Page 46 - Canine-Diseases

medical abortion, miscarriage, or after a non-sterile artificial with myasthenia gravis exhibit extreme weakness and excessive
insemination. Escherichia coli is the most common bacterium fatigue. The muscular weakness is aggravated by activity and
isolated from the infected uterus; streptococci, staphylococci, relieved by rest. Often the esophagus is affected, and dogs have
Proteus spp., and others are isolated less frequently. Symptoms trouble swallowing and drinking. They may also regurgitate
include purulent vulvar discharge, swollen abdomen, dehydration, food. In some situations, affected dogs aspirate food and water,
dark red gums, reduced milk production, depression, lethargy, which can result in pneumonia. Other signs of myasthenia gravis
fever, anorexia, neglect of puppies, and increased heart rate. include voice changes, inability to close the eyes (even while
sleeping), excessive drooling, difficulty breathing, cramping with
Molera: Is a small opening in a puppy’s head, comparable to mild exercise, and tumor in the chest cavity called a thymoma.
the fontanelle (soft spot) in a human infant’s skull. Some dogs, Some breeds are predisposed to an inherited/congenital form of
most notably Chihuahuas, have moleras that never fully close. this disease, including Jack Russell Terriers, English Springer
Although moleras that remain unclosed after a puppy’s sixth Spaniels, Smooth Fox Terriers, and Smooth-haired Miniature
month have a reputation for being a sign of hydrocephalus, they Dachshunds. The Newfoundland, Great Danes, Golden Retrievers,
are often a regular occurrence in Chihuahuas, and not considered Labrador Retrievers, Akitas, and Scottish Terriers are predisposed
to be abnormal. Molera is considered to be a breed standard for to acquired myasthenia gravis.
Chihuahuas.
Mycoplasmosis: Is the general medical name given to a disease
Monorchidism: Is a rare developmental condition in which the caused by any one of three infectious agents: mycoplasma,
affected dog only develops one testicle and is caused by a genetic t-mycoplasma or ureaplasma, and acholeplasma. Some types of
abnormality and is uncommon. Affected dog usually show no bacteria that lead to mycoplasmosis in dogs include Mycoplasma
signs of illness. It is important to note that this condition is often canis, Mycoplasma spumans, and Mycoplasma maculosum.
confused with unilateral (one-sided) cryptorchidism, which is Symptoms of mycoplasmosis includes simultaneous inflammation
a condition where there are two testicles, but only one descends of several joints (polyarthritis), such as the knees, ankles, hips,
into the scrotum, while the other is retained in abdomen. Types or shoulders. Long-term lameness, difficulty moving, fever, and
of purebred breeds that may suffer from monorchidism include general signs of discomfort are some of the typical signs. Other
Cairn Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers, Dachshunds, Maltese, Border signs may include squinting or spasmodic blinking, fluid-buildup in
Collies, Chihuahuas, Pekingese, Shetland Sheepdogs, Poodles, the eyes, reddened eyes, discharge from the eyes, or conjunctivitis,
Pomeranians, and Schnauzers. a condition in which the moist tissue of the eye becomes inflamed.
Mycoplasmas are commonly associated with the canine infectious
Mosquito bite hypersensitivity: Mosquito bites may result in the respiratory disease (CIRD), also known as kennel cough. There
formation of a pruritic papule on the skin where an animal was is no sex, breed or age predilection. Stress, concurrent disease,
bitten. Some animals may develop a hypersensitivity to the saliva immunodeficiency/immunosuppression, and cancer may render a
introduced into the skin by a mosquito prior to feeding. Lesions dog more susceptible to disease from Mycoplasma.
initially appear as reddened (erythema) plaques that may appear
eroded, ulcerated, necrotic or crusted. With chronic exposure Mycoses: Are diseases that result from fungal infections. Funguses
nodules may develop with change in pigment (most commonly (also called fungi) are parasitic, spore-producing organisms. They
loss of pigment), hair loss (alopecia) and scaling. Lesions have obtain their nourishment by absorbing food from the hosts on
also been reported on other thinly-haired areas such as foot pads, which they grow. Many species of fungus exist in the environment,
lips and chin. but only a very few cause infections. The primary source of most
infections is soil. Fungal infections can be acquired by inhalation,
Mucormycosis: Is an uncommon fungal infection caused by ingestion, or through the skin (for example, through a cut or wound).
fungi of the subphylum Mucormicotina, order Mucorales. The Mycoses in dogs are often categorized by the location of their
most common mucoralean fungi include the Genera Mucor, infections. Deep mycoses in canines are systemic. Moderate-depth
Lichtheimia (formerly Absidia), Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, mycoses are subcutaneous. If a mycosis is not deep, it is categorized
Mortierella, Apophysomyces and Saksenaea. Most of the fungi as being superficial. Some e.g. of mycoses include aspergillosis
that cause mucormycosis are found within the soil. Mucormycosis (nasal aspergillosis and disseminated aspergillosis), candidiasis,
occurs when the fungus comes into contact with an injured or coccidioidomycosis (valley fever), cryptococcosis, geotrichosis,
compromised dog and it begins to rapidly multiply. The fungi histoplasmosis, mycetomas, blastomycosis, oomycosis (also
invade the dog’s blood vessels, eventually stopping blood flow called pythiosis), phaeohyphomycosis, rhinosporidiosis, and
and causing the area to begin decaying from a lack of blood. The sporotrichosis.
skin and the gastrointestinal tract are mostly affected. Symptoms
of mucormycosis include vomiting, development of nodules, Myiasis: Is the term used to describe infestation of maggots or
inflammation of the affected area of the body, jaundice, pneumonia, grubs, which are larva of flies of the order Diptera that feed on
and lesions on the skin. necrotic and dying tissue. The following larval Dipterans are
often referred to as facultative myiasis-producing flies: Musca
Myasthenia gravis: Is caused by a breakdown of the transmission domestica (the house flies); Calliphora, Phaenicia, Lucilia, and
of impulses from the nerves to the muscles. This keeps the muscles Phormia spp (the blow flies or bottle flies); and Sarcophaga spp
from contracting, causing affected dogs to become weak. Dogs (the flesh flies). Classification of myiasis is based on their location

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