Diseases

Why should I have my dog neutered?
Neutering should be considered if you are keeping any male dog as a pet. Remember that Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, and Dogs for the Disabled are all routinely neutered.

How common are ear infections in dogs?
Infection of the external ear canal (outer ear infection) is one of the most common types of infections seen in dogs. It is called otitis externa. Some breeds, particularly those with large, floppy, or hairy ears like Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Poodles or Old English Sheepdogs, are more prone to ear infections, but ear infections may occur in any breed.

What is a microchip?
A microchip is a tiny transponder, about the size of a grain of rice, that is encoded with a unique identification number. It is used for permanent identification. The technology is relatively recent, but is becoming widely available.

What is canine ehrlichiosis?
Ehrlichiosis is an infectious disease of dogs. It first gained attention as a significant disease when military dogs returning from Vietnam during the 1970’s were found to be infected. The disease seems to be particularly severe in German shepherds and Doberman pinchers.

What is the mitral valve?
The heart has four chambers. The upper chambers are called atria (the singular is atrium) and the lower chambers are called ventricles. The heart is also divided into right and left sides.

This condition is also known as Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, Legg-Perthes disease, Perthes disease, coxa plana, and aseptic or avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

What is Legg-Calve-Perthes disease?
The hip is a "ball and socket" joint. Necrosis or death of the femoral head means that the "ball" part of the joint is no longer properly functioning.

What is Orchidectomy?  
• Orchidectomy is the removal of one or both testicles.
• Neutering is a bilateral orchidectomy.

In recent years, veterinarians have made great progress in understanding how dogs feel pain and the best ways to manage that pain. Many dogs will instinctively hide their pain as a survival mechanism, which, in the past, led to incorrect assumptions about the ability of dogs to feel pain. Because we now understand more about how dogs feel pain, we now know how to recognize and manage it.

What is pancreatitis?
The pancreas is a vital organ which lies on the right side of the abdomen. It has two functions: 

1) To produce digestive enzymes that assist in food digestion

2) To produce hormones such as insulin 

When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the disorder is called pancreatitis. It is a disease process that is seen commonly in the dog. There is no age, sex, or breed predisposition.

What is pannus?
Pannus or chronic superficial keratitis is an immune-mediated condition affecting the cornea or clear part of the eye. It occurs primarily in middle-aged German Shepherd Dogs, but other breeds may also be affected.

When my dog was discharged from the hospital she was wearing a large plastic collar. Is this really necessary?
Elizabethan collars or E-collars are often used to prevent interference with any surgery site, wound, or dressings. It is natural for dogs to lick their wounds but this can seriously delay healing and result in infection or injury. It is important that a protective collar be used, especially when the dog is unattended and could inadvertently injure himself.

What is "parvo"?
Canine parvovirus (CPV) infection is a relatively new disease that appeared for the first time in dogs in 1978. Because of the severity of the disease and its rapid spread through the canine population, CPV has aroused a great deal of public interest. The virus that causes this disease is very similar to feline panleukopenia (feline distemper) and the two diseases are almost identical. Therefore, it has been speculated that the canine virus is a mutation of the feline virus. However, that has never been scientifically proven.

Medical emergencies occur suddenly and without warning. It is important for all dog owners to have a basic understanding of common veterinary medical emergencies and basic canine first aid.

What is pododermatitis?
Pododermatitis is a term used to describe inflammation of the feet or paws.

What is endocarditis?
Endocarditis refers to infection and inflammation of the heart endothelium, particularly the heart valves. It is also referred to as endocardiosis.

What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is derived from the Greek word epilepsia which means seizure or falling sickness. It is a brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures in the absence of any known cause or abnormal brain lesion. In other words, the brain appears to be normal but functions abnormally.

What is a liver shunt?
The portal vein is a large vein that collects blood from the systemic circulation and carries it into the liver, where toxins and other byproducts are removed. A liver shunt occurs when an abnormal connection persists or forms between the portal vein or one of its branches, and another vein, allowing blood to bypass or shunt around the liver. In the majority of cases, a liver shunt is caused by a birth defect called a congenital portosystemic shunt. In some cases, multiple small shunts form because of severe liver disease such as cirrhosis. These are referred to as acquired portosystemic shunts.

What is the prostate?
The prostate (commonly mispronounced as "prostrate") is a gland located near the neck of the urinary bladder of male dogs. The urethra passes through it shortly after leaving the bladder. The purpose of the prostate is to produce some of the fluids found in semen.

What causes sarcoptic mange?
Sarcoptic mange is caused by a parasitic mite that burrows just beneath the surface of the skin, Sarcoptes scabiei. The mite feeds on material in and on the skin. It is also known as scabies and is a zoonotic disease or a disease transmissible from pets to people.

What is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is the inability to produce sufficient pancreatic enzymes to digest fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Because there is poor digestion and resulting malabsorption of nutrients, weight loss commonly occurs despite an increased appetite.

What is fading puppy syndrome?
Fading puppy syndrome is a term used to describe the situation where puppies are apparently normal at birth but gradually "fade" and die within the first two weeks of life. Normal pre-weaning losses in dogs, including stillborn puppies, can be up to thirty percent, with about half of these deaths occurring within the first week of life.

My dog always seems to have fleas. What can I do?
Successful flea control involves:

1. Eliminating fleas from your dog
2. Controlling fleas in the environment

What is canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis?
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) is an acute disorder of dogs characterized by vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

What is Giardia?
Giardia is sometimes confused with "worms" because they invade the gastrointestinal tract and can cause diarrhea. Giardia is a one-celled parasitic species classified as a protozoa.

What is pruritus?
Pruritus is the medical term for itching. It is common in many types of skin disorders. Itching and scratching are commonly associated with flea allergy dermatitis and other allergic skin diseases.