Environmental
Sensitivity To Anaesthesia can occur in any breed, but sighthounds have been the breeds most documented to have anesthetic concerns. Sighthounds are known to have
prolonged recovery times from ultra short-acting thiobarbiturates such as thiopental.
Hyperthermia can occur in dogs, especially in flat-faced breeds such as the Bulldog or in giant breeds. Breed, lack of water, exercise, and high ambient
temperature predispose dogs to heat stroke. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, collapse, difficulty breathing, and body temperature approaching 103 degrees Fahrenheit in dogs. Treatment
includes cooling the dog with wet towels and fans, intravenous fluid therapy, and other supportive care.
Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature falls below the normal range (101-102 degrees Fahrenheit in dogs). This occurs when heat loss
exceeds heat production. Conduction is an exchange of heat between two objects of different
temperatures, such as from the warm dog to the cold rock upon which he is sitting. Convection is the loss of heat due to the movement of air from around the body.
An example of Convection is when wind carries away warmed air from around the dog and replaces it with colder air which the dog then needs to warm back up.
Radiation is known as the transfer of heat by an infrared process between two objects of different temperatures. Evaporation of water from the skin, mucous
membranes, and through the respiratory passages is also a significant source of heat loss.
Frostbite is the damage to tissue caused by subfreezing temperatures. The severity of the frostbite is based on the extent of blistering, swelling, and
skin color of the affected tissue.
Foxtails and sandburs can penetrate the lining of the mouth or skin and migrate, causing abscesses and draining tracts.
Endocrine Diseases
Diabetes in dogs is usually type 1 diabetes, or lack of insulin production due to destruction of pancreatic beta cells. In dogs this is caused by autoimmune
disease or severe pancreatitis. Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, is less common in dogs, and can be caused by Cushing's syndrome or chronic
glucocorticoid or progestin use. Common signs include weight loss, increased drinking and urination, and cataracts. Treatment involves twice daily insulin doses
and use of a diet high in fiber and complex carbohydrates.
Thyroid Diseases
Hyperthyroidism is rare in dogs. The most common cause is thyroid carcinoma, a malignant tumor. Signs include weight loss, increased appetite, and enlargement
of the thyroid gland.
Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disease in dogs. It can be caused by autoimmune destruction or idiopathic atrophy of the thyroid gland. Signs
include decreased appetite, weight gain, hair loss, recurring skin infections, and lethargy. Treatment is with oral thyroid hormone supplementation.
Addison's Disease also known as
Hypoadrenocorticism
, is a reduction of production of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids by the adrenal glands. It
is most commonly caused by destruction of adrenal tissue, probably by autoimmune disease. Signs include increased drinking and urination, vomiting, diarrhea,
collapse, and weight loss. Hyperkalemia can develop and cause severe bradycardia. Treatment is with supplementation of mineralocorticoids in daily pills or a monthly
injection. Glucocorticoids are usually supplemented with oral prednisone.
Cushing's Syndrome also known as
Hyperadrenocorticism, is a condition characterized by an increase in glucocorticoids secreted by the adrenal glands.
About 85 percent of cases are caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland, while 15 percent are caused by an adrenal tumor. Signs include increased appetite, increased
drinking and urination, a pot-bellied appearance, muscle weakness, and lethargy. Diagnosis can be difficult as there are no tests with both high sensitivity and
specificity. Treatments inclulde mitotane, trilostane, ketoconazole, or selegiline. Surgery is used in some cases of adrenal tumors.
Diabetes Insipidus in dogs and cats can be central, caused by a lack of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), or nephrogenic, caused by a lack of response of the
kidneys to ADH. Neither form is common.
Central Diabetes Insipidus (
CDI) is usually idiopathic, but can also be caused by head trauma or tumors of the brain.
Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus (
NDI) can be primary (hereditary) or secondary (caused by a variety of metabolic and renal diseases, including Cushing's syndrome and
pyometra). Because the disease is characterized by an inability to concentrate urine, the most common sign is increased drinking and urinating. Treatment of CDI is
to use desmopressin, a synthetic analog of ADH. Treatment of NDI is to treat the underlying cause, if any.
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Bloat (also known as
gastric torsion
or
gastric dilatation-volvulus (
GDV)) is an emergency condition in dogs, seen most commonly in deep-chested
large and giant breed dogs. The disease is characterized by the presence of a large amount of gas in the stomach and twisting of the stomach along its axis.
Treatment for shock and then surgery is usually necessary.
Megaesophagus is a disease of the esophagus characterized by low motility and dilation. Most cases in adult dogs are idiopathic. It is the most common cause
of regurgitation in dogs. Other causes of megaesophagus include myasthenia gravis, lead poisoning, and Addison's disease.
Volvulus (twisted intestines), also known as
mesenteric volvulus, is a rare condition in dogs. German Shepherd Dogs are predisposed. Factors that
predispose dogs to this condition are intestinal foreign bodies, intestinal cancer, intussusception, and other intestinal diseases. It has a poor prognosis.
Foreign body is an object foreign to the body that becomes lodged in the gastrointestinal tract (or other part of the dog). Dogs are susceptible to
gastrointestinal obstruction due to their ability to swallow relatively large objects and pass them through the esophagus. Foreign bodies most commonly become lodged
in the stomach because of the inability to pass through the pyloric sphincter, and in the jejunum.
Anal Fistulae, known as
Perianal Fistulae in dogs, are most common in German Shepherd Dogs. They are characterized by draining tracts in the skin around
the anus. The cause is unknown. Surgical treatment is common, but recently use of cyclosporine in combination with ketoconazole has been shown to be effective.
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency is the inability to properly digest food due to a lack of digestive enzymes made by the pancreas. This disease is found
frequently in dogs.
Pancreatitis, or
inflammation of the pancreas, is common in dogs. It is most commonly seen in middle-aged and older overweight dogs. Miniature Schnauzers
are predisposed. Contributing factors include diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and dietary indiscretion. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy,
and anorexia.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (
IBD) is a group of diseases in dogs that are idiopathic and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cell infiltrates in the
stomach and/or intestinal walls. It is a common condition. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. Treatment is with dietary modification and use of
medications such as corticosteroids, metronidazole, sulfasalazine, and azathioprine.
Bilious Vomiting Syndrome is vomiting in response to bile-induced inflammation of the stomach. Bile salts interfere with the gastric mucosal barrier, allowing
acid to irritate the stomach lining and cause gastritis.
Intussusception is characterized by telescoping of one part of the gastrointestinal tract into another part, forming an obstruction. It is most common in dogs
six to eight months old. Surgery is necessary for treatment.
Lymphangiectasia is an intestinal disease of dogs characterized by chronic diarrhea and loss of proteins such as serum albumin and globulin. It is considered to
be a chronic form of protein-losing enteropathy. Breeds commonly affected include the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, Norwegian Lundehund, Basenji, and Yorkshire
Terrier.
Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis is a disease of dogs characterized by sudden vomiting and bloody diarrhea. The symptoms are usually severe and can be fatal if not
treated. It is most common in young adult dogs of any breed, but especially small dogs such as the Toy Poodle and Miniature Schnauzer.
Urinary and Reproductive Systems
Kidney Diseases
Fanconi Syndrome is a type of renal tubule disease found in Basenjis. Findings include the inability to concentrate urine, and the presence of glucose,
protein, and amino acids in the urine.
Renal Failure (
Kidney Failure) is common in dogs and may be found in acute or chronic forms. It is defined by a loss of function of about 75 percent of
the filtration system of the kidney and characterized by azotemia and low specific gravity of the urine.[96] Acute renal failure can be caused by loss of blood
supply, hypercalcemia, or toxins such as ethylene glycol (antifreeze) or aminoglycoside antibiotics. Chronic renal failure can be congenital and/or inherited or
caused by cancer, infection, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, amyloidosis, progressive interstitial fibrosis, or any of the causes of acute renal failure.
Glomerulonephritis is the presence of immune complexes in the glomerulus, resulting in leakage of protein into the urine. It can be caused by cancer,
heartworm disease, pyometra, rickettsial infection, or systemic lupus erythematosus. It can result in chronic kidney failure, hypoalbuminemia, which can cause
ascites and peripheral edema, and nephrotic syndrome, which can cause hypertension or hypercoagulability.
Familial Renal Disease is an uncommon cause of renal failure (kidney failure) in young dogs. Most causes are breed-related (familial) and some are
inherited.
Urinary Bladder Diseases
Bladder Stones or
Uroliths are common in dogs. The stones form in the urinary bladder in varying size and numbers secondary to infection, dietary
influences, and genetics. Types of stones include struvite, calcium oxalate, urate, cystine, calcium phosphate, and silicate. Struvite and calcium oxalate stones
are by far the most common.
Urinary tract infection, specifically cystitis or bladder infection, is common in dogs and usually caused by bacteria. Signs include blood in the urine
(hematuria), difficulty urinating (dysuria), and frequent urination (polyuria).[101] The most common types of bacteria cultured from the urine of dogs with cystitis
are E. coli, Staphylococcus spp., Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus spp. , Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.
Urinary Incontinence is leakage of urine, usually due to incompetence of the urethral sphincter in adult dogs and ectopic ureter (a congenital condition
in which the ureter enters the urinary tract posterior to the urethral sphincter) in puppies. In adult dogs it is most commonly seen in large spayed females. The
lack of estrogens in spayed dogs has been linked to development of incontinence. Replacement of estrogens, phenylpropanolamine, and surgery have all been used for
treatment.
Reproductive Diseases
Prostate Disease in dogs includes
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
(
BPH), prostatitis (infection of the prostate), cancer, and cysts and abscesses. BPH is the most
common and is found in older intact (not neutered) dogs. Signs include blood in the urine and straining to urinate and defecate. Castration is the treatment of
choice. Prostatis can be associated with BPH. Bacteria causing prostatitis include E. coli, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Mycoplasma spp.
Cryptorchidism is when one the testicles is retained in the abdomen or inguinal canal past a normal stage of development. It is a common occurrence in
dogs and is thought to be a sex-limited autosomal recessive trait.
False pregnancy, or
Pseudocyesis, is a common condition in female intact dogs. Signs include swelling of the mammary glands, lactation, not eating, and
"mothering" small objects.
Pyometra is an infection of the uterus. It is a common and potentially fatal condition in dogs. The main risk period for a female is for eight weeks after
her peak standing heat (or estrus cycle) has ended.
Umbilical Hernia is a failure of the umbilical ring of the abdominal wall to close. They are very common and can be caused by genetics or by traction on the
umbilical cord or by the cord being cut too close to the body. They are corrected by surgery.
Inguinal Hernia is a protrusion of abdominal contents through the inguinal canal. They are corrected through surgery.
Poisons and Overdoses
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can cause liver damage in dogs. The toxic dose is 150 mg/kg.
Ibuprofen (Advil) can cause gastrointestinal irritation, stomach ulcers, and kidney damage in dogs.
Naproxen (Aleve) has a long half-life in dogs and can cause gastrointestinal irritation, anemia, melena (digested blood in feces), and vomiting.
Antifreeze is very dangerous to dogs and causes central nervous system depression and acute renal failure. Treatment needs to be within eight hours of
ingestion to be successful.
Mouse and rat poison ingestion is common in dogs. Most rodenticides in the United States are anticoagulant by depleting Vitamin K. This type is the most
frequent cause of poisoning in pets. Third generation products contain brodifacoum or bromadiolone and are toxic after a single ingestion. Signs include spontaneous
and excessive bleeding internally and externally. Treatment is with Vitamin K supplementation. Other rodenticides may contain cholecalciferol which causes
hypercalcemia and leads to heart and kidney problems. Newer rodenticides may contain bromethalin which causes central nervous system signs such as seizures,
muscle tremors, and depression.
Insecticides used in dogs for fleas and ticks commonly contain either organophosphates or carbamates. they can be absorbed through the skin, conjunctiva,
gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. Organophosphates inhibit acetylcholinesterase irreversibly and carbamates inhibit cholinesterase reversibly. Toxicity occurs
through overdosage with an appropriate product or use of an agricultural product. Signs for both include hypersalivation, vomiting, lethargy, tremors, difficulty
walking, weakness, and death.
Chocolate is a common cause of poisoning in dogs. The toxic principles in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine. Baker's chocolate is the most dangerous
form since it contains higher concentrations of these drugs, followed by semi-sweet, dark, and then milk chocolate. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors,
difficulty walking, seizures, and heart problems.
Lead poisoning is uncommon in dogs. Exposure to lead is from eating paint chips from lead-based paint (found in houses painted prior to 1950), and eating lead
objects such as shot, fishing sinkers, or counterweights. Signs of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, blindness, seizures, and tremors.
Raisins and grapes are potential causes of kidney failure in dogs.
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