Page 66 - Canine-Diseases

6. Globoid cell leukodystrophy: The most commonly affected overrepresented, while large/giant breed dogs of greater than
breeds include West Highland White Terriers, Beagles, Blue Tick 50 pounds are infrequently diagnosed. Any breed is susceptible,
Hounds, Cairn Terriers, Basset Hounds, Pomeranians, and Poodles. but Dachshunds, Miniature Schnauzers, Pugs, Brittany Spaniels,
Also known as Krabbe disease, is an autosomal recessive disorder Maltese, and Bichon Frises are particularly predisposed.
resulting from the defective lysosomal hydrolysis of specific
galactolipids found primarily in myelin. This leads to severe Suppurative: A term used to describe the formation or discharge
neurological symptoms including seizures, hypotonia, blindness, of pus.
and death; 7. Glycogenosis: The most commonly affected breed
is the Australian Silky Terrier. Other breeds include Maltese, Supracaudal gland hyperplasia: See Tail gland hyperplasia.
Lapland Dogs, German Shepherds, and English Spring Spaniels. Swamp fever: Also known as water mold infection or pythosis,
Glycogenosis is characterized by deficient or defective activity of is a parasitic spore that is capable of spontaneous movement (or
the enzymes responsible for metabolizing glycogen in the body. a motile zoospore) that enters the body through the nose/sinuses,
It is a rare inherited disorder with various types, all of which lead esophagus, or through the skin. Infection then usually settles in the
to the accumulation of glycogen. This abnormal accumulation dog’s lungs, brain, sinuses, gastrointestinal tract, or skin. Affected
in the tissues can result in the enlargement and dysfunction of dogs will exhibit subcutaneous or cutaneous masses, which
various organs, including the liver, heart, and kidneys. There are develop as lesions on the legs, tail, head, neck, perineum, and/or
four types of glycogenoses known to affect dogs which include the inside of the thigh. See Pythiosis.
Type-1-a, Type II, Type III, and Type IV; and 8. Pyruvate kinase
deficiency: The most commonly affected breeds include Basenjis, Synchysis scintillans: In dogs, synchysis scintillans is recognized
Beagles, Cairn Terriers, West Highland White Terriers. Miniature as an acquired degenerative condition and has been reported
Poodle, Dachshund, Chihuahua, Pug and American Eskimo dogs. to be related to retinal atrophy. It is a rare disease of the eye
Pyruvate kinase deficiency is characterized by low levels of resulting in liquified vitreous humor and the accumulation of
pyruvate kinase enzyme in the red blood cells which results in red cholesterol crystals within the vitreous. The cholesterol crystals
blood cells with decreased energy and cellular death occurs. display a ‘snowflake’ movement when the globe moves. It is most
commonly seen in older dogs and can appear after episodes of
Strabismus: Also called crosseye, walleye, esotropia or exotropia, intraocular inflammation.
is caused by a lack of muscle coordination between the eyes,
causing them to point in different directions. In other words, the Syringomyelia: Is defined as a condition that results in the
eyeball is in an abnormal position within the eye socket. The causes development of fluid-containing cavities within the parenchyma
of strabismus include genetics, restriction of eye muscle mobility of the spinal cord as a consequence of abnormal cerebrospinal
from scar tissue (usually from previous trauma or inflammation), fluid movement through the foramen magnum. It is also known
and Abnormal crossing of visual fibers in the central nervous as “neck scratcher’s disease”, because one of its common signs is
system. The most commonly affected breeds include Pugs, scratching in the air near the neck. Although the exact etiology and
Boston Terriers, Irish Wolfhounds, Shar Peis, Akitas, and Golden pathogenesis are unknown, syringomyelia is thought to develop
Retrievers. secondary to an obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid flow at the
level of the foramen magnum (the hole in the base of the skull
Strongyloidiasis: Strongyloides stercoralis, known more through which the spinal cord passes). A cause of syringomyelia is
commonly as threadworm, is a small, slender nematode located a reduced volume of the caudal fossa (cavity in the back part of the
at the base of the villi in the anterior half of the small intestine of skull containing the brainstem and cerebellum) secondary to an
dogs. The thread-like filiform larvae penetrate the skin but also inappropriately small occipital bone (the bone that forms the back
may infect a host via ingestion. Transmammary transmission is and base of the skull, and through which the spinal cord passes.
possible. The parasitic worms are all female; they reach about 2 This malformation of the caudal fossa is known as a Chiari-like
mm in length in their adult stage in the small intestine of the host. malformation, a condition that appears similar to Chiari type I
The characteristic of the infection is a blood-streaked, mucoid malformation in humans. Other documented etiologies causing
diarrhea which is usually seen in young animals during hot humid syringomyelia in the dog include spinal trauma and neoplasia in
weather. Emaciation is often prominent, and reduced growth rate the region of the brainstem or foramen magnum. Signs include
may be one of the first sign.
ataxia, weakness, and neck pain. This is a congenital disease
Sudden acquired retinal degeneration (SARD): Is a disease most commonly found in small breeds, especially the Cavalier
in dogs causing sudden blindness. In dogs with SARDS, the King Charles Spaniel and Griffon Bruxellois. Other breeds
photoreceptors (rods and cones) and possibly the nerve fiber predisposed to syringomyelia include Staffordshire Bull Terriers,
layers within the retinas undergo degenerative changes. The end French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Havaneses, Affenpinschers,
result is complete blindness. The cause is unknown, but possibly Pomeranians, Miniature Pinschers, Pekingese, Pugs, Bichon
involves either autoimmune disease, a toxin, or Cushing’s disease. Frises, Miniature Poodles, Miniature Dachshunds, Lhasa apsos,
Symptoms include sudden permanent blindness, dilated pupils, Samoyeds, Shih Tzus, Papillons, Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers,
and loss of the pupillary light reflex. SARD is most common in and Maltese Terriers.
middle-aged to older dogs and approximately 60% of affected Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): Is an immune-mediated
dogs are females. Smaller dogs of less than 25 pounds appear

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