Page 8 - Canine-Diseases

vomiting, depression, lethargy, ataxia, convulsions, reluctance to lack of appetite, shallow and rapid breathing, faster than normal
move, intense pruritus, self-mutilation, coma, and sudden death. pulse, weight loss, black/tarry stools and eating dirt. In addition,
Mortality in dogs and cats is a hundred per cent. Prevention is excessive levels of bilirubin (a breakdown product of red blood
possible by avoiding exposure to pigs or fresh pig products. cell hemolysis) cause the skin, gums and other mucous membranes
to appear yellow or jaundiced. AIHA can occur in dogs of all
Aural haematoma: Bleeding of blood vessels within the pinna breeds, both sexes, and at any age. But studies suggest it is more
(or ear flap) resulting in a localised pocket of blood forming in the prevalent in middle-aged spayed female dogs. This disease is also
subcutis. The degree of swelling may range from a small area to the called immune-mediated hemolytic anemia or IMHA.
entire surface of the pinna. This problem is most often associated
with underlying ear disease, like excessive head shaking that can
rupture blood vessels, leading to an ear hematoma. Some of the B
causative factors include grass seed or other foreign body lodged
within the ear canal, ear infection, allergies resulting in an itchy Babesiosis: Refers to a tick-borne infection caused by various
ear, scratching and shaking head, fly bites to the tips of the ears, species of the protozoan genus Babesia (family Ixodidae), or hard
and immune mediated disease. ticks. Some of the species of the genus Babesia that affect dogs

Autoimmune disease: Autoimmunity is the system of immune are B. canis, B. rossi, B. vogeli, B. gibsoni, B. conradae and B.
responses of an organism against its own healthy cells and microti-like sp. The most common mode of transmission is by
tissues. Any disease that results from such an aberrant immune tick bite, as the Babesia parasite uses the tick as a reservoir to
response is termed an “autoimmune disease”. There are many reach host mammals. Evidence indicates that some direct animal-
types of autoimmune diseases in dogs including systemic lupus to-animal transmission may occur, such as when an infected dog
erythematosus (SLE), discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), with oral lesions or abrasions bites another dog. This is particularly
pemphigus complex (pemphigus vulgaris [PV], pemphigus true for Babesia gibsoni, which primarily affects pit bull terriers.
foliaceus [PF], pemphigus erythematosus [PE], panepidermal In addition, infection may occur by blood transfusions, or
pustular pemphigus [PPP], and paraneoplastic pemphigus [PNP]), transplacental transmission. Babesiosis can cause hemolytic
bullous pemphigoid, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome, anemia in dogs. Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors, especially
autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), Addison’s disease, in wooded areas, are at an increased risk for tick bites and for
diabetes, autoimmune thyroiditis, uveitis, immune-mediated contracting this parasite. This is especially true in the summer
thrombocytopenia (ITP), inflammatory bowel disease, and months, from May through September, when tick populations
immune-mediated polyarthritis. General symptoms of canine are highest. Symptoms include lethargy, anorexia, pale mucous
autoimmune disease include muscle weakness, kidney failure, membranes, weakness, bounding pulse, jaundice, pigmenturia, mild
abdominal pain, anemia, swollen lymph nodes, dandruff, internal to severe thrombocytopenia, mild to severe regenerative anaemia
bleeding, fever, and weight loss. Certain breeds are predisposed to due to hemolysis, bilirubinemia, bilirubinuria, haemoglobinuria,
certain types of disease. For example, Chow Chows, Dachshunds, fever, enlarged abdomen, yellow or orange skin, weight loss, and
Akitas, and Doberman Pinschers are more likely to develop the discolored stool. Canine babesiosis was formerly called canine
skin disease pemphigus. Whereas, Huskies, Collies, and German piroplasmosis. A breed predisposition has been suggested in
Shepherds are more susceptible to lupus. Hungary, citing the vulnerability of the German Shepherds and
Komondor breeds to developing babesiosis due to B. canis.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA): Is an immune
system disease in which the body attacks and destroys its own
red blood cells. In dogs with AIHA, red blood cells are still Back pain: In dogs, particularly in long-backed breeds, such as
being manufactured in the bone marrow, but once released into Basset Hounds and Dachshunds, is usually caused by intervertebral
the circulation, they have a shorter-than-normal life span. There disk disease. It is caused by degeneration and protrusion of the disk
are two forms of AIHA: primary (or idiopathic), and secondary and compression of the spinal cord. It occurs most commonly in
AIHA. With primary AIHA, the dog’s dysfunctional immune the cervical and thoracolumbar regions. Signs include back pain,
system incorrectly makes antibodies that target its own red blood hind limb weakness, and paralysis.
cells. It is estimated that about three-quarters of cases of AIHA
are primary. With secondary AIHA, the surface of the red blood Bacterial folliculitis: A bacterial infection of the hair follicle.
cells becomes altered by an underlying disease process or a toxin. The bacteria that infects the hair follicles of pets who suffer this
The dog’s immune system then recognizes the altered red blood condition typically resides on the surface of normal dog skin.
cells as ‘foreign’ invaders and are destroyed within the blood As such, bacterial folliculitis tends to occur when a healthy hair
vessels by a process called intravascular hemolysis or destroyed follicle is compromised, either by an underlying systemic disease,
when they circulate through the liver or spleen by a process called local trauma, or a specific disorder of the skin. Systemic diseases
extravascular hemolysis. Secondary AIHA may be triggered by that can lead to bacterial folliculitis include endocrine disorders
cancer, infection, blood parasites such as Babesia, drug reactions, (such as hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease in dogs) and
snake bites, chemicals, toxins, or bee stings. In dogs, neoplasia or disorders of the immune system. Skin disorders causing bacterial
cancer appears to be the most common cause of secondary AIHA. folliculitis in dogs include: canine acne, acral lick granuloma, skin
Signs of AIHA include pale gums due to severe anemia, vomiting, fold pyoderma, interdigital pododermatitis (interdigital cysts),

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