Category — dog health problem

Status Epilepticus in Dogs

Status epilepticus, or epilepsy, is a neurological condition that results in recurrent seizures in dogs.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

Read Full Article Here

Ventricular Fibrillation in Dogs

Ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib) is a condition in which ventricle muscles in the heart begin to contract in a disorganized fashion, making them quiver. Due to this uncoordinated contraction, blood circulation may cease within minutes, which may be fatal. Although it can affect dogs at any age, it seems to affect those that are older.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

Read Full Article Here

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.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

Read Full Article Here

Ascariasis

Ascariasis is a disease affecting dogs caused by the intestinal parasitic roundworm (or Ascaris lumbricoides). Roundworms are often quite large — up to 10 to 12 centimeters in length — and can be present in extremely high numbers within an infected animal. When they are found in a dog’s body, it can lead to abdominal swelling (distension), colic, gastrointestinal issues and even intestinal rupture.

The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit this page in the PetMD health library.

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management
• Prevention

Read Full Article Here

Disorder of the Heart in the Sinus Node

The sinoatrial node (SA Node, or SAN), also called the sinus node, is the initiator of electrical impulses within the heart, triggering the heart to beat, or contract, by firing off electrical surges. Sick sinus syndrome (SSS) is a disorder of the heart’s electrical impulse formation within the sinus node. It is also a disorder of the conduction of the electrical impulse out of the sinus node. Sick sinus syndrome will also affect subsidiary (backup) pacemakers and the specialized conduction system of the heart. Pacemaker refers to the generation of electrical impulses within the muscle tissue, which set the pace for the heart’s rhythm.

On an electrocardiogram (ECG), the irregular contraction of the heart (arrhythmia) will be visible. Tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome, in which the heart beats too slowly, and then too quickly, is a variant of sick sinus syndrome. Clinical signs of sick sinus syndrome in animals will become apparent when organs begin to dysfunction because they are not receiving a normal amount of blood supply.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

Read Full Article Here

Acral Lick Dermatitis

Acral lick dermatitis is a firm, raised, ulcerative, or thickened plaque usually located on the back side of the wrist, on the ankle, or between the toes. This disease primarily affects dogs, and most commonly large breeds, especially Doberman Pinschers, Labrador Retrievers, Great Danes, Irish and English Setters, Golden Retrievers, Akitas, Dalmatians, Shar-peis, and Weimaraners. The age at which it occurs in animals varies with the cause. Some experts suggest that it is more common in males; others indicate there is no preference.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

Read Full Article Here

Contact Dermatitis in Dogs

Contact dermatitis may be caused by an allergy, or it may simply mean that your pet has touched something that has irritated its skin, such as the sap in poison ivy, or salt on a road. It is difficult to distinguish one from the other because the symptoms usually appear the same. Allergic reactions require a previous, sensitizing experience with the irritant. The next contact with the irritant is when symptoms occur. Both dogs and cats can suffer from allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. It can occur at any age, and is a direct result of the irritating nature of the offending compound.

• Symptoms and Types
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

Read Full Article Here

Melanocytic Tumors of the Skin and Digits in Dogs

Melanocytic tumors are benign or cancerous growths, arising from melanocytes (pigment-producing skin cells) and melanoblasts (melanin-producing cells that develop or mature into melanocytes). These tumors do not seem to have a genetic basis; however, males, especially Scottish Terriers, Boston Terriers, Airedale Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Boxers, English Springer Spaniels, Irish Setters, Irish Terriers, Chow Chows, Chihuahuas, Schnauzers, and Doberman Pinschers, seem to have a predilection to the condition. Dogs 10 years or older are also more prone to melanocytic tumors.

• Causes
• Symptoms and Types
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management

Read Full Article Here

Atlantoaxial Instability

Atlantoaxial instability results from a malformation in the first two vertebrae in the neck of an animal. This causes the spinal cord to compress and results in pain or even debilitation for the pet. The disorder is uncommon in older dogs and larger breeds of dogs. It is generally found in smaller, toy breeds. To ensure the best possible chance for a full recovery, it is important to treat the animal once an occurrence or sign of distress is observed.

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

Read Full Article Here

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
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Living and Management
• Prevention

Read Full Article Here