|
Common Diseases Affecting Our
Dogs |
|
Disease |
Alternate Names |
Description |
Symptoms |
|
Allergies |
Atopy
Contact Skin Allergies
Atopic Dermatitis
Dermatitis
Food Allergies |
Reactions to allergens such as insects, pollens, and
food |
Itchiness, rashes --may chew feet and scratch lips and
face |
|
Bloat |
Gastric Dilation-Volvulus |
Stomach enlarges dramatically and then twists itself,
sealing off the entry and exit of the stomach -- the
spleen enlarges and causes torsion of the major vein
bringing blood to the heart |
EMERGENCY!
Restlessness, abdomen is enlarged and feels hard,
lethargy, pain, panting, pale mucous membranes, vomits
foam and saliva |
|
Cancer |
Breast Cancer
Hemangiosarcoma
Malignant Histiocytosis
Mast Cell Tumors |
Hemangiosarcoma is the cancer most likely to affect our
dogs |
Hemangiosarcoma is a cancer of the blood vessels that
may affect the spleen, heart, liver or skin. |
|
Cauda Equina Syndrome |
CES
Spinal Stenosis
Lumbosacral Malarticulation,
Narrowing of Spinal Column
Lumbar Disc Disease |
Spinal irregularities in the lumbar region of the spine
that cause pressure on the Cauda Equina Nerve – painful
disease |
Painful tail that may appear "broken" – loss of
neurological messages to hind end -- may drag hind feet
and eventually suffer loss of bladder and bowel control.
This disease requires early detection and early
intervention to prevent permanent nerve damage. |
|
Elbow Dysplasia |
E.D., F.C.P. (Fragmented Coronoid Process or Fractured
Coronoid Process), D.J.D. (Degenerative Joint Disease),
U.A.P. (Ununited Anconeal Process or Non-union of the
Anconeal Process), O.C.D. (Osteochondritis Dissecans) |
The term Elbow Dysplasia covers a group of developmental
defects of the elbow joint that can occur in any area of
the joint |
May limp on front leg(s) – may have shortened stride.
Usually diagnosed at time of OFA or OVC certification.
Symptoms may or may not be immediately obvious, but this
defect increases the risk of arthritis in the elbow |
|
Epilepsy |
Seizures
Fits |
Primary or "true" epilepsy can only be diagnosed by
ruling out other diseases that are known to produce
seizures |
Shaking, involuntary movement of legs, blank stare,
rigidity |
|
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency |
EPI, Malabsorption Syndrome, Pancreatic Acinar Atrophy,
PAA, Pancreatic Hypoplasia |
Pancreas does not produce enough of the enzymes that
digest food |
Diarrhea – chronic, excessive food intake but continues
to lose weight, gassy stomach, flatulence |
|
Fearfulness (Inappropriate) |
Fear biter
Aggressive |
Fearful of things or events that do not bother other
dogs. Includes fear of thunder, noise, people, and other
dogs – may appear aggressive |
Hiding, escape, growling, lunging, barking, biting |
|
GSD Footpad Syndrome |
Familial Vasculopathy of German Shepherds
Soft feet |
May be severe in young puppies --less severe forms
express as footpads that are thin and soft |
Feet are swollen, crusty, ulcerated and have pigment
loss – feet may bleed if dog walks on hard, rough
surfaces |
|
Heart Defects |
Mitral Valve Stenosis (MVS),Patent Ductas Arteriosus
(PDA), Pulmonic Stenosis (PS) Subaortic Stenosis (SAS),
Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia (TVD) Ventricular Septal
Defect (VSD), Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) |
Developmental heart defects present at birth -- each
describes the part of the heart that is affected |
Failure to thrive – weakness, coughing, murmurs,
atypical heart rhythms, exercise intolerance, fluid in
lungs, sudden death -- may present as severe or may be
undetected but will contribute to congestive heart
failure eventually |
|
Hip Dysplasia |
HD
CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia) |
Developmental malformation of the hip joint |
Hind legs-gait is abnormal, may "bunny" hop --
Difficulty rising -- leg muscles may weaken |
|
Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
I.B.D
Eosinophilic gastritis or enteritis Lymphoplasmacytic
Enteritis or Colitis
SIBO
Enteritis
Idiopathic colitis |
Inflammatory bowel disease describes inflammation of the
digestive system -- inflammations will be named
depending on the type of cells found and the area of the
intestine that is inflamed -- symptoms vary with the
area of the intestines affected |
Chronic or frequent diarrhea -- there may be increased
or decreased stool production and frequency, blood and
mucous, vomiting, and weight loss |
|
Megaesophagus |
Megaesophagus
Dilated esophagus
Esophageal Achalasia |
Esophageal muscles fail to force food into the stomach,
esophagus is "stretched" or dilated |
Regurgitation of undigested food, weight loss, failure
to thrive |
|
Panosteitis |
Eosinophilic Panosteitis, Pano
Growing pains
Growing Bones disease
Enostosis |
Pain in the long bones of the body during growth – This
condition will resolve without treatment |
Pain in long bones of legs. Lameness that shifts from
leg to leg. Fever, poor appetite and lethargy may be
present |
|
Perianal Fistula |
Anal Furunculosis |
Open, draining skin sinuses around the rectum |
Difficulty defecating
rectum has open sore --tail may be painful |
|
Spondylosis Deformans |
Spondylosis
Arthritis of the spine
Osteoarthritis of the spine |
Abnormal fusion or bridging between the vertebrae of the
spine |
Stiffness upon rising |
|
Less Common or Rare Diseases That Have Been Reported |
|
Disease |
Alternate Names |
Description |
Symptoms |
|
Addison's Disease |
Primary Hypoadrenocorticism |
Adrenal cortex fails to produce glucocorticoid hormones |
Weakness lethargy, collapse, diarrhea, poor appetite,
shaking, shock, vomiting |
|
Aggressiveness (Inappropriate) |
Idiopathic Rage Syndrome |
Does not show fear. Dog will growl or bite without good
cause |
Growling, biting, threatening display |
|
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia |
AHA |
Immune system attacks red blood cells, causing anemia |
Pale mucous membranes -- fever, lethargy, enlarged
spleen, vomiting, weakness |
|
Cataracts |
|
Clouding of the lens in the eye that will eventually
lead to blindness |
White haze over eyes |
|
Corneal Dystrophy |
Cholesterol deposits |
Deposits of lipids (fat) on the cornea of the eye. May
interfere with vision |
White spots on eyes |
|
Cushing’s Disease |
Hyperadrenocorticism |
Tumor of the Adrenal Glands or Pituitary Gland that
causes an increase of Cortisol. These tumors are usually
benign |
Increased thirst and appetite, hair loss, paunchy
abdomen, weak muscles, increased urination |
|
Degenerative Myelopathy |
DM
Paralysis |
Disease of the nervous system, similar to Multiple
Sclerosis in humans -- not a painful disease, but is
fatal |
Weakness in hind legs and difficulty standing up – hind
feet will drag and knuckle, hind leg muscle wasting.
Loss of bladder and bowel control -- eventually affects
front legs |
|
Demodex |
Scabies
Red Mange
Mites
Demodicosis Demodes |
Demodex can be localized to small patches – it can also
be generalized to the whole body and is a very serious
form of this disease |
Localized red skin patches and hair loss usually on
face, ears, or legs. If generalized, hair coat will have
a moth eaten appearance with hair loss |
|
Discoid Lupus Erythematosus |
DLE, Lupus of the skin, Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus,
Lupus, CLE |
CLE that affects the skin. It is an auto-immune disease |
Red skin patches, Loss of nose pigment, Nose Ulcerated,
Scaling skin on face, ears and feet, Sensitivity to
ultraviolet light |
|
Esophageal Hypomobility |
|
Esophagus fails to push food into the stomach |
Delayed growth, respiratory infections, vomiting, weight
loss |
|
GSD Pyoderma |
Folliculitis of the GSD
Skin infection |
Chronic, deep, skin disease, consisting of pus filled
lumps and erosions of the skin that cause itching |
Papules (raised bumps) on skin of back and hind legs --
erosions (surface sores) on skin --hyperpigmentation (darkening
of skin). Itchy, pus filled bumps, open sores (ulcers),
-- may have poor appetite, weight loss, fever |
|
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy |
HOD |
Bone disease of growing dogs, caused by a disturbance in
the blood supply to the growth plate –microscopic
fractures develop that cause pain and inflammation of
the joints |
Lameness, mild or severe, loss of appetite, dehydration,
depression, fever, swollen joints |
|
Imperforate Lacrimal Punctum |
Epiphora
Lacrimal puncta atresia
Runny eyes
Excess tearing |
The Lacrimal punctum is the opening in the corner of the
eye that drains tears – if this drain is blocked, tears
will spill onto the face |
Runny eyes may leave a rusty stain of face from tears |
|
Luxation of the Tarsal, Metatarsal, and Intertarsal
Joints |
Luxation of the Hock |
Hock joint is constructed of many small bones held
together with many small ligaments -- luxation refers to
separation of these joints |
Hind leg is non weight bearing. Pain in lower hind leg –
foot appears to "dangle" |
|
Pannus |
Superficial Stromal Keratitis |
Pannus is an ongoing inflammation of the cornea, or
surface of the eye |
Grayish haze on eye |
|
Pemphigus Foliaceus |
Pemphigus |
Autoimmune system attacks the skin itself –- areas most
commonly affected are the pads, nose, lips and eye rims |
Rash, blisters, pustules and crusty sores – depression,
fatigue, and swollen joints |
|
Premature Closure of the Ulna |
Bow legged |
Ulna stops growing before the radius – radius continues
to grow, causing the front legs to be misshapen |
Front legs bow, wrists turn in and the feet turn outward |
|
Primary Seborrhea |
Seborrhea oleosa
Seborrhea sicca
Otitis externa |
Outer layers of skin, sebaceous glands and hair
follicles are over active causing the over-production of
sebum (fatty lubricating substance) and skin cells.
Primary seborrhea occurs in dogs under the age of 18
months |
Chronic condition, skin is greasy, scaly and smelly --
ears have a waxy buildup |
|
Thyroid Disease |
Hypothyroidism
Hashimoto’s Disease
Lymphocytic Thyroiditis
Autoimmune Thyroiditis |
Thyroid gland is attacked by the dog's own immune system |
Obesity, poor hair coat, hair loss, lethargy and
reproduction problems |
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