Page 15 - Canine-Diseases

dog breeds are at higher risk, as well as older dogs. congestive heart failure in dogs. This condition has also been
termed chronic degenerative valvular disease, myxomatous
Chorea: Also called hyperkinesia, in dogs, a disorder in which atrioventricular valvular degeneration, chronic valvular fibrosis
muscle spasms are prominent. It is usually associated with and endocardiosis. Cough is the most common presenting
distemper, encephalitis, poisoning, brain tumors, trauma to the complaint in dogs with clinical signs resulting from CVD. The
head, intestinal parasites, and vaccines that are not administered cough is often described as a deep, resonant cough or a hacking
properly. Jaw spasms may interfere with eating, and extreme cough. The cough may occur after exercise or excitement, or
exhaustion follows severe episodes in which the dog cannot it may be more prominent at night. Additional symptoms can
sleep. Symptoms of chorea include involuntary muscle twitching include dyspnea (labored breathing), orthopnea (shortness of
which may be observable during the day or even while the dog breath that occurs when lying flat), respiratory distress, reduced
sleeps, sudden collapse, confusion, lack of strength, anxiety, and exercise tolerance, weight loss, abdominal distention, and syncope
involuntary elimination. (temporary loss of consciousness). The disease is most common
in small to medium sized breeds of dogs. Cavalier King Charles
Chronic active hepatitis (CAH): Also known as chronic Spaniels and Dachshunds are over-represented. CVD also occurs
canine inflammatory hepatic disease or CCIHD, is an ongoing in large breed dogs (i.e., German Shepherd dogs, Doberman
inflammation of the liver resulting in the accumulation of cells and pinschers), but dilated cardiomyopathy is much more common in
scar tissue. CAH can be caused by infections, toxins, autoimmune these breeds than CVD.
disease, storage disorders (e.g., copper), and genetic factors.
Several breeds are predisposed, including Bedlington Terriers, Chylothorax: Is characterized by the accumulation of chyle (milky
Labrador Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Doberman Pinschers, fluid consisting of fat droplets and lymph) within the thoracic
Skye Terriers, Standard Poodles, West Highland White Terriers, cavity. Since thorax means “chest cavity,” the name chylothorax
Springer Spaniels, Chihuahuas, and Maltese. simply means a buildup of this fatty lymph fluid in the chest.
In dogs affected with chylothorax there is an abnormality in the
Chronic bronchitis: Is defined as cough that is present most thoracic duct that causes it to leak chyle into the thoracic cavity.
days for a minimum duration of 2 months, without evidence These pets have difficulty breathing as the chyle that builds up in
of other underlying diseases that may cause cough which often the chest prevents their lungs from fully inflating with air. The loss
more pronounced initially upon awakening and then reduces in of large amounts of chyle into the thorax can weaken the immune
frequency while awake and active. Diagnosis of chronic bronchitis system and create severe metabolic disorders. Chyle is also an
in dogs is usually based on chronic cough alone. This cough is irritant and chronic exposure to the pleura (lining of the lungs)
generally deeper and “throatier” than the high pitched “honking” and pericardium (lining of the lungs) can lead to inflammation of
cough caused by extra-thoracic tracheal collapse, and yet harsher those surfaces with further deleterious consequences. It is seen
than the “soft moist” cough caused by pneumonia. Chronic more often in dogs with heart disease, heartworms, blood clots, or
bronchitis results in chronic inflammatory changes in the lower tumors, but often no obvious cause is identified. The symptoms of
airways, including neutrophilic inflammation and increased mucus chylothorax include difficulty in breathing, cyanosis (a bluish tinge
production. Older small breed dogs are most commonly affected, to the skin/mucous membranes, due to a reduction in oxygen),
but chronic bronchitis is also documented in midsized and larger lethargy, loss of appetite, and coughing.
breed dogs.
Cleft lip and palate: Cleft lip (often referred to incorrectly as
Chronic kidney disease and failure: Chronic kidney disease a “hair lip” or more appropriately as palatoschisis or congenital
is defined as kidney disease that has been present for months to oronasal fistula) and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a
years. Chronic renal disease, chronic renal failure, and chronic puppy’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. This
renal insufficiency refer to the same condition. Some potential birth defect can occur in the lip (primary cleft palate, cleft lip, or
causes of chronic renal failure include congenital malformation harelip) or along the roof of the mouth (secondary cleft palate).
of the kidneys (birth defects), chronic bacterial infection of Within the mouth, the cleft, or opening, can extend along the bony
the kidneys with or without kidney stones (pyelonephritis), portion (hard palate), the flexible portion used in swallowing (soft
hypertension, diseases associated with the immune system (e.g. palate), or both. Clinical signs of cleft palates may vary. Those
glomerulonephritis, systemic lupus), and toxins. Symptoms involving the lip and front of the palate (primary clefts) are fairly
include polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyuria (excessive urine), obvious since the lips, nose and teeth are divided left and right
incontinence (urine leaks), vomiting and/or diarrhea, lack of and are readily visible. Those involving the palate farther to the
appetite and weight loss, depression, anemia, itchy skin, halitosis, rear may be less apparent. Sneezing, passage of milk through the
oral ulcers, and lethargy. Kidney disease is more common as dogs nostrils when nursing, coughing, chronic infections in the sinuses
age. It is estimated that more than 1 in 10 dogs will develop kidney and failure to grow or “thrive” may all be associated with cleft
disease over a lifetime. Some dog breeds, including English palate. Purebred dogs and cats have a higher incidence of cleft
Cocker spaniels, Bull terriers, and German Shepherds, are more palate, and brachycephalic breeds, with their short stubby faces, are
likely to develop particular types of kidney disease. most commonly affected. Cleft palates may occur more commonly
in Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Bulldogs, Miniature Schnauzers,
Chronic superficial keratitis: See Pannus.
Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, and Dachshunds. Although genetics is
Chronic valve disease (CVD): Is the most frequent cause of considered the main cause of this problem, nutritional deficiencies,
viruses, and poisons that affect the mother during pregnancy may
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