Diseases

An allergy is a state of over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system to a particular substance called an allergen. Most allergens are proteins. The allergen protein may be of insect, plant, or animal origin. Initial exposure of the dog, or more likely multiple exposures, to the allergen may over-sensitize the immune system, such that a subsequent exposure to the same or related allergen causes an over-reaction. This means that the immune response, which normally protects the dog against infection and disease, can actually be harmful to the body.

What is a disc, and what is its purpose?
The spinal cord is one of the most important and sensitive organs in the body. If it is damaged, the nerve cells do not regenerate but are replaced with fibrous or scar tissue. Spinal cord injuries usually result in permanent damage. Therefore, the spinal cord is protected in a very special fashion. It goes through a bony canal within the spine and is surrounded by protective bone everywhere except the junction of two vertebrae. These junctions are filled by rubber-like cushions called intervertebral discs. They allow the back to move up and down and sideways without allowing contact between the bones of the spinal column. This extreme protection of the spinal cord reflects its importance and fragility.

Dog mange is a parasitic skin disease caused by microscopic mites. Two different mange mites cause skin disease in dogs, demodectic mange and sarcoptic mange. One lives just under the surface of the skin, while the other resides deep in the hair follicles. Although both mites share similar characteristics,  its is important not to confuse the two types of mange because they have different causes, treatments, and prognoses. This article will focus primarily on demodectic dog mange; click here for more information on sarcoptic dog mange.

Anal sac disease is very common in dogs. The sacs frequently become impacted, usually due to blockage of the ducts. The secretion within the impacted sacs will thicken and the sacs will become swollen and distended. It is then painful for your dog to pass feces. The secreted material within the anal sacs forms an ideal medium for bacterial growth, allowing abscesses to form. Pain increases and sometimes a red, hot swelling will appear on one or both sides of the anus at the site of abscessation. If the abscess bursts, it will release a quantity of greenish yellow or bloody pus. If left untreated, the infection can quickly spread and cause severe damage to the anus and rectum.

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

Anemia is a medical term meaning a reduced number of red blood cells (RBC’s), hemoglobin, or both. It is not a specific disease but the result of some other disease process.

What is Diabetes insipidus?
There are two forms of diabetes in dogs: diabetes insipidus ("drinking diabetes") and diabetes mellitus ("sugar diabetes").

Worms can make your dog very sick and can even cause death. There are a number of different types of worms that can infect your dog including roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and heartworms, among others.  Read on for answers to common questions about worms in dogs.

One of the most common questions asked by an expectant parent or grandparent is how to introduce a new infant to the family dog, particularly if the dog has not been exposed to infants before. Most dogs readily accept infants after an initial period of curiosity. However, there have been unfortunate incidents where infants have been injured by family dogs. It is because of these incidents that the following information is provided.

What is diabetes mellitus?
There are two forms of diabetes in dogs: diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus is sometimes called "drinking diabetes" and diabetes mellitus is also known as "sugar diabetes." Diabetes insipidus is a very rare disorder that results in failure to regulate body water content. Diabetes mellitus is more common in dogs, and is frequently diagnosed in dogs five years of age or older. This is also known as Type II or adult-onset diabetes. There is a congenital form that occurs in puppies called Type I or juvenile diabetes, but this is rare in

What is keratoconjunctivitis sicca?
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is a condition that is also commonly referred to as "dry eye." The medical term means inflammation of the cornea and surrounding tissues from drying.

There are a number of possible causes for dog coughing, and they range from not serious to life-threatening. Kennel Cough is a broad term covering any infectious or contagious condition in dogs where coughing is one of the major clinical signs. Several viruses and bacteria can cause kennel cough, often at the same time. These include adenovirus type-2 (distinct from the adenovirus type 1 that causes infectious hepatitis), parainfluenza virus, and the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica. Because the infection spreads when dogs are housed together, it is often seen soon after dogs have been in kennels, hence the name "kennel cough." Read on for answers to some common questions about dog coughing and Kennel Cough.

What does "Chronic Kidney Failure" mean?
Many people see the term "chronic kidney failure" and conclude that the kidneys have quit working and are not making urine. This is not the case. By definition, kidney failure is the inability of the kidneys to remove waste products from the blood. This term can be confusing because kidney failure doesn't mean the inability to produce urine. Ironically, most dogs in kidney failure produce large quantities of urine, but the body's wastes are not being effectively eliminated.

What is lameness?
Lameness refers to the disability of one or more limbs. It is most often associated with pain or injury resulting in a dog holding the injured limb up or avoiding using it. The most common causes of acute lameness in dogs are injury to a joint, bone fracture, or dislocation. Osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia also cause lameness in dogs. Lameness can affect dogs of any age, from growing puppies to senior dogs.

What is laryngeal paralysis?
The larynx or "voice box" is composed of a series of separate plates of cartilage that form a "box" in the throat. The stability of this box is maintained by the laryngeal muscles. When the nerves of these muscles become weak (paretic) or paralyzed, the muscles relax and the cartilages tend to collapse inwards.

What is Leishmaniasis?
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by a protozoan parasite found in dogs and certain rodents in many parts of the world. It is an important disease because humans can also contract Leishmaniasis. There is no direct transmission from dog to man, or vice versa. You cannot become infected with Leishmaniasis from your dog.

The lens is the transparent structure within the eye that focuses light on the retina. It is a flattened sphere held in place by tiny ligaments around its circumference.

There are two main conditions affecting the lens: cataract formation and lens luxation.

What is leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease of dogs and other mammals that primarily affects the liver or kidneys. There are many species and serovars of Leptospira and the usual serovars that affect dogs are Leptospira canicola and Leptospira. icterohemorrhagiae. In recent years other species have become important in some areas. These include L. pomona, L. grippotyphosa, L. australis, and L. bratislava. There are other serovars that may infect dogs without apparently causing any signs or disease.

What is a lick granuloma?
Also known as acral lick dermatitis, this problem begins as an area of hair loss and reddened skin most commonly on the top of the wrist or carpal joint on the front legs. It often looks like a "hot spot." These differ from "hot spots" in that they persist despite treatment. They are often associated with chronic, persistent licking, especially when the pet is alone or when the family is sleeping.

What is cauda equina or lumbosacral syndrome?
Cauda equina or lumbosacral syndrome is a disease that occurs at the lumbosacral junction in the lower back. The term lumbo refers to the lumbar vertebrae. These are the bones in the lower part of the spinal column. The term sacral refers to the sacrum, which is the part of the spine that joins the lumbar spine and the pelvis.

 What is a luxating patella?
The patella, or knee cap, is normally located in the center of the knee joint. The term luxating means "out of place" or "dislocated." Therefore, a luxating patella is a knee cap that moves out of its normal location.

What is a diaphragmatic hernia?
The diaphragm is the muscular partition that separates the abdomen and the chest. Tearing or disruption of this thin muscle is called a diaphragmatic hernia or diaphragmatic rupture. The terms are often used synonymously. One form of diaphragmatic hernia, a peritoneal-pericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH) is congenital, and is due to defective development of the fetus. This condition is most often found in puppies and should be considered separately from the traumatic type of diaphragmatic herniation or rupture. Congenital diaphragmatic hernias are a recognized problem in Weimaraners and cocker spaniels.

What causes diarrhea?
Diarrhea is not a disease but a symptom of many different diseases. Many mild cases of diarrhea can be resolved quickly with simple treatments. Others are the result of serious or life-threatening illnesses such as cancer. Even diarrhea caused by mild illnesses may become fatal if treatment is not begun early enough to prevent severe fluid and nutrient losses.

What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. A spirochete is a type of bacterium. It is transmitted to dogs through the bite of a tick. Once in the blood stream, the Lyme disease organism is carried to many parts of the body and is likely to localize in joints. It was first thought that only a few types of ticks could transmit this disease, but now it appears that several common species may be involved. The most common type of tick to carry Lyme disease is the Deer Tick.

What is malabsorption and bacterial overgrowth?
Bacterial overgrowth is a condition of the small intestine resulting in increased numbers of bowel bacteria. Of primary concern is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).