Page 7 - Canine-Diseases

the duration of the condition. Symptoms include neck pain and ostium secundum (98.7%) with 73.7% of affected animals being
a drunken and staggering gait. Pain can be severe and varying asymptomatic. Most are not clinically significant, but large defects
degrees of incoordination and weakness or paralysis from the neck may cause heart failure, cyanosis, and exercise intolerance. The
down. With complete paralysis of all four limbs, paralysis of the clinical signs of congenital heart disease occur in animals younger
diaphragm also occurs, and the animal is unable to breathe and than three-year-old and they are rarely seen in aged dogs. Boxers,
death. Some dogs may demonstrate intermittent collapse. Doberman pinchers, Old English Sheepdogs, and Samoyeds are
the most predisposed breeds.
Atopic dermatitis: A genetically predisposed inflammatory and
pruritic allergic skin disease with characteristic clinical features Atrophy: A decrease in size of a body part, cell, organ, or other
associated with IgE antibodies most commonly directed against tissue, as from defective nutrition, nerve damage or disuse. Muscle
allergens such as animal dander, airborne pollen (grasses, weeds, atrophy in dogs is sometimes noticed with some parts of the dog’s
tress, etc.) mold spores, house dust mites, and other environmental body such as the hips, hind legs, neck or face becoming “thinner”
allergens. The most common symptoms of canine atopic dermatitis or weaker than usual. This thinning is due to a loss of muscle mass
include itching, excessive scratching, rubbing on the carpet, hair known as muscle atrophy. Also called muscle wasting, muscle
loss, greasy or flaky skin with a foul odor, excessive chewing on the atrophy is usually a sign of an underlying problem. The three
paws and areas such as the groin and armpits. Over time, the skin main causes of muscle atrophy include aging, disease, and disuse.
that is scratched can develop hot spots (raw, inflamed areas) that Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), is a group of degenerative
may become infected. The most commonly affected areas in dogs diseases that affect photoreceptor cells (rod and cone cells). With
include the ears, wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, groin, around this disease, these cells deteriorate over time, eventually leading to
the eyes, and in between toes. Breeds predisposed to development blindness in the affected dog. There are two forms of the disease:
of atopic dermatitis include Chinese Shar-Peis, Wirehaired Fox generalized progressive retinal atrophy (GPRA) and central
Terriers, Golden Retrievers, Dalmatians, Boxers, Boston Terriers, progressive retinal atrophy (CPRA); the latter is the less common
Labrador Retrievers, Lhasa Apsos, Scottish Terriers, Shih-Tzus, form. For early-onset GPRA, the Alaskan Malamutes, Belgian
and West Highland White Terriers. The age of onset is generally Shepherds, Briards, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Collies, Irish Setters,
between 6 mo. and 3 yr. Mastiffs and Miniature Schnauzers are predisposed. For the later-
onset form of GPRA, Akitas, American and English Cocker
Atopic-like dermatitis: An inflammatory and pruritic skin disease Spaniels, Dachshunds, Labrador Retrievers, Papillons, Poodles
where signs are identical to those of canine atopic dermatitis but an (Miniature and Toy), Portuguese Water Dogs, Samoyeds, Siberian
IgE response to allergens cannot be confirmed. Huskies, Tibetan Spaniels and Tibetan Terriers are among affected
breeds. In the case of rare CPRA, the following breeds are often
Atopy: Is an allergy to a substance with which the dog is not affected: Border Collies, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers,
necessarily in direct contact. It is a type I hypersensitivity to a and Shetland Sheepdogs. Interestingly, European lines of these
substance that is inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Up to 10 breeds are reportedly more affected than others.
percent of dogs are affected. It is common in dogs, especially seen
in breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Attrition: Is the gradual and regular loss of tooth substance
Shih-Tzus. The most common symptom is itching. Affected areas resulting from normal mastication. Excessive wear caused
include the underside, the face, the feet, and the ears. by malocclusion resulting in tooth-to-tooth contact is called
pathologic attrition. This is particularly common in the incisors of
Atrial fibrillation (AF): Describes very rapid contractions or older dogs. Teeth with attrition appear shortened in height. Skin
twitching of the heart muscle, specifically in the atria. In AF allergies and resultant chewing may cause attrition of the incisors.
the normally coordinated electrical activity in the upper heart In contrast, dental abrasion is the mechanical wear of teeth caused
chambers, the right atrium and left atrium, is lost. The muscle by mechanical wear other than by normal mastication or tooth-to-
of these chambers begins to wiggle like a “bag full of worms.” tooth contact such as wear caused by chewing rocks, cage bars, or
Electrocardiographically, AF is characterized by disorganized wire, tennis ball, and Frisbee.
atrial electrical activity resulting in an absence of P waves and a
rapid, irregular ventricular rate. It typically develops when atrial Aujeszky’s disease: Also referred as pseudorabies is a highly
enlargement occurs secondary to underlying cardiovascular fatal viral disease caused by a herpes virus suis (SuHV-1), which
disease, such as dilated cardiomyopathy. AF is the most commonly is also known informally as Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV) or
diagnosed supraventricular tachyarrhythmia in dogs. pseudorabies virus. Aujeszky’s disease is usually associated with
contact with swine (pigs) but can also be acquired by ingesting
Atrial septal defect (ASD): Is an uncommon cardiac malformation infected rats or eating contaminated, uncooked pork. Animals
in dogs. ASD is characterized by communication between the two known to maintain this virus include domesticated pigs (Sus
atria due to a defect in the interatrial septum. Three types of ASD scrofa), wild boar and feral pigs, which may be either domesticated
have been defined, according to the location of the defect within pigs or crosses between these animals and wild boar. On oral or
the interatrial septum: primum ASD is located in the most apical oronasal infection, the virus is spread by way of the cranial nerves
portion of the atrial septum; secundum ASD involves the region to the central nervous system. The incubation period is short: from
of the fossa ovalis, and the sinus venosus ASD is located in the one to six days. Signs of the disease include sudden change in
upper portion of the septum. The most frequent type of ASD is the behavior, excessive salivation, difficult or rapid breathing, fever,

7 Alphavetscience.com