Educational Articles
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Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes of the body caused by inadequate oxygen levels. Cyanosis is an emergency, and the root cause may be life-threatening and may or may not be reversible. Once back home, homecare instructions must be followed carefully.
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Cystine bladder stones appear to be the result of a genetic abnormality that prevents a dog from reabsorbing cystine from the kidneys. While bladder stones in general are somewhat common in dogs, cystine bladder stones are rare. Your veterinarian may be able to palpate the stones or may need to perform imaging studies such as a bladder ultrasound or a contrast radiographic study. There are two primary treatment strategies for treating cystine bladder stones in dogs: dietary therapy to dissolve the stones, or physical removal of the stones. Cystine stones have a high rate of recurrence, despite careful attention to diet and lifestyle.
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Cystitis means inflammation of the bladder. The most common cause of cystitis in dogs is bacterial infection. Other common causes include bladder stones, tumors or polyps in the bladder, and abnormal anatomy. The most common clinical sign is blood in the urine (hematuria). The first group of tests performed includes urinalysis, urine culture, and bladder palpation. Further diagnostics may include bladder radiographs, ultrasound, and contrast X-rays. Blood tests to look for systemic problems are also sometimes required. Treatment is based on the cause.
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Cysts are hollow spaces within tissues that contain either a liquid or a solidified material. Some breeds have a tendency to develop certain types of cysts. Accurate diagnosis relies upon microscopic examination of a piece of tissue. The most common treatment for cysts is surgical removal. It is important to prevent your pet from rubbing, scratching, or otherwise bothering the cysts or the surgical site.
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This handout describes and illustrates this condition, and discusses the causes, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment options for degenerative disc disease in dogs. Surgical intervention is specifically outlined and rule-outs for other conditions causing similar signs are also discussed.
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Degenerative joint disease is arthritis caused by deterioration and degeneration of tissues lining joints. Treatment includes regular gentle exercise, anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications, omega fatty acids, chondroprotectants, and possibly other nutraceuticals. Emerging therapies include rehabilitation therapy, acupuncture, and stem cell or platelet rich plasma therapies. Maintaining your dog’s weight can help prevent degenerative joint disease.
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Degenerative myelopathy (DM), a disease affecting the spinal cord, results in slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis. It is considered a disease of middle-aged to older dogs, including German shepherds, German shepherd crosses, Siberian huskies, and collies. It will be suspected based on breed, medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment, and it is a progressive, incurable disease.
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Demodectic mange is caused by a parasitic mite that lives in the hair follicles of dogs. As long as the body's immune system is functioning properly, these mites cause no harm. Demodectic mange most often occurs when a dog has an immature or weakened immune system, allowing the number of skin mites to increase rapidly. Topical, oral, and injectable medications are available to treat demodectic mange.
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Dermatomyositis is hereditary, immune-mediated disease of the skin muscles and blood vessels affecting primarily collies, Shetland Sheepdogs and mixes of these breeds. Other breeds can experience similar disease. Signs are usually first recognized in puppies but can present in young adulthood. Signs include: skin lesions (crusty erosions, patchy alopecia or ulcers) around the eyes, lips, face, ear flaps or tail tip, foot pad lesions; atrophy of chewing muscles or difficulty chewing; stiff gait and megaesophagus in severely affected dogs. Skin biopsies are diagnostic. Treatment involves treating secondary bacterial infections, reducing sun exposure, EFAs, and immunomodulatory medications including tetracycline, niacinamide, pentoxifylline, cyclosporine and corticosteroids. Prognosis varies depending on severity.
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Testing for diabetes includes confirming hyperglycemia and glucosuria while looking for other conditions by taking a complete blood count (anemia, infection), biochemistry profile (hepatic disease, pancreatitis), and a urinalysis (urinary tract infection). Monitoring includes regular glucose curves and additional exams and testing based on the pet owner's monitoring of their dog's clinical signs at home. Urine glucose testing and fructosamine are sometimes used in diabetic monitoring and urine testing for infection may be recommended.
