| Addison's
Disease (Hypoadrenocorticism) | Caused
by a deficiency of adrenal cortex hormones. Symptoms include weight loss, fatigue
and vomiting. |
| Allergies | Dogs
can be allergic to a variety of things, including foods and pollen. Symptoms can
include runny eyes, itching, and skin rashes. |
| Amyloidosis | The
abnormal deposit of protein in the body's organs. |
| Arthritis |
Arthritis
is the wearing down of cartilage and loss of fluid
that surrounds the joints, caused by over-use, injury
or age. Arthritis can also be inflammatory, which
is caused by auto-immune disorders, viruses or infection.
|
| Autoimmune
Disease | This
refers to a wide variety of diseases that are caused when the immune system attacks
the body's own cells and tissue. |
| Axonal
Dystrophy | A
rare neurological problem that affects the muscles and movement in young Ibizan
Hound puppies. Symptoms from a few litters led to the naming of the disease, but
it has not been seen in the past decade. |
| Bladder
Infection | Bladder
infections can be caused by a variety of infectious agents. Symptoms can include
pain and blood in the urine. |
| Bladder/Kidney
Stones | Stones
can be formed in the bladder or kidneys from minerals contained in the urine.
Pain may be present, and severe blockage can occur. |
| Bleeding
Disorder | There
are several causes of bleeding disorders in dogs, which can result in internal
or external bleeding. (see Von Willebrand's) |
| Bloat
(Gastric Dilatation/Tortion) | Distention
of the stomach, whereas the contents cannot pass into the intestines, giving a
bloated look to the loin area.. It can be caused by large amounts of food or water.
The stomach can eventually twist, requiring emergency veterinary care. |
| Breathing
Problems | Problems
with breathing can be caused by allergies, but can also be caused by the shape
of the muzzle in short-nosed breeds such as the Bulldog. |
| Cancer | There
are many types of cancer. It is generally the result of cells in the body that
multiply and spread in an abnormal manner. |
| Cardiomyopathy | A
condition which causes abnormalities in the heart muscle. |
| Cataracts | Cataracts
can be attributed to several causes, including the aging process, injury or heredity.
(See juvenile cataracts.) |
| Cerebellar
Ataxia | A
progressive disease of the brain. Symptoms include an unsteady gait. |
| Ceroid
Lipofuscinosis (Storage Disease) | A
hereditary disease which affects the nerve cells. Typically, symptoms of extreme
fear, and unsteady gait begin at 18 months of age. |
| Cherry
Eye | Prolapse
of the third eyelid, appearing as a red swollen mass in the eye. |
| Chondrodysplasia | See
dwarfism. |
| Collapsed
Trachea | A
problem where the trachea partly collapses, causing coughing. |
| Collie
Eye Anomaly | This
disease causes the eye to develop improperly. A small percentage of affected dogs
go blind from the disease. |
| Congenital
Esophageal Achalasia (cardiospasm, mega-esophagus, ectasia, dilated esophagus) | A
condition involving faulty muscles of the esophagus that can usually be detected
in young puppies. Symptoms include regurgitating food shortly after eating. |
| Copper
Toxicosis | An
inherited disease in which the body stores and releases too much copper. It leads
to liver disease. |
| Corneal
Dystrophy | A
degenerative disease of the cornea of the eye. |
| Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCL) | The
tearing of a ligament in the stifle joint. |
| Cranial
Muscular Atrophy | A
disease that affects the muscles of the head, causing weakness. |
| Craniomandibular
Osteopathy | A
bone disease that produces excess bone along the jaw, causing problems opening
and closing the jaw. |
| Cyst | A
lump in the skin that is filled with a soft material. Some cysts remain small;
however, they often become larger in size. |
| Cystinuria | The
formation of cystine stones in the bladder and kidneys. |
| Deafness | Many
things can cause deafness in dogs, such as ear infection or injury, certain drugs,
old age or heredity. One or both ears may be affected. |
| Degenerative
Myelopathy | A
nerve disorder that causes progressive weakening of the rear legs. |
| Demodectic
Mange | Cause is a microscopic
mite. In puppies, the first sign is usually hair loss around the eyes and mouth.
The symptoms often fade as the puppies' immune systems mature and are able to
resist the mites. There is also a more serious form that causes hair loss in patches
over the body. Veterinary treatment is needed. There may be a hereditary tendency. |
| Dermatitis | An
inflammation of the skin that can be caused by allergies, contact with a irritant,
or internal causes. |
| Dermatomyositis | A
disease which produces a skin rash and muscle weakness. |
| Dermoid
Sinus | A
cyst-like growth along the neck or back that becomes impacted with debris. |
| Diabetes | A
disease in which the body does not produce, produce enough of, or properly use
insulin. Causes include diet and heredity. |
| Digital
Hyperkeratosis | A
thickening of the outer layer of skin of the foot pad caused by faulty keratin
production. |
| Disc
Disease | A
degeneration of the vertebrae and surrounding support structures of the spine. |
| Distichiasis | Abnormal
growth of extra eyelashes that can sometimes irritate the eye. |
| Dry
Eye | See
Keratoconjuncivitis sicca. |
| Dwarfism | A
disorder that causes stunted growth. Typically hereditary. |
| Ear
Infections | Ear
infections can be caused by a variety of culprits, including bacteria and yeast.
Redness, odor, discharge and pain are typical symptoms. |
| Ectopia
Cilia | Stray
eyelashes that emerge through the eyelid and can interfere with the eye and cause
pain. |
| Ectropion | The
eyelid droops away from the eye, making the eye prone to infection. |
| Ehlers-Danlos
syndrome | A
defect of the connective tissue that causes skin and joint problems. |
| Elbow
Dysplasia | A
progressive, deteriorating problem in the elbow whereas the joint breaks down
and cannot move efficiently. Cause is thought to be a hereditary tendency. Over-nutrition
of puppies and fast growth in larger dogs are thought to contribute to poor formation
of the joints. Minor dysplasia may go unnoticed, but pain is present in more severe
cases. |
| Entropion | The
eyelid turns inward, causing irritation. May require surgery. |
| Epilepsy
| This
term refers to symptoms of repeated seizures over time. If the cause can be found,
then the epilepsy is secondary. If the cause cannot be found, it is called idiopathic
epilepsy. Some cases of idiopathic epilepsy may be hereditary in nature. |
| Exocrine
Pancreatic Insufficienty (EPI) | A
disfunction of the pancreas which causes dogs to loose the ability to digest protein.
Loose stools and weight loss result. |
| Eyelash
Disorders | Eyelashes
sometimes grow inward and rub on and irritate the eye. |
| Eye
Infection | Can
be caused by bacteria or virus. Discharge may be present. Consult your veterinarian
for diagnoses and treatment to prevent possible loss of vision. Clear, watery
discharge may be a sign of allergies. Some breeds are more prevalent to tear staining
around the eyes. |
| Familial
Nephropathy (FN) | An
inherited kidney disorder caused by deposits of protein within the kidney. |
| Fanconi
Syndrome | In
this disease the renal tubes of the kidneys fail to properly absorb nutrients.
It is treatable if caught early. |
| Fibrocartilaginous
Embolic Myelopathy (FCE) | Causes
paralysis due to cartilage-like materials that lodge in blood vessels of the spine. |
| Glaucoma | The
term used for eye diseases that cause blindness through damage to the optic nerve.
|
| Globoid
Cell Leukodystrophy (GCL) | A
progressive disease of the brain and spinal cord. |
| Hashimoto's
Disease | An
immune system disorder that affects the thyroid gland. |
| Heart
Arrhythmia | An
irregular beating of the heart muscle that may occur sporadically. |
| Heart
Disease | There
are many types of heart disease and it can affect the valves or the muscular structure
of the heart. Some forms are a result of viruses or other diseases. Others are
present at birth and some can be hereditary. |
| Hemangiosarcoma | A
cancer that originates in the blood vessels and spleen. |
| Hemolytic
Anemia | Hemolytic
anemia is a condition where the red blood cells break up, resulting in fewer red
blood cells. There is a variety of causes including viruses and parasites.
|
| Hemophilia | Abnormal
bleeding caused by a deficiency in the clotting agents of the blood. |
| Hereditary
Nephritis (HN) | A
serious hereditary kidney disease. |
| Hernia
(Umbilical) | If the hole where
the umbilical cord was doesn't close, the organs and tissue can protrude.
|
| Hip
Dysplasia | A progressive, deteriorating
problem in the ball-and-socket joint of the hip whereas the ball does not fit
and move efficiently in the socket. Cause is thought to be a hereditary tendency.
Over-nutrition of puppies and fast growth in larger dogs are thought to contribute
to poor formation of the joints. Minor dysplasia may go unnoticed, but pain is
present in more severe cases. |
| Hyperthyroidism
| A
disease in which the production of thyroid hormone is above normal. |
| Hypertrophic
Osteodystrophy (HOD) | Possibly
caused by an infection, this disease causes painful lameness of young dogs. |
| Hypoglycemia | Low
blood sugar levels. Causes include lack of food and hormone imbalances. |
| Hypothyroidism
| A
disease in which the production of thyroid hormone is below normal. |
| Immune
Disorders | A
variety of diseases caused by an immune system that does not function properly. |
| Immune
Mediated SLE | See
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus |
| Immunoproliferative
Small Intestine Disease (IPSID) | The
dog cannot properly utilize nutrients from food. This causes weight loss and diarrhea. |
| Intervertebral
Disc Disease | The
cushioning agents around the vertebrae of the spine degenerate, which can lead
to rupture of the disc. |
| Juvenile
Cataracts | A
cataract of the eye that forms within the first few years of life. Some cataracts
are believed to be hereditary. |
| Keratitus | An
inflammation of the eye that can lead to ulcers. |
| Keratoconjuncivitis
sicca (KCS) (also called Dry Eye) | A
lack of tears which leads to conjunctivitis and corneal scarring. |
| Kidney
Disease | There
are many causes of kidney disease including bacteria, poisoning and heredity.
Damaged kidneys cannot properly perform their function, including regulating blood
pressure, calcium and phosphorous levels. |
| Kidney
Stones | See
bladder/kidney stones. |
| Legg-Calve
Perthes | A deterioration of
the head of the femur (thigh bone) due to insufficient blood supply. |
| Lens
Luxation | The
lens of the eye becomes detached. |
| Liver
Shunt | Due
to a deformity, blood cannot go through the liver and bypasses it. Blood that
is normally detoxified by the liver becomes full of toxins. |
| Luxated
Patellar, (Slipped Stifles) | In this disorder,
the patellar (kneecaps) luxate (slip out of the groove). Only the hind legs are
involved, and the problem can affect one or both legs. Causes include heredity
and injury. |
| Lymphosarcoma | A
cancer that affects the lymph nodes. |
| Mammary
Tumor | A
tumor that is located in the mammary (under-chest) area of female dogs. |
| Microphthalmia | An
eye disorder where either the globe or surrounding tissue is missing upon birth. |
| Mitral
Valve Disease | The
mitral valve regulates blood flow in the heart. Disease or hereditary defect can
cause damage to the valve and cause it to function improperly. |
| Myotonia
Congenita | A
muscle disorder which causes a stiff gait, difficulty getting up, and trouble
swallowing. |
| Ocular
Melanosis | Pigment
granules decrease the effectiveness of fluid drainage from the eyes. Increased
pressure in the eyes result. |
| Open
Fontanel | This
occurs when the fontanel (soft spot where the bones of the skull join at the top
of the head) does not close properly at a few months of age. |
| Osteoarthritis | Degeneration
of the cartilage of the joints due to wear and tear. |
| Osteochondritis
Dessicans (OCD) | A
fracture of cartilage which leads to deterioration in a joint. |
| Osteochondrosis | A
disease in which the bones do not grow and join properly. This can cause Osteochondritis
Dessicans. |
| Osteosarcoma | The
most common bone tumor. |
| Panosteitis | Lameness
that occurs in puppies and young dogs. It is limited in duration and the disease
eventually resolves itself. |
| Paronychia | An
inflammation of the skin around the toe nails. |
| PBGV
Juvenile Pain Syndrome | The
spinal area becomes stiff and painful. High fever may be present. |
| Patent
Ductus Arteriosis (PDA) | A
serious heart defect that is present at birth. |
| Persistent
Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous (PHPV) | A
disease which affects a developing fetus' eyes and causes deposits on the back
of the lens. |
| Persistent
Pupillary Membrane (PPM) | An
eye problem that is caused when the fetal membrane does not reabsorb completely
after birth. |
| Phosphofructokinase
(PFK) Deficiency | Caused
by a lack of the enzyme that metabolizes glucose into energy. Weakness, muscle
cramps, lack of energy and dark urine can result. |
| Pigmentary
Ketatitis | A
dark brown pigment that grows across the white part of the eye. May cause blindness. |
| Progressive
Neuronal Abiotrophy | A
nerve disorder of young puppies that severely affects the muscles. |
| Progressive
Retinal Atrophy (PRA) | A
slow, progressive deterioration of the retina which can lead to blindness. Believed
to be hereditary. |
| Protein-Losing
Enteropathy (PLE) and Protein-Losing Nephropathy (PLN) | Protein
and plasma is lost through a damaged gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include
diarrhea and weight loss. |
| Pulmonary
Fibrosis | A
disease of the lungs that causes scarring and difficulty breathing. A dry cough
may be present. |
| Pulmonic
Stenosis | A
narrowing of the valve from the heart to the lungs. |
| Pyruvate
Kinase deficiency | A
disease that affects the red blood cells and causes anemia. |
| Renal
Dysplasia | A
condition in which a dog is born with a under-developed kidney. |
| Retinal
Dysplasia/ Retinal Folds | Abnormal
development of the retina of the eye, which can range from mild symptoms to blindness. |
| Sebaceous
Adenitis (SA) | An
inflammation of the oil glands of the skin. |
| Storage
Disease | See
Ceroid Lipofuscinosis. |
| Sub
Aortic Stenosis/Sub Valvular Stenosis | A
defect of the aortic valve which partially obstructs blood flow from the heart. |
| Systemic
Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) | An
inflammatory connective tissue disease that affects many organs. |
| Tetralogy
of Fallot | A
condition that involves four specific defects of the heart. |
| Thyroid | See
Hypothyroidism; Hyperthyroidism |
| Trichiasis | A
condition in which the eyelashes grow towards the eyeball, causing pain. |
| Uric
Acid Syndrome | This
occurs when uric acid is excreted from the kidneys. This can cause what is termed
"bronzing" (a bronze hue to the skin) and urinary stones. |
| Von
Willebrand's | A
bleeding disorder caused by the absence of a blood clotting protein. The blood
does not clot properly, and the dog may bleed profusely if cut. It can be hereditary
in certain breeds, but can also be a secondary problem caused by another disorder. |
| White
Shaker Dog Syndrome | A
tremor that occurs in some young small-breed dogs. |
| Wobblers
Syndrome | A
malformation of the vertebrae of the neck, which causes pressure on the spinal
cord and typically results in an uncoordinated rear gait. |
