Archive for June, 2009

Mites are responsible for causing scabies in canines. These mites are very contagious. They will readily infest other animals and even humans.

These parasitic mites survive by feeding on material on the skin. Although they can sometimes be spotted crawling on the skin, they can also burrow beneath the surface. Keep reading to learn all about scabies in dogs.

Symptoms

The most prominent sign of this condition is severe itching. This prompts your dog to scratch at the area constantly. This usually causes crusty skin and hair loss. It’s also common for secondary skin infections to develop.

Diagnosis

Medical history and visual symptoms are the basis of diagnosis for this disease. Your dog’s vet may also choose to do a skin scraping. Mites will be detected via the skin scraping. However, this can be an inaccurate method of diagnosis since these mites are commonly found on healthy dogs.

Treatment

The main method of treatment for dog scabies is medicated shampoo. This medicated shampoo will need to be used every week for a month. You may need to go back to the vet for a checkup since some cases require longer treatment. He will be in a better position to determine if your dog still needs to be treated for the condition.

Prevention

This disease is very contagious, as you have already learned. If there are additional dogs in your home, you should have them checked for the mites. Since bedding and carpeting can harbor the mites, you will need to thoroughly clean them. The mites can easily reinfect your dog if you don’t clean these hiding areas.

Dogs can be affected by many illnesses in dogs. You can read up on many different potential health problems at dog-illnesses.com. Click over right now.

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One of the many illnesses that dogs can develop is prostate cancer. This aggressive cancer can spread to other areas such as the lungs, bones, and lymph nodes. Older dogs are usually affected. Keep reading to learn all about prostate cancer in canines.

Symptoms

Pain and weight loss are the most common signs of this disease. Your dog’s prostate will also become enlarged. It will become more difficult for your dog to urinate as the prostate gland enlarges and pushes against the urethra. Blood may also appear in the urine.

Prostate cancer in dogs may also weaken the hind legs. Weakening of the hind legs causes dogs to take shorter steps when they walk. He may also have an arched back|It’s not unusual for dogs to develop an arched back either|Some dogs also have arched backs.

Diagnosis

Most cases of this disease are well-advanced before being detected. Different tests will be conducted by the vet determined by your dog’s signs. Some of the usual tests include ultrasound scans, contrast x-rays, and urine tests. A biopsy of the rectal wall offers the most accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

If your dog has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, he will have a variety of treatment options. Radiation and chemotherapy are the most common. Another option is surgery. However, surgery is quite dangerous as the prostate gland in dogs is very complex.

Prognosis

This is a very serious disease as was mentioned earlier. The prognosis in most cases is very bleak. Dogs usually die within a few months of showing symptoms. Virtually all dogs don’t survive for more than a year.

All owners should know a little something about common illnesses in dogs. Fortunately, dog-illnesses.com provides a wealth of information on a range of these conditions. So, come by right now to become informed.

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Your dog’s pancreas produces hormones and digestive enzymes. This is a very serious disease. Most dogs die from this disease. Dogs don’t usually start showing signs until the disease has already progressed. This article will discuss dog pancreatic cancer.

Signs

While suffering from this disease, dogs usually develop tumors in their pancreas. Most dogs experience bloody stool. Dogs also experience vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and lethargy. It’s also common for dogs to experience loss of coordination and seizures.

Diagnosis

You need to take your dog to the vet as soon as he shows signs of this disease. As mentioned, the disease is usually in an advanced stage before you notice anything and seek treatment. In order to diagnose this disease, the veterinarian will have to perform enzyme and blood tests to check for damage to the pancreas.

Treatment

Treatment for this disease is very difficult. Surgery is one of the primary methods of treatment. Surgery isn’t an option if the disease has already spread. Dogs can also develop a bowel obstruction as the tumor gets larger. Gastrointestinal bypass surgery is required to treat a bowel obstruction.

In addition to surgery, the veterinarian may elect to give radiation and prescription drugs. So that the pancreas can rest, food is usually withheld. Without food, your dog will need to be given nutrients and vitamins by IV.

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Your dog’s pancreas produces hormones and digestive enzymes. This type of cancer is quite serious. It is usually fatal. This disease is usually well-advanced before symptoms appear. This article will discuss pancreatic cancer in canines.

Symptoms

The pancreas usually develops tumors. This usually causes the dog’s stool to have blood in it. Diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and loss of appetite are also common signs. Neurological signs can also be present and include seizures and loss of coordination.

Diagnosis

If your dog displays these symptoms, you should take him to a veterinarian as soon as possible. As mentioned, the disease is usually in an advanced stage before you notice anything and seek treatment. Blood and enzyme tests to check for pancreas damage is needed to diagnose this disease.

Treatment

Treatment for this disease is very difficult. Surgery is one of the primary methods of treatment. However, if the disease has already spread to other areas of the body, surgery will have no effect. Dogs can also develop a bowel obstruction as the tumor gets larger. Gastrointestinal bypass surgery is required to treat a bowel obstruction.

Medication and radiation can also be combined with surgery. Most dogs are not given food so that the pancreas can rest and not have to secrete digestive enzymes. Your dog will receive essential vitamins and nutrients via IV instead.

Dogs can be affected by many canine illnesses. You can read up on many different potential health problems at dog-illnesses.com. Click over right now.

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Your dog can develop three different types of diabetes. They include mellitus, insipidus, and gestational. The most common form is diabetes mellitus. Here’s a look at the different types.

Diabetes Mellitus

Dog diabetes mellitus occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. It can also occur if your dog’s body doesn’t use produced insulin as it should. Insulin is responsible for regulating the level of glucose in the body. Increased thirst, loss of appetite, increased urination, and dehydration are all signs of this disease.

Your dog would need to receive injections of insulin on a daily basis to control this condition. Your dog will also need to be fed a special diet. A diet that is high in protein and fiber is usually best. The diet should also consist of foods with minimum fat and carbohydrates. It is also important that a dog with diabetes mellitus gets plenty of exercise.

Gestational

One of the next types is gestational diabetes. This condition affects pregnant females. The mellitus and gestational forms develop for the same reasons. This conditions also shares the same signs as the mellitus form. To control this disease, your dog would need daily exercise, proper diet, and injections of insulin. After the pregnancy is over, this form of diabetes usually goes away.

Diabetes Insipidus

Diabetes insipidus in canines is a condition characterized by your dog’s inability to retain water. It comes in two forms. They are nephrogenic and central. The central form occurs when the pituitary gland doesn’t produce enough of the anti-diuretic hormone called vasopressine. This can be caused by a congenital defect. However, hypothalamus or pituitary gland problems can also cause this form. Desmopressin given in the form of eye drops, nose drops, or injections is used to treat this form.

The nephrogenic form occurs when the kidneys don’t respond to vasopressine. This condition can be caused by medications, kidney disease, kidney trauma, or congenital defect. It’s usually treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and diuretics.

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Dogs develop hepatitis due to a viral infection. The liver is mainly affected by this disease. However, it can also affect various other organs. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about dog hepatitis.

Transmission

As you just learned, this disease is caused by a virus. The name of it is adenovirus type 1. It’s abbreviated CAV-1. Your dog can become infected if he comes into contact with a dog infected by the virus. Infected body fluids can also be a method of transmission. The virus can also be passed by parasites such as fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks.

Signs

Your dog may develop either acute or severe hepatitis. If your dog develops the acute form, he will display signs such as diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Other common signs include pale gums, swollen lymph nodes, and yellowish eyes. Your dog’s liver may also swell up.

Most dogs take a week to recover from the acute form. Dogs that develop the severe form may die. Common symptoms include bloody vomit and diarrhea, bloody nose, and bloody gums. This form can easily damage the liver severely. Your dog may experience seizures or go into a coma.

Treatment

If your dog has a mild case of this disease, he may have to be hospitalized. Treatment involves giving intravenous fluids to combat dehydration that can be brought on by the diarrhea or vomiting. Additional supportive care may also be necessary.

Prognosis

There is no specific treatment for hepatitis in dogs. The severe form of this disease can be fatal within a week. Sometimes, an infected dog can die within mere hours of showing symptoms. The acute form isn’t usually life-threatening, so dogs usually recover.

Prevention

Puppies usually receive the vaccine to prevent hepatitis. If adult dogs haven’t been vaccinated against this disease, they too can receive the shot. The vaccine can contain either adenovirus type 1 or 2. Although type 1 is responsible for this disease, a vaccine containing type 2 will also help prevent it.

Dogs can be affected by many different conditions such as dog seizures. Fortunately for you, you can learn about a wide range of these conditions at dog-illnesses.com. So, stop by today to learn about a wide range of these conditions.

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Valley fever, a fungal disease, can be a very difficult condition to treat. Dogs that live in Southwestern states are affected most often. The most common states include Arizona, Texas, California, and New Mexico. Keep reading to learn all about valley fever in canines.

Cause

The fungus that causes this disease dwells in the desert soil. Your dog may dig in this contaminated soil and inhale some of the fungal spores. In most cases, the immune system will kill the infection. However, if the immune system doesn’t act fast enough, the infection will spread to the lungs and the rest of the body and result in valley fever.

Signs

Dogs develop problems with their lungs when exposed to this fungus. This causes your dog to show symptoms such as fever, weight loss, lethargy, and coughing. As the condition advances, he may also develop severe pneumonia.

This fungal can affect any tissue in your dog’s body. Common symptoms include neck and back pain, swollen limbs, swollen lymph nodes, and seizures. It’s also common for dogs to develop skin ulcerations.

Treatment

It may be difficult to treat this disease. Your dog will have to take antifungal medication anywhere from six months up to a year. Dogs may even need to be treated for more than a year if the disease has already spread. Some dogs have to take this medication for the rest of their lives or the symptoms will return. In addition to antifungal medication, the veterinarian may also prescribe pain relievers and cough suppressants.

Prognosis

Given proper treatment, your dog should recover from this disease. Most dogs start back acting normally a week after treatment has begun. This disease can be fatal for some dogs, so the outcome isn’t always good. Older dogs, puppies, and canines with a weak immune system have the most risk of dying from this disease.

All owners should know a little something about common dog illnesses. You can read up on many different potential health problems at dog-illnesses.com. So, come by right now to become informed.

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Osterosarcoma is commonly referred to as bone cancer. Originating deep inside the bone, the tumor slowly grows outwardly. This causes a slow destruction of the bone from the inside. This cancer can affect any bone in the body, but the limbs are affected in the majority of cases. Keep reading to learn all about canine osteosarcoma.

Causes

There are various reasons why osteosarcoma in dogs can occur. Genes play an important role in some cases. Pre-existing abnormalities may also lead to this condition. Foreign objects in the bone, chemicals, and radiation are other common causes.

Symptoms

As you already learned, the tumor grows outwardly. Your dog will experience more and more pain as the condition advances. The limb will likely become lame. In its early stages, this period of lameness will only occur occasionally. Over time, it will affect your dog constantly.

Diagnosis

You need to have your dog checked out as soon as possible if he displays signs of this disease. The vet will first take an x-ray of the affected limb. The vet may be able to make a definitive diagnosis from the x-ray. Sometimes, your done may need to have a bone biopsy. Since the biopsy can be quite painful, vets usually try to avoid it.

Treatment

Treatment of osteosarcoma needs to begin quickly since the cancer can spread rather quickly. Hopefully, medication will be able to control the growth of the tumor. Your dog will also need medication to control pain. If the pain gets to be too bad, the affected limb may need to be amputated. To avoid amputation, a bone replacement may be done. Other common treatment methods include chemotherapy and radiation.

All owners should know a little something about common dog illnesses. You can read up on many different potential health problems at dog-illnesses.com. Click over right now.

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Lymphosarcoma is one of the most serious diseases in dogs. It’s usually fatal. This disease affects the lymph nodes which are found throughout the body. This means various organs can also be affected. The liver and spleen are common targets. This article will discuss canine lymphosarcoma.

Signs

Depending on the location of the cancer, the signs your dog displays will vary. Swollen lymph nodes are common. Swollen lymph nodes are sometimes the only sign. Vomiting, weight loss, and diarrhea are common when the gastrointestinal tract is involved. Your dog’s skin may also be affected. If this happens, it will become itchy and red. Difficulty breathing is common when the chest is involved.

Diagnosis

There are multiple tests done in order to diagnose this condition. The bone marrow may have to be analyzed to ensure that cancerous cells haven’t invaded. Other common tests include an ultrasound, x-ray, and blood tests.

Treatment

This disease is difficult since many body parts can be affected at once. Therefore, radiation therapy and surgery are not effective treatment methods. Chemotherapy is the main method of treatment. Chemotherapy medication, which is taken once a week, can be given either by injection or orally.

Prognosis

With successful treatment, your dog may survive for months or even years. However, left untreated, most dogs will die within a few months. Since the disease is almost always fatal, you will have to make the decision on whether or not to treat your dog.

All owners should know their pet can fall victim to common canine illnesses. Fortunately, dog-illnesses.com provides a wealth of information on a range of these conditions. Click over right now.

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Kidney failure in dogs is a life-threatening condition. It can occur for many different reasons. Trauma, blockages, bacteria, and toxins are some of the most common. This article will discuss some of the common causes of kidney failure in canines.

Medications

Unfortunately, there are certain medications that are harmful to your dog’s kidneys. Although useful in treating other diseases, kidney damage may be a side effect. Some of the most common medications include immunosupressive drugs, antibiotics, and antifungal drugs.

Obstructions

Urinary or bladder obstructions can also damage your dog’s kidneys. These obstructions are caused by kidney or bladder stones. If the stones are contaminated with bacteria, your dog can easily be infected. An obstruction that blocks urine flow can be fatal in mere days from uremic poisoning.

Trauma

A traumatic injury is one of the next common causes. Getting hit by a car is a prime example. If your dog develops a severe fungal infection, he may also sustain damage to kidney tissue. Two of the most common fungal infections that lead to kidney damage include blastomycosis and valley fever symptoms.

Toxins

One of the more serious causes of dog kidney failure is ingestion of toxins. Your dog will likely lick up antifreeze, a very toxic chemical to dogs, if its puddled in your driveway. Antifreeze quickly destroys the kidneys. Turpentine, heavy metals, and rat poison are other common toxins.

Bacteria

One of the final common causes of kidney failure is a bacterial infection. If bacteria enters the urethra, it may travel up to the bladder and cause an infection. If the infection is allowed to continue, it will travel on to the kidneys. This damage is usually irreversible.

Your precious pet can be susceptible to many different health conditions. Fortunately for you, you can learn about a wide range of these conditions at dog-illnesses.com. So, stop by today to learn about a wide range of these conditions.

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