affected joint.
Restricted movement of the affected joint.
Muscle wasting in the most affected side.
Detecting the symptoms of osteochondrosis depends on where the problem is located. The dog may try to compensate for lameness caused by OCD by restricting its movement of the affected joint. For example, if your dog’s elbow is affected, it may swing his/her leg outward in a circular motion to avoid bending the elbow. Although osteochondrosis usually affects both sides of a bone, one bone end maybe worse than the other bone end.

Treatments
Treating OCD is most often directed towards inhibiting further cartilage breakdown of the joint and toward decreasing the affected dog’s pain. Fortunately, there are a number of medical and surgical procedures available that can ease your dog's discomfort and pain, thereby restoring its overall health and mobility to near normal levels. The type of treatment that your vet recommends will depend upon on such factors as your dog’s age, the severity of the problem, as well as cost considerations. Non surgical treatment of osteochondrosis will most likely consists of exercise restriction, body weight management and pain management using analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Dog Bone Tumors

2008-08-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

Bone tumors, a cancerous bone condition medically known as osteosarcoma, now afflicts about 8 out of every 10,000 U.S. dogs annually. Large and tall breeds, as well as older dogs, are more likely to develop osteosarcoma than small breeds. Although the exact cause of this cancerous condition is not known at this time, most medical researchers suspect osteosarcoma is probably a genetically predisposed disease.

Symptoms
In its active stage, osteosarcoma (OSA) is very painful and destroys localized bone tissue, causing the affected bones to become weakened, thereby dramatically increasing the risk of spontaneous bone fracturing. OSA affects a dog’s legs about 75% of the time, and front legs are twice as susceptible than hind lags. Initially, the most common area where osteosarcoma is detectable is in the radius bone, but OSA usually spreads very rapidly and has a high metastasis rate. Left untreated, most dogs succumb to the disease within 2 months after OSA’s symptoms appear.

Diagnosis and Treatments
The initial problem prior to diagnosis is often lameness and/or pain associated with a recent mild trauma. Many times this pain is misdiagnosed as a strain or sprain. During radiograph tests, the affected area often shows as lytic, or otherwise eaten away bone tissue, and the lesion often has a sunburst appearance.

Before treatment is started, a complete workup is necessary to determine if the dog’s cancer has spread and to determine the general health of the dog and its ability to withstand treatment. This could include a complete blood count, serum chemistry profile, urinalysis, thoracic, abdominal and expansile radiographs, radiographs of the appendicular skeleton and, if possible, a nuclear bone scan. A biopsy obtains a core of bone and is usually done under general anesthesia. This sample is examined microscopically to determine the cell type and to reach a correct diagnosis.

The treatment of choice for OSA is surgery followed by chemotherapy. The goal of treatment is to increase the dog’s quality of life, to lengthen its lifespan, and to decrease pain. This is achieved through control of the primary tumor as well as by slowing the cancer’s metastasis. Unfortunately, curing the disease is not truly a reasonable goal and is only attained about 10% of the time. The average length of remission is about 1 year, but can be longer in some dogs.

Dog Health_Bone Kneecap Problems

2008-08-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

The most common dog kneecap problem is a slipped kneecap, or what veterinarians refer to as Luxated Patella or slipped stifle. Smaller breeds, such as Miniature Poodles and Maltese, are far more susceptible to Luxated Patella than larger breeds, and females experience a much higher incident rate than males. It hasn’t been determined why female dogs are more susceptible than males, but some researchers feel it could be related to the different gene or hormone makeup between female and male dogs.

Symptoms
Luxated Patella is caused when the dog’s kneecap becomes dislocated toward the inside or outside of the leg, or when one or more of the dog’s kneecaps move in both directions. While slipped kneecaps can and do result from a direct blow to the knee, they more often occur because of congenital birth defects. The crippling effects of a patellar luxation are related to the severity and duration of the luxation. Severe cases cause intense pain in and around the knee, which in turn causes limping.

Treatments
Many techniques are available to treat Luxated Patella, depending on the severity of the condition. Treatments range from rest and the administration of pain relieving drugs in mild cases to complete surgical knee reconstruction in the most severe cases. Satisfactory results are usually obtained if the joint degeneration has not progressed too far. Once treated, most affected dogs make a satisfactory recovery, except reoccurrences are common when dog’s don’t undergo surgical treatments.

Dog Health_Bone Hip Dysplasia

2008-08-07T01:15:00.000-07:00

Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal developmental problem generally found in larger dogs and, in particular, in working and sporting dog breeds. CHD occurs because the upper ball portion of the dog’s hind legs doesn't fit properly into the hip socket, causing instability within the ball-and-socket joint, which in turn eventually causes the hip bone to tear apart.

At this point in time, no one knows exactly what causes Hip Dysplasia, but most vets now agree that CHD is probably an inherited condition. They also agree that the condition probably isn’t influenced by a dog's diet, although CHD is aggravated by excessive weight and obesity problems. They suspect that the animal's overall weight and/or very rapid growth during puppyhood may be contributing factors.

Symptoms
While some dogs with CHD have no apparent symptoms, others, however, have varying degrees of lameness and arthritic pain. In the most severe cases, CHD can cause joint deterioration, limiting the dog's mobility. As the condition evolves, CHD becomes quite painful and may be more pronounced on cold, damp days. Typical symptoms include: lameness, especially after prolonged exercise, a waddling or swaying gait, difficulty in rising or climbing stairs, reluctance to move, changes in temperament, pain when hips move, poorly developed musculature in the hind quarters and the weight-carrying legs.

Treatments
Fortunately, there are many treatment options available to help dogs suffering from CHD, ranging from drug therapy to relieve pain to total hip replacement. The use of these options will depend on the dog's weight, age, and severity of the disease. Your veterinarian will help you decide which option may be best suited for your dog.

Dog Health_Bone Craniomandibular Osteopathy

2008-08-05T18:19:00.000-07:00

Craniomandibular osteopathy is a serious jaw bone disorder that occurs primarily in young dogs, most often in terriers. The most common breeds affected are West Highland White Terriers, Scottish Terriers and Cairn Terriers. However, Craniomandibular Osteopathy has also been recognized in other terrier breeds as well as in Boxers, Labs, Great Danes and Dobermans. It normally becomes evident in most affected dogs before 10 months, although it’s not uncommon for the disease’s symptoms to appear at later ages in some dogs.

Symptoms
Excessive bone development occurs along the jaw and spreads to the temporal region. Affected dogs have difficulty chewing and swallowing and may experience moderate to severe drooling. Most dogs experience great pain when opening their mouths, but some dogs don’t show hardly any pain. Moderate to high fever also frequently accompanies this disorder, and weight loss can occur resulting from the dog’s difficulty in eating. Atrophy, the shrinking of muscles over the dog’s head and jaw, can also occur.

Treatments
Pain in most dogs afflicted with Craniomandibular Osteopathy can be reduced using aspirin or corticosteroids; however, treatment does not result in cure. In most instances, most dogs can be stabilized with these drug treatments and maintain their normal nutritional eating habits. Unfortunately, since Craniomandibular Osteopathy is a progressive disease, surgery aimed at reducing the bony mass and increasing the dog’s joint range of motion has not resulted in permanent improvement.

Dog Health_Bone Defects - Congenital

2008-08-03T00:31:00.000-07:00

Congenital bone defects, also known as Osteochondrosis or OCD, is a somewhat common and painful disease that is characterized by abnormal cartilage-to-bone transformation. As a result, cartilage and bone fragments may break off into your dog’s joint space, causing mild to extremely severe discomfort and pain.

Osteochondrosis isn’t a form of arthritis, although it can and often does lead to arthritis. Larger breeds of dog have a genetic predisposition towards the condition, which generally results from rapid growth. The pain created by osteochondrosis is similar to “growing pains” experienced by many dogs as they mature from pups to adolescents to adults.

Cartilage is the bone tissue that contributes to pain-free motion. Osteochondrosis is a congenital defect in joint cartilage development that leads to the development of a loose piece or flap of cartilage. This loose cartilage can give rise to secondary degenerative joint disease. Secondary degenerative joint disease, which generally develops as a result of osteochondrosis, occurs early in the dog's life as opposed to the "wear and tear" arthritis that many dogs experience later in life.

Areas most commonly affected by osteochondrosis include the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle.

Symptoms
Unlike most diseases, the various forms of OCD don’t produce immediate, obvious symptoms. There are, however, several clues you can watch for, particularly if you have a larger dog:

Lameness and pain in the affected joint.
Restricted movement of the affected joint.
Muscle wasting in the most affected side.
Detecting the symptoms of osteochondrosis depends on where the problem is located. The dog may try to compensate for lameness caused by OCD by restricting its movement of the affected joint. For example, if your dog’s elbow is affected, it may swing his/her leg outward in a circular motion to avoid bending the elbow. Although osteochondrosis usually affects both sides of a bone, one bone end maybe worse than the other bone end.

Treatments
Treating OCD is most often directed towards inhibiting further cartilage breakdown of the joint and toward decreasing the affected dog’s pain. Fortunately, there are a number of medical and surgical procedures available that can ease your dog's discomfort and pain, thereby restoring its overall health and mobility to near normal levels. The type of treatment that your vet recommends will depend upon on such factors as your dog’s age, the severity of the problem, as well as cost considerations. Non surgical treatment of osteochondrosis will likely consists of exercise restriction, body weight management and pain management using analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Dog Health_Arthritis - Treatment Information

2008-08-01T00:35:00.000-07:00

There is a wide range of treatment options available for treating arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease).

Adequate Rest: Dogs with degenerative joint disease need adequate rest. Rest helps to decrease inflammation and strengthen joints. Too much exercise and over-use of the damaged joints will aggravate symptoms and may also accelerate joint destruction. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to determine how much rest and exercise a pet needs.

Too much exercise may make matters worse while not enough may reduce muscle tone. Your veterinarian can assist you in determining how much exercise and rest is ideal for your pet.

Avoid Overexertion: As a guideline, any activity that causes your pet to become acutely lame for a period of time afterward is excessive and the level of activity should be reduced accordingly. Avoid strenuous exercise and periods of overexertion, which can accelerate the destruction within the joints.

Control Exercise: Properly controlled exercise will help maintain muscle tone and joint flexibility. Failure to provide adequate exercise is just as bad as providing too much. Controlled exercise can consist of several short walks on a leash every day, interspersed with short periods of rest. Swimming, when possible, is another ideal form of exercise, providing exercise without stressing the joints.

As the dog strengthens, and if there are no adverse side effects (such as lameness, soreness, stiffness or reluctance to walk), periods of exercise can be lengthened and more strenuous types of activity introduced. If adverse effects do occur, the amount of exercise must be reduced accordingly. Once again, your veterinarian can prove very helpful in providing advice.

Weight Reduction: Dogs that are obese should be started on a weight-reduction program. Obesity places excessive stress on joints and may hasten further joint degeneration.

Pain Relief: Currently, there are a number of treatments available to help dogs with arthritis become pain-free and mobile once again. Nutritional supplements (e.g. glucosamine sulphate, chondriotin sulphate), cortico steroids, and NSAIDS (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs), alone or in combination, may prove helpful. Recently, the introduction of new drugs such as Metacam7™ (meloxicam) and Rimadyl7™(carprofen) have dramatically changed the way veterinarians treat arthritis. These new generation NSAIDS are proving to be extremely effective yet are well tolerated by patients over long periods of time. Your veterinarian can advise you on which treatments are best suited for your dog. Cats usually do not require drug therapy since they are not affected by DJD to the same extent that dogs are.

Surgery: Surgery is used only in very select cases. For example, occasionally, fusion of the joints may be warranted to help relieve pain or restore limited function. In other cases, insertion of a prosthetic device (e.g. hip joint) or removal of joint debris may also prove helpful. However, in most cases, surgical intervention is not a suitable alternative for the treatment of degenerative joint disease.

For additional information on bone disorders, see Joint Pains

Dog Health_Bone Aches

2008-07-30T02:14:00.000-07:00

Bone Aches
Panosteitis is an inflammatory disease of the bones of young dogs. It causes a sudden onset of lameness, resulting in recurrent limping. It occurs in many breeds of dogs, but German shepherds, especially males, seem more prone to developing it. Dogs between five to twelve months of age are most often affected, although it can strike as early as two months and as late as five years of age.

Symptoms
Panosteitis usually affects the long bones and seldom involves more than one leg at a time. Once it has affected a bone, it is not likely to reappear in that same bone again. As a result, a dog may limp on one leg for a short while, stop limping, and then limp on another leg. The cause of panosteitis remains unknown. Some experts believe that hereditary factors are involved, especially since this disease seems to occur along familial lines. Nutrition does not appear to be implicated, but allergies, metabolic disturbances, infections, immune system dysfunction, parasitism, and hormonal problems have been suggested as possible causes.

Treatments
Most affected dogs recover without treatment by two years of age.Until then, episodes of lameness may occur with varying degrees of severity and for varying lengths of time. These episodes may occur at irregular intervals two to three weeks apart, and may last from several days to several weeks. Each episode can range from mild lameness to complete disuse of the leg. As the dog gets older, the severity of the lameness episodes should gradually lessen and the periods of remission in between the attacks should last longer. Eventually, the disease runs its course and the patient is free of pain and clinical signs.

To diagnose this disorder, your veterinarian takes an x-ray of the affected leg. Once a diagnosis of panosteitis has been made, your veterinarian may suggest medication to relieve inflammation and pain. Treating with prednisone is effective in relieving pain and resolving lameness, but does not alter the course of the disease. Restricting exercise or enforcing rest does not appear to make any difference. Too much exercise, on the other hand, should be discouraged.

Dog Health_Bloody Diarrhea (Parvovirus)

2008-07-29T00:38:00.000-07:00

Canine parvoviral enteritis, caused by the canine parvovirus, is a highly contagious disease in dogs that affects their digestive system. Before the late 1970's, parvoviral enteritis did not even exist and most of what we now know of this disease has been discovered since then. It is now known that the diseases is transmitted via the oral/fecal route. Huge numbers of virus are shed in the stools of infected dogs for up to two weeks after infection. Since the virus is extremely hardy, it can survive and remain infectious for months in the environment and is extremely difficult to kill with disinfectants.

Symptoms
Once an unprotected dog is exposed to the virus, it only takes about 5 days to show signs of the disease. These signs can include loss of appetite, lethargy, fever, vomiting, and profuse and usually bloody diarrhea. Death occurs in severe cases, usually as a result of dehydration, overwhelming infection, or shock. This is especially true in young unprotected dogs (especially puppies between weaning and six months of age), although dogs of any age can become infected. Certain breeds such as Rottweiler and Doberman pinschers are at higher risk.

Parvoviral infections can occur inside the uterus during pregnancy or shortly after birth, causing acute inflammation of the puppies' heart muscles (called myocarditis). While this was quite common in the early days of the disease, this rarely occurs now since most dams are protected against the virus (usually via vaccination) and pass on their immunity to their puppies.

Parvoviral enteritis is often suspected when bloody diarrhea occurs in a dog. A simple test is available that can be performed quickly and inexpensively at a veterinary hospital. Fortunately, most dogs recover with early treatment. In fact, if an animal can survive the first 3-4 days of illness, a full recovery can be anticipated barring an unforeseen complications.

Treatments
Since the virus is so tough and can survive in the environment for such a long time, it is almost impossible to prevent exposure. Vaccination is the only truly effective way of preventing and controlling this disease. Your veterinarian can advise you on which vaccination schedule is best suited for your dog.

Dog Health:Beaver Fever

2008-07-29T00:31:00.000-07:00

Beaver Fever is a disease that dogs and people can contract by drinking water from a contaminated source, such as a pond, a lake, or even a puddle. The disease is actually called giardiasis, and it is caused by a microscopic single-celled parasite called Giardia, that can infect the intestines of people and animals.

Giardia is found in bodies of water across North America and the common name for this disease in people, "beaver fever", originated when it was observed that beavers in beaver-dammed waterways could spread the parasite. It is thought that the organism comes from the feces of infected wild animals, including rodents, and also from pets and humans. Licking their paws after walking in a contaminated area may also infect pets, especially dogs. This parasite has been found in municipal water supplies in some regions, which may explain how some indoor housecats develop giardiasis. The giardia parasite is extremely hardy and can survive outside the host for long periods of time even when the environment is cool and damp.

Symptoms
Giardia is an important parasite for a number of reasons. It poses a risk to human health because it can be transmitted to people, causing severe gastrointestinal disease, especially in immunocompromised people, including the elderly, newborns, pregnant women, and cancer and AIDS patients. In some instances, infected individuals can carry this parasite without any signs of illness. It also affects pets and can cause vomiting and significant diarrhea. The abdomen can also be gassy and bloated. In pets that show no clinical signs, the parasite can nevertheless be harmful by robbing the intestines of essential nutrients during digestion, causing weight loss or lethargy. Giardia has also been associated with allergies in some species.

Treatments
Since it is almost impossible to keep dogs and outdoor cats from drinking water outdoors, it is important to have your veterinarian test your pet's stools on a regular basis, particularly at the end of the summer. There is also a new vaccine available for dogs to prevent this disease that is safe and easy to administer. Consult your veterinarian about this vaccine and other aspects of this disease.

Dog Health: about Asthma

2008-07-28T00:38:00.000-07:00

Asthma is a disease that can affect both dogs and cats. It results in an obstruction of the airways when the bronchi (the air passages in the lungs) fill up with mucous and go into spasms (bronchoconstriction). It is far more common in cats than dogs. Asthma is more common in Siamese and Himalayan cat breeds.

Symptoms
Dogs and cats of any age can get asthma, but it occurs more commonly in young and middle-aged pets. The primary sign is coughing, which cat owners sometimes confuse with attempts to cough up hairballs. Owners often report wheezing and, in rare cases, respiratory distress occurs resulting in open mouth breathing and purple gums and tongue. This latter condition is an emergency. In some cases, pets may become lethargic and stop eating, resulting in weight loss. Between episodes, pets are usually normal. Triggers for asthma may include second hand smoke, litter dust, air pollution and certain fragrances.

Treatments
To diagnose asthma, it is necessary to perform an X-ray of the chest and perform additional tests to rule out other respiratory problems. These may include heartworm tests, blood counts and chemistries, and bronchial lavage. Once a diagnosis of allergic bronchitis has been made, treatment often consists of steroids, antihistamines, bronchodilators, perhaps antibiotics or a combination of these drugs. In severe attacks, oxygen therapy may be necessary.

The prognosis for control of this disease is excellent, with most pets living happy and normal lives with the help of life-long medication. Unless an underlying cause can be determined, a cure is unlikely. Your veterinarian can help to determine both the cause of asthma as well as the treatment options best suited to your pet.

Dog Health:Arthritis - Treatment Information

2008-07-28T00:36:00.000-07:00

Problems of dog Anal Gland

2008-07-27T00:50:00.000-07:00

Anal glands are two small glands or sacs located on either side of the anus. The purpose of the anal glands is known to be the application of pheromone-rich secretion to the outside of the stool in order to mark territory- this is an important function in roaming animals.

Most dogs and cats empty these glands on their own whenever they have a bowel movement or during exercise. Dogs and cats that have problems with impacted anal glands usually do so for a variety of reasons. Some may have anal gland problems because they are being fed a low fibre diet. A high fibre diet results in voluminous stools, which tend to naturally "milk" the glands during a bowel movement. Obesity and/or a lack of exercise can result in impacted anal glands because the glands do not get expressed naturally.

Symptoms
When the anal glands fail to empty, most pets simply rub their hind ends along the ground (called "scooting") thereby squeezing and emptying the glands. If unsuccessful, they may become uncomfortable, begin straining, and start excessive licking and biting of the anal area. If left untreated, a rash around the anus may develop due to self-trauma. Some dogs may chase their tails and some dogs undergo changes in temperament.

Taking your dog or cat to your veterinarian when scooting occurs is prudent. Manual expression of the anal glands by a veterinarian often resolves the problem and prevents complications. Repeated expressing of the glands does not seem to increase the frequency of anal gland impaction.

Pets that require constant anal gland emptying should be thoroughly assessed by a veterinarian to make sure that there is no underlying medical problem. For example, pets may rub and lick their rectal area for reasons other than impacted anal glands, such as allergies (e.g. inhalants or food), intestinal parasites (e.g. tapeworms) and tumours. By far, the most common reason for anal gland problems is an infection of the anal glands, called anal saculitis, which requires antibiotics to clear the infection.

Treatments
If all possible medical causes have been ruled out and the problem still persists, surgery may be a reasonable and effective alternative. While loss of anal sphincter control can be a surgical complication postoperatively, it occurs only rarely. Your veterinarian will be happy to discuss treatment options with you.

Skin Allergies of dog

2008-07-27T00:47:00.000-07:00

Dogs can get allergies just as people can. Atopy, also known as allergic inhalant dermatitis, is a disease that occurs in humans, dogs and cats. It is an inherited disorder that causes patients to become sensitized or allergic to allergens in the environment. It is a common disease that affects 10 to 15 per cent of the canine population. However, the signs of allergies in dogs are very different from those seen in humans.

Symptoms
Although the age of onset is usually between one and three years, atopy, however, can start at any age. At first, the allergy may surface during a particular season, but as the patient gets older, the signs of allergy tend to worsen and last all year long. The main signs of atopy are mainly itchiness and scratching in one or more of the following areas:

Face - Rubbing of the face, including around the eyes, ears, and muzzle. There is often a history of chronic recurrent ear infections.
Paws - Dogs with atopy often bite, chew and/or lick their paws.
Groin/Underarms - There may be chewing, licking, biting and/or scratching between the back legs (groin) and/or the armpits.
Eventually, the itchiness may involve the whole body. Respiratory signs, such as sneezing, wheezing, and coughing, rarely occur. If left untreated, atopy can lead to secondary infections, including bacterial and yeast infections. An infection can make itching even more severe, as well as complicating the treatment of this disease.

Treatments
Your veterinarian diagnoses atopy by means of a thorough history-taking and physical examination. If necessary, an allergy test may be done to confirm the diagnosis while at the same time determining what it is that your dog is allergic to.

Symptoms and Treatments of dog Food Allergies

2008-07-26T00:49:00.000-07:00

Food allergies in dogs are thought to account for approximately five per cent of all skin cases and 15 per cent of allergic skin diseases seen in clinical practice. The most common allergens are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, eggs, corn and soy. However, dogs can be allergic to foods other than these and to more than one kind of food.

Symptoms
In dogs, common clinical signs of food allergy are related to the skin and include itching, scratching, biting and/or chewing of some or all of the following areas: ears, around the eyes and muzzle, paws, underarms, groin, and anus. In some cases, there may also be episodes of vomiting and/or loose stools, excess flatulence, and stretching (posture of relief). Food allergy must be distinguished from dietary intolerance, which does not affect the skin but manifests itself primarily with vomiting and diarrhea.

Treatments
To determine if your dog has food allergies, ask your veterinarian to place your dog on an elimination test diet. This remains the most reliable and accurate method of diagnosing food allergies. Once a diagnosis of food allergy has been made, your dog can then be put on a commercially available "'hypoallergenic" diet that avoids those foods to which your dog is allergic.

If, on the other hand, your dog proves not to have a food allergy, there are many other possible reasons for itching and scratching in dogs. Your veterinarian can do other tests to try to determine a cause.

Symptoms and Treatments of dog Addison’s Disease

2008-07-26T00:45:00.000-07:00

Addison’s is most correctly termed hypoadrenocorticism in animals; a complex word for an equally complex disease! It is caused by a hormonal deficiency that results from the reduced production of certain hormones released from the adrenal glands, a pair of small but very important structures that are located at the tip of each kidney. There are two major classes of hormones that can be affected, the glucocorticoid (cortisol) and the mineralocorticoid (aldosterone) hormones. The signs of this condition in dogs and cats vary considerably depending on how much of each hormone is missing. Certain dog breeds such as Standard Poodles, Rottweilers, Westies and Great Danes appear to have increased risk of developing this condition. This is a fairly uncommon condition in dogs, and is very rare in cats.

Symptoms
Common symptoms of this disease include vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss and increased thirst and urination. In dogs, bloody diarrhea sometimes occurs. In a severe crisis, the animal may collapse, have a low body temperature, a weak pulse, and dehydration. The blood electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and chloride are often out of balance as well. Blood sugar levels may also be reduced and nitrogen wastes may accumulate in the bloodstream. The reduced hormone production may result from adrenal gland malfunction (termed Addison's disease in humans) or from low stimulation hormone production in the pituitary gland of the brain, which is the master controller gland for the adrenals. That brain hormone, which is called adrenocorticotrophic, stimulates the adrenal gland hormone’s release after it travels through the bloodstream.

The history and the physical examination are helpful for identifying the effects of hypoadrenocorticism, but the diagnosis is confirmed by examining blood counts, blood chemistry and electrolyte levels, and performing an ACTH stimulation test. In healthy pets, ACTH administration causes increased blood cortisol hormone levels. In afflicted pets, there will be reduced levels before and after the ACTH test. Sometimes X-rays are also helpful to check for reduced heart size, another potential effect of the hormone deficiency.

Treatments
Your veterinarian will design a treatment program based on the severity of the signs and the source of the problem (pituitary or adrenal gland). Therapy consists of supportive care in a very ill patient and replacement hormone therapy for life. These prescribed hormones must often be increased if the pet is stressed. It is very important that changes in dosages are prescribed and overseen by your veterinarian. Follow up monitoring is essential and all prescriptions should be carefully adhered to. Many pets carry on with a normal life once this condition is stabilized.

Dog:Acromegaly in Animals

2008-07-24T23:38:00.000-07:00

Acromegaly is a disorder marked by progressive enlargement of the head, face, hands, and feet due to excessive secretion of somatotropin (growth hormone).

Chronic overproduction of growth hormone in man and the cat is most often caused by a GH-producing tumor of the pituitary gland. In dogs the usual cause is quite different and the disorder is reversible.

Clinical signs include gait abnormalities consisting of chronic progressive stiffness and rigidity. Other symptoms are increased appetite associated with weight gain, excess urination (polyuria) and increased thirst (polydipsia), excessive panting, progressive thickening of the skin, prominent skin folds, noisy breathing and enlargement of the tongue.

Diagnosis A definitive diagnosis requires measurement of increased plasma growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations in suspected cases.

Treatment Acromegaly is encountered in intact female dogs that were treated with progestagens to prevent estrus and in dogs during diestrus (period of sexual inactivity). Progestagen withdrawal and/or ovariohysterectomy will result in a reduction of plasma GH and GH-dependent insulin-like growth factor concentrations and appreciable clinical improvement.

Feline acromegaly is most commonly caused by a functional pituitary tumor. Definitive diagnosis can be difficult because of the gradual disease onset, subtle clinical signs, unavailability of relevant laboratory tests, and client financial investment. The most significant clinical finding of acromegaly is the presence of insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus. Diagnosis is currently based upon brain imaging and measurement of serum GH and/or insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations. Definitive treatment in cats is not well described, but radiation therapy appears promising.

Dog: Cone Degeneration, Achromatopsia

2008-07-24T23:37:00.001-07:00

Segregation of the domestic dog population into separate breeds, driven by artificial selection for defined phenotypic and behavioral traits, has been marked by the emergence of inherited canine diseases that are often directly comparable to those observed in humans. In humans, a cd-like condition referred to as achromatopsia, total color blindness, day-blindness or rod monochromacy has been extensively described. [4]

Cone degeneration (cd ) is an autosomal recessive canine disease that occurs naturally in the Alaskan Malamute, miniature poodles and German Shorthaired Pointer breeds, although this condition may exist in other breeds of dogs.[3] Canine cone degeneration (cd ) was first observed in an inbred strain of Alaskan Malamute dogs in 1960, and is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait (15). Cone-degenerate pups develop day-blindness and photophobia between 8 and 12 weeks postnatal, the age when retinal development is normally completed in dogs. Symptoms are present only in bright light; vision in dim light is normal. Affected dogs remain ophthalmoscopically normal throughout life.[4] It is similar to human achromatopsia, a heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorder. Both the canine disease and its human counterparts are characterized by day-blindness and absence of retinal cone function in adults.[2] You will know that your dog has day-blindness when you notice him colliding with obstacles in daylight.

In humans, achromatopsia is characterized by reduced visual acuity, pendular nystagmus, increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), day blindness, reduced or complete loss of color discrimination. All individuals with achromatopsia (achromats) have impaired color discrimination along all three axes of color vision.

Achromatopsia is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. At conception, each sib of an affected individual has a 25% chance of being affected, a 50% chance of being an asymptomatic carrier, and a 25% chance of being unaffected and not a carrier. Once an at-risk sib is known to be unaffected, the risk of his/her being a carrier is 2/3. Heterozygotes (carriers) are asymptomatic. Carrier testing for family members at risk for CNGA3 or CNGB3 mutations is available on a clinical basis once the mutations have been identified.[1]

Dog:Acral Lick Dermatitis, Lick Granuloma

2008-07-24T23:33:00.000-07:00

Acral lick dermatitis in dogs is one of the most common and frustrating dermatological problems encountered in general practice. The condition is now accepted as being a multifactorial disease, and attempts to manage it with a single treatment are usually doomed to failure.

Acral lick dermatitis, lick granuloma, or acral pruritic nodule is a single or multiple lesion on one or more extremities resulting from excessive and persistent licking. The exact cause is not known.

Many factors, or triggers, have been suggested to predispose to or cause acral lick dermatitis, including allergy (atopic dermatitis, food), psychogenic cases, boredom, bacterial folliculitis, foreign bodies, neuropathy, local trauma, and joint or bone diseases. Independent of the contributing factor, once the lesion has developed it will contribute to the perpetuation of the compulsive licking behavior.

Lesions are usually single but they can be multiple. Large breeds are predisposed (Doberman pincher, Labrador retriever, Dalmation, Irish setter, Weimaraner, German shepherd, Great dane). Onset of lesions can occur at any age, but it is more common in dogs more than 5 years of age. Lesions tend to be recurrent, either at the same or different sites. There is often a history of poor or partial response to many therapeutic treatments. Lesions are created and maintained by constant licking or chewing. Clinically the lesion is characterized by alopecic, red, eroded or ulcerated, firm, nodular plaque(s).
DIAGNOSIS Diagnosis of acral lick dermatitis is based on history, clinical signs, and elimination of other primary causes. It may include skin scrapings, impression smear cytology, and fungal culture (to rule out dermatophytosis). Biopsy of the lesion is helpful to rule out neoplasia (e.g. mast cell tumor). If joint or bone involvement is suspected, radiographs should be taken. If there is a history of intense itchiness pruritus (either seasonal or nonseasonal) an allergy test is performed.
TREATMENT Approximately 65% of the cases can be satisfactorily controlled with medical and/or behavior management. Even if an underlying problem has been identified and treated, concurrent treatment of the skin condition is essential. It is important to treat the frequently associated secondary bacterial infection with appropriate long-term (6 to 8 weeks) antibiotics. Treatment of this condition can be complicated, and in selected cases surgical removal of the affected area is indicated, particularly if the lesion is small, although complication may develop.

To stop the lick cycle device to prevent licking are recommended : elizabethan collar, bandaging, bad tasting topicals, basquet muzzle. The following drugs aimed to alliviate anxiety are used: phenobarbital, diazepam (Valium), hydroxyzine (Atarax); tricyclic antidepressants: amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), and Clomipramine (Anafranil).

The successful treatment of lick granulomas relies on a thorough investigation of potential underlying causes and a combination of treatments that may include systemic, topical, behavioral, and surgical methods.

PROGNOSIS In most cases a fair to guarded prognosis is given to dogs with acral lick dermatitis. If the underlying condition can be determined, the prognosis improves dramatically.

Dog Achondroplasia, Dwarfism, Dwarf Syndrome

2008-07-24T00:41:00.000-07:00

Achondroplasia, the most common type of dwarfism in humans, is a hereditary disease characterized by short limbs, small face with normal trunk. Fingers are widely opposed and equal length ("trident hands").[3] Although achondroplasia literally means "without cartilage formation," the problem is not in forming cartilage but in converting it to bone, particularly in the long bones of the arms and legs.[4]

It is an autosomal-dominant condition caused by a mutation in the gene that codes for fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). The FGFR3 gene provides instructions for making a protein that is involved in the development and maintenance of bone and brain tissue. This protein limits the formation of bone from cartilage (a process called ossification), particularly in the long bones. Two specific mutations in the FGFR3 gene are responsible for almost all cases of achondroplasia. Researchers believe that these mutations cause the protein to be overly active, which interferes with skeletal development and leads to the disturbances in bone growth seen with this disorder.

Diagnosis
Achondroplasia can be diagnosed by characteristic clinical and radiographic findings in most affected individuals. In individuals who may be too young to diagnose with certainty or in individuals with atypical findings, molecular genetic testing can be used to detect a mutation in the FGFR3 gene. Such testing detects mutations in 99% of affected individuals and is available in clinical laboratories.[2]

The average height of an adult male with achondroplasia is 131 centimeters (4 feet, 4 inches), and the average height for adult females is 124 centimeters (4 feet, 1 inch). enlarged head (macrocephaly) with a prominent forehead. Fingers are typically short and the ring finger and middle finger may diverge, giving the hand a three-pronged (trident) appearance. People with achondroplasia are generally of normal intelligence.[4]

Health problems commonly associated with achondroplasia include episodes in which breathing slows or stops for short periods (apnea), obesity, and recurrent ear infections. In adulthood, individuals with the condition usually develop a pronounced and permanent sway of the lower back (lordosis) and bowed legs. Older individuals often have back pain, which can cause difficulty with walking.

Over 80% of individuals with achondroplasia have parents with normal stature and have achondroplasia as the result of a de novo gene mutation. Such parents have a low risk of having another child with achondroplasia. An individual with achondroplasia who has a reproductive partner with normal stature has a 50% risk in each pregnancy of having a child with achondroplasia. When both parents have achondroplasia, the risk to their offspring of having normal stature is 25%; of having achondroplasia, 50%; and of having homozygous achondroplasia (a lethal condition), 25%. Prenatal molecular genetic testing is available.[2]

In dogs, achondroplasia can be a mild condition, with slightly bowing or simply short legs, causing no discomfort to the animal, or severe, in which case extensive orthopedic surgery may be needed to both alleviate pain and allow the dog to function normally. This surgery, most frequently an ulna, or radial/ulna osteotomy, is generally performed at an year of age, when bone growth is nearly complete, and surgical success is variable.

The condition is variously referred by orthopedic specialists as ACH, Achondroplastic dwarfism, Chondrodystrophia fetalis, Chondrodystrophy syndrome, Congenital,osteosclerosis, Dwarf, achondroplastic, Osteosclerosis congenita. These various definitions mean the same—abnormal development of bone from cartilage. It is also characterized by with shortened maxilla (upper jaw) and is sometimes associated with kneecap and elbow luxation.[1]

Offspring can look normal at birth and weaning, but at the age of 2.5 to 4 months the longitudinal growth of the spine and leg bones can retard in the dwarfs compared with the normal littermates. Most dwarfs perform well, even in the field.[5]

Dog Acanthosis Nigricans

2008-07-23T00:03:00.000-07:00

This is a rare disease of unknown cause seen exclusively in Dachshunds. It begins with subtle symmetrical hyperpigmentation in the armpits. The early lesions then progress slowly to hair loss. Greasy, smelly debris accumilate in more severely affected dogs. The abdomen, groin, chest, anal area, forelimbs and hock may all be involved.

The term "acanthosis nigricans" also has been used generically to describe clicnical cutaneous reaction pattern which is characterized by visually similar lesions and is seen in a variety of different breeds. Acanthosis nigricans is similar to chronic hyperplastic dermatitis, particularly due to allergy, but may be less inflamed.

Diagnosis A careful history and physical examination is performed to identify an underlying cause. Skin scrapings are performed to rule out demodicosis, especially in young dogs. Impression smears are useful to identify bacterial and Malassezia infections.

Affected animals should not be bred in order to avoid possible propagation of the defect, in the event that there is an inheritable basis.

Allergy

Latest research news on allergies and allergy treatments. Learn the symptoms of a food allergy, how to treat dog allergies, cat allergies, mold allergies and other allergy problems.

Treatment Primary acanthosis nigricans in Dachshunds is not curable. Early cases may respond to shampoo therapy and local topical glucocorticoids, for example, betamethasone valerate ointment. As lesions progress, more aggressive systemic therapy may be useful. In secondary acanthosis nigricans, the lesions will spontaneously resolve after identification and correction of the underlying cause. However, this will not occur if secondary bacterial and yeast pyodermas are not treated appropriately.

Vitamin E has been sucessfully used in the treatment of a variety of skin diseases including discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, and epidermolysis bullosa simplex. Vitamin E is rarely sucessful alone in the management of these conditions, but offers a relatively-nontoxic aid to therapy.

AA Amyloidosis (Inflammatory)

2008-07-21T19:15:00.000-07:00

Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis is the most common form of systemic amyloidosis worldwide. It is characterized by extracellular tissue deposition of fibrils that are composed of fragments of serum amyloid A (SAA) protein, a major acute-phase reactant protein, produced mainly by liver cells (hepatocytes). It occurs in the course of a chronic inflammatory disease of either infectious or noninfectious origin, hereditary periodic fevers, and with certain neoplasms such as Hodgkin disease and renal cell carcinoma.[1]

Glomerular amyloidosis usually causes protein in the urine. Amyloidosis is sometimes inherited in Chinese Shar-Peis [2].

There are several types of amyloid, and the classification of amyloidosis is based on which amyloid protein is involved. Amyloid is now classified chemically. The amyloidoses are referred to with a capital A (for amyloid) followed by an abbreviation for the fibril protein. Twenty-three different fibril proteins are described in human amyloidosis with variable clinical features. In all forms of amyloidosis, the cell secretes the precursor protein in a soluble form that becomes insoluble at some tissue site, compromising organ function. In humans, some of the conditions associated with AA include the following:

Rheumatoid arthritis
Juvenile chronic arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
Adult Still disease and Behcet syndrome
Familial Mediterranean fever
Crohn disease
Leprosy
Osteomyelitis
Tuberculosis
Chronic bronchiectasis
Castleman disease
Hodgkin disease
Renal cell carcinoma
Carcinoma of the gut, lung, or urogenital tract
AA is the most common systemic amyloidosis; it was formerly termed secondary amyloidosis.

[3]
Deposists of AA amyloid can result from chronic inflammatory diseases, chronic bacterial infections, and cancer

Acne in Dogs

2008-02-09T14:07:00.000-08:00

Canine acne is a benign self-limiting disease of the chin and lips of young dogs. Short-coated dogs, such as boxers, bulldogs and rottweilers, are at increased risk for acne. The condition starts at puberty around 5 to 8 months of age. Most dogs improve with age and the condition typically resolves after one year of age.

The exact pathogenesis has not been established. Genetics, hormones and trauma have been hypothesized to play a role.

What to Watch For

Red bumps (papules) and blackheads (comedones) are usually noted on the chin and lips of young dogs. They may become infected and pus can be expressed from these lesions.

When infection is present itching may develop and the dog may start rubbing his face against carpet and furniture.

Diagnosis

A clinical diagnosis of acne is usually made considering the breed, the age of onset and appearance of the lesions.

However, there are other diseases that may look similar to acne that need to be ruled out.

Demodicosis. This is a non-contagious type of mange, and it is important to do skin scrapings to rule out the possibility of demodicosis. Your veterinarian will scrape an area on the chin until there is some capillary bleeding and then examine the material under a light microscope.

Ringworm (dermatophytosis). This disease may also start with lesions resembling acne, so a fungal culture may be necessary. Hairs are plucked and submitted for culture, and results are available in 10 to 14 days.

Puppy strangles. This is another disease that could start with lesions similar to the those seen with acne. The main difference is that, animals with puppy strangles are depressed and anorexic (poor appetite), while dogs with acne are otherwise healthy.

Treatment

The treatment for acne is typically topical treatment. Some gels are similar to those people use for acne, like benzoyl peroxide. It is important that you use only the products recommended by your veterinarian, as your dog's skin is thinner and more sensitive than yours. The average product containing benzoyl peroxide for human acne contains 10 percent benzoyl peroxide while the maximum concentration that could be used on a dog is 5 percent.

Some treatments may include:

Washes containing benzoyl peroxide twice weekly. Only veterinary products should be used. Most shampoos contain 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide, such as Oxydex® shampoo.

Some dogs may benefit from topical antibiotics like mupirocin to limit the secondary infection. These products should be used twice daily and gently massaged on the area until completely absorbed.

Topical steroids may be used to decrease the swelling and the inflammation on the area. Gloves should be used when applying these products.

In severe cases systemic therapy may be necessary and you will need to administer pills once or twice daily for a prolonged period of time.

Antibiotic therapy like cephalexin may be necessary for 6 to 8 weeks in chronic cases.

Retinoids are not usually used in dogs with acne, as the formation and development of canine acne appears to be different from people's acne.

Home Care

Trauma should be avoided to limit scar formation. You may be required to apply antibacterial lotions or ointments.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Toxicity in Dogs

2008-02-09T14:05:00.000-08:00

Acetaminophen is a medication commonly used to alleviate fever and pain. Common brands include Tylenol®, Percoset®, aspirin free Excedrin® and various sinus, cold and flu medications. Dogs most commonly receive toxic amounts of acetaminophen because owners medicate them without consulting a veterinarian. They also consume tablets that are dropped on the floor or left lying around.

Dogs are less sensitive to acetaminophen than cats. For example, a 50 pound dog would need to ingest over seven 500 mg tablets in order to suffer toxic effects. In the cat, one 250 mg acetaminophen tablet could be fatal.

In addition to severe liver failure, acetaminophen causes damage to red blood cells. These include:

Hemolysis, which is the destruction of red blood cells

Formation of Heinz bodies, which are defects in red cells that cause them to be removed from

circulation sooner than normal

Formation of methemoglobin, a non-functional type of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin allows red blood cells to carry oxygen. When methemoglobin is formed, red blood cells cannot carry oxygen and the cat has difficulty breathing.

What to Watch For

The symptoms of acetaminophen toxicity develop in stages. Symptoms may occur more quickly or slowly depending on the amount ingested.

Stage 1 (0-12 hours). Symptoms include vomiting, dullness, difficulty breathing, development of brown-colored gums (instead of a normal pink color) and drooling.

Stage 2 (12-24 hours). Symptoms include swelling of the face, lips and limbs, uncoordinated movements, convulsions, coma and potential death.

Stage 3 (more than 24 hours). Symptoms are associated with liver failure and include a painful belly, jaundice (yellow tinge to gums, eyes and skin) and an inappropriate mental state.

Diagnosis

Prompt veterinary care is crucial to surviving the toxic effects of acetaminophen. If the dog is treated soon after ingestion there is a greater chance of survival, regardless of the amount ingested.

The diagnosis of acetaminophen toxicity is generally based on physical exam findings and a history of access or exposure to acetaminophen.

Blood levels of acetaminophen can be analyzed, but the results may not be accessible for hours to days. Determination of blood methemoglobin levels can help determine how long treatment will be necessary as well as determine prognosis. Not all veterinary clinics have the ability to measure the methemoglobin level.

Treatment

Treatment is typically started as soon as the diagnosis is suspected, often in the absence of specific diagnostic test results. Blood work may be evaluated in order to assess the current function of the liver and the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin.

Hospitalization with continuous intravenous fluid therapy

Oxygen support

Activated charcoal to reduce the amount of acetaminophen absorbed by the stomach, if ingestion of the substance occurred within a few hours of admission to the hospital

Administration of acetylcysteine (Mucomyst®) to protect the liver from the toxic effects of acetaminophen. The medication cannot reverse liver damage that has already occurred but can help reduce further damage

Vitamin C to hasten elimination of the acetaminophen

Cimetidine (Tagamet®) to protect the liver from ongoing damage

In severe cases, blood transfusions and feeding tubes may be necessary

Dogs intoxicated with acetaminophen are generally hospitalized for 2-4 days. Prognosis for survival is based on how quickly the dog receives treatment following ingestion of a toxic amount of acetaminophen. Severe liver damage is often seen and may result in death despite therapy.

Home Care and Prevention

There is no home care for acetaminophen toxicity. If you suspect that your dog has ingested a toxic amount of acetaminophen, (one pill or more), contact your family veterinarian or local veterinary emergency facility immediately.

After surviving acetaminophen toxicity, permanent liver damage may have occurred. Special diets and lifetime medications may be needed to counteract the liver damage.

The best preventative care is to give your dog medications only as directed by your veterinarian. Medications that may be safe for people can be fatal to dogs. Also, make sure that all medications are kept out of the reach of inquisitive dogs. Keeping medicine safely stored away can prevent many tragedies.

Symptoms and Treatments of dog Skin Allergies

2008-01-23T22:31:00.000-08:00

Skin Allergies
Dogs can get allergies just as people can. Atopy, also known as allergic inhalant dermatitis, is a disease that occurs in humans, dogs and cats. It is an inherited disorder that causes patients to become sensitized or allergic to allergens in the environment. It is a common disease that affects 10 to 15 per cent of the canine population. However, the signs of allergies in dogs are very different from those seen in humans.

Symptoms
Although the age of onset is usually between one and three years, atopy, however, can start at any age. At first, the allergy may surface during a particular season, but as the patient gets older, the signs of allergy tend to worsen and last all year long. The main signs of atopy are mainly itchiness and scratching in one or more of the following areas:

Face - Rubbing of the face, including around the eyes, ears, and muzzle. There is often a history of chronic recurrent ear infections.
Paws - Dogs with atopy often bite, chew and/or lick their paws.
Groin/Underarms - There may be chewing, licking, biting and/or scratching between the back legs (groin) and/or the armpits.
Eventually, the itchiness may involve the whole body. Respiratory signs, such as sneezing, wheezing, and coughing, rarely occur. If left untreated, atopy can lead to secondary infections, including bacterial and yeast infections. An infection can make itching even more severe, as well as complicating the treatment of this disease.

Treatments
Your veterinarian diagnoses atopy by means of a thorough history-taking and physical examination. If necessary, an allergy test may be done to confirm the diagnosis while at the same time determining what it is that your dog is allergic to.

Symptoms of dog's Food Allergies and Treatments

2008-01-18T16:27:00.000-08:00

Food Allergies
Food allergies in dogs are thought to account for approximately five per cent of all skin cases and 15 per cent of allergic skin diseases seen in clinical practice. The most common allergens are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, eggs, corn and soy. However, dogs can be allergic to foods other than these and to more than one kind of food.

Symptoms
In dogs, common clinical signs of food allergy are related to the skin and include itching, scratching, biting and/or chewing of some or all of the following areas: ears, around the eyes and muzzle, paws, underarms, groin, and anus. In some cases, there may also be episodes of vomiting and/or loose stools, excess flatulence, and stretching (posture of relief). Food allergy must be distinguished from dietary intolerance, which does not affect the skin but manifests itself primarily with vomiting and diarrhea.

Treatments
To determine if your dog has food allergies, ask your veterinarian to place your dog on an elimination test diet. This remains the most reliable and accurate method of diagnosing food allergies. Once a diagnosis of food allergy has been made, your dog can then be put on a commercially available "'hypoallergenic" diet that avoids those foods to which your dog is allergic.

If, on the other hand, your dog proves not to have a food allergy, there are many other possible reasons for itching and scratching in dogs. Your veterinarian can do other tests to try to determine a cause.

Symptoms of dog Addison's Disease and Treatments

2008-01-15T22:52:00.000-08:00

Addison’s Disease
Addison’s is most correctly termed hypoadrenocorticism in animals; a complex word for an equally complex disease! It is caused by a hormonal deficiency that results from the reduced production of certain hormones released from the adrenal glands, a pair of small but very important structures that are located at the tip of each kidney. There are two major classes of hormones that can be affected, the glucocorticoid (cortisol) and the mineralocorticoid (aldosterone) hormones. The signs of this condition in dogs and cats vary considerably depending on how much of each hormone is missing. Certain dog breeds such as Standard Poodles, Rottweilers, Westies and Great Danes appear to have increased risk of developing this condition. This is a fairly uncommon condition in dogs, and is very rare in cats.

Symptoms
Common symptoms of this disease include vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss and increased thirst and urination. In dogs, bloody diarrhea sometimes occurs. In a severe crisis, the animal may collapse, have a low body temperature, a weak pulse, and dehydration. The blood electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and chloride are often out of balance as well. Blood sugar levels may also be reduced and nitrogen wastes may accumulate in the bloodstream. The reduced hormone production may result from adrenal gland malfunction (termed Addison's disease in humans) or from low stimulation hormone production in the pituitary gland of the brain, which is the master controller gland for the adrenals. That brain hormone, which is called adrenocorticotrophic, stimulates the adrenal gland hormone’s release after it travels through the bloodstream.

The history and the physical examination are helpful for identifying the effects of hypoadrenocorticism, but the diagnosis is confirmed by examining blood counts, blood chemistry and electrolyte levels, and performing an ACTH stimulation test. In healthy pets, ACTH administration causes increased blood cortisol hormone levels. In afflicted pets, there will be reduced levels before and after the ACTH test. Sometimes X-rays are also helpful to check for reduced heart size, another potential effect of the hormone deficiency.

Treatments
Your veterinarian will design a treatment program based on the severity of the signs and the source of the problem (pituitary or adrenal gland). Therapy consists of supportive care in a very ill patient and replacement hormone therapy for life. These prescribed hormones must often be increased if the pet is stressed. It is very important that changes in dosages are prescribed and overseen by your veterinarian. Follow up monitoring is essential and all prescriptions should be carefully adhered to. Many pets carry on with a normal life once this condition is stabilized.

Dog Health: Diseases, Symptoms and Treatments

2008-01-15T22:45:00.000-08:00

Like human health problems, some dog diseases, injuries and physical ailments are serious while others are not. Fortunately, the vast majority of health problems that dogs commonly experience can be successfully treated with medications, physical therapy, surgery, or other types of medical treatments.

Unfortunately, since animals can’t talk, it’s often very difficult to detect what type health problems dogs may be experiencing. We have, however, compiled the following list of common healthcare problems to help you detect and better understand possible problems that could affect your dog’s health and overall wellness.

If your dog is showing any of the symptoms that we have described for the various diseases and physical abnormalities listed below, it’s very important that you take your dog to see its vet at the earliest possible time. Early treatment will not only greatly improve your dog’s chances for a quick and complete recovery, but it could very well save your dog’s life.