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When an infection enters the body, white blood cells rush to the site and fight the invading bacteria. Sometimes this collection of blood cells forms a pocket of pus, or abscess, within the body's tissues, organs, or confined spaces.

Dogs have two small sacs located at the 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock positions on the anus. The walls of the anal sacs contain glands that secrete a thin, smelly substance that's squeezed out, or expressed, during defecation to mark the feces and identify the dog. If the sacs don't empty properly or if the secretions become too thick, the anal sacs become impacted. One or both sacs may be affected, and left untreated, a simple impaction can lead to a painful infection or abscess.

Anemia is an inadequate number of red blood cells, or erythrocytes, in the circulatory system. Erythrocytes carry life-sustaining oxygen to the body tissues. Without them, tissues become starved for oxygen, and weakness and tissue damage set in.

Every spring, allergy sufferers turn their thoughts—not to love—but to antihistamines. The yearly onslaught of pollen, grasses, and trees makes some dogs miserable, too. The result: atopy, a skin disease that causes extreme itching.

Two routine injections that have to be given by owners involve the administration of insulin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and administering allergenic extract injections to control skin allergies. Your veterinarian will review the technique but the following questions and answers may be of help.

Applying topical medications to your pet can sometimes be a challenge. The information provided in this handout may help make treating your pet easier – for both of you.

An anaphylactic reaction or anaphylaxis is an immediate hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to a foreign substance, especially a foreign protein.

Unfortunately, anthrax is being used as a method of bio-terrorism and dogs can be infected, as can most mammals. Birds are normally resistant to the disease. Different animals have different levels of susceptibility to anthrax infection. Herbivores (animals that eat plants, such as cattle, sheep, and horses) are the most susceptible to anthrax. Humans are also susceptible to anthrax, while dogs are less susceptible to infection. Under normal circumstances, cases of anthrax in dogs are very rare.