Cataracts in dogs is one of the most common problems that affect canines. This condition occurs in a variety of forms which ultimately leads to the formation of the cataract. Several breeds and ages of dogs can be affected but it is known to show up more often in some breeds than others. This article will ease you through the things you need to know about dog cataracts. Before we understand how to address the symptoms of dog cataracts, it would be best to understand first how it all happens. Basically, a cataract is a disruption in the arrangement of the fibres that comprise the eyes lens. When this disruption occurs it causes a reduction in vision and loss of the transparency. It is because of this fact that your dog’s eyes look cloudy. Even though there are several forms of dog cataract, they actually all form in a similar [...] Read more »
Bloat in Dogs
Bloat in dogs is a life threatening condition, that requires immediately treatment by a veterinarian. Knowing it’s risk factors and symptoms is important for every dog owner, but especially for those of large, deep chested breeds as these are over proportionally affected by it. Before going into more details about gastric torsion in dogs symptoms and bloat in dogs treatment, here a short explanation of what dog bloat actually is. The term ‘bloat’ refers to the bloating of the canine stomach due to gases that can’t escape. There are several mechanisms, or combinations of them, that work together to cause the clinical symptoms. One is a dysfunction of the sphincter between the oesophagus and stomach, the circular muscle that regulates the flow between stomach and intestine. Another is the torsion of the stomach around its’ own axis that shuts off, at least partially, both, the stomach entrance, as well as [...] Read more »
Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Introduction Hip Dysplasia in Dogs (HD), in laymen terms ‘loose hips’, means a disproportion or damage in a hip joint, that prohibits both parts of the joint to be connected securely. Affected from this defect are mostly larger dog breeds such as German Shepherd dogs and Retrievers, but also smaller dog breeds can be occasionally affected. Dysplasia is caused by polygenetic and environmental factors and the effect of these on each dog can vary greatly. HD is a malformation of the hip socket and / or the ball head of the large leg bone (femur) and can lead to arthritis and lameness if not treated. It is in fact the one main cause of arthritis in dogs. Symptoms include lameness, a ‘bunny hop’ like gait, reluctance to exercise or to climb stairs, stiffness after rest and general signs of discomfort and pain. As the malformed joint doesn’t fit together very [...] Read more »
Elbow Dysplasia in Dogs
Introduction Elbow dysplasia (ED) in dogs differs in several points from hip dysplasia, both in causes, as well as in treatment. Things HD and ED have in common are that they both affect mostly large breeds, such as Golden Retrievers and German Shepherd dogs, that they both have a genetic component as well as an environmental component, but the genetic influence on elbow dysplasia is stronger. It is a group of conditions that either combined, or alone, leads to a typical front leg lameness and, when untreated to severe arthritis and other health problems. What happens is that part of the cartilage, that builds up the smooth surface of every joint, comes loose and acts like a foreign body in the joint itself or deforms the joint surface, causing inflammation, pain and lameness. The vet will determine which part of the joint is exactly affected, but for the average dog [...] Read more »
Obesity in Dogs
Introduction No, it is not puppy fat, your dog is six years old! No, it is not its thick winter coat, it is fat! No, your dog is not just ‘well fed’, it is seriously overweight, i.e. obese, and will have a shorter life expectancy than other dogs that do have a normal weight. Veterinarians countrywide have to fight with similar arguments by dog owners, that don’t want to recognize that their dog is overweight. Obesity in dogs can lead to, and aggravate, a variety of illnesses of joints, bones, heart and the metabolism. Obese dogs are more likely to suffer from diabetes and arthritis amongst others. And they do have a significantly shorter life expectancy, several years shorter to be exact. Diagnosis Normally the diagnosis will be pronounced by the vet during a routine or vaccination visit. While most cases of obesity in dogs are caused by an imbalance [...] Read more »
