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Also called hypoadrenocorticism, Addison's disease results from a deficiency of the hormones that enable adaption to stress. Signs can be vague or can culminate in a circulatory crisis. Airborne Allergies (Atopy) We get hay fever; dogs get itchy skin. This condition is usually seasonal - but not always - and many treatments are available. Find out the causes and what you can do to relieve your pet's discomfort. Anal Sacs Is your pet scooting? Smelling a fishy foul odor? Noticing some licking under the tail? Dogs with impacted anal sacs usually scoot their rear on the ground in an attempt to empty the glands. Some dogs will lick their anal area and other dogs will chase their tails. Cats often lick the fur off just under their tails. Barbering in Cats In short, the cat is licking off all his or her hair. Often the belly is nearly as bald as if it were shaved. Sometimes a Mohawk of normal fur makes a stripe down the back, surrounded by bald spots on either sides. Sometimes it is the lower back itself that is bald. Often the owner thinks the hair is falling out. Often the veterinarian wonders if the problem is really psychological. Canine Distemper Most of us have heard of distemper infection for dogs and gather it is very bad. The basic vaccine for dogs is the distemper shot, which vaccinates against distemper, parvovirus and some minor kennel cough agents. Luckily, this is all most people ever hear of distemper. Canine Pancreatitis In pancreatitis, inflammation disrupts the normal integrity of the pancreas. Digestive enzymes that are normally safely stored in granules are released prematurely where they digest the body itself. The result can be a metabolic catastrophe. The living tissue becomes further inflamed and the tissue damage quickly involves the adjacent liver. Toxins released from this storm of tissue destruction are released into the circulation and can cause a body-wide inflammatory response. Chocolate Toxicity Chocolate may be America’s favorite flavor. We like chocolate candy, ice cream, chocolate drinks, chocolate cakes, just about anything with that flavor. We may want to share our favorite treat with an eager pet but it is best to think twice and reach for the dog biscuits instead. Constipation and Mega Colon Difficulty in passing stool can mean extra effort (constipation) or complete impossibility (obstipation). Management can be surgical or with medication, depending on severity. Find out the difference, and find out what Megacolon is, too, on this informative page. Corneal Ulceration A scratch or scrape on the eye is extremely painful, causing squinting, redness and excess tears. What do you need to know about taking care of a pet with this condition? Read about the diagnosis and treatment of corneal ulcers and erosions. Demodectic Mange This condition is also called Red Mange. It is not contagious, but it does have a hereditary component. What are the options for treatment? Dry Eye (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca) Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS, is a fancy way of saying the eye is dry. There are many causes of dry eye, but the most common one appears to be immune mediated destruction of the tear-producing gland tissue. Ear Infections (Otitis Externa) Did you know the most common cause of recurrent ear infections is allergic skin disease? What do you do to keep the ear scratching and head shaking from becoming chronic? Ear Mites This annoying parasite is a common source of ear infections, especially in cats and kittens. Where do they come from? How do you get rid of them? Epistaxis: Bloody Nose Some blood-tinged droplets sneezed on the floor might be the only sign or there might be a steady bloody drip from one or both nostrils. These findings are alarming as well as messy and we want to identify the cause and take care of it promptly. The problem is that there are many causes and not all of them are localized to the nose, and many are serious diseases. Feline Asthma If your cat needs to open its mouth to breathe or if its abdomen moves excessively as it breathes (and it's not purring), then it may be suffering from feline asthma. Asthma is a recurring respiratory compromise that occurs when the lung airways constrict either spontaneously or in response to stimuli that normally should not cause a reaction. Feline Distemper (Panleukopenia) Feline distemper, caused by a parvovirus, is a life-threatening disease. The virus is considered ubiquitous, meaning it is in virtually every place that is not regularly disinfected. The infection is highly contagious among unvaccinated cats, usually kittens and young adult cats living in groups. Barn cats, feral colonies, animal shelter groups, pet stores, and rescue facilities are high risk for outbreaks. Feline House Soiling Does your cat seem to forget where the real litter box is and instead use an imaginary litter box in the middle of the living room rug? This could be caused by medical or behavioral problems. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) FIV is a virus that causes "AIDS" in cats; however, there is a long asymptomatic period before AIDS occurs and our job is to prolong this asymptomatic period. Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) FIP is a serious disease with near 100% mortality, no good test, no good treatment, and no good vaccine. If your cat is an FIP suspect, we know how painful the lack of knowing can be. We hope these resources can provide facts and understanding during this difficult time. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) Feline lower urinary tract disease (formerly known as feline urologic syndrome) is not a specific disease but a collection of clinical signs: bloody urine, straining to urinate, and urinating in inappropriate places. Sometimes a specific cause is found but often not. There are many different prevention strategies and, of course, in the male cat a life-threatening urinary blockage can develop. Feline Upper Respiratory Disease Does your cat sneeze, have runny eyes, and a runny nose? A cold for a cat is usually just a nuisance as a cold usually is for one of us. Sometimes, though, an upper respiratory infection can be serious. Fibrocartilaginous Embolism (FCE) Imagine your dog is happily playing in the yard, jumps up to catch a ball, lands badly, and comes up not just lame but not really able to use a back leg normally at all. The toes knuckle under, perhaps. Maybe he tilts downward, unable to rise all the way up in the back end. You check him over, trying to find where it hurts and it simply does not seem to hurt at all. Food Allergy Have an itchy pet all year round? Maybe there is a food allergy. Just changing to a new diet probably won’t be enough. Find out what to do here and see if your pet fits the profile for this condition. Gastric Dilitation Volvulous (GDV) aka "Bloat" A serious, life-threatening emergency. Learn to recognize the signs to get your dog to a veterinarian in time to possibly save its life. Heart Failure When the heart is not able to pump out the volume of blood it receives (backward failure) or cannot pump out enough blood to supply oxygen to the body (forward failure), the goal is to avoid or resolve a life-threatening crisis. Once the short-term disaster is resolved, we look to a more long-term therapy plan. Hemangiosarcoma Hemangiosarcoma has three classic locations: skin and subcutaneous forms, splenic forms, and heart-based forms. With the exception of the skin form, which can often be eliminated by surgery, a diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma is bad news. Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver) The liver failure cat is jaundiced, inappetant, frequently nauseated, and generally an obviously ill animal. Hip Dislocation Hip dislocation is the common term for the separation of the femoral head from the pelvic acetabulum. The medical term is coxofemoral luxation, and you will probably hear your veterinarian use this term. In order for the hip to luxate, trauma must be severe enough to break the capital ligament. The femur almost always luxates the same way: up and forward. Hip Dysplasia Hip dysplasia is a common condition of large breed dogs and many dog owners have heard of it but the fact is that anyone owning a large breed dog or considering a large breed dog as a pet should become familiar with this condition. The larger the dog, the more likely the development of this problem becomes, particularly as the dog ages. Histiocytoma The histiocytoma is a tumor originating from what is called a Langerhans cell. This cell lives in the skin and serves as part of the immune system by processing incoming antigens and presenting them to other immunologic cells. Hyperthyroidism In Cats Hyperthyroidism is the most common hormone imbalance in cats. This disease emerged in the 1980s but has become so common that a wealth of information is available. This center reviews the physiology of the condition, its diagnosis, and the pros and cons of all the treatment options. Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is the most common hormone imbalance in dogs. While it seems like it would be a simple subject, there are complexities. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Does your pet seem to have chronic vomiting or diarrhea? Those can be signs of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Kennel Cough Infectious tracheobronchitis, commonly known as kennel cough, is a complex of infections rather than infection by a single agent. Find out how infection occurs, how serious it may be, how it is treated, and understand the vaccination. Kidney Failure Chronic kidney, or renal, failure is common among geriatric pets. As treatment frequently is long term, owners should understand their options. Topics discussed include medications used in treatment, diagnostics/helpful testing and monitoring, and how to get involved with on-line resource groups. Leptospirosis This infection can be caught by humans as well as by canines. Learn about the leptospira organism, and how we test, treat and vaccinate against the disease (in dogs, that is). Lyme Disease The first lesson to be learned about the Lyme disease infection is that it manifests completely differently in man's best friend compared with the human experience. In dogs, Lyme disease is a minor infection not nearly worthy of the attention it has received. Lymphoma This form of cancer, also called lymphosarcoma, is the most common malignancy of dogs, cats, and humans. A plentitude of information is available, information that is necessary in order to make intelligent decisions about an affected pet. Malassezia Dermatitis (Yeast Infection) Technically known as Malessezia Dermatitis, this is one of the stinkiest and itchiest conditions treated in veterinary dermatology, and it is one of the chief reasons a previously well-controlled allergic dog might suddenly increase itching. Mammary Tumors in Dogs Women get breast cancer, female dogs get mammary cancer. What many pet owners don't know is that the incidence of mammary tumor development in dogs is higher than in women, as one in four unspayed female dogs are affected. This incidence is huge, yet awareness among owners of female dogs is lacking. Mammary Tumors in Cats In cats with mammary tumors, approximately 90% are malignant with rapid spread to adjacent glands and the nearest set of lymph nodes. Mast Cell Tumors Most mast cell tumors arise in the skin but technically they can arise anywhere that mast cells are found. Mast cell tumors are notoriously invasive and difficult to treat. Medial Luxating Patella The medial luxating patella, commonly called “trick knee,” is an extremely common problem in toy breed dogs. An owner typically notices a little skip in the dog’s step. The dog may even run on three legs, holding one hind leg up, and then miraculously be back on four legs as if nothing has happened. Osteosarcoma (Canine) Osteosarcoma is by far the most common bone tumor of the dog. Here is information on which to help guide owners through treatment decisions. Paralyzed Dogs: How to Care for Them Spinal damage leading to rear leg paralysis is not uncommon. These "downer" dogs have special needs. Rarely is rear paralysis temporary so management requires commitment. It is not for everyone and it is important to understand what one is getting into; though, for the right owner and patient, management can be rewarding. Parvovirus Parvoviruses are a large group; almost every mammal species (including humans) seems to have its own parvovirus. Fortunately, each virus is pretty specific about what animals it can infect (i.e., the pig parvovirus will not infect people, the canine parvovirus will not infect cats etc.) The canine parvovirus will affect most members of the dog family (wolves, coyotes, foxes, etc.) Pemphigus Foliaceus The pemphigus complex is a group immune-mediated skin diseases involving inappropriate immunological attack against one of the normal layers of the skin. Different types of pemphigus involve different areas of the skin. Physical Therapy for Arthritic Patients Life with a dog with mobility issues is a challenge and it would be wonderful if a magic pill could make a stiff older dog as supple as a youngster. Despite advances in arthritis medications for dogs, there is more to therapy than giving pills. The more advanced the mobility problems are, the more important physical therapy becomes in maintaining function. Prolapse of The Third Eyelid (Cherry Eye) Has a red lump suddenly appeared in the corner of your pet’s eye? What does it mean and what should you do? Pseudocyesis: False Pregnancy We get a lot of questions about female dogs having their menstrual periods. In fact, the menstrual cycle is a primate phenomenon; dogs have an estrus cycle that includes a period of false pregnancy. This false pregnancy or “pseudocyesis” can get out of control, lasting for weeks with the dog producing milk and sometimes mothering a soft toy. Pyometra Pyometra is the life-threatening infection of the uterus that generally occurs in middle-aged to older female dogs in the 6 weeks following heat. A uterus with pyometra swells dramatically and is filled with pus, bacteria, dying tissue, and toxins. Without treatment, the pet is expected to die. Rabies Descriptions of rabies go back thousands of years as rabies has classically been one of the most feared infections of all time. It is caused by a rhabdovirus which is relatively unstable in the environment, requiring fresh contact with mucous membranes to establish infection. Rabies is a very serious disease, but fortunately it can also be easily prevented in dogs and cats by proper vaccination. Ringworm (Dermatophytosis) Ringworm is not a worm at all but a fungal infection of the skin. It's contagious to humans, too. This FAQ provides answers. Ruptured Anterior (Cranial) Cruciate Ligament The ruptured cruciate ligament is the most common knee injury of dogs. Chances are that any dog that suddenly has rear leg lameness has a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. The history usually involves a rear leg suddenly so sore that the dog can hardly bear weight on it. If left alone, it will appear to improve over the course of weeks but the knee will be notably swollen and arthritis will set in quickly. Dogs can be presented in either the acute stage (shortly after the injury) or in the chronic stage (weeks or months later). Sarcoptic Mange Sarcoptic mange is the name for the skin disease caused by infection with the Sarcoptes scabei mite. They are microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Also called “scabies,” this mite infection is extremely itchy and contagious. While difficult to diagnose, this condition is usually easy to treat. Seizures Any involuntary behavior that occurs abnormally may represent a seizure. Seizures may be caused by situations within the brain (such as trauma or infection) or by situations centered outside the brain (such as low blood sugar, circulating metabolic toxins, or external poisons). Separation Anxiety The worst cases of separation anxiety present an unlivable disaster for the pet owner. The animal becomes destructive, soils the house, and vocalizes loudly and unabashedly and, since the behavior occurs almost exclusively when the pet is alone, there is nothing to stop him from creating a spectacular mess and annoying the neighbors every time the owner steps out. Urinary Incontinence When a house pet develops urinary incontinence, many owners fear the worst. Assumptions that incontinence signifies senility or irreparable age related change may lead to delay in medical consultation, relegation of the pet to an outdoor life, or even euthanasia. In reality, urinary incontinence is usually one of easiest problems to solve so it is crucial that veterinary assistance be sought before an owner’s patience is completely worn. Urinary Tract Infection The urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common ailments in small animal practices. Vascular Accident in the Brain ("Stroke") Most of us know that “stroke” involves some kind of blood clot lodging or forming somewhere and plugging an important blood vessel, preventing an important area from receiving circulation. Most of us also know that sometimes the symptoms of the stroke are reversible or partly reversible but we do not know what separates the reversible stroke symptoms from the irreversible ones. In this discussion, we are going to be reviewing strokes (the more technical term is “vascular accident”) in the brains of dogs. Vestibular Disease Most people think their pet has had a stroke, but in fact a problem with the vestibular apparatus is to blame. The vestibular apparatus is the neurological equipment responsible for perceiving one's body's orientation relative to the earth (determining if you are upside-down, standing up straight, falling etc.). Whelping (Birthing) Puppies Preparing for the pitter-patter of little paws? What can you expect and what should you watch for? |
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