Dog Prostate Cancer

All intact (not neutered or not castrated) male dogs are more prone to prostate problems as a result of the effects of testosterone (male hormone) on this gland over time. The testosterone most commonly leads to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) in older male dogs. Dog BPH Symptoms

This condition results in an enlargement of the gland that as the name suggests…

Dog Obesity

Obesity affects dogs and other pets adversely in many ways. Overweight dogs tend to play and exercise less and don’t live as long as healthy pets. In fact, the list of harmful effects of obesity on pets is a long one.

Overweight dogs have a lower resistance to infection and tend to be less able to fight infectious…

Dog Meningitis

Dog Steroid Responsive Meningitis is a condition that primarily involves a dog’s central nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis means inflammation of the meninges, or otherwise the covering layer of the central nervous system. The condition is referred to as SRMA, or steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis because it affects the arteries in…

Dog Liver Disease

Dog liver disease encompasses a wide spectrum of conditions. A dog’s liver may malfunction for example because a cancer has invaded. Other times, an abscess may have formed or infection may have moved into the tissues or the bile duct system. Cirrhosis of the liver is an end-stage condition where scar tissue replaces normal functioning liver cells….

Dog Lupus Disease

The full name for Lupus is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or SLE for short. This disease affects a number of species including dogs, cats and humans. It is classed as an autoimmune disorder, which means that the body has identified a part of itself as foreign, and attacks that part as if it was an invader. This results…

Dog Joint Pains

The term arthritis, or osteoarthritis, is used to refer to a disease that affects the cartilage of joints of both dogs and humans. It is the most common joint disorder diagnosed in dogs. The term degenerative joint disease (DJD) is gradually replacing the term osteoarthritis in everyday usage. Dog Arthritis: Progressive Symptoms

The earliest signs of arthritis may be…

Dog Heart Worm

Heartworm is a disease caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis, which lives in the right side of the heart and the adjacent blood vessels. Its presence in these blood vessels causes cardiovascular weakness, compromised lung incapacity, and eventual death. Heartworm occurs primarily in dogs but can also occur in cats and other animals on rare occasions. Heartworm Causes

Heartworm is…

Dog Heart Murmurs

A heart murmur indicates abnormal blood flow within the heart, which is usually due to a change in the function of the heart valves. However, a heart murmur may also be caused by abnormal communications between the right and left sides of the heart. These problems may be congenital (i.e., present from birth) or acquired (i.e., associated…

Dog Growing Aches and Pains

Panosteitis is an inflammatory disease of the bones of young dogs. It causes a sudden onset of lameness, resulting in recurrent limping. It occurs in many breeds of dogs, but German shepherds, especially males, seem more prone to developing it. Dogs between five to twelve months of age are most often…

Dog Heat Stroke

Heat stroke occurs when a dog’s internal body temperature rises to levels high enough to lead to death. For heat stroke to occur, a combination of factors must come into play: a confined space, poor ventilation, and high ambient temperatures, such as that produced in direct sunlight. Approximately 70 per cent of total body heat…

Dog Food Allergies

Food allergies in dogs are thought to account for approximately five per cent of all skin cases and 15 per cent of allergic skin diseases seen in clinical practice. The most common allergens are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, eggs, corn and soy. However, dogs can be allergic to foods other than these and to more than…