Dog Health: Dog Diseases
As dog owners and people who care deeply for animals and
wildlife, we wanted our Dog Encyclopedia to be a website that could
empower pet owners to create the most positive, loving
environment for their dogs. Dog Encyclopedia realizes that owning a
dog is like adding a new member to your family.
No one wants to see their dog come down with an illness
or disease. here is a list of some of the most common health
problems for dogs. If you feel your pet may have the signs or
symptoms of any disease listed, please visit a vet immediately. It
is important when picking choosing a dog breed to be aware of any
hereditary diseases that may affect your dog. Each page of our Dog
breeds lets you know what diseases or illnesses are common for that
particular breed. If a breed suffers from a higher probability of a
certain dog illness or disease, it is important to make sure the
puppy or dog you are purchasing has had all possible health
screenings and has a certificate of good health.
Bleeding Disorders
CanineVon Willebrand's Disease
(VvWD)-
This is an inherited bleeding disorder. The commonality between all
vWD is a reduction in the amount or function of von Willebrand
factor (vWF), which is manifested through abnormal platelet function
and prolonged bleeding time. The vWF factor is a blood protein which
binds platelets to blood vessels when they are injured. Absence or
deficiency of the factor can, therefore, lead to uncontrolled
bleeding episodes. In dogs, the most common clinical signs are
spontaneous bleeding from the gums or nose, blood in the urine or
gastrointestinal tract, or excessive bleeding at the time of
surgery. Dogs at highest risk for this disease include the
Corgi,
Poodle,
Scottie,
Golden Retriever,
Doberman,
Sheltie, and
Akita.
Other breeds with a known prevalence of vWD include
Basset Hound,
Dachshund,
German Wirehaired
Pointer,
German Shepherd,
Keeshond,
Manchester Terrier,
Miniature Schnauzer, and
Rottweiler.
Eye Problems
PRA-PRD-Progressive retinal degeneration ( PRD ) is also known as
progressive retinal atrophy ( PRA ) and refers to retinal diseases
that cause blindness. PRD refers to a broad group of inherited
retinal disease which result in the blindness of dogs. Because of
the nature of the disease and sometimes late onset, repeated
examinations may be required to detect individuals with the
condition. Patients affected should not be used for breeding. PRA
has been shown to be
autosomal recessive in the
poodle,
Irish setter,
Norwegian elkhound, and
Samoyed. The recessive nature makes this
disease extremely difficult to eliminate from affected bloodlines.
There is no treatment for the disorder.
GLAUCOMA- This is a serious eye problem. It usually it leads to
partial or total blindness. It is due to an increase of fluid
pressure within the eyeball caused by an interruption of fluid
exchange between the eyeball and the venous circulation. Glaucoma
initially affects just one of the eyes. If the pupil in one eye is
larger than the other, something is definitely wrong. If treatment
in the dog is not started to combat glaucoma in a few days or, in
some cases a few hours, vision will probably be lost completely from
the affected eye. The pressure can crush the cells of the retina and
optic nerve, rendering them nonfunctional.
CATARACTS- A cataract is defined as a loss of the normal
transparency of the lens of the eye. Any spot on the lens that is
opaque, regardless of size, is considered a cataract. Treatment
consists of surgical removal of the lens ( cataract extraction ).
This operation is usually recommended for the dog who has so much
visual impairment that it has trouble getting around. Breeding of
affected animals is not recommended.
DISTICHIASIS- Distichiasis is a condition in which small hair
structures abnormally grow on the inner surface of the eyelids. The
abnormal hairs growing on the inner surface of the lids cause
irritation to the cornea. The affected eye will become red,
inflamed, and may develop a discharge. The dog will squint or blink
very often, much like a person when a bug or other foreign matter
enters the eye. In severe cases, the cornea may become ulcerated and
appear bluish in color. Left untreated, severe corneal ulcerations
and infections can develop. Treatment involves the removal of the
hairs through the use of surgery or electro-epilation.
LUXATED LENS- Luxated (displaced) lens occurs when the zonula
(ligament fiber) which holds the lens in place deteriorate allowing
the lens to fall out of its normal site behind the pupil. Treatment
varies due to the severity of the disorder. Surgical removal of the
lens will alleviate pain and allow partial vision. This surgery is
expensive and not always shown to be effective. Sometimes a
combination of eye drops and oral medication is helpful. In severe
cases, removal of the eye is necessary.
PPM- Persistent pupillary membranes (PPM) are blood vessel remnants
in the anterior (forward) chamber of the eye which fail to regress
normally in the neonatal period. These strands may bridge from iris
to iris, iris to cornea, iris to lens, or form a sheet of tissue in
the anterior chamber. The last 3 forms pose the greatest threat to
vision and when severe, vision impairment or blindness may occur.
The membranes appear to be white, gray, or pigmented. There is no
effective treatment for PPM.
Heart Diseases
Sub-Aortic Stenosis- Sub-Aortic stenosis (SAS) is a type of
heart disease that is usually fatal. It is very different than what
is termed a heart murmur. It sometimes shows up on a standard
veterinary examination with a stethoscope when the dog is a puppy,
and sometimes is not diagnosed until much later (well over a year of
age). A Doppler EKG is the usual diagnostic tool used to pin point
SAS. It is a progressive disease, untreatable and inoperable in
dogs. Currently, research is being done on a significant incidence
in
Bouviers, where the
pedigrees indicate that it is polygenic dominant.
Hips and Joints
Legg Perthes - Legg-Perthes, also called Legg-Calve-Perthes (LCP)
disease, is a disease of the hip joints of small breeds of dogs. The
head of the femur (the ball part of the ball and socket) begins to
die and disintegrate. This causes limping, pain, and eventually
arthritis. It usually appears between 6-12 months of age. It is
treated surgically by removing the head of the femur and letting the
muscles form a "false joint." It really does work. Veterinarians
have begun to address the heritability of this disease, and it is
generally agreed that although in very rare cases, the disease may
be brought on by trauma, it is probably genetic. It has been well
documented in terriers, including the
Border Terrier,
Lakeland
Terrier,
Jack Russell
Terriers, and
Yorkshire Terrier.
Luxating Patella- A condition in which the patella, or
kneecap, dislocates or moves out of its normal location. Most cases
of patellar luxation are medial and this is frequently a congenital
problem in toy and miniature breed dogs. Breeds showing a
predisposition for medial patellar luxation include miniature and
toy
poodles,
Maltese,
Jack Russell Terriers,
Yorkshire terriers,
Pomeranians,
Pekingese,
Chihuahuas and
Boston Terriers. Large breed dogs
are also affected and the
Labrador retriever seems particularly predisposed. Genetics can
play a role. The condition usually becomes evident between the ages
of 4 to 6 months. Diagnosis is made through palpation of the knee.
X-rays are used to further investigate cases. The luxating patella
may causes no or very mild symptoms. There may be intermittent
limping in the rear leg, and in higher-grade luxations, the lameness
can be severe. Osteoarthritis typically develops secondarily.
Hip Dysplasia- It affects the hip joints of dogs, which is the bone
structure that attaches the dog’s body to the hind legs. Hip
dysplasia normally occurs during a young dog’s growing stages. Hip
dysplasia may affect both the left and right hips, causing intense
discomfort to your pet. Generally speaking, dogs of larger breeds
are the ones that are most prone to this disease. The types of dogs
that are likely to have hip dysplasia are
Saint Bernard,
Great Dane,
Labrador Retriever,
German Shepherd,
Golden Retriever, and
Rottweiler. If your vet had diagnosed
this disease in your dog, you have to heed the health expert’s
instructions and make sure that your pet receives proper care and
medication, so that the disease will not progress.
Digestive Tract
Bloat- a serious canine condition that involves the twisting of a
dog’s stomach from overeating. This serious condition is a common
cause for dog death. The twisted stomach not only cuts off its own
blood supply causing quick tissue necrosis, but also traps gas
causing tremendous pain, with a relatively quick death. As a result,
this condition needs to be treated quickly. Symptoms include
restlessness, depression and dry heaves. The canines that have the
greatest risk of bloat are older dogs, thin or underweight dogs, and
dogs with an aggressive or anxious temperament. Also dogs that eat
rapidly or have only one meal a day are susceptible to developing
bloat.