Hey Webmasters!Get a free website withholiday themes -Get it NOW!
Table of Contents
Prologue
Hip Dysplasia (HD, or Canine HD)
In general
Development
Breeding
Clinical symptoms
Environmental Influences
Diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia
Life for dogs with Hip Dysplasia
Treatment of Hip Dysplasia
Prevention of Hip Dysplasia
References of Interest
Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Interdigital Cysts
Kennel Cough (Infectious Tracheobronchitis)
Kidney Failure
Leptospirosis
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panosteitis (puppy limp)
Parvovirus
Patellar Subluxation
Poisons
Local Poison Control Centers
National Animal Poison Control Center
Foods
Poisonous houseplants
Poisonous outdoor plants
Poisonous household items
Poisonous animals
Puppy Strangles
Rabies
Ringworm
Thyroid Disorders
von Willebrand's Disease
Wobblers -- Cervical Vertebral Instability
Prologue
Much of the information found in this article is
summarized from Carlson & Giffin. I would like to thank
them for their informative and accessible information.
Any mistakes made in the summaries are my responsibility
and not Carlson & Giffin's. I believe that I am within
copyright laws by using summarizations (no direct
quoting, except for the toxic plants section), my own
organization of the material, and precise
acknowledgement where relevant. -Cindy Moore
An excellent resource that details all aspects of health
issues for dogs, and one that every conscientious dog
owner should have is:
Carlson, Delbert G., DVM, and James M. Giffin, MD. Dog
Owners's Home Veterinary Handbook (Revised and
Expanded). Howell Book House, Macmillan Publishing
Company, 866 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022 USA (1992,
2nd ed). ISBN: 0-87605-537-4 (hardcover).
This comprehensive book is a complete guide to health
care of dogs. It lets you know when you can treat the
dog, or when you need to take it to the vet post-haste.
It lists symptoms so that you may inform your vet of
relevant information about its condition. The
arrangement of the material facilitates rapid reference.
Illustration of key procedures (pilling, taking
pulse/temperature, etc). Lists poisonous substances,
including houseplants. A must have home veterinarian
handbook.
Hip Dysplasia (HD, or C(anine)HD)
An excellent source of information on hip dysplasia is:
Hip Dysplasia
A Guide for Dog Breeders and Owners
2nd Edition 1989
By E.A. Corley and G.G. Keller
A single copy is available for a donation and multiple
copies are $3.00 each at Orthopedic Foundation for
Animals, Inc, 2300 Nifong Blvd, Columbia, MO 65201,
573-442-0418. It is informative, and highly recommended.
The work is copyrighted and permission to reproduce the
work was not given since the costs of production are
still being recouped, so only highlights from the
monograph are presented here. I do encourage you to get
your own copy.
Another good source of information on Hip Dysplasia may
be found in the chapter "Hip Dysplasia" in Genetics of
the Dog by Malcolm B. Willis (Howell Book House).
Information from this chapter is also presented below.
Other online information includes:
http://www.working-retriever.com/library/chd6696.shtml
http://www.idsonline.com/userweb/djones/ofahips.htm
http://www.idsonline.com/userweb/djones/ofahipup.htm
http://www.ici.net/cust_pages/jiminma/dysp2.htm
http://www.biomedtrix.com/bioquest.html
In general
Hip dysplasia ("bad development") appears in people and
many species of animals. In some breeds of dogs, it is
the most common cause of osteoarthritis or degenerative
joint disease. Because both humans and dogs get hip
dysplasia, dogs made a good subject to use in research.
Most of these techniques below are also used on humans.
Research on hip dysplasia suggests that CHD is a more
complex disease than was first thought. There are no
simple answers or solutions to the problem. The
complexity of CHD results in research findings that
appear to be contradictory. However, many aspects of the
disease have been repeatedly and independently
documented and are generally accepted by the scientific
community. Three important ones are:
Canine hip dysplasia is caused by the presence of many
genes (polygenic). While no environmental cause has been
found, many environmental factors contribute to its
expression in a particular dog (phenotype).
The only current means for reducing the occurrence of
CHD is by selectively breeding for normal hips.
Radiography is the accepted means for evaluating the hip
status.
Development
Regardless of what the initiating factor or factors may
be, abnormal looseness of the hip joint after 2 weeks of
age seems to be the event most commonly reported to
result in hip dysplasia. However, there are exceptions
to this, and dogs with tight hips have developed hip
dysplasia.
The early changes are not easily detected. Severe cases
may be diagnosed as early as 7 weeks of age; others may
not show up in radiographs until over 2 years of age.
This is why OFA only certifies dogs over two years of
age.
Breeding
Most inherited traits in animals are polygenic. These
traits do not follow patterns based on
dominant/recessive pairs because polygenic traits are
affected by many genes. Only some puppies will have the
same combination of genes for a trait as the parents.
Some will have a more desirable combination while others
will have a less desirable pattern. As the number of
involved genes increase, the possible outcomes also
increase. In addition, remember that it is also possible
for different genes to have a different level of
influence on the trait, complicating the outcomes
considerably. Predictions of a specific outcome from a
particular mating involving polygenic traits is
currently impossible.
In Corley and Keller's opinion, a dog with excellent
hips but with more than 25% of its brothers and sisters
affected with hip dysplasia is a poorer breeding
prospect than a dog with fair hips and less than 25% of
its brothers and sisters exhibiting dysplasia.
Clinical symptoms
(from Corley & Keller)
"...[T]he signs [of hip dysplasia] vary from decreased
exercise tolerance to severe crippling. They include: a
reluctance or inability to go up or down stairs,
difficulty in rising from a sitting or prone position,
bunny-hopping gait when running, stiffness early in the
morning that improves as the dog warms up, change in
disposition due to pain, lameness after exercise, wobbly
gait, a clicking sound when walking, and many others.
Many dogs will shift their center of gravity forward in
an effort to relieve weight and pressure on the hips.
These dogs generally present a front end that appears
well-developed relative to the rear end.
"In dysplastic dogs, the hip joint is a weakened
structure that is more subject to being injured by
normal activity such as jumping off a couch, or rough
housing with a playmate. Frequently, this results in an
acute lameness that in the mind of the owner was caused
by the injury, whereas the underlying dysplasia actually
made the joint more susceptible to injury. Obviously,
the normal hip can be injured, but the radiographic
examination can usually distinguish between a hip
problem due to dysplasia and one due to other causes.
"CHD can not be diagnosed by observing how the dog
moves, acts, lies down, etc. The clinical signs may be
caused by other problems; therefore, a complete
orthopedic and radiographic examination is required
before arriving at the conclusion that the signs are
caused by CHD."
Environmental Influences
Environmental factors such as type of food and exercise
in puppyhood have been shown to affect the displayed
symptoms within the same litter. However, subsequent
generations from both groups showed the same rates of
dysplasia meaning that while the phenotype may be
affected, the genotype is what determines whether a dog
has the potential for being affected with HD.
In general, low protien diets and low activity levels
through puppyhood reduced the symptoms of HD markedly.
However, the degree of diet reduction and no activity
may or may not be practical for the average dog-owner to
attempt. (See Willis.)
It's best to keep your puppy from any kind of jumping
for the first year or so in life. It's also best to keep
from sustained exercise until at least a year old.
Sustained exercise includes: jogging with owner, pulling
weights, mushing, running with owner on bike, etc. Even
for dogs not at risk from HD, it's wise not to exercise
too strongly too early as such exercise may interfere
with proper growth of joints, leading to similar
problems such as arthritis on the joint or OCD.
Diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia
Any diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia must be made via expert
radiographic diagnosis. This involves taking xrays of
the joint and typically sending the film to
organizations that will evaluate, register, and certify
the dog. Veterinarians will often "diagnose" the film
themselves but if the question is critical its best to
have them properly evaluated (unless, of course, your
vet is experienced with radiographic evaluation -- not
all are).
You cannot, repeat, cannot make a reliable diagnosis of
Hip Dysplasia on the basis of external symptoms such as
lameness or gait.
OFA
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is the most well
known registry in the United States. It grades all
joints, most commonly hips, as severe, moderate, fair,
good, and excellent. It will certify all passing grades
given to dogs over 2 years of age. Contact:
573-442-0418.
PennHIP
PennHIP is a new evaluation technique that flexes the
limbs differently to produce the xray pictures. There
are only a handful of vets around the country that have
been certified to take xrays using the PennHip method.
See also:
http://www.allsaint.com/pennfaq.html
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/pennhqpa.html
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/pennhip1.html
http://www.allsaint.com/vet.html
Genetic Disease Control, UC Davis
There is a program here for radiographic evaluation of
dogs. Wind Morgan is the most well known of these
programs, offered to Labrador Retrievers. There are
similar programs for Rottweilers and a few other breeds.
Wind Morgan will certify at one year of age or older and
requires xrays of hips, elbows, and hocks. They will
hold clinics around the country to help hold costs down.
Genetic Disease Control is actually a larger effort to
collect data on all kinds of genetic diseases, of which
Hip Dysplasia is only one. They have registries and
information on a wide array of diseases. All their
registries are open, in an effort to make more
information available to breeders in making informed
choices about their breeding stock. For more
information, write to
GDC
PO Box 222
Davis, CA 95617
916-756-6773
Outside the United States
Each country typically has its own hip evaluation
program. These are not consistent from country to
country and may differ with the evaluations give by the
above US organizations. In Australia, dogs are evaluated
by the Australian Veterinary Association that has an
Australian wide scoring scheme with averages for each
breed.
Life for dogs with Hip Dysplasia
First of all, be sure that your dog has been accurately
diagnosed with HD. Many vets do not have the expertise
in reading the x-rays, so you need to be sure that an
experienced radiologist reads them. If you're not
familiar with the competencies of the vets in your area,
your best bet is to have the x-rays sent in to OFA for
evaluation. You CANNOT definitively diagnose HD on the
basis of external appearance or palpitation of the joint
or anything like that. Many things can cause limping,
some of which are correctible, so it pays to be certain
you have the correct diagnosis.
Diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia is not an automatic death
sentence for your dog! Because it is a polygenetic
trait, the variability of expression is actually quite
wide. Some dogs may experience little or no discomfort
and you may never know they have HD unless you test for
it. Other dogs may experience more pain, but it may be
easily controlled with proper exercise and judicious use
of aspirin under the direction of a vet. Only a small
percentage of cases are so crippled by HD that they must
be put down.
You should immediately neuter any dog that has HD. The
only known means of eliminating this disease lie in
well-managed breeding programs, so do your part by
eliminating the possibility of your dog contributing to
the overall problem.
Discuss with your vet appropriate strategies for dealing
with HD. In most cases, the general advice is to keep
the dog from doing any kind of jumping or causing other
sudden stress to the joints. However, as solid muscle
buildup around the joint helps to ease the pressure on
the joint, regular exercise is generally recommended,
with swimming topping the list as gaining the most
benefit with the least stress to the joints.
Treatment of Hip Dysplasia
In many cases, simple restriction of exercise and
perhaps aspirin as directed by the vet is all that the
dog needs to remain comfortable. However, there are
several options for the more severely affected dogs:
Non-traditional treatments (not validated by controlled
trials):
acupuncture
chiropractic
vitamin therapy (generally Vitamins C & E & selenium)
superoxide dismutase
Medical therapy (aimed at reducing pain/inflammation
from arthritic changes):
aspirin
bute
adequan therapy
"Adequan is a polysulfated glycosaminoglycan which is
used primarily for treatment of degenerative joint
disease in horses. In fact, it is not actually approved
in the U.S. for dogs. However, I have seen remarkable
results in many of my older patients with chronic DJD.
In theory, it stimulates increased production of joint
fluid and the joint moves more freely and with less
pain. It does not always work, but when it does, it is
usually dramatic." -Ralph M. Askren, DVM
Gycoflex, Cosequin (a synthetic glycosaminoglycans
supplement) glucosamin -- similar effects to Adequan
Rimadyl -- a new non-steriod anti-inflammatory drug, can
help considerably in some cases without the typical side
effects of traditional steroidal drugs.
EtoGesic is approved for osteoarthritis (1998) in dogs.
It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and appears
to avoid the liver problems sometimes associated with
Rimadyl.
Surgical intervention
Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO)
TPO is a surgical procedure to rotate the acetabular
portion of the pelvis so that there is increased
coverage of the femoral head. Increasing coverage
promotes improved articulation and, in the ideal
situation, joint degeneration is halted. However, if
degeneration is already present within the hip,
cartilage breakdown is likely to continue, even with
improved articulation. This is why checking your dog at
6-8 months regardless of symptoms is often recommended.
The best candidate for TPO is a young dog (6-8 mths)
with moderate laxity that has no damage to the dorsal
acetabular rim or early evidence of degeneration of
radiographs. Currently, the cost of Triple Pelvic
Osteotomy, including examination, radiographs and
hospitalization, is approximately $1,200.
Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO)
Sometimes the head of the femur can be simply removed
and the muscles around the site compensate for the
missing joints The dog is pain free afterwards and
learns to walk again, but running and jumping are not
done normally again. Most commonly, smaller dogs are the
best candidates for this surgery. Obese or very large
dogs will still experience some pain, as the muscles
cannot totally compensate.
Uncemented hip prosthesis (subcategory of hip
replacement surgery)
Dr. David J. DeYoung of NCSU, professor of orthopedic
surgery in the College of Veterinary Medicine, helped
develop the prosthesis based on a human version that is
held in place without cement. The prosthesis features a
beaded surface into which bone and fibrous tissue can
grow and secure the components. More than 100 of the new
prostheses have been implanted in dogs over a five-year
period without loosening or infection, two of the main
concerns with cemented total hip replacements,
BOP shelf arthroplasty
This is a relatively experimental method, whose
effectiveness is debated. Polymer "lattices" are
implanted in the affected joint. The premise is that new
bone will grow over the lattice, correcting the
degeneration and/or deformation of the joint. than it is
experimental)
Total Hip Replacement (THR)
This traditional surgery involves replacing the femoral
head or ball portion of the joint with a metal
prosthesis. The acetabulum is replaced with a
polyethylene socket. The procedure thus removes the
source of pain and inflammation as the bone is no longer
in contact with the degenerated joint.
When the dog's pain cannot be controlled nor alleviated
Euthanasia
Prevention of Hip Dysplasia
There is no known method of preventing hip dysplasia
except for a thoughtful and carefully executed breeding
program with regular radiographic analysis of all stock
before breeding. It is possible to reduce symptoms
entirely to the point where the dog will radiograph much
less severely [1], however followup studies show that
these dog's offspring have the same risk for HD as they
would have whether the parents had been so treated [2].
The implication is that it is unethical to use as
breeding stock dogs that were treated to prevent their
symptoms from disappearing. On the other hand, pet
owners with no intention of breeding their dogs might
consider reading [1].
[1] Kealy, et al. "Effects of limited food consumption
on the incidence of hip dysplasia in growing dogs."
JAVMA, v201, n6 Sept 15 1992.
[2] Willis, Malcom, Genetics of the Dog.
Radiographic Diagnosis and Control of Canine Hip
Dysplasia by Joe P. Morgan, DVM, Vet.med.dr. (Stockholm)
and Michele Stephens, DVM.
References of Interest
This is by no means a conclusive list, I add to this
from time to time as I come across them. Feel free to
send me more. Also, Working Retriever Central has a
great list kept at http://starsouth.com/wrc/library/chd6696.shtml.
Belkoff, SM et. al: Development of a Device to Measure
Canine Coxofemoral Joint Laxity. VCOT 1: 31-36, 1989.
Kealy, RD, Lawler, DF, Ballam, JM, Lust, G, Smith, GK,
Biery, DN, Olsson, SE: Five-year longitudinal study on
limited food consumption and development of
osteoarthritis in coxofemoral joints of dogs. (J Am Vet
Med Assoc 1997; 210:222-225)
Lust G et al: Joint Laxity and Its Association with Hip
Dysplasia in Labrador Retrievers. Am. J. Vet. Res. 54:
1990-1999, No. 12, December 1993.
Popovitch, Catherine A., DVM; Gail K. Smith, VMD, Ph.D.;
Thomas P. Gregor, BS; Frances S. Shofer, Ph.D.
Comparison of susceptibility for hip Dysplasia between
Rottweilers and German Shepherd Dogs. JAVMA, Vol 206, No
5, March 1, 1995
Smith, GK et al: Coxofemoral Joint Laxity from
Distraction Radiography and its Contemporanious and
Prospective Correlation with Laxity, Subjective Score,
and Evidence of Degenerative Joint Disease from
Conventional Hip-Extended Radiograph in Dogs. Am. J.
Vet. Res. 54: 1021-1042, No. 7, July 1993.
Smith, Gail K., VMD, PhD; Catherine A. Popovitch, DVM;
Thomas P. Gregor, BS; Frances S. Shofer, PhD. Evaluation
of risk factors for degenerative joint disease
associated with hip dysplasia in dogs. JAVMA, Vol. 206,
No 5, March 1, 1995
Swenson, L, Audell, L, and Hedhammer, A: Prevalence and
inheritance of and selection for hip dysplasia in seven
breeds of dogs in Sweden and benefit:cost analysis of a
screening and control program (J Am Vet Med Assoc
1997;210:207-214)
Swenson, L, Audell, L, and Hedhammer, A: Prevalence and
inheritance of and selection for elbow arthrosis in
Bernese Mountain Dogs and Rottweilers in Sweden and
benefit:cost analysis of a screening and control
program. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1997;210:215-221)
Infectious Canine Hepatitis
(summarized From Carlson & Giffin)
This disease should NOT be confused with human
hepatitis. This is a highly contagious disease
transmissible only to dogs. It affects the liver,
kidneys and lining of the blood vessels. It can
sometimes be hard to distinguish from distemper as there
are a variety of signs and symptoms that range from mild
to fatal. Exposed dogs rapidly become contagious and
remain contagious throughout convalescence.
Fatal form: the dog becomes ill, develops bloody
diarrhoea, collapses and dies. Puppies may die without
symptoms.
Acute form: High fever, bloody diarrhoea, possibly
bloody vomit. Refusal to eat and painful movements. The
dog can become light-sensitive.
Interdigital Cysts
Interdigital cysts are a common problem in short haired
breeds of dogs. Males do seem to be worse and Labs
probably worst of all. There are a number of
differential diagnoses to consider such as demodex,
fungi, pyoderma secondary to atopy, dermoid cysts, etc.
Dermoid cysts are invaginations of the skin which forms
a pocket of hair and misc. junk. They are often infected
and they always recurr unless surgically removed.
Especially if the cysts are recurrent, a good option is
to have the cyst surgically removed and send it to a
dermatopathologist, not a regular pathologist. It is
expensive but it will greatly reduce the number of
return trips to the vet. With that diagnosis, it will be
easier to deal with future recurrences.
Other treatment includes long-term antibiotic
treatment... three to six months may be required. Make
sure the antibiotic choice and dosing is appropriate.
Culture & antibiotic sensitivity tests are recommended.
Also demodectic mange may be underlying the problem.
Skin scrapes can make the diagnosis, but false negatives
are possible. Foot dips in mitoban (diluted) followed by
warm soaks in dilute chlorihexidine may clear it up.
Fitting the dog with a rubber boot to protect the foot
may help speed recovery following the removal of the
cyst.
Kennel Cough (Infectious Tracheobronchitis)
This is characterized by a harsh, convulsive cough. It
is persistent, contagious, and often develops into
secondary complications, such as chronic bronchitis.
This disease can eventually be fatal especially in the
very young, very old, or already ill. If your dog is
exposed to many other dogs, or will be boarded at a
kennel, it should be vaccinated against this. It is
so-called, because it spreads rapidly under "kennel"
conditions -- many dogs kept relatively close together.
"Kennel Cough" is a generic name for a set of symptoms
caused by a number of organisms. These include
parainfluenza as well as bordatella, as well as many
others. Dogs vaccinated with the bordatella vaccine can
still get "kennel cough" because of all the bugs
involved, but it tends to be much less severe.
Bordatella vaccine is squirted into each nostril of the
dog and should be repeated semi-annually. Parainfluenza
vaccine should be a normal part of your dog's regular
shots.
The vaccination is not effective for the first 24 hours,
so if you are getting your dog vaccinated because you
will be boarding it, get it done at least several days
in advance!
Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure, or kidney failure, is sudden and
extreme and requires urgent care. Usually the dog
recovers completely if it survives at all.
Chronic kidney failure, or kidney disease, is common in
old dogs. The kidneys slowly wear out over a long time.
It can be diagnosed by a blood test or urinalysis. Early
signs include drinking and urinating more, since the
kidneys need extra water, and foamy urine is sometimes
seen.
Treatment is mostly dietary. They need a very low
protein diet that is also low in certain minerals. The
kidneys are stressed by too much protein and will wear
out more slowly on a low protein diet. Dogs with sick
kidneys should be given all the water they will drink.
The best known kidney diet is Hills K/D, but there is
also Hi-Tor Neodiet, Neura Kidney Diet, and others. Some
"senior dog food" is low in protein as well, but not as
low as the kidney foods.
If you have any reason to suspect it, have the dog
checked by a vet. Many old-dog kidney cases live happily
for years with no special care other than the food.
Laryngeal Paralysis
Causes
Causes appear to be multiple. Trauma, such as excessive
pulling on the leash or other pressure/force to the neck
have been implicated. Older Labrador Retrievers account
for a large proportion of cases. Overactive thyroid
levels can contribute to the problem.
Symptoms
While the symptoms can vary somewhat, you will notice
coughing while exhaling, particularly after exercise.
The coughing sometimes sounds very odd. As the condition
progresses, the dog may have problems breathing and
panting.
Secondary complications such as bronchitis, etc. may
occur.
Diagnosis
As there are various possible causes for shortness of
breath and/or coughing, you must have your veterinarian
look at the dog. The vet may put your dog under in order
to examine the laryngeal muscles, xray to check the
condition of the dog's lungs. Anaesthesia is required to
be able to observe the laryngeal muscles at work.
Treatment
The standard treatment for dogs with LP is to surgically
"tie back" one of the laryngeal muscles. This allows
adequate air flow without giving pathogens, etc.
completely unimpeded access to the dog's lungs.
Typically, a specialist may be called in to do the
surgery, it is not normally done in most veterinary
clinics.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leptospirosis
In most cases the disease is mild. Primary symptoms are
fever, listlessness, loss of appetite and depression.
Other symptoms involve the kidneys: a "hunched up" look
due to kidney pain, ulcers on the mucus membranes of the
mouth and tongue, thick brown coating on the tongue,
bleeding from the mouth or bloody stools, severe thirst
with increased urination. The whites of the eyes may
turn yellow. Persistent vomiting and diarrhoea are
common. This disease is more prevalent in some areas
than others. (Summarized From Carlson & Giffin.)
Many dogs seem to be allergic to the leptospirosis
vaccination. If your dog is vaccination against lepto
for the first time, keep a close eye on it for a few
hours afterwards. If the dog goes into anaphylactic
shock, get him back to the vet immediately.
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, so if you come into
contact with a dog that has Lepto, consult with your own
doctor.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Summarized from a set of articles posted by Jim Jaskie,
jim_jaskie@tempeqm.sps.mot.com
Excessive licking:
Retrievers that lick their paws excessively, horses that
"stump suck", Dobermans that "flank suck" share the same
disorder. The disorder is generally mild and most people
never notice it, but sometimes it can go too far and
become a hindrance to normal functioning.
Dr. Judith Rapaport (head of the Child Psychiatry Branch
of the National Institute of Mental Health and author of
"The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing") explored this area
thoroughly, because of similarities with a human malady
called "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)." This is a
disorder that induces unusual behavior such as an
irresistible desire to wash your hands, over and over,
even when they are not dirty.
The experiments at NIMH showed that this behaviour is
caused by a lack of Seratonin. This lack can be caused
by a genetic predisposition and also by stress. Proper
medication was shown to relieve similar problems in
dogs, horses and people! Some of the reported results
were on Labradors that literally licked the hair off of
their paws, dropping the habit completely after
medication.
This research is also a landmark in the understanding of
the effect of some of the neural transmitters and has
led to a whole new family of some wonderful new
medicines. This work has already saved dogs, horses and
people from one of nature's less pleasant maladies, and
promises to shed light on other problems such as
epilepsy.
The medication that Dr. Judith Rapoport found to work
for dogs with acralick dermatitis as well as Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is Clomipramine (brand name is
Anafranil). However, Fluoxetine (brand name is Prozac)
is now being used very successfully for OCD and has
fewer side effects. You should discuss this with your
vet, who will be able to prescribe these medications for
your dog if it has OCD.
Some old-ish but very informative articles that describe
this problem are "Chemistry of Compulsion" by Robert
Trotter in the June 1990 issue of Discover magazine and
the very thorough but easy to read article, "The Biology
of Obsessions and Compulsions" by Dr. Rapoport in the
March 1989 issue of Scientific American. Only the first
article specifically mentions Rapoport's work with dogs,
but if you want to understand what is really going on,
read both articles.
Panosteitis (puppy limp)
Also called pano, this is an inflammation of the
membrane covering the bone and is relatively common.
Rest, quiet, and sometimes a vet-approved painkiller are
generally recommended for the puppy. Some vets recommend
a reduced protien (usually an adult mixture) diet. This
can strike anytime between 6-18 months of age and rarely
lasts past two years of age.
If the limping goes from leg to leg (i.e., one day the
dog limps on the right rear leg and the next it limps on
the left front), it is very likely pano. Pano can also
be diagnosed via x-rays.
Fortunately, lasting effects are uncommon, and most
puppies outgrow it. It is not known what causes pano,
the belief is that there is either a hereditary link,
perhaps just a predisposition toward, causing pano.
Parvovirus
This is one of the most deadly viral infections for
dogs. Young puppies who have not yet finished thier
vaccination schedules and dogs with compromised immune
symptoms are most at risk.
Transmission & Symptoms
The virus is easily transmitted through a fecal-oral
route. You can track in fecal matter on your shoes and
expose your dog to it at home. Parks that have many dogs
using it are high-risk areas, as are unknown dogs which
may be shedding the virus. Some breeds, for example the
Rottweiler, are more subsceptible to contracting this
disease.
Lethargy and listlessness, proceeding rapidly to almost
uncontrollable diarrhea and vomiting.
Treatment
The puppy must be taken in immediately to the
veterinarian for round the clock monitoring and IV's to
replace the fluids the puppy is losing.
If the puppy survives, he will make a full recovery.
There are no lasting effects of the illness and he will
be fully immune to the disease thereafter, assuming a
healthy immune system.
Prevention
A full series of vaccinations, with the last shot being
scheduled for after 20 weeks of age is essential.
Isolation -- don't let the at-risk dog be exposed to
other dogs or their feces.
If you have an area (house and/or backyard) that has
been exposed to a dog with Parvo, you can clean it up
with a 3% bleach solution (3 parts bleach to 100 parts
water).
Patellar Subluxation
Thanks to Edwin Barkdoll for this summary, and to Jeff
Parke for comments:
There are many types and degrees of patellar luxation.
The patella (kneecap) can luxate (dislocate) medially
(towards the body midline) or laterally (away from the
midline) and can be traumatic or congenital in origin.
Small or toy breeds are much more likely to have this
problem than larger breeds and they tend towards medial
luxations; larger breeds tend to have lateral luxations
if they develop this problem.
A system has been devised for grading patellar luxations:
Type I - luxation seen only with leg in extension and
when pressure is applied to the patella directly say
during a physical exam by the vet, luxation resolves
spontaneously when pressure is removed. Type II -
patella is usually in normal position, but luxates with
pressure or during flexion of the limb. The patella does
not spontaneously return to normal but can be returned
to normal manually or by the dog itself. Type III -
patella is luxated most of the time but can be
temporarily returned to normal position manually. Type
IV - patella is always luxated and cannot be returned to
normal position manually.
Surgical correction is not usually considered necessary
unless the dog shows symptoms - pain, gait abnormalities
- but you should talk with your vet about your options
and get a second opinion if necessary.
Regarding surgical success, apparently about 50% of
surgically treated cases demonstrate recurrent patellar
luxation after 1-7 years although the severity of the
patellar luxation at followup was reduced and about 90%
(!) showed no signs of lameness. For the curious, the
(incomplete) reference for these data is Willauer and
Vasseur (1987) in Veterinary Surgery.
Poisons
If you need to induce vomiting, first make sure that
it's appropriate to do so. Don't induce vomiting
more than two hours after ingesting problematic
substance
when the substance is an acid, alkali, solvent, or
petroleum product, as it will do as much damage on the
way up as it did the way down
when dog is comatose or very depressed
To induce vomiting:
1 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide per 30lbs body weight; give
once, repeat after ten minutes; don't administer more
than three times; some dogs will drool and look
miserable before vomiting
1 teaspoon syrup of Ipecac per 10lbs body weight; works
quickly
1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt placed far back on the tongue or
dissolved in 1 oz water; do not repeat dosage; dry
mustard powder (s ame instructions) may be substituted
Local Poison Control Centers
Check the emergency room of the local hospital and ask
for the number of the local Poison Control Center. You
should have this number up on the refrigerator alongside
the vet's number and the emergency care number.
National Animal Poison Control Center
The National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC)
provides a 24-hour emergency hotline that every dog
owner should keep in plain sight. The hotline numbers
are (800)548-2423 and (900)680-0000. The 800 number
requires a credit card number and charges a flat $30;
the 900 number is $2.95 per minute for a maximum of $30.
The NAPCC is a non-profit service of the University of
Illinois and is the first animal-oriented poison center
in the United States. Since 1978, it has provided advice
to animal owners and conferred with veterinarians about
poisoning exposures. The NAPCC's phones are answered by
licensed veterinarians and board-certified veterinary
toxicologists. They have specialized information that
lets the experienced NAPCC staff make specific
recommendations for your animals; plus over 250,000
records are in their database.
When you call, be ready to provide:
Your name, address, and phone number;
If calling the 800 number, your credit card number;
The species, breed, age, sex, weight, and number of
animals involved;
The poison your animals have been exposed to, if known;
Information concerning the poisoning (the amount of
poison, the time since exposure, etc.); and
The problems your animals are experiencing.
Household products and plants are the most common
culprits in poisoning cases. In the case of poisoning
from household products, many companies cover the costs
the pet owners incur when it has been determined that
their product is responsible for the reaction.
For further information, write to: The American Humane
Association, 63 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, CO
80112-5117, or call (303) 792-9900.
Foods
Chocolate, tea, coffee, cola:
It is not chocolate itself that is poisonous to dogs, it
is the theobromine, a naturally occuring compound found
in chocolate. Theobromine causes different reactions to
different dogs: dogs with health problems, especially
epilepsy, are more affected by theobromine than healthy
dogs. Theobromine can trigger epileptic seizures in dogs
prone to or at risk of epilepsy. The size of the dog
will also be a major factor: the smaller the dog, the
more affected it is by the same amount than a larger
dog. Therefore, toxicity is described on a mg/Kg basis.
Furthermore, theobromine can cause cardiac irregularity,
especially if the dog becomes excited. Cardiac arythmia
can precipitate a myocardial infarct which can kill the
dog.
Theobromine also irritates the GI tract and in some dogs
can cause internal bleeding which in some cases kills
them a day or so later.
Theobromine is also present in differing amounts in
different kinds of chocolate. milk chocolate has 44-66
mg/oz, dark chocolate 450 mg/oz and baking/bitter
chocolate or cocoa powder varies as much as 150-600
mg/oz. How much chocolate a dog can survive depends on
its weight (and other unknown circumstances). Under 200
mg theobromine per kg body weight no deaths have been
observed.
Theobromine will stay in the bloodstream between 14 and
20 hours. It goes back into the bloodstream through the
stomach lining and takes a long time for the liver to
filter out.
Within two hours of ingestion, try inducing vomiting
unless your dog is markedly stimulated, comatose, or has
lost the gag reflex. If your dog has eaten a
considerable amount of chocolate, or displays any of the
above symptoms, take it to the vet without delay.
In the absence of major symptoms, administer activated
charcoal. The unabsorbed theobromine will chemically
bond to this and be eliminated in the feces. In pinch,
burnt (as in thoroughly burnt, crumbling in hand) toast
will do.
Nuts:
Walnuts are poisonous to dogs and should be avoided. In
particular, there is a type of fungus common to walnuts
(especially wet deadfall walnuts) that will cause severe
episodes of seizuring. Many nuts are not good for dogs
in general, their high phosporous content is said to
possibly lead to bladder stones.
Misc:
Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to
trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. (Stephen J Ettinger,
D.V.M and Edward C. Fieldman, D.V.M. 's book: Textbook
of Veterinary Internal Medicine vol. 2 pg 1884.) Also:
"Six Cases of Heinz Body Haemolytic Anaemia Induced by
Onion and/or Garlic Ingestion" - CM Edwards and CJ
Belford Aust.Vet.Prac. 26 (1) March 1996, 18-22.
Potato poisonings among people and dogs have occurred.
Solanum alkaloids can be found in in green sprouts and
green potato skins, which occurs when the tubers are
exposed to sunlight during growth or after harvest. The
relatively rare occurrence of actual poisoning is due to
several factors: solanine is poorly absorbed; it is
mostly hydrolyzed into less toxic solanidinel; and the
metabolites are quickly eliminated. Note that cooked,
mashed potatoes are fine for dogs, actually quite
nutritious and digestible.
Turkey skin is currently thought to cause acute
pancreatis in dogs.
Poisonous houseplants
In assessing the risk to your dog from these plants, you
need to consider both the age of your dog and it's
propensity to chew on plants. Many of the below toxic
plants rarely cause problems because most dogs don't
chew them -- the exceptions being, of course, young
puppies who are inclined to explore the world with their
mouths, teething dogs who may chew on everything, and
older dogs that are simply fond of chewing. Oleander,
for example, is rather toxic, but most cases of
poisoning involve 1) cattle, other grazing livestock 2)
puppies and 3) human babies/toddlers.
Dumb cane is probably the one plant that should always
be kept out of reach, since it takes only one nibble to
have a potentially fatal situation.
(from Carlson & Giffin.)
That give rash after contact with the skin or mouth:
(mums might produce dermatitis)
chrysanthemum poinsettia creeping fig
weeping fig spider mum pot mum
Irritating (toxic oxalates), especially the mouth gets
swollen; tongue pain; sore lips; some swell so quickly a
tracheotomy is needed before asphyxiation:
arrowhead vine majesty boston ivy
neththytis ivy colodium pathos
emerald duke red princess heart leaf (philodendron)
split leaf (phil.) saddle leaf (phil.) marble queen
Toxic plants - may contain wide variety of poisons. Most
cause vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps. Some cause
tremors, heart and respiratory and/or kidney problems,
which are difficult for owner to interpret:
amaryllis elephant ears pot mum
asparagus fern glocal ivy ripple ivy
azalea heart ivy spider mum
bird of paradise ivy sprangeri fern
creeping charlie jerusalem cherry umbrella plant
crown of thorns needlepoint ivy
Poisonous outdoor plants
(from Carlson & Giffin.)
Produce vomiting and diarrhoea in some cases:
delphinium poke weed indian tobacco
daffodil bittersweet woody wisteria
castor bean ground cherry soap berry
indian turnip fox glove skunk cabbage
larkspur
May produce vomiting, abdominal pain, and in some cases
diarrhoea
horse chestnut buckeye western yew apricot, almond
rain tree monkey pod english holly peach, cherry
privet wild cherry mock orange
japanese plum american yew bird of paradise
balsam pear english yew black locust
Varied toxic effect
rhubarb buttercup moonseed
spinach nightshade may apple
sunburned potatoes poison hemlock dutchman's breeches
tomato vine jimson weed mescal bean
loco weed pig weed angel's trumpet
lupine water hemlock jasmine
dologeton mushrooms matrimony vine
dumb cane
Hallucinogens
marijuana periwinkle morning glory
peyote nutmeg loco weed
Convulsions
china berry nux vomica coriaria
water hemlock moon weed
Poisonous animals
Bufo toads. Found in various areas, especially in south
Florida. Very poisonous -- it can kill a small dog in a
matter of minutes. It burns the mucous membrane of the
mouth (gums) which is why they drool and foam, and
that's also how it enters the bloodstream. It kills by
elevating the heart rate and blood pressure to deadly
levels, similar to the effects of chocolate. There is an
antidote and the effects can be lessened if you
immediately flush the dog's mouth with water before
taking it to the vet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Puppy Strangles
Puppy strangles occurs in puppies 4-16 weeks of age. It
is a juvenile cellulitis of the face, ears, and lymph
nodes. Affected puppies may have a fever, be lethargic
and not eat. The cause is unknown. An heritable immune
dysfunction is suspected. CBC and biochemistry tests are
normal in uncomplicated cases. Bacterial cultures of
lesions are negative except with secondary infection.
Biopsy results are multiple granulomas and pyogranulomas
consisting of large epitheloid macrophages and
neutrophils. Aggessive therapy is indicated to prevent
severe scarring of the face. Standard medications are
usually steroids and antibiotics for secondary
infections.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rabies
Rabies is probably the oldest and most well known (if
also misunderstood) of the diseases that can affect
almost all warm blooded mammals. Dogs are easily
vaccinated against rabies: most counties and cities
require that all dogs be vaccinated before they can get
their dog licences, and veterinarians must report all
the dogs they vaccinate. Thus it has one of the highest
compliance rates of all the routine dog vaccinations
available.
Rabies is transmitted by body fluids -- urine, saliva,
or blood. Ironically, if your dog tangles with a rabid
animal, you may be more at risk than your dog, since
your dog is the one with regular rabies shots whereas
these are rarely administered to humans.
For rabies to infect you, it must come in contact with
the skin or be ingested. Dogs and cats can ingest it by
getting the saliva or blood of a rabid animal in their
mouths where it will be absorbed through the mucous
membranes. Humans are particularly at risk since we have
so many minute cuts in our skin, that if we touch our
dog or cat after he/she has met a rabid animal, we can
become infected.
Keep in mind that bites are the most common way for
humans to contract rabies from dogs, although other
routes are possible. Some other methods, such as urine
spray from flying bats have been documented as a means
of transmitting rabies, but you are unlikely to
encounter dogs flying overhead.
Rabies cannot be detected by a blood test since it
invades the neural system. The only detection at this
time is by examining the brain after death for signs of
the infection. The incubation time is 3-6 months, which
is why the standard quarantine for animals in some
countries is 6 months.
Call the local health inspector, animal control officer,
or police if your dog or cat has tangled with another
animal that you suspect might be rabid. Dogs and cats
which have been vaccinated against rabies should wear a
tag at all times when not in the house to prevent being
destroyed to check for rabies. Most veterinarians will
recommend another booster as soon as possible if the dog
has been bit or is suspected to have been bit. The
sooner the better to help protect against the virus
before it has time to spread.
References
Just Bats, Brock Fenton, University of Toronto, 1983,
page 140.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ringworm
(prepared by Edwin Barkdoll)
Despite the name, ringworm is caused by a fungus
Microsporum canis and less frequently by other species.
Ringworm infections remain limited to skin and
superficial structures like hair and less frequently
nails in cats and dogs. The infecting fungi require the
keratin in superficial skin layers and nails, horns etc
for their metabolism and furthermore do not grow well at
the warmer temperatures of subcutaneous tissues, hence
the superficial distribution. Note that ringworm agents
are obligate parasites - they normally live on the skin,
although not in pathogenic numbers.
It can be transmitted between animals by skin abrasion
or mild trauma, grooming tools, scabs etc particularly
if the animal's immune system has been compromised, e.g.
with steroids. In a normal, healthy animal ringworm
infections are usually mild and self limiting, say 1-2
months. A major motivation for getting rid of a ringworm
infection is to prevent you the owner from getting it.
If it is a mild infection topical application of lime
sulphur is supposed to be good, although it can be
smelly. Chlorhexidine shampoo is also effective as is
also a relatively new 2% miconazole shampoo ($$$). If
the infection is severe, oral griseofulvin is effective
but also $$$.
The round, ring-like lesions are suggestive but _not_
diagnostic and are not even the typical lest ion in cats
and dogs. The animal may have itchy, scaly, crusty and
hairless areas. Fungal culture is probably the best
diagnostic method but many vets are not set up to
culture fungi. A Wood's lamp can be used but not all
ringworm agents will fluoresce so absence of
fluorescence does not mean no ringworm, furthermore
other things besides ringworm also fluoresce. In other
words Wood's lamp is not a great test. Microscopic
examination of skin scrapings may reveal the actual
organism.
Finally, if you think your dog/cat has ringworm take it
to the vet for diagnosis and treatment. If it does have
ringworm, you can get it, but prevention is
straightforward - treat your animal.
Thyroid Disorders
Common symptoms are:
seeking warm places to curl up
lessened activity
slow coat growth, brittle fur
ring around the neck where fur won't grow, or loss of
hair in trunk
loss of appetite/excessive appetite
dry, thickened skin
prone to skin infections
infertility
Dogs are often middle-aged or older, although this also
occurs in younger dogs. According to the Merck
Veterinary Manual, hypothyroidism is common in all
breeds and all sexes, although the incidence is highest
in spayed females. Treatment involves daily thyroid
pills, a permanent regimen.
In the March '92 issue of Dog World is an excellent
article, "Autoimmune thyroid disease" by Dr. Jean Dodds
DVM (a nationally recognized expert on the subject)
explains a lot about thyroid conditions in dogs. She
also goes to great effort to explain that dogs can be
hypothyroid without showing the "classic" signs. She
also explains typical course of treatment and followups.
There's also a long list of breeds that are
"predisposed" to problems.
[As a counterweight, note that many vets do not take Dr.
Dodds seriously because she does not publish in
respected journals such as JAVMA but rather in "popular"
magazines. So always discuss fully and candidly with
your vet and bear in mind that many otherwise
"asymptomatic" dogs are diagnosed with low or abnormal
thyroid levels. This article is not attempting to argue
one way or another over Dr. Dodds' credentials, it's
merely trying to be as informative as possible.]
More subtle signs:
overweight despite controlled diets
thin coats (not hair loss)
smelling bad
chronic ear infections
seizures.
sudden changes in temperament
The article by Dr. Dodds points out that the "subtle"
signs are just now being recognized by the veterinary
community.
There is another article about thyroid problems in the
Sept or Oct ('91) Dog World, and again, pointing out
more unusual signs in the Sept. '92 issue of Dog World.
Padgett, George DVM "Caniine Genetic Disease" Dog World,
December 1996, January 1997, and March 1997 (in three
parts).
Bodner, E. "Hypothyroidism: a New Direction", AKC
Gazette Feb 1997 , pp 40-42.
Inceasing attention is being paid to this problem. OFA
now has a registry for thyroid function, details may be
found at http://www.prodogs.com/chn/ofa/thyroid.htm.
von Willebrand's Disease
Contributed by Gary Mason
Von Willebrand's disease (vWD) is an inherited bleeding
disorder. It is a complex and difficult disorder to deal
with, because genetics, diagnostic abnormalities,
pathogenic mechanisms, and sometimes conflicting
clinical signs are all involved. 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.
Different breeds exhibit different variations of the
disease, and some individual animals appear to "acquire"
vWD.
While the bulk of the information available is based
upon purebred dogs, the disease is not unknown in mixed
breeds. The total number of breeds affected by vWF
exceeds 50. The disease also appears in cats, pigs,
horses, and humans.
Human variants of vWD are broken into three main types
which can be used to describe canine vWD. Type I vWD is
characterized by a low concentration of normally
structured protein. In screening studies done at Cornell
over a period of years (1982-1992), percentages of dogs
of some breeds tested as carrying the disease, and with
concentrations of vWF less than 50% of standard
(considered to be at risk) were:
* Totals for years 1989-1992.
** Totals for years 1990-1992.
All others for years 1988-1992.
Other breeds with a known prevalence of vWD in excess of
15% include Basset Hounds, Dachshunds (mini & std),
German Wirehaired Pointers, German Shepherds, Keeshonds,
Manchester Terriers (std & toy), Miniature Schnauzers,
and Rottweilers.
Type II vWD is characterized by a low concentration of
an abnormal vWF. Breeds in which severe type II-like vWD
has been diagnosed include American Cocker Spaniels,
German Shorthaired Pointers, and German Wirehaired
Pointers.
Type III vWD is essentially the complete absence of vWF.
Severe type III vWD has been diagnosed in Australian
Cattle Dogs, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Fox Terriers
(toy), German Shepherds, Scottish Terriers, and Shetland
Sheepdogs.
In vWD dogs, bleeding can be spontaneous - usually from
the mucosa of the mouth, nose, or gastro-intestinal
tract. Injury that is accompanied by bleeding may
continue unabated until a transfusion is administered.
Whether or not bleeding from small wounds will stop
without treatment is not predictable.
Living with one of these affected animals can get quite
interesting. You must be careful with him in the house;
by always having him on a leash or within our sight in a
portable pen when outside; and by having a unit of
frozen plasma at the veterinarian's at all times.
Obviously, elective surgery is not advised. Required
surgery can be preceded by transfusion with good
results, though you can never be certain.
Lastly, most of these diseases can be stopped by testing
before breeding, and through selective breeding.
Unfortunately, experience and hearsay indicate that the
AKC is not active in the enforcement of these preventive
measures. Apparently the breeders, at least some of
them, are not either. You should insist that the parents
of a litter in a high risk breed have been checked prior
to breeding -- and that the puppies have likewise been
tested.
There is a definitive genetic test for Type III vWD in
Scottish Terriers. The non-invasive test is available
from VetGen (800-4-VETGEN).
For other breeds, test kits and instructions for vWD are
available from:
Comparative Haematology Section - Diagnostic Laboratory
College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University
P. O. Box 5786
Ithaca, NY 14852-5786
607/253-3900 Voice
607/253-3943 FAX
These folks are very concerned and cooperative. I have
exchanged several Emails and phone calls with them. They
are interested in the dog's history, and are happy to
hear anecdotal information - it is just one more piece
to the puzzle. They also maintain a (large) kennel for
affected dogs, so that might be an alternative if you
can't keep one, but don't want to put it down.
NOTE: Most of the information above has been gleaned
from data and information developed at, and published
by, the New York State Department of Health Haematology
Laboratory.
Additional Comments
The "traditional" vWD test (non DNA based) has enormous
problems with accuracy and determination of precise vWD
status. The blood collection for the vWD test must be
done very carefully: you can only extract blood once,
and you must not shake or separate the blood. If the
test is done consistently and very carefully it can be
useful. However, it is difficult to diagnose vWD without
the test as there are many other things that can cause a
bleeding problem, such as warfarin (rat poison)
poisoning. So you might see non vWD dogs bleeding to
death that are kept in a rat infested environment, for
example.
Homozygous dogs rarely survive puppyhood. Heterozygous
dogs generally have clotting problems (taking longer to
stop bleeding and form a scab) which generally show up
when the dog's tail is docked, dew claws are removed, or
other surgery is done in which the problem becomes
apparent.
Wobblers -- Cervical Vertebral Instability
"Wobblers" is the common term for a spinal condition
called cervical vertebral instability (also caudal
cervical spondylomyelopathy). It has not been proven
genetic, but it is widely considered to be as it is
quite prevalent in the Doberman breed.
There are several different types, but in sum the neck
vertebrae are unstable, which causes the vertebrae to
move or causes the disks in between to swell. Some dogs
have no pain but are paralyzed; other dogs are in
extreme pain but are mobile and some dogs are both.
Not very much is known about this disease. The mode of
inheritance is unknown (and it is only suspected to be
inherited, not proven). There is no cure. As a stopgap,
surgical or medical intervention to reduce the swelling
or stabilize the vertebrae can be tried. There is no
easy, safe method of diagnosis. The only method of
diagnosis is by myelogram which in itself can paralyze
or even kill the dog.
(Thanks to Robin Nuttal for the basic information on
this disorder.)
Hey Webmasters! Get a free website with holiday themes - Get it NOW!
bravenet.com
