Page 54 - Canine-Diseases

nodules, crusts, ulceration of the paws, thickening pads, loss of cases. The etiology of the disease is diverse; it may occur in
hair and skin, discharge from the paws, and inflammation of the cases of infectious, metabolic, immune-mediated, or hereditary
soft tissue around the nail. Pododermatitis can occur in any breed, conditions or in association with endocrinopathy, neoplasm, or
it is more common in English Bulldogs, Great Danes, Basset chemical intoxication. Initial symptoms of the disease are a lack
Hounds, Mastiffs, Bull Terriers, Boxers, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, of coordination and instability, and often progress to decreased
Irish Setters, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German reflexes and muscle tone, paralysis, and sensory deficits. Various
Shorthaired Pointers, Weimaraners, and German Shepherds. breeds of dogs may be affected. Specific breeds are associated
with specific inherited neuropathies. Coonhounds have a higher
Poisoning: Is a common problem in dogs. Damage to the body incidence than other breeds for acquired neuropathies, specifically,
is based on the amount of poison ingested and how long the Coonhound paralysis.
poison was in the body before treatment. The dog may be
experiencing unexplained vomiting, nausea, halitosis, diarrhea, Portosystemic shunt: Also known as liver shunt, is a bypass
melena (black-tarry stool), drooling or may appear to be weak of the liver by the body’s circulatory system. The portal vein
(lethargic) to the point of being unable to move. Some of the enters the liver and allows toxic components of the blood to be
most dangerous dog poisons include medications and drugs detoxified by the liver. When a shunt is present, the portal vein is
(Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, isoniazid, inappropriately connected to another vein, which causes blood to
amphetamines and methylphenidate, and alcohol), insecticides bypass the liver. In the majority of cases, a liver shunt is caused
(flea and tick products-e.g., organophosphates and carbamates), by a birth defect called a congenital portosystemic shunt. There
human food (chocolate, avocado, macadamia nuts, grapes and are two categories of congenital shunts, extrahepatic (outside the
raisins, xylitol), rat and mouse poison, veterinary medications liver) and intrahepatic (inside the liver). In some cases, multiple
(Rimadyl, Dermaxx, Previcox and de-wormers), household plants small shunts form because of severe liver disease such as cirrhosis.
(azaleas, rhododendrons, tulips, daffodils, sago palm), chemicals These are referred to as acquired portosystemic shunts. The most
(organophosphates e.g., disulfoton, antifreeze, paint thinner, common clinical signs include stunted growth, poor muscle
household cleaners), heavy metals (lead, zinc), and fertilizers. development, abnormal behaviors such as disorientation, staring
into space, circling or head pressing, and seizures. Less common
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): Is characterized by cysts in symptoms include drinking or urinating too much, vomiting and
the renal cortex and medulla. The cysts develop from defects in diarrhea. If a shunt is present, the liver is deprived of factors that
scaffolding proteins that support the nephron structure. Polycystic enhance liver development (hepatotrophic factors), which results
kidney disease in dogs is an autosomal-dominant congenital in failure of the liver to reach normal size (hepatic atrophy). Breeds
condition. Many dogs do not have any symptoms during the initial predisposed to portosystemic shunt include Miniature Schnauzers,
stages of the disease. Signs are non-specific. Signs and symptoms Yorkshire Terriers, Irish Wolfhounds, Cairn Terriers, Maltese,
include anorexia (lack of appetite), polydipsia (excessive thirst), Australian Cattle Dogs, Australian Shepherds, Golden Retrievers,
polyuria (excessive urination), depression, weight loss, and Old English Sheepdogs, Labrador Retrievers, Dachshunds, Lhasa
sporadic vomiting. PKD can affect dogs of all breeds but Cairn Apso, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzus, Havanese, Toy and Miniature
Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Poodles, Pekingese, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Samoyeds, Irish
Bull Terriers, and Beagle seem to be more frequently affected. Setters, Doberman Pinscher, and German Shepherd.
PKD may also cause cysts to form in the liver. Hepatic cysts have
been reported in Cairn Terriers and West Highland White Terriers Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD): Is a disorder caused by
but not Bull Terriers. congenital ciliary dysfunction in dogs. Most of the clinical signs
are directly or indirectly attributable to immotile or dyskinetic cilia
Polydactyly: Is generally pre-axial (on the dewclaw side) in dogs. and spermflagella. Due to severely impaired mucociliary clearance,
Canine preaxial polydactyly in the hind limb is a developmental a continuous mucoid nasal discharge and intermittent sneezing
trait that restores the first digit lost during canine evolution. Most and coughing are typically observed during the neonatal period.
cases are breed related, with the Great Pyrenees and Australian Rhinosinusitus, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and bronchopneumonia
Shepherd Dogs being the most well-known examples. The in PCD are attributed to abnormal respiratory ciliary function
Norwegian Lundehund is a small dog that is a true polydactyly with and ineffectual clearance of mucus from the airways. Recurrent
six toes (instead of the usual four) with all of them fully formed, bacterial rhinosinusitis and bronchopneumonia usually start within
jointed and muscled. There are two types of polydactyly in dogs, a few weeks of birth. PCD has been identified in breeds such as
those that are bred intentionally to exhibit this trait while in others Bichon Frises, Border Collies, Bull Mastiffs, Chihuahuas, Shar
it is the result of a rare autosomal recessive genetic condition that Peis, Chow Chows, Dalmatians, Doberman Pinschers, English
results in the extra toes. Cocker Spaniels, English Pointers, English Setters, English
Springer Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Gordon Setters, Long-
Polyneuropathy: Canine polyneuropathy is a neurological disorder haired Dachshunds, Miniature Poodles, Old English Sheepdogs,
characterized by a dysfunction of multiple peripheral nerves. Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
Somatic nerve dysfunctions are most predominant, and autonomic
nerves may also be affected. As autonomic dysfunction may lead Primary lung tumors: Cancer originating in the lung are
to laryngeal or pharyngeal paralysis, aspiration pneumonia is uncommon in dogs and account for less than 1% of all tumors.
frequently diagnosed as a cause of death in canine polyneuropathy In dog, primary lung tumorsusually originate from the terminal

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