Page 40 - Canine-Diseases

this is the most obvious symptom, coughing throughout the night color of the tongue or gums caused by lack of oxygen), gagging,
that keeps them awake, runny nose, sneezing, lethargy, anorexia, choking, vomiting, restlessness, retraction of the lips (indicating
and low fever. See Infectious tracheobronchitis. great effort is being made to breathe), panting, and elevated body
temperature. In severe cases, the animal may collapse and possibly
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS): Is a condition that is also die before therapy can be started. Laryngeal collapse usually
commonly referred to as “dry eye.” It is a common eye condition occurs secondary to other long standing upper airway disorders,
resulting from inadequate production of the aqueous portion of such as those seen in short-faced dogs like Pugs, Boston Terriers
the tear film by the lacrimal gland and/or gland of the third eyelid and English Bulldogs. The chronic effect of difficulty “pushing
gland. Any condition that impairs the ability to produce adequate and pulling” air through their deformed upper airways weakens,
amounts of tear film can result in “dry eye.” Some of the common fatigues, and eventually deforms the cartilage.
causes include immune-mediated diseases that damage the tear
producing glands. This is the most common cause of KCS as the Laryngeal paresis/paralysis: Is unilateral or bilateral paralysis of
body’s immune system attacks the cells that produce a portion of the larynx. Laryngeal paresis (weakness) is caused by malfunction
the tear film resulting in decreased production; systemic diseases either of the muscles that move the two halves of the larynx into
such as canine distemper virus or feline herpes virus infections; an open position, the nerves that control those muscles, or both.
sulphonamides (sulfa drugs); and hypothyroidism. Symptoms In laryngeal paresis/paralysis the larynx fails to open properly
include eye redness, a yellow or greenish discharge, ulceration during inhaling, and this leads to airway obstruction. Signs
of the cornea, pigmented cornea, chemosis (swelling of the tissue of laryngeal paresis and paralysis in dogs may include voice
that lines the eyelids and surface of the eye), excessive blinking, change, gagging or coughing during eating or drinking, exercise
dry/lusterless corneal appearance, blood vessels on the cornea, intolerance, respiratory stridor or noisy breathing, dyspnea
and impaired or complete loss of vision. Certain breeds are more (difficulty breathing), cyanosis (blue color due to lack of oxygen),
likely to develop KCS. These breeds include American Cocker and syncope (fainting). In dogs it can be congenital, seen in the
Spaniels, Bloodhounds, Boston Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Bouvier des Flandres, Bull Terriers, Dalmatians, Rottweilers and
Spaniels, English Bulldogs, English Springer Spaniels, Lhasa Huskies, or an acquired, idiopathic disease, seen in older Labrador
Apsos, Miniature Schnauzers, Pekingese, Pugs, Samoyeds, Shih Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Saint Bernard, and Irish Setters.
Tzus, West Highland White Terrier, and Yorkshire Terrier. Signs include change in voice and difficulty breathing. Eighty
percent of cases are acquired.
Kidney cancer: Renal tumors are rare in dogs. The typical dog is
middle-aged to older, and there is no breed or sex predisposition Lateral patella luxation (LPL): Is a condition in which the
for this type of tumor. The exception is the German Shepard, which patella, or knee-cap, no longer glides within its natural groove in
is predisposed to a syndrome of renal cystadenocarcinomas and the femur, the upper bone of the stifle or knee joint. It becomes
nodular dermatofibrosis. The majority of primary renal tumors are displaced to the outside of the joint and can be partial or complete,
carcinomas, but a variety of other types have been reported. Some intermittent or permanent. The lateral luxation of the patella in
dogs have no clinical signs associated with a kidney tumor. Others large breed dogs is a pathologic process of the knee, relatively less
might have symptoms associated with the urinary tract, such as frequent as the medial patellar luxation. Lateral patella luxation is
bloody urine or frequent urination. If the cancer has metastasized, a direct result of abnormalities in the structure and components of
which occurs in about half of dogs with renal carcinoma, there can the hind limb. Causes of those abnormalities can include genetic
be symptoms related to the organ or tissue that is involved. predisposition, trauma or injury, shallow or absent femoral
groove, abnormality in the overall alignment of the knee and
L leg, such as hip dysplasia, and skeletal abnormalities. Symptoms
include genu valgum stance, also called knock-knee, a seal-like
stance, inability to stand, shaking of the affected leg, extensions
of the affected leg, pulling up of affected limb for several steps,
bow legged appearance in puppies, skipping gait, intermittent or
Laryngeal collapse: Laryngeal collapse is also referred to continuous, lameness, and pain. It can be congenital, associated
aryepiglottic collapse or corniculate collapse. This condition with the development, or acquired, as a consequence of trauma, for
arises when the cartilages of the larynx become weak and lose instance. Lateral patella luxation is seen in large and giant breeds
their structural rigidity which leads to severe inspiratory distress. more frequently than small breeds of dog. Lateral patella luxation
Laryngeal collapse usually occurs in dogs older than 2 years of of large and giant breeds include Akitas, Great Pyrenees, Chinese
age, but it may develop earlier in dogs with severe upper airway Shar Peis, Flat-coated Retrievers, Great Danes, Saint Bernard,
obstruction from other causes. Most often, the condition results Irish Wolfhounds, Labrador Retrievers, Malamutes, Boxers, and
from chronic airway obstruction related to brachycephalic Huskies. Symptoms often occur in puppies near 5 to 6 months
syndrome. Fatigue of the cartilages that surround the laryngeal old. Lateral patella luxation of toy and miniature breeds include
opening occurs because of the chronic negative pressures Boston Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, Miniature and
produced by the increased effort needed to take in air. Rarely, the Toy Poodles, Pomeranians, Pekinese, and Cavalier King Charles
condition can arise from direct trauma to the cartilages. Symptoms Spaniels. Symptoms are often seen around 5 to 8 years of age.
include noisy breathing, difficulty in breathing, labored open moth
breathing, sudden worsening of respiratory distress, cyanosis (blue Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome (LCP): Also known as Perthes

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