Diseases

What is canine herpesvirus?
Canine herpesvirus or canine herpes is a systemic, often fatal disease of puppies caused by CHV – Canine Herpes Virus. CHV is common worldwide in dogs, coyotes, and wolves. CHV does not cause infection in humans. CHV may remain latent or “hidden and quiet” in tissues after a dog is infected and may be passed on to other dogs, particularly to fetuses developing in the mother's uterus. Stress or other illness may cause recrudescence or “re-infection” in a dog that has previously been exposed. The incubation period in puppies is 4 to 6 days, after which clinical signs develop or sudden death occurs. Herpes viruses affect different species differently. In man, the infections are sexually transmitted and primarily cause clinical signs associated with the external genitalia.

What is Horner’s syndrome?
Horner’s syndrome is a common neurological disorder of the eye and facial muscles. The condition usually occurs suddenly.  The most common clinical signs of Horner’s syndrome are:

• Drooping of  the eyelids on the affected side (ptosis) The pupil of the affected eye will be constricted (miosis)
• The affected eye often appears sunken (enophthalmos)
• The third eyelid of the affected eye may appear red and raised (prolapse of the third eyelid, conjunctival hyperemia)

What is the thyroid gland and what does it do?
The thyroid gland is one of the most important glands in the body. It is located in the neck near the trachea or “windpipe” and has two lobes, one on each side of the trachea. This gland is controlled by the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain.

What is icterus?
Icterus is also known as jaundice or yellow jaundice. It means that a yellow pigment is found in the blood and tissues. It is most easily seen in the gingivae (gums), the sclerae (white part of the eyes), and the pinnae (ear flaps). If these tissues normally have a dark color, icterus will be difficult to see in these dogs.

Addison’s disease is the common name for hypoadrenocorticism. Hypoadrenocorticism is a condition where there is diminished or lowered hormone production from the outer part or cortex of the adrenal gland.

What is a hematoma?
A hematoma is a localized mass of blood that is confined within an organ or tissue. This is also referred to as a “blood blister.” The most common type of hematoma in the dog is that affecting the pinna or ear flap. This is called an aural or ear hematoma.

The easiest way to give your dog a pill is to hide the pill in food. This usually works best if the pill is hidden in a small amount of canned dog food, peanut butter, or cottage cheese. To ensure that the pill is swallowed, it is better to hand feed a small amount of food that the dog is certain to eat rather than offering a large portion that the dog may not completely consume. Some dogs may spit out the pill, so it is important to carefully observe your pet after administering the medication.

What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is defined as inflammation of the liver. As a specific disease, Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH) is a viral infection caused by a member of the Adenovirus family.

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.

What is coccidiosis?
Coccidiosis is an intestinal tract infection caused by one-celled organisms (protozoa) called coccidia. Coccidia are sub-classified into a number of genera, and each genus has a number of species. At least six different genera of coccidia can infect dogs. These microscopic parasites spend part of their life cycle in the lining cells of the intestine. Most infections are not associated with any detectable clinical signs. These infections are called sub-clinical infections. Most clinical infections in dogs are caused by the species Isospora canis. Cryptosporidium parvum is another coccidian parasite that may cause diarrhea in some puppies.

What causes a reaction to an insect bite?
Many people and pets are sensitive to the proteins contained in the saliva or venom of many biting insects. They may be born with certain sensitivities or, more often, they may develop sensitivities if they are exposed numerous times to a particular insect bite. Bee stings and the bites of spiders, fleas, and ticks are the most common causes of insect bite reactions in dogs.

What is colitis?
Colitis simply refers to inflammation of the large intestine or colon. Colitis is most commonly used to describe diarrhea or loose stools associated with the large bowel. Large bowel diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease are also used synonymously with colitis.

Administering ear medications to your dog can be challenging. Remember that your pet’s ears may be painful and that even a normally gentle and passive dog may respond by struggling, biting or scratching. You may need to muzzle your dog for this procedure.

What is conjunctivitis?
The conjunctiva is the lining tissue that covers the globe of the eye (the eyeball) and lines the eyelids and the third eyelid. Conjunctivitis refers to inflammation of this tissue.

The proper administration of eye medications is essential for your pet’s prompt recovery. Make sure that you wash your hands both before and after administering the medication to prevent the potential spread of infection.

Make sure that you wash your hands both before and after administering the medication to prevent the spread of infection.

What is a corneal ulcer?
The cornea is the transparent, shiny membrane which makes up the front of the eyeball. Think of it as a clear window. To understand a corneal ulcer, you must first understand how the cornea is constructed.

The easiest way to give your dog a liquid medication is to mix it with some canned food. To ensure that the medication is swallowed, it is best to hand-feed a small amount of food containing the medication, rather than a large portion that the dog may not completely consume. Some dogs may be unwilling to eat the food, or may have dietary restrictions that prevent you from using this technique. Also, some medications need to be taken on an empty stomach. If this is the case, you will need to administer the medication directly into your dog’s mouth.

What is coronavirus disease?
Coronavirus disease is a variable intestinal infection of dogs that is usually short-lived, but may cause considerable abdominal discomfort for a few days. The cause is a virus of the Coronavirus family. The virus gets its name from the fact that when viewed from above under an electron microscope the virus has a ring of projections which appear like a coronet. Different coronaviruses cause infections in many species of animals and birds. People are not affected by Canine Coronavirus.

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.

Fleas are tiny pests that can cause skin infections, hair loss, anemia and tapeworm problems for dogs. Because they are so hard to see, you usually will identify a flea problem when your dog starts scratching or when you spot flea residue - which looks like specks of pepper - on furniture and bedding. Read on for answers to common questions about fleas and dogs.

What is cryptorchidism?
Cryptorchidism is the medical term that refers to the failure of one or both testes (testicles) to descend into the scrotum.

Food allergy is one of the five most common allergies or hypersensitivities known to affect dogs. Most people know someone who is allergic to certain foods, such as strawberries or nuts. It is only recently that food allergies have become recognized in dogs. The signs are usually itchy skin or an upset stomach. Other more subtle changes can also occur, including hyperactivity, weight loss, lack of energy, and even aggression.

What are allergies and how do they affect dogs?
Allergies may be defined as the body’s response to foreign proteins. For our purposes, we will consider allergies to be any of the common reactions or responses to pollens, flea bites, and so on that result in itching.

Is there more than one type of allergy?
Yes, there are at least five common types of allergy in the dog:

a) Flea
b) Inhalant
c) Food
d) Contact
e) Bacterial Hypersensitivity

What is cystitis?
The term cystitis literally means "inflammation of the urinary bladder." This term is rather general and applies to any disease that causes inflammation of the urinary bladder.