Category — dog health information

Rickettsia Tick Borne Disease in Dogs

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is one of the most commonly known tick-borne diseases to affect dogs and humans. It belongs to a class of diseases known as Rickettsia; rod-shaped microorganisms that resemble bacteria, but which behave like viruses, reproducing only inside living cells. Rickettsia rickettsii — the organism responsible for Rocky Mountain spotted fever — lives parasitically in ticks and is transmitted by bite to vertebrate hosts.

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Megacolon

The colon is the section of the large intestine that begins at the cecum, the sac that joins the colon to the end of the small intestine (ileum), and ends where the rectum begins. All are part of the larger digestive tract. The main purpose of the colon is to serve as a temporary storage conduit while it performs the function of extracting useful water and salt from the waste. Megacolon is a condition in which waste is remaining in the colon, causing the diameter of the colon to become abnormally enlarged. It is typically associated with chronic constipation, or obstipation – severe, obstinate constipation that blocks the passage of gas as well as feces. Medically, the colon is described as exhibiting minimal colonic activity – that is, the colon is not releasing its contents.

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Vesiculopustular Dermatoses

A vesicle, or blister, is a small, defined elevation of the outer layer of the skin (known as the epidermis). It is filled with serum, the clear watery fluid that separates from the blood.  A pustule is also a small, defined elevation of the outer layer of the skin (epidermis), but is filled with pus — a mixture of serum, white blood cells, cellular debris and dead tissue.

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Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs

Degenerative myelopathy is the general medical term that refers to the disease of the dog’s spinal cord or bone marrow. The condition does not have specific cause and may remain unidentified. While the disease can affect any breed and any age of dog, older animals are most often afflicted with the disease. Prognosis of this disease is not positive, as it is the degeneration of the animal’s spinal cord, leading to loss of numerous bodily functions.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
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• Living and Management
• Prevention

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Fibrocartilaginous Embolic Myelopathy in Dogs

Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy is a disorder of the spinal cord and nervous system. The term fibrocartilage is used to describe body tissue that is a combination of fibrous tissue, cartilaginous tissue and bundles of collagen fibers. In the spine, fibrocartilage is found in the intervertebral discs; the combination of these materials attributes to both the elasticity and stoutness of the spine. Any piece of material that blocks the blood vessel is called an emboli, and myelopathy denotes any disorder of the spinal cord.

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Spondylosis Deformans

Spondylosis deformans is a degenerative, noninflammatory condition of the spinal column characterized by the production of bone spurs along the bottom, sides, and upper aspects of the vertebrae of the spine. Spurs of the bone are simply projected growths of bone, usually grown in response to aging, or injury.

In dogs, spondylosis deformans occurs most often along the spine, in the area behind the chest, and on the upper section of the vertebrae of the lower back. Older, large-breed dogs are at highest risk for developing spondylosis deformans. In cats it tends to occur more often in the vertebrae of the chest.

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There are numerous reasons for why pet owners would like to prevent pregnancy in their pets. It is a common concern, and there are ways to perform a safe pregnancy termination if your dog has become pregnant. If you are considering ending a pregnancy in your dog, it is recommended that you first seek the advice and assistance of a medical professional, so that a full risk and side effects evaluation can be done.

• Symptoms and Types
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatment and Care
• Living and Management

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Metastatic Tumor of the Nosepad in Dogs

The epithelium is the cellular covering of all of the internal and external surfaces of the body, protecting the organs, inner cavities and outer surfaces of the body in a continuous layer of multi-layered tissue. The squamous epithelium is a type of epithelium that consists of the outer layer of flat, scale-like cells, which are called squamous cells.

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Gastroenteritis

The most common cause of gastroenteritis in dogs is due to a food borne illness. Immediate veterinary care is required, as it can be fatal when it not diagnosed and properly managed.

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• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management
• Prevention

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Helicobacter Infection in Dogs

Under normal conditions, the  Helicobacter bacteria are benign inhabitants of the intestinal tract, being found in several species, including domestic animals such as dogs, cats, ferrets and pigs, in wild animals such as cheetah’s and monkeys, and in humans. While gastric infection due to Helicobacter pylori is a major health problem in humans – it has been associated with gastritis, gastric tumor, and peptic ulcer in affected people – the significance of the Helicobacter bacterium in dogs and any correlation to gastric dysfunctions is still largely unclear (H. pylori specifically is not found in dogs).

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