As with people, heart disease in dogs can either be congenital (from birth) or acquired during life.  Acquired heart disease, especially that which develops during middle age, is the most common.

There are two common types of heart disease in dogs.

In the first type, the dog’s heart valve can no longer close properly.  This causes abnormal blood flow.

In the second type, the muscular walls of the heart become thin and weak.

Each of these kinds of heart disease develop slowly over time.  They both result in heart failure which is an ongoing condition and a major threat to a dog’s health.  An estimated 3.2 million dogs in the United States have a form of acquired heart disease at any one time and may exhibit heart failure.  It’s important to know that when your dog has heart failure the heart is unable to pump blood sufficiently to meet the body’s needs.  The heart may work harder to pump the blood, but this can cause more heart damage.

The early signs of heart failure may produce no symptoms.  At this stage it has to be caught by a veterinarian.  As heart failure worsens the heart will enlarge, there may be coughing, lethargy and difficulty breathing.  If your dog has severe heart failure he will have trouble breathing even at rest, he may faint, he will have a great intolerance to exercise, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Heart failure can be detected during your dog’s regular check-up by his veterinarian. If your vet suspects heart disease he may need blood and urine tests, x-rays, an EKG or other tests to confirm the diagnosis.

There is no cure for heart disease but there are treatments.  The earlier the problem is detected the better your dog’s chances to avoid severe problems.  Keeping your dog on a good diet and making sure that he has regular moderate exercise are important.  Obesity can lead to heart disease.  If your dog has heart disease you should begin helping him to slowly lose weight.

Many dogs with heart disease live into old age.

Dogs do not develop plaque in the blood vesicles so they don’t get heart attacks.

Your veterinarian may treat your dog with a medication like those used for humans with similar conditions, such as diuretics like Lasix, ACE inhibitors like Enacard, Inodilators like Vetmedin, anti-arryhthmics such as propranolol.  Your dog may also be put on a low-sodium diet. Coenzyme-Q may also be suggested since it’s been helpful in people with some heart problems.  Omega-3 fatty acids, L-Carnitine and Taurine may also be suggested.

You and your veterinarian will work together to find what helps your dog and alleviates his symptoms.  Your dog’s behavior will always be one of the most important guides for you, in addition to check-ups with your veterinarian.  You may not be able to cure your dog’s heart disease but you can help him live a very long and happy life.

When chronic kidney disease occurs it is usually seen in older dogs.  Unfortunately, even with the most conscientious owners, as much as 75 percent of kidney function may have shut down before the symptoms are recognized.  Symptoms include: 

• increase in thirst
• increase in urination
• pale urine with little odor
• leaking urine
• vomiting
• weight loss
• anorexia
• lethargy
• muscle weakness
• elevated BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine
• elevated protein in the urine

Since chronic kidney disease is often found in older dogs, these symptoms are sometimes simply attributed to old age.  Owners may not be quick to seek out a veterinary opinion when their older dog begins to lose weight or becomes more lethargic.

Chronic kidney failure is a slow, progressive disease and often goes unnoticed.  The role of the kidneys in the body is to filter out and excrete toxins through the urine.  A healthy kidney takes the toxins and concentrates them into a small amount of liquid to be excreted.  When the kidneys are diseased they are not able to concentrate the urine.  The kidneys require more and more liquid to do their job.  This makes the dog drink more and more water, and urinate more and more often to get rid of the toxins in the body.  The kidneys are becoming less and less efficient.  The dog begins to lose weight, he may vomit, become constipated, suffer from low energy and fatigue and have a poor appetite.  He gets weaker and weaker.

If you suspect that your dog has chronic kidney disease your vet will need to perform a blood test and urinalysis.  Your vet may recommend IV fluids to correct any imbalances due to toxins in your dog’s body.  Kidney dialysis for dogs is available at several veterinary medical schools.  The University of California, Davis is performing kidney transplants but the transplants are usually rejected at this point in time.

Most vets will suggest a low-protein, low-phosphorus and low-sodium diet for your dog.  This kind of diet will help reduce the toxins that your dog’s kidneys have to eliminate.  It’s also very important to keep your dog well-hydrated.  Fresh water must be available at all times and you should encourage your dog to drink.

It’s also very important to reduce stress for any dog who has chronic kidney disease.

Although chronic kidney disease is a serious illness, when it is treated aggressively you and your vet can help your dog to live months or years after the diagnosis, depending on the stage at which the diagnosis was made.  Research continues and new medications are being tried on a continuing basis.

One skin condition that can affect every dog is the damage done by fleas and other parasites.  Fleas and ticks can drive a dog wild and cause him to scratch and destroy his skin.  He can even develop bacterial infections from the scratching or he may have flea bite dermatitis.

Mites are another pest that can harm your pet’s skin.  These are microscopic organisms that may require a microscope to be confirmed.  The two most common mites found on dogs cause demodex mange and sarcoptic mange which lead to intense itching, scratching and hair loss.  Demodex mange is also known as “red mange” because it makes your dog’s skin inflamed.  Sarcoptic mange can be transmitted to humans.

Allergies are a common skin problem with dogs.  One of the most common allergies is an allergies to fleas.  You can often identify this allergy because the dog has chewed the based of his tail raw, as well as the area over his hips.  Your vet may have to treat your dog with steroids and antihistamines to help him.

Your dog can be allergic to many other things as well, including shampoos, cleaning products, grass, pollen, and ingredients in his dog food.  Dog food allergies have become more widespread in the last few years as more dogs seem to be allergic to corn, wheat and other common grains.

Dogs can also suffer from skin problems such as abscesses, bacterial infections and calluses.  Abscesses may be found anywhere but are usually associated with a puncture, bite or other cause.  A bacterial infection can develop when your dog’s immune system is weakened — bacteria is typically present at all times.  It’s only when the immune system is unable to fight off bacteria that an infection will gain the upper hand.  Calluses will develop when a dog lies on his elbows or some other body part, especially if he’s lying on concrete.

Dogs can also develop “hot spots,” so named because they are small, inflamed areas that develop rapidly.  They usually occur on long coated dogs, often if the dog has been exposed to moisture, such as dew on the grass or after lots of rain.  They seem to occur without rhyme or reason.  You can treat them by shaving the hair around the small hot spot and applying a medicinal powder.  It’s important to keep the area dry.  Hot spots are notoriously hard to heal because dogs want to lick them, which only aggravates them and makes them worse.

Hypothyroidism is a frequent cause of skin problems in dogs.  This is a disorder of the thyroid gland, often genetic in origin.  With hypothyroidism the thyroid gland doesn’t secrete enough thyroxin for the body.  This affects the body’s metabolic rate, which controls healing, among other things.  Dogs gain weight, become lethargic, and they can lose hair.  Their skin pigment may darken or even become scaly.  Dogs often become prone to bacterial and yeast ear infections.  Onset is usually around two years old.  There can even be personality changes, with dogs becoming more aggressive.  If you suspect that your dog may have hypothyroidism your vet can do some bloodwork to find out.  If your dog is hypothyroid this is an easily treatable condition.  Your vet can prescribe a simple, inexpensive thyroid pill for your dog to take daily.  You can see an improvement in your dog’s condition in as little as two to three weeks.  His coat can grow back in just a few months.

These are just a few of the many skin conditions that veterinarians see on a regular basis.  If you notice something wrong with your dog’s skin you should take your dog to the vet to find out what’s wrong.  Chances are that your vet has seen the problem before and can help you and your dog.

Brushing your dog’s teeth isn’t difficult.  It’s basically the same procedure that you follow for taking care of your own teeth.  Manufacturers make toothbrushes designed to fit a dog’s mouth.  They are long with angled handles to help you reach a dog’s back teeth.  Or, you may choose to use a small rubber finger that fits down over your own finger.  This little rubber finger has a small rubber brush on one side.  In either case you simply put a little dog toothpaste on the brush on brush your dog’s teeth.

Speaking of dog toothpaste, make sure that you don’t use your own toothpaste for your dog.  Human toothpaste has artificial sweeteners in it that can be harmful to dogs.  Instead, use specially-formulated dog toothpaste.  This toothpaste comes in flavors that dogs like such as chicken, beef and peanut butter.  Believe it or not, most dogs don’t object to having their teeth brushed.  Just put a little on the brush and let your dog taste the paste.  He will probably like it a lot.  Then you can start applying it to his teeth and brushing.  He may lick at the brush but that’s okay.  Most of the paste and the brush will go on the teeth.  It only takes a little regular brushing each week to keep the teeth looking nice.

When you’re brushing your dog’s teeth try to brush to the gum line.  Many dogs already have gum disease by the time they’re 3 years old.

When you’re brushing your dog’s teeth you should also check his mouth for any unusual lumps or bumps, broken or cracked teeth, and red or bleeding gums.  Look for tartar and notice if your dog has bad breath.  Any of these things would be important to talk to your veterinarian about.

Dogs rarely get cavities but they do get plaque and tartar which can lead to periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease can result in tooth loss, abscesses and infections.

Regular visits to your vet will include an oral exam for your dog.  You can remove the regular build up of plaque at home when you brush your dog’s teeth.  But tartar build-up will require cleaning by your vet from time to time.

Hard kibbles have been shown to be somewhat better for the teeth than soft canned foods.

You can also help your dog remove plaque by providing him with toys such as Plaque Attacker dental toys, rope toys and rawhide chips.  Avoid toys that can wear down the teeth.  If your dog is a very active chewer or likes to bite down on his toys and crack them, you should probably take that toy away from him.  Instead, give him a toy that he can’t get his whole mouth around.  Rawhide and other chews that get softer as your dog chews on them may be a good option.

With good care there is no reason why your dog shouldn’t have his teeth in good condition into old age.  He may have some wear on some of his teeth but he can have pretty white teeth without any disease for his entire life.

Degenerative Myelopathy typically occurs in mature dogs.  It usually shows itself with rear leg weakness.  The weakness may be in both legs or one side may be affected more than the other.  DM features difficulty moving rather than the inability to control movement.  This is a progressive condition that starts in the rear legs and moves forward, finally reaching the brain stem.  There is usually no pain.  Bladder and bowel function usually remain intact.  The dog may drag his feet.  DM is a genetic disease.

Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD) is a degenerative disease which may have a genetic-related predisposition to premature degeneration of the spinal elements which can lead to damage and injury.  The spinal disk becomes less flexible and sooner or later breaks down.  This compresses and inflames the spinal cord and its membranes and nerve roots.

Wobblers Syndrome can occur in multiple forms but all of them feature a misalignment of the cervical vertebrae (the neck vertebrae).  The symptoms include an unsteady or wobbly gait.  The two typical clinical forms of Wobblers are found in middle-aged to elderly dogs and in very young dogs.  Dobermans are inclined to get the form for older dogs; Great Danes are likely to get the form for juveniles.

Lumbosacral Disease describes disk problems with the lumbosacral space along the spine.  It can include misalignment or disk degeneration.

Spondylosis Deformans usually occurs in middle-aged or elderly dogs.  It is usually an age-related degenerative condition that features vertebral instability and damage.  It may be painful and cause problems in mobility.

Neoplasia refers to tumors that can develop anywhere along the spine.  Depending on their size and position the tumors can have different affects on a dog.  Some of them can be very serious.  Osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, chondrosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma are the most common.

If your dog has trouble walking, exhibits pain when he walks, when shifting position, trying to rise or lie down, or seems to have limited mobility, it’s a good idea to see your veterinarian.  He may be able to diagnose a spinal problem before it becomes worse.  Many therapies can help your dog and there are some holistic treatments that have proven successful.  Acupuncture is said to help some dogs while joint supplements have helped other dogs.  Some people have tried Chinese herbs with success.  Even using an holistic diet has been beneficial to some owners and their dogs.  Surgery is not the solution in every case.  Even reducing your dog’s weight can help in many cases.

Arthritis is a general term for abnormal changes in a joint.  It can occur in many joints in the body and can happen from joint tissue destruction following infection, stress, trauma, from conformation, or from other reasons for degeneration.  Usually the cartilage and tissue surround a joint wear away and the bony layers beneath begin to rub against each other, causing pain.  It usually occurs in the later years, but it can happen at surprisingly young ages.  Many different animals can suffer from arthritis.

There are a number of signs that your dog could be suffering from arthritis.  Your dog could show some of the following symptoms 

• Changes in attitude or behavior
• Decreased activity or less interest in play
• Being less alert
• Weight gain
• Reluctant to jump, run or to climb stairs
• Stiff or sore joints
• Difficulty sitting or standing
• Sleeping more
• Favoring a limb or limping

These signs, of course, may also be indicative of other problems, but they can indicate that your dog has arthritis.  If you see these signs in your dog for more than a few days then you should see your veterinarian for an evaluation.  He or she will give your dog a physical exam and possibly x-ray the affected area.  Once you have a diagnosis you and your vet can devise a treatment plan.  There are a number of possible therapies: 

1.  Make sure that your dog has a healthy diet and exercise.  It’s important that your dog should not be overweight if he has arthritis as excess weight can exacerbate the problem.  Gradually increasing your dog’s exercise will help him improve his joint mobility.

2.  You and your vet will work together to find a drug treatment for your dog’s arthritis if it’s appropriate.  Not all arthritis is bad enough to require drug treatment.

3.  Some dogs will take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).  These are the most common pharmaceutical treatments for arthritis in dogs.  They do have certain risks so you will need to discuss them with your vet.

4.  Your dog may benefit from over-the-counter medication, such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate or Omega fatty acids.  These have been shown to help relieve the symptoms of arthritis in some dogs.

5.  One of the most effective approaches is to treat a dog using both drug treatment and over-the-counter medication.

If your dog is diagnosed with arthritis you shouldn’t despair.  Many dogs in the United States have some degree of arthritis and they continue to lead happy lives.  In fact, with a good diet and exercise and appropriate treatment, there is no reason why they can’t live out their normal lifespan totally pain-free.

Obesity in dogs can lead to numerous health problems which can shorten your dog’s life: 

• Heart disease
• Respiratory problems
• Heat and exercise intolerance
• Skin, hair and coat problems
• Immune system problems
• Arthritis
• Increased surgical and anesthetic risks
• Possible disk ruptures

With so many serious health consequences, why do we allow our dogs to be overweight?  What are the causes?

The primary cause of obesity in dogs is overfeeding.  Many of us are, quite simply, loving our dogs to death.  People are expressing their love for their dogs by feeding them more and more food without realizing that feeding them too much food is harmful.  For many people, when they see an overweight dog they think it’s a well-loved dog.  When they see a fit, lean dog they think, somehow, that the dog is loved less.  This is categorically untrue.  It takes just as much love to take the food bowl away from a dog as it does to pour in more food.

Many people are also switching foods to very high quality foods without realizing that there is a drastic change in the amount of calories in the food.  They may have been feeding two cups of their previous food and they assume it will take two cups of the new food.  The truth is that the new food may be twice as calorie-dense.  Suddenly the dog is eating twice the calories that he was previously eating.  Weight gain is inevitable.

In many cases dogs gain weight because owners follow the feeding directions on the label.  Feeding directions are only a guideline but many people follow them religiously.  Their dog may start to balloon out but they stick to the directions.  Instead, they should cut back on the dog’s food when they notice that he is gaining weight.

Dogs also gain weight because owners frequently supplement their dog’s food with table food and treats.  There’s nothing wrong with adding human food to your dog’s diet.  You can add up to 30 percent homemade food to your dog’s diet without disturbing the nutritional balance of the commercial food.  However, when you add things to the food you must make allowances for the calories you’re adding.  Otherwise your dog will gain weight.  The same is true of the treats you give your dog.  Giving your dog treats and cookies is great but you should add up the calories.  Treats and cookies are not calorie-free.  Often they’re quite rich in calories.  If you want to give your dog treats that won’t affect his weight too much you should give him things like popcorn and carrot pieces.

Finally, dogs also gain weight because they don’t get enough exercise.  Some people assume that if they have a backyard their dog will self-exercise.  No.  Most dogs will trot out and trot back to the house.  Dogs need real exercise.  The best way to make sure your overweight dog is getting proper exercise is to join with him.  Go for some walks with him, go hiking, take up jogging.  Do whatever the two of you might enjoy doing together, but do something, even if it’s only light exercise three times a week.  If you do the exercise regularly you can help your dog lose a little weight.

Dogs don’t have to be obese and it’s rarely their fault when they are.  It’s up to you, as their owner, to keep them healthy and fit.  Watch their portions, count their calories and make sure they’re getting some real exercise.  It’s not much different than weight control for people.

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