Page 18 - Canine-Diseases

margins where the edge of the cornea meets with the sclera. Coxofemoral hip luxation: Is dislocation of the head of the femur,
Associated ocular conditions, such as corneal scars, inflammation which is the ball of the thigh bone, out of the socket of the pelvis
of the cornea, or chronic uveitis, can lead to degeneration of the (acetabulum). The dislocation is usually the result of trauma and
cornea. Corneal degeneration and corneal dystrophy are two results in a non-weight bearing lameness of the affected limb.
terms that may be used interchangeably but actually refer to two Causes for hip luxation include car accident, dog sports, play,
different conditions. Corneal degeneration often affects one eye stairs, hip dysplasia, and high body mass index. Symptoms include
and commonly occurs as the result of trauma or of another ocular inability to bear full weight on the limb, excessive mobility
disease. Corneal dystrophy has a similar appearance to corneal of the limb, crackling noise (crepitus) at the joint, limping, and
degeneration, but it is hereditary instead of acquired and is usually shortening of the limb. Dogs genetically prone to hip dysplasia
bilateral are at more risk including Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers,
German Shepherds, Rottweilers Great Danes, Newfoundlands,
Corneal dystrophy: Is a term used to describe several conditions and St. Bernard.
that occur in dogs and cause the corneas to become opaque. There
are three major categories of corneal dystrophy: epithelial, stromal, Craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO): Also known as “Lion’s
and endothelial. Each is named by the anatomic location of the jaw”, is a non-neoplastic, proliferative bony disease of the dog
abnormal tissue and opacity. All corneal dystrophies are primary, affecting primarily the mandible (lower jaw), tympanic bullae
inherited conditions not associated with any other eye disease or (bone surrounding the middle ear), and occasionally other bones of
systemic medical problem. Corneal dystrophy appears as grayish the head. In certain instances other long bones may also be affected.
white lines, circles, or clouding of the cornea. Corneal dystrophy The lesions are bilateral, and consist of irregular enlargements of
can also have a crystalline appearance. It affects certain breeds, the affected bones. The signs of disease usually occur between 4
including the Shetland Sheepdogs, Siberian Huskies, Beagles, and 8 months of age. There is swelling of the jaws, progressively
Cocker Spaniels, Airedale Terriers, Cavalier King Charles worsening pain upon opening the mouth, difficulty opening and
Spaniels, Samoyeds, Weimeraners, and Boston Terriers. using the mouth to eat, difficulty picking up food with the mouth,
and difficulty chewing. Dogs may drool and be depressed. Often the
Corneal laceration: Laceration or scratches of the cornea, the thin body temperature will fluctuate over time, with fever occurring in
clear covering of the eye, occur due to trauma to the eye, most phases every 10-14 days. In severely affected dogs, the masticatory
commonly a cat scratch, which is particularly common when a muscles may atrophy and there may be lymphadenopathy. The
new puppy meets the household cat for the first time. Other cause disease predominates in Scottish Terriers, West Highland White
for an injury to the eye include running through heavy vegetation, Terriers, and Cairn Terriers; however, Boxers, Labrador Retrievers,
gunshot, fireworks, or other rapid projectiles, pre-existing visual Great Danes, and Doberman Pinschers have also been reported.
impairment or deformity, young, naive, or highly excitable dogs
that have not learned caution, and fights with other animals; Cricopharyngeal achalasia: Is a swallowing disorder that prevents
most notably, cats. Symptoms of an injury to the eyeball may be food from passing normally from the pharynx into the esophagus.
represented by the suddenness of the symptoms such as pawing Cricopharyngeal achalasia is a failure of the cricopharyngeal
at the eye, blinking rapidly, swollen and inflamed eye; blood in muscle to relax. The unrelaxed muscle closes off the opening
the eye, or a blood filled mass (subconjunctival hematoma) left of the esophagus, thus preventing food from leaving the mouth
from a sealed laceration; a foreign object in the eye that can be because it cannot be swallowed. Although the exact cause for the
visually detected; the pupil is distorted, either reacting abnormally abnormal muscular constriction is unknown, it is believed to be
or shaped differently; the cornea, is clouded (cataract); or, the eye a disorder of the nerves supplying the cricopharyngeal muscle.
is protruding. Symptoms include inability to swallow, gagging, regurgitation,
vomiting, coughing, bloating, and lethargy. Golden Retrievers,
Corneal ulcer, or ulcerative keratitis: Is an inflammatory Cocker Spaniels, and Springer Spaniels are predisposed.
condition of the cornea involving loss of its outer layer. A corneal
ulcer is deeper erosion through the entire epithelium and into Crust: Either a primary lesion (e.g. with primary seborrhoea) or
the stroma. With a corneal ulcer, fluid is absorbed from the tears secondary skin lesion formed when exudate, serum, pus, blood,
into the stroma, giving a cloudy appearance to the eye. If the cells, scales or medications dry and adhere to the skin surface.
erosion goes through the epithelium and stroma to the deepest
level of Descemet’s membrane, a descemetocele is formed. A Cryptococcosis: A fungal disease caused by Cryptococcus
descemetocele is a very serious condition. The most common neoformans that affects both dogs and humans. These are yeast-like
cause is trauma. An ulcer may result from blunt trauma, such as a fungi that are saprophytic, or organisms that feed on decomposing
dog rubbing its eye on the carpet, or due to a laceration, such as a and dead material. If inhaled or contracted through a wound, the
cat scratch or a contact with a sharp object. Another common cause organisms attack the respiratory system first by creating small
is chemical burn of the cornea. This may happen when an irritating areas of granulomas, or a collection of immune cells that cause
chemical or substance such as shampoo or drywall dust gets in the an inflammation. These lesions generally continue through the
eye. Other eye conditions that can cause corneal ulcers include body, causing upper respiratory disease, mental alterations, loss
entropion, distichia, corneal dystrophy, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, of movements and seizures. This fungus is present in soil and
and endocrine diseases such as diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s disease excrement which is often spread by birds, especially pigeons.
(hyperadrenocorticism), and hypothyroidism. It is a rare disease in dogs. In dogs, it often begins in the nasal

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