Page 44 - Canine-Diseases

of idiopathic, chronic intestinal diseases collectively termed Boxers, Briards, Bull Terriers, Shar Peis, Cocker Spaniels, Collies,
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and is considered to be the Dachshunds, Flat Coated Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden
most common cause of chronic vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Retrievers, Great Danes, Rottweilers, and Shetland Sheepdogs.
IBD may be due to other cellular infiltrates including eosinophilic
gastroenteritis, granulomatous enteritis, and chronic histiocytic Mammary tumors: In dogs, mammary tumors are potentially
ulcerative colitis. Symptoms of lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis benign or malignant and arise from the different types of tissues
include chronic diarrhea and vomiting, anorexia, weight loss, (epithelial or glandular tissues, and mesenchymal or connective
black and bloody stool, coughing up blood, extreme lethargy, tissues) in the mammary gland. The most common types are tumors
swelling of abdomen, and fluid retention. Hereditary factors may from the glandular tissues and include adenoma, carcinoma, and
also influence the development of IBD. Basenjis and Norwegian adenocarcinoma. Mammary tumors are more common in female
Ludenhunds are known to have familial forms of IBD; German dogs that are either not spayed or were spayed after 2 years of
shepherd dogs and Shar-Peis have been reported to be predisposed age. The risk of a dog developing a mammary tumor is 0.5% if
to lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis specifically. spayed before their first heat (approximately 6 months of age),
8% after their first heat, and 26% after their second heat. The risk
Lymphoma (lymphosarcoma): Is a malignant cancer that is for developing mammary gland tumors is closely associated with
classified by location, cell type, and histological grade. They exposure to the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone
collectively represent approximately 7-14% of all cancers in the early years of development. Approximately 45-50% of
diagnosed in dogs. There are over 30 described types of canine mammary tumors are malignant in dogs and have a much higher
lymphoma. Some progress rapidly and are acutely life-threatening number of complex and mixed tumors. A palpable mass underneath
without treatment, while others progress very slowly and are the skin of the abdomen is the most common finding. Other
managed as chronic, indolent diseases. Lymphomas may affect signs and symptoms include discharge from a mammary gland,
any organ in the body, but most commonly originate in lymph ulceration of the skin over a gland, painful, swollen breasts, loss
nodes, before spreading to other organs such as the spleen, liver, of appetite, weight loss, and generalized weakness. Dog breeds
and bone marrow. A lymph node affected by lymphoma will that have increased risk of developing mammary tumors include
feel hard, rubbery lump under the dog’s skin. The most easily Poodles, Dachshunds, English Springer Spaniels, Brittanys,
located lymph nodes on a dog’s body are the mandibular lymph Cocker Spaniels, English Setters, Pointers, German Shepherds,
nodes (under the jaw) and the popliteal lymph nodes (behind the Maltese, and Yorkshire terriers.
knee). Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, lethargy,
weight loss, swelling of the face or legs (edema), and occasionally Mange: Refers to skin diseases caused by mites. The term is derived
increased thirst and urination. Breeds that are believed to have a from a French word mangeue, which translates into “to eat or itch.”
higher incidence of lymphoma comprise Boxers, Bull Mastiffs, Mange, caused by different kinds of mites, affects many kinds of
Basset Hounds, Saint Bernards, Scottish Terriers, Airedales and animals, including humans. In dogs there are two major forms of
Bull dogs. mange, demodectic mange (red mange or demodex) and sarcoptic
mange (scabies). Demodectic mange is caused by Demodex canis.
M Signs include hair loss, redness, and scaling, and is contagious to
humans. Sarcoptic mange caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite
and is highly contagious. These mites will burrow through the skin
causing frantic itching and irritation. The dog may relentlessly
scratch or chew at its skin to relieve the itch. The scratching that
Malignant histiocytosis: Also known as disseminated histiocytic results from mange is what causes the majority of the animal’s
sarcoma, is a fairly rare and aggressive disease that produces hair to fall out. Symptoms include intense scratching, skin rash,
multiple cancerous tumors in the skin and vital organs throughout crust formation in the affected area, and alopecia. Dog breeds that
the body, including the spleen, liver, lymph nodes, lungs, bone develop mange (demodex) infections more often than other breeds
marrow, brain and central nervous system, and joints. These include Boxers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Pit Bulls, English
lesions are usually gray or white. But they can also have red Bulldogs, and Boston Terriers. Other breeds predisposed to
mottling, based on the amount of hemorrhage and necrosis develop demodex include: Afghan Hounds, Beagles, Chihuahuas,
(premature death of cells and living tissues). Margins are often Chow Chows, Collies, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, Doberman
distinct but without encapsulation. Immunohistochemistry plays Pinschers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Old English Sheep
an essential role in differentiating histiocytic tumors from other Dogs, Pointers, Pugs, Shar Peis, and Shih-Tzus. There is no known
neoplasia’s that may have similar histological appearances. breed predisposition for sarcoptic mange in dogs.
Symptoms include anorexia, weight loss, vomiting, fever,
lethargy, depression, coughing, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, Mast cell tumor (MCT): Also known as mastocytoma, represents
limping, lameness, incoordination, paralysis, seizures, anemia, and a cancer of mast cell (a type of blood cell) normally involved in the
jaundice. It is a disease found primarily in the Bernese Mountain body’s response to allergens and inflammation. MCT is the most
Dogs characterized by infiltration of the lungs, lymph nodes, and common skin tumor in dogs. Roughly one third of all tumors in
other organs by histiocytes (a stationary phagocytic cell present in dogs are skin tumors, and up to 20 percent of those are mast cell
connective tissue) and is an extremely aggressive form of cancer in tumors. It can also affect other areas of the body, including the
this breed. Other dog breeds predisposed to this condition include spleen, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and bone marrow. Dog breeds

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