Page 73 - Canine-Diseases
P. 73
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp. Signs include severely pruritic. These wheals can appear anywhere on the body,
blood in the urine (hematuria), difficulty urinating (dysuria), including the back, flanks, neck, eyelids, and legs. In advanced
frequent urination (polyuria), cloudy urine, whimpering during cases, they may be found on the mucous membranes of the mouth,
urination, dribbling urine, accidents in the house, licking around nose, lining of the eyes, rectum, and vagina. The individual wheals
urinary opening, and fever. Breeds such as Shih Tzus, Bichon can vary in size from about 5 mm (1/4 inch) to several centimeters
Frise, and Yorkshire Terriers are predisposed to urinary tract in diameter, and if there are a large number of them, they can
stones. coalesce or merge together. The most frequent causes are insect
bites or stings, shampoos, and medications. Other causes include
Urolithiasis: Refers to the formation of crystals in the urinary contact with toxic plants or chemicals. Friction, sunlight, heat,
tract due to oversaturation of the urine with certain minerals exercise, stress, and genetic abnormalities may cause or intensify
and these crystals may aggregate and grow to macroscopic size, the rash. Urticaria may develop after inhaling or consuming
at which time they are known as uroliths (calculi or stones). allergens. Urticaria can be seen while a dog is in estrus or seen
Urolithiasis is a general term referring to stones located anywhere in puppies with intestinal parasites. Urticaria often develop and
within the urinary tract. Uroliths can develop in the kidney, ureter, disappear suddenly.
bladder, or urethra and are referred to as nephroliths, ureteroliths,
urocystoliths, and urethroliths, respectively. Urolithiasis causes Uterine cancer: Uterine tumors in dogs are usually benign and
irritation, infection, pain, and/or obstruction anywhere along the non-cancerous. Uterine tumors consist of 0.3 to 0.4 % of all canine
urinary tract (from the kidneys to the tip of the urethra). Many tumors. Leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas are most common
Dalmatians cannot metabolize uric acid in their livers properly, accounting for approximately 90% and 10% respectively. These
leading to an excess of uric acid in the urine. Because uric acid is tumors arise from the uterine smooth muscle and epithelial
not very water soluble, it can form urate crystals, which may then tissues. They mostly affect middle aged to older animals. Canine
coalesce into stones. leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas hardly present any clinical
signs. In case of both benign and malignant tumors, vaginal
Uroliths (Bladder stones): Are common in dogs. Uroliths discharge and pyometra are inevitable. Other reported clinical
generally contain an organic matrix that is believed to vary signs may include abdominal distension, anorexia, constipation,
minimally among uroliths and that constitutes ~2-10% of the vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, polydipsia (frequent thirst) and
stone’s chemical composition. The remaining 90-98% of the polyuria (urge to urinate frequently).
urolith is composed of minerals that vary depending on the type of
urolith. In all animal species uroliths are composed of ~10 different Uveitis: Is an ocular disease frequently encountered in dogs. Uveitis
minerals. Types of stones include struvite, calcium oxalate, urate, is defined as inflammation of the uveal tract-the iris, ciliary body,
cystine, calcium phosphate, and silicate. Struvite and calcium and choroid. Anterior uveitis or iridocyclitis is most common in
oxalate stones are by far the most common. dogs and is localized primarily to the anterior segment of the eye,
includes iritis (inflammation in the anterior chamber alone) and
Uroliths (Cystine): Also referred to as calculi, are stones within iridocyclitis (inflammation in the anterior chamber and anterior
the urinary tract composed of the amino acid cystine, a breakdown vitreous). Other types of uveitis include intermediate uveitis:
product of proteins. Cystine urolithiasis is most common in male localized to the vitreous cavity and/or pars plana; posterior uveitis:
dogs with an average age of onset of three to five years. Breeds any form of retinitis, choroiditis, or inflammation of the optic disk;
that can be affected include English Bulldogs, Dachshunds, and and panuveitis: inflammation involving anterior, intermediate, and
Newfoundlands. posterior structures. About half of cases are idiopathic; identifiable
causes include trauma, infection, and systemic diseases, many
Uroliths (Struvite): Also referred to as calculi, are stones of which are autoimmune. Signs of uveitis in dogs include
within the urinary tract composed of the mineral struvite or acute photophobia, pain, blepharospasm, a congested and red
magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate. They account for conjunctiva, corneal edema, reduced intraocular pressure, miosis,
approximately 50 percent of the stones that affect dogs. aqueous flare (increased levels of proteins and inflammatory cells
in the aqueous humor) to frank hypopyon, and/or hyphema.
Uroliths (Urate): Also referred to as calculi, are stones within
the urinary tract composed of ammonium urate. Dalmatians
and English bulldogs are at highest risk due to inborn metabolic V
abnormalities. Dalmatian is the most commonly affect breed, but
the English Bulldogs may also be predisposed.
Uroliths (Xanthine): Also referred to as calculi, are stones within Vaccine reactions: It is common for pets to experience some or
the urinary tract that occur when the metabolic breakdown of all of the following mild side effects which include mild fever,
xanthine to urate is inhibited by medication (allopurinol) used to sluggishness, anorexia, swelling, hives, vomiting, diarrhea,
treat pets with urate urolithiasis. Commonly seen in Cavalier King sneezing, cough, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the muzzle
Charles Spaniels. and around the face, neck, or eyes, swollen lymph nodes, and pain
or swelling around the injection site. Hypersensitivity reactions
Urticaria: Also called ‘hives’, is a vascular reaction of the skin can range from mild to anaphylactic shock. Transient or chronic
usually marked by transient appearance of wheals and often
73 Alphavetscience.com