MASTITIS Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary glands, usually with bacterial infection. It results from incomplete emptying of the milk glands. The mammary glands become swollen, tender and hot, and may develop dark-red or purple soft spots. The milk may be blood-tinged or off-color. Systemic signs include fever, restlessness, reduced appetite and discomfort of the mammary glands. The mother will often neglect the young. Pups weaken if not bottle fed. Mother’s infected milk can be harmful. Pups should be weaned immediately and antibiotic therapy initiated. Occasionally mastectomy is required to surgically remove a necrotic mammary gland. Many pet owners have the mother “spayed” to prevent further complications of nursing pups.

LIVER DISEASE When a pet’s blood test shows elevated liver enzymes it indicates liver dysfunction. High liver enzymes such as ALT (Alanine Transferase) or ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) can be caused by viral or bacterial infections such as viral or bacterial hepatitis. High liver enzymes can also signal more serious health problems such as Cushing’s disease, drug toxicity such as extended administration of Phenobarbital or even cancer. Further blood tests are indicated to determine whether the liver condition is acute and temporary (responsive to antibiotics and anti-inflammatories) or sustained and chronic. A repeat blood test is needed in two weeks and ultrasound is the next diagnostic step if the liver enzymes remain elevated over time.

LICK GRANULOMA "Acral lick dermatitis" is commonly known as "lick granuloma". This condition affect any size dog. Dogs exhibit excessive licking and chewing of the affected area. Occasionally, there is a history of trauma or arthritis of the affected area. Physical exam findings include alopecia (hair loss), ulceration, or thickened raised firm skin. Many vets suspect the cause of lick granuloma to be psychological, including boredom. Experts suggest that providing plenty of exercise and attention can decrease the incidence of lick granulomas. Various therapies exist for this condition. Intralesional injections, and topical sprays are often recommended. Surgical excision of the lesion is far too risky, and often makes the matter worse. Many pets persist in re-creating the lesion throughout the rest of their lives. Certain sprays that discourage licking can sometimes help. The most effective curative therapy involves surgical laser ablation.

KIDNEY FAILURE Chronic renal failure is a long-term decline in kidney function. Treatment goals are to reduce the workload of the kidneys, treat secondary problems, and improve the quality of life for the pet. Renal failure is an inability of the kidneys to perform their functions sufficiently to prevent the development of clinical signs. Chronic renal failure is one of the most common medical problems in older dogs and cats and is a leading cause of death in these pets. Chronic renal failure has many different causes, including inherited defects, infections, toxic substances, nutritional factors, and immune system defects. Once chronic renal failure develops, it cannot be reversed and often progresses. Therefore, any measure that helps prevent the disease, delays the age of occurrence, or slows the progression of the disease will help a pet live longer. The disease develops over several months or years, so the changes you see may be subtle. Generally the syndrome begins with a pet gradually drinking more water and urinating more. Blood tests, urinalysis, radiographs, ultrasounds, and blood pressure measurements will help to detect the disease. Fluid therapy and medications are the recommended treatment, along with diet change.

KIDNEY DISEASE Kidney disease is any destructive process within the kidney. It is not limited to any particular age or breed, but it is one of the most common medical problems of older dogs and cats and is a leading cause of death. Kidneys filter and remove "waste materials" from the blood stream. The kidneys also regulate the volume and composition of body fluids. Signs of decreased kidney function are not evident until more than two thirds of the total kidney function is lost. Signs include increased thirst and drinking, frequent urination, depression and finally vomiting. The majority of adult dogs and cats have some kidney damage present. Kidney disease can be caused by bacterial infection, old age, genetic defects, and toxic substances. Blood testing allows diagnosis and prognosis. Clinical evaluation includes blood tests and urinalysis to determine how well the kidney is filtering the toxic substances from the blood. Other diagnostic evaluations can include abdominal radiographs and kidney biopsies. Fluid administration is often prescribed to provide diuresis for pets. Home administration 2 or 3 X weekly can prolong a pet’s life for years. Special diets are recommended such as Science Diet K/D. Normal kidneys filter the blood, removing wastes and excreting them in the urine. Kidneys damaged by infection or inflammation lose some of this filtering ability, and waste products accumulate in the bloodstream. Continued re-circulation of this material results in illness. About three-fourths of kidney tissue must be damaged before signs of illness appear. For this reason, kidney disease is often considered chronic (present a long time) even though the affected pet may not have signs of disease for very long. Signs of chronic kidney disease include vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, increased urination, decreased appetite, and depression and bad breath. Continued illness results in collapse, seizures, coma and death. Though chronic kidney disease is not curable, it is often controllable. Many pets can live reasonably normal lives managed in a cooperative effort between owner and veterinarian

KENNEL COUGH Infectious tracheo-bronchitis (“kennel cough”) is a highly contagious respiratory disease of dogs (and sometimes cats.) Most cases are mild, but some progress to severe pneumonia. Tracheitis is caused by as many as twenty-two viruses, often in combination with certain bacteria. Bordatella bronchiseptica bacteria, a parainfluenza-type virus, and two types of adenovirus are the most common disease causing agents. Kennel cough is transmitted in the same way colds spread between humans. The airborne agents that cause kennel cough spread especially easily from one dog to another in conditions of close confinement, such as those existing at dog shows or in kennels. But dogs can catch tracheitis while in their back yard. A persistent, dry, hacking cough is the most common complaint. Sometimes discharge from the eyes and nose is present and more severe cases demonstrate inappetance and depression. Therapy can include antibiotics to control the bacterial component of the infection, anti-tussive medications to relieve the persistent cough, and sometimes steroids to decrease inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Expectorants are sometimes administered to promote discharge of mucus from the pharynx and bronchioles. If left untreated the mild upper respiratory infection of the throat and upper airways can descend and complicate into fulminating pneumonia. Even with timely and proper treatment the cough can persist for 3 or 4 weeks before the viral component is fully eradicated. Patience is required to wait for the pet’s immune system to combat and eliminate all the viral particles. Antibiotics are helpless against viral infections. Several effective vaccines are available to prevent this very common respiratory disease. Both the injectable formula and an intra-nasal nose drop provide good protection for up to 90 days. Therefore, the vaccine should technically be boosted four times annually, but most pet owners get the booster every 6 months. Almost all pets contract tracheitis at least once or twice in their lifetimes.

FAQs Archive - Page 4 of 13 - Waterloo Animal Hospital

NAILS TOO LONG

Dwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:45:50+00:00

NAILS TOO LONG Under sedation the nails can be trimmed to proper length. Sometimes bandages are used to control bleeding after toenail cutting. If so, bandages should be left on for 2-3 hours before being removed. Re-trimming the nails in 2 or 3 months allows the nails to be gradually cut back to the proper

NAILS TOO LONGDwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:45:50+00:00

MITRAL MURMUR

Dwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:45:13+00:00

MITRAL MURMUR Mitral murmur is a sign of chronic valvular heart disease, and is the most common heart disease of dogs. Mitral murmurs occur when the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle leaks, allowing "back-flow" of oxygenated blood back up into the lungs instead of out to the peripheral body. This bi-directional flow

MITRAL MURMURDwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:45:13+00:00

MASTITIS

Dwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:44:44+00:00

MASTITIS Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary glands, usually with bacterial infection. It results from incomplete emptying of the milk glands. The mammary glands become swollen, tender and hot, and may develop dark-red or purple soft spots. The milk may be blood-tinged or off-color. Systemic signs include fever, restlessness, reduced appetite and discomfort of

MASTITISDwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:44:44+00:00

LUXATING PATELLA

Dwight Boehm2019-01-16T22:14:42+00:00

LUXATING PATELLA Luxating Patella is an orthopedic condition describing the knee cap dislocating (popping out of joint or luxating). Disclocated kneecaps cause condition so painful pets often refuse to use the affected leg and carry it high, running on three legs. The recommended remedy is reparative surgery. The surgical repair involves deepening the groove in

LUXATING PATELLADwight Boehm2019-01-16T22:14:42+00:00

LIVER DISEASE

Dwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:43:47+00:00

LIVER DISEASE When a pet’s blood test shows elevated liver enzymes it indicates liver dysfunction. High liver enzymes such as ALT (Alanine Transferase) or ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) can be caused by viral or bacterial infections such as viral or bacterial hepatitis. High liver enzymes can also signal more serious health problems such as Cushing’s disease,

LIVER DISEASEDwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:43:47+00:00

LICK GRANULOMA

Dwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:43:19+00:00

LICK GRANULOMA "Acral lick dermatitis" is commonly known as "lick granuloma". This condition affect any size dog. Dogs exhibit excessive licking and chewing of the affected area. Occasionally, there is a history of trauma or arthritis of the affected area. Physical exam findings include alopecia (hair loss), ulceration, or thickened raised firm skin. Many vets

LICK GRANULOMADwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:43:19+00:00

KIDNEY FAILURE

Dwight Boehm2019-01-16T22:14:42+00:00

KIDNEY FAILURE Chronic renal failure is a long-term decline in kidney function. Treatment goals are to reduce the workload of the kidneys, treat secondary problems, and improve the quality of life for the pet. Renal failure is an inability of the kidneys to perform their functions sufficiently to prevent the development of clinical signs. Chronic

KIDNEY FAILUREDwight Boehm2019-01-16T22:14:42+00:00

KIDNEY DISEASE

Dwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:42:16+00:00

KIDNEY DISEASE Kidney disease is any destructive process within the kidney. It is not limited to any particular age or breed, but it is one of the most common medical problems of older dogs and cats and is a leading cause of death. Kidneys filter and remove "waste materials" from the blood stream. The kidneys

KIDNEY DISEASEDwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:42:16+00:00

KERATO-CONJUNCTIVITIS SICCA (DRY EYE)

Dwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:41:42+00:00

KERATO-CONJUNCTIVITIS SICCA (DRY EYE) "Dry Eye" or Kerato-conjunctivitis Sicca is a disease characterized by abnormal insufficient functioning of the tear gland. The “dry eye” condition allows dust, debris and bacteria to linger and persist on the cornea. The disease is considered to have a genetic component and is seen more commonly is small bracheocephalic (short

KERATO-CONJUNCTIVITIS SICCA (DRY EYE)Dwight Boehm2015-09-25T16:41:42+00:00

KENNEL COUGH

Dwight Boehm2019-01-16T22:14:42+00:00

KENNEL COUGH Infectious tracheo-bronchitis (“kennel cough”) is a highly contagious respiratory disease of dogs (and sometimes cats.) Most cases are mild, but some progress to severe pneumonia. Tracheitis is caused by as many as twenty-two viruses, often in combination with certain bacteria. Bordatella bronchiseptica bacteria, a parainfluenza-type virus, and two types of adenovirus are the

KENNEL COUGHDwight Boehm2019-01-16T22:14:42+00:00