Health Problems
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No one likes to think about their pets getting sick, but it's important that pet owners be aware of potential health problems that their animals might face so that they can deal with them in an effective manner should they occur. Boxer owners need to keep a close eye on their pets, as boxers tend to have a higher chance than some other breeds of developing potentially severe health problems such as certain types of cancer. Early detection of cancers can lead to effective treatment, which will result in your boxer being around for many years to come. [...]
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Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a cornavirus affecting the upper respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract. The most well known of these virus types, is the widely spread SARS virus which has attracted worldwide critical acclaim; since the disease has transferred over from animal to human.
There are many cornavirus that affect cats and most are not that harmful. These virus strains all grow and attack the white blood cells after which the virus can travel through the entire body. [...]
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The cartilage is an elastic type whitish yellowish connecting tissue that forms in several parts of the body including the larynx, the outer ear, and the joints. When cartilage hardens it becomes bone. Healthy cartilage requires:
[-]Water to keep the cartilage lubricated and nourished[/-]
[-]Proteoglycans which is a type of glycoprotein (sugar protein) to attract and hold water[/-]
[-]Collagen which is the main protein responsible for healthy connective tissue to hold these glycoproteins in place[/-]
[-]Chondrocytes which are the cells of the cartilage. They maintain cartilage by cleaning away old proteoglycans and collagen and producing new ones[/-] [...]
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Hip Dysplasia refers to a deformity of the hip joint, which leads to arthritis if left untreated. This condition is very painful. Up until recently it was only large breeds of dogs that were diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Veterinarians are now realizing that all breeds of cats can have the disease as well. The Devon Rex has been reported to have a 40% likelihood of contracting the disease. The prevalence in the Main Coon Cat, Persian, and Himalayan drops down to about 20 percent and domestic housecats less than 5 percent.
[h]Causes[/h]
It is believed that larger breeds of cats will more often suffer from dysplasia than smaller cats. The reason for this is that the larger the bones the less protective cushioning of muscle and sinuous tissue surrounding them. Less protective cushioning leads to greater risk for hip displacement. [...]
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Exotic shorthair is the breed of cats most associated with Keratosis Sequestrum. An exotic shorthair actually looks like a Persian with one big difference, it has short hair. An exotic shorthair has beautiful plush, thick, dense hair that gives that it a teddy bear look. They are bred to have all the features of a Persian but are much easier to groom. The Persian, Himalayan, Burmese and Siamese cat also contracts Keratosis Sequestrum.
[h]Causes[/h]
The word Keratosis refers to the inflammation of the cornea. The cornea is the surface of the eye. It is a transparent protective covering for the iris, pupil, and outer chambers of the eye. The cornea can be considered the window in which a human or animal sees through. The cornea is a very powerful visual apparatus and is filled with many nerve cells. Thus when the cornea is inflamed, it will be very painful and vision will be impaired. The cornea in a feline is made up of four layers. [...]
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Welsh Terriers are relatively healthy dogs, though they may be prone to allergic reactions; actually dogs in general tend to be highly susceptible to a variety of allergic reactions. And while people often get runny noses and watery eyes when suffering from allergies, dogs will develop skin problems. A dog suffering from allergies may display an unhealthy looking coat, either in texture or in length, he may obsessively scratch and chew at his itchy skin, or he may develop things called hot spots. [...]
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The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a relatively healthy breed, though as usual the breed is not without its typical health issues. These dogs suffer from a series of eye problems that, though not frequently recorded in the breed, do show up from time to time and can cause serious, lasting damage, depending on the severity of the condition. The Cardigan is prone to Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), like many dogs, as well as lens luxation and retinal dysplasia. If you suspect any of these conditions, you should immediately take your dog to the veterinarian, who may suggest you see a veterinarian ophthalmologist. [...]
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The three main types of Neuromuscular Degenerative Disorders are those that involves the muscles (myopathies) Those that involve the junction of the muscles (junctionopathies) and those that involve the nerves of the muscles (neuronopathies).
[h]Neuronopathies[/h]
There are several neuron motor conditions and the ones cited here are just a few.
[h]Motor Neuron Disease[/h] affects the motor neurons in the cat and usually occurs only when the cat is an adult. The disease destroys the motor neurons responsible for voluntary motor actions such as walking, speaking, and breathing. Cats will suffer from muscular problems and have weak muscles and difficulty in walking. [...]
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Perhaps the most important concern in helping a Chinese Crested puppy to develop into a physically healthy adult dog would be dental health. As is sometimes the case with toy breeds, the Chinese Crested is especially prone to irregular bite patterns, missing teeth and gum disease. Missing teeth, in particular, are so commonly found in the Chinese Crested dog that they are not even penalized in show. For these reasons, it is absolutely imperative that the Chinese Crested be fed with small, regular meals and given food with a softer, flakier consistency than most breeds demand. Hard, dry dog food might lead to broken teeth, if the dog even proves capable of chewing it in the first place. [...]
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Vestibular disease is responsible for the altering of the cat's understanding of its physical surroundings. The vestibular apparatus is the neurological parts of the body that guide the cat through this process. It directs the cat's motions and activities in relation to the earth, for example, whether you are standing up, sitting down, turning in one direction, spinning around, walking, running etc. This system uses the eyes and legs to help a cat get its bearings and to determine what action it needs to execute the appropriate move; walk, run, jump and more. In the vestibular system the eyes are used to see moving objects (peripheral vision) without having to succumb to dizziness.
Nystagmus in particular impairs the cat's ability to roll the eyes back and forth or provide a rotational movement. What generally happens is that the eye movement is slower in one direction that it should be. [...]
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Physically, the Chinese Crested dog is a breed of a somewhat sensitive disposition. They are especially prone to such as digestive problems and, with the Hairless variety especially, unfortunate skin conditions. The following will address the most common skin problems Chinese Cresteds suffer from and how to combat and prevent these ailments. [...]
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Osteochondrodysplasia is a bone disease, which causes lameness and is unique to the Scottish Fold Cat breed. When two Scottish Folded ear cats are breed together the Kittens develop malformations in the legs, tail, spine, and growth plates (the end regions of the femur (thighbone). So serious is this disease that the Governing Council of The Cat Fancy (GCCF) has banned the breed. The cat breed continued in the USA as the American breeders felt that a folded ear cat and normal ear cat could breed and the disease causing arthritis and lameness would not replicate. With this particular breeding, the offspring would now only have one copy (heterozygous) of the gene and not two (one from each parent - homozygous). However new research out of Australia indicates that any Scottish Fold cat with folded ears bred to any other cat will still pass the gene onto their offspring. The only difference is that the arthritis is slower to manifest in the litter than if two folded ear cats were breed together. Nevertheless American breeders have been breeding out the gene for generations. [...]
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Persian and exotic shorthaired cats are especially susceptible to a genetic kidney disorder known as Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). The same dominant gene occurs in dogs, other animals, and humans. Research began in the 1990s using female Persians as the test subject.
[h]Causes[/h]
Even though kittens are born with cysts, the disease is slow to manifest and causes enlarged kidneys and kidney dysfunction in older Persians of seven years of age and older.
In the beginning of the cyst formation, they are small, no larger than a centimeter or so. The cysts at this point do not seem to pose a problem in kittens but as the cats age, the cysts become much larger. The kidneys enlarge as the cysts enlarge. The cysts also grow in numbers as well as size. The kidneys are taxed to the point that they can no longer function normally and shut down which ultimately causes renal failure. [...]
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Progressive Retinal Atrophy, also known as retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy (RPED), is part of a group of genetic degenerative eye diseases that affect the retina. Although it is more common in dogs it is also found in cats especially Persians, Abyssinian, some shorthairs and Siamese cats.
[h]Causes[/h]
The disease causes vision impairment, which eventually leads to blindness. Progressive Retinal Atrophy appears in both male and female cats and is either a dominant or recessive trait (autosomal trait). This disease is similar in nature to Retina Pigmentosa in humans.
In Abyssinian cats there are two forms of the disease, if it is present at birth or shortly thereafter it is a genetic autosomal dominant gene. If it occurs in middle age it is genetic autosomal recessive gene. [...]
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There are several feline respiratory viruses, which tend to resemble one and another. They belong to a group of viruses called Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) also known as feline influenza. Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) is a primary viral infection of the upper respiratory system. The herpes virus causes it. It is a contagious virus spread through contact with the secretions of a diseased cat and through the air.
The virus will embed itself in the nasal cavity; nose, nasopharynx (the structure found directly behind the nose and before the palate) and the tonsils. The virus spreads through nasal, saliva and eye secretions. The virus can also be spread through the sharing of eating bowls, litter boxes, cat beds, anything that the cat will come in contact with. The virus will appear after two to five days from the time it entered the body. The Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) will then last up to three weeks before it disappears. [...]
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Health Problems
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