Health Problems
Found [373] Articles :: Page 18 of 25
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The worst genetic flaw that is associated with Catahoula Leopard dogs is deafness. This inherited flaw can range from deafness in one ear to totally deaf in addition to other health flaws such as blindness. For fanciers of the breed, there is a constant battle between those that believe that this flaw must be forcibly culled from the breeding program while others believe that there is no harm in allowing the trait to continue. In this article, we'll take a look at how deafness in Catahoula Leopard dogs can happen and what interested buyers can do to avoid purchasing a deaf dog. [...]
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One of the only known dogs to have a condition known as stationary night blindness, the Briard dog of Sweden is now in the cutting edge of DNA testing to determine a specific test to clearly identify carriers, affected dogs and non-affected dogs.
Stationary night blindness is characterized by various degrees of blindness in the Briard dogs that may become progressively more pronounced as the dog matures or may remain relatively constant. This variation can go from slight loss of vision in shadows or dark areas to almost complete blindness even in full light. Since the dog's will have temperament changes when they start to loose their vision this is often the first indication that there is something wrong with the dog. [...]
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Skin infections in dogs, known as pyoderma, are usually caused by a type of normal skin bacteria known as staphylococcus intermedius. This bacteria is always present on the skin and the mucous membranes but in some cases it becomes rampant on the skin and leads to severe infections. Often these conditions include an immune related disease in the dog, malnutrition, injury or trauma or other change in the dog's environment or diet that causes the dog to become stressed.
There are several different types of pyoderma that can be found on a dog. They are categorized by the level of tissues they involve and range from the surface infections known as surface pyodermas to the very deep infections that can be caused by excessive scratching and biting of the infected area. They are also determined to be primary, or the cause of the infection, or secondary, the result of some other condition or wound that then allowed the bacteria access to the dog's skin. [...]
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As with most types of medical symptoms or conditions there is always more than one possible cause for spinal paralysis in dogs. Understanding what caused the paralysis in the first place is essential in being able to successfully diagnose, treat and even limit the progression of the paralysis. Since there are so many different possible causes of spinal paralysis understanding what the causes are for your breed of dog is important.
In the long, low to the ground breeds with stubby legs and longer backs such as Dachshunds and Basset Hounds spinal paralysis is often caused by intervertebral disc disease that is caused by the rupturing of the discs putting pressure on the spinal cord and resulting in paralysis. [...]
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One of the most frustrating issues with treating dogs with skin allergies is trying to determine exactly what is the source of the irritation, known as the allergen. For many dogs it is fleas, well not exactly the fleas themselves but the saliva they secrete as they bite and feed off the dog. There are many different allergens in flea saliva and these are considered to be some of the most problematic conditions for dogs as they are so concentrated even a single bite can cause irritation across a large part of the dog's skin.
Food allergies are also very problematic for many dogs. Often these allergies are to gluten or wheat products in the food but they can also be from corn, preservatives and even flavorings and colorings used in the food. Since most commercially produced dog foods have the same ingredients, owners may need to go to a BARF or bones and raw foods or other natural type diet to eliminate the problematic ingredients from the dog's food. [...]
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One of the most common diseases or conditions found in adult dogs is diabetes mellitus. It is caused when the endocrine system, most specifically the pancreas, does not produce enough insulin to regulate the blood sugar in the body. This leads to "highs" and "lows" in blood sugar, both which can be life threatening if they are too high or too low.
Thankfully diabetes is a relatively common (about 1 in 500 dogs will be diagnosed with the disease) and easy to diagnose condition in dogs that is usually very easy to manage, although it is not curable. Since the conditions that are problematic in diabetes are the sugar highs and lows in the blood, insulin can be used to maintain the blood sugar at a constant level throughout the day. [...]
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The skin and muscle wasting condition known as dermatomyositis is most common in the collie and shepherd breeds including the Shetland Sheepdog, Smooth and Rough Collies, German Shepherds, Australian Cattle Dog, Chow Chows and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The exact mode of inheritance of the condition is not completely understood but it is believed to be a dominant variable condition which means that as long as one of the parents has the disorder the puppies may show the condition. Each puppy in the litter may have the condition in various degrees from serious hair loss and muscle weakness to no obvious signs of the condition. Since there is this variation between the expression of the condition within a litter there may be other factors such as the overall health of the puppy as well as the development of the immune system that play a big part in how serious or how mild the condition develops in individual dogs. [...]
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One of the more catastrophic ailments that can affect your large-breed dog is a condition known as Wobbler Syndrome, or clinically as cervical vertebral instability.
This syndrome occurs when the spinal cord is compressed in the cervical (neck) area. This compression, or pinching, happens because the vertebra through which the cord passes is malformed or misaligned. The compression injures the part of the spinal cord that's necessary for an animal to stand and/or move normally.
What causes these deformities in the vertebrae isn't yet known, but it is believed to be related to both genetics and nutrition. In some young dogs, Wobbler can develop if the animal is fed a diet excessively high in protein, calcium and phosphorus, in an attempt to accelerate the growth process. This is believed to cause the skeletal changes that occur in some affected dogs. [...]
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There are many types of heart disease that can affect your dog, and one of the more serious of these is a condition known as cardiomyopathy. There are several types of this fatal disease, and they are a major cause of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), congestive heart failure and sudden death. The two most common include a condition known as arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) and a second known as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM. In many cases, the dog will develop ACM first, and then the condition will develop into DCM.
The term cardiomyopathy literally translates to "sick heart muscle." It occurs when the walls of the heart muscle become thin, weak and unable to contract properly. The left side of the heart is normally affected the most, but both sides can become enlarged. [...]
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Despite the rather ominous sounding name, white shaker dog syndrome is not fatal and is very rarely a serious problem for most dogs that develop the condition and are treated. As can be assumed from the name is it most commonly found in white dogs such as the Maltese, Bichon Frise, Poodle, and the West Highland White Terrier. It has also been noted in breeds that are not white in color such as the Yorkshire Terrier and the Beagle. Some all white breeds of dogs that are medium to large in size do not exhibit the condition; rather it seems to be more specific to the smaller breeds of dogs.
White shaker dog syndrome is usually first noted in a puppy and young dog between the ages of six months and three years. The dogs will usually start with a slight tremor that will either stay mild in nature or become more pronounced for a period of about three to four days. Once it has reached this stage the tremor will typically stay at that intensity unless it is treated. [...]
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It is always an exciting time to get a new puppy or dog, unfortunately many new owners don't consider all the possible health issues that may be associated with different breeds. In some of the medium to large breeds such as the Golden Retriever, Bullmastiff, Rottweiler, Boxer and Newfoundland the condition is considered the leading cause of heart conditions within the breed.
Sub-aortic stenosis is a congenital and inherited condition, which means that it is passed on through the parents and is present when the puppy is born. What the condition actually consists of is a narrowing of the opening between the heart's left ventricle and the aorta, the major blood vessel carrying blood that is rich in oxygen to the rest of the body. The narrowing is actually caused by a thickening or the walls or a ring of scar tissue that is formed inside the aorta just at the ventricle, which will decrease the volume of blood that can be carried out of the heart to the body. [...]
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A very painful condition of the skin, spiculosis occurs most commonly in adult Kerry Blue Terriers, and is more generally seen in males but may also be present in females during their adult years. These spicules are very dense and hard strands of hair that are very thick and spiky in both texture and size. Not all Kerry Blue Terriers will develop the condition, it is much more prevalent in some lines than others so be sure to ask about the condition before selecting a kennel or breeding line.
The spiculosis condition is also known as rose thorns or bristles and may also be noted in Kerry Blue mixed dogs but is very rarely seen in any other breed. While the most common location for these hard, spiky hairs is on the elbows and the hocks of the legs, they can also be found on the face, neck, body and tail, virtually anywhere on the dog's body. Typically Kerry Blue Terriers with a very stiff coat are more prone to the condition and those that have the breed standard "soft, dense and wavy" coat are less likely to develop the condition. [...]
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Much like other large breeds, hip dysplasia is a disorder that can affect the ball and socket joint of the hind legs in some Chinese Foos. Mostly seen in the larger sized dogs of the breed, hip dysplasia in usually an inherited disorder that is passed on from generation to generation. It can also appear in dogs that grow too quickly or do not have managed meals. In this article, we’ll take a look at what hip dysplasia is, how it can be treated and how you can prevent it from developing in your Chinese Foo. [...]
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Basically what we are talking about here is a very itchy cat. Cats can become itchy from a variety of causes and veterinarians tell us that allergies are the most common problem affecting small animals in general. However, hormonal skin problems are common to dogs but rare in cats.
[h]Detection of Hormonal Skin Diseases[/h]
Pruritus is the medical term for itchiness and is not hard to spot because your cat will scratch and even damage its skin. The causes of Pruritus are said to be from over grooming, but really there can be a host of reasons for causing this hormonal skin disease. In severe causes you cat may actually lose or pull out its own hair in order to get relief.
Miliary Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin characterized by crusts that appear all over the body, most of the time it occurs from greasy, oily, or fur that contains dandruff. [...]
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Curly Coated Retrievers are well known for their distinctive, tightly curled coats. But sometimes Curlies can suffer from hair loss, for a variety of reasons. While some bitches might experience some hair loss just before and after whelping, others can suffer from pattern baldness, which can be temporary or permanent. In this article, we'll take a look at hair loss and the Curly Coated Retriever, what it means and what can be done. [...]
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