Latest Health Issues Articles

canine cushings disease

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:01:57 -0400

Cushing's Disease is a common condition in older dogs which can be mistaken for the onset of old age. A well housetrained dog can have “little accidents” and urinate in the house as well as show signs of hair loss. There are however other causes with these symptoms which are also not attributed to old age so it is important the diagnosis is correct.

Classic symptoms of Cushing’s Disease are frequent urination, hair loss and weight gain, which are similar to those of Canine Diabetes with the exception of weight loss rather than gain.

The treatments for both diseases however are very different.
Canine Diabetes is beyond the scope of this article so for more information on Dog Diabetes Symptoms visit www.DogDiabetesSite.com.

In order to understand Cushing's disease is necessary to have a basic knowledge of what should happen in a healthy dog. The pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain, produces ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone), as directed by the hypothalamus (another part of the brain). This hormone is released into the bloodstream and stimulates the body's two adrenal glands, located near the kidneys, to secrete glucocorticoid (cortisone-like or cortisol) hormones into the bloodstream. Cortisol helps the body respond to stress and impacts a wide variety of bodily functions.

These include blood sugar levels, kidney function, fat metabolism, skeletal muscles, nervous system, cardiovascular system, and immune response.

ACTH/cortisol secretion is increased due to stress, including infection, pain, surgery, trauma and cold temperatures. When the blood cortisol levels are high enough, the pituitary stops secreting ACTH. When the blood cortisol levels dip low enough, the pituitary secretes more ACTH. The adrenals respond by secreting glucocorticoid hormones in response to the pituitary, just as the pituitary responds by secreting ACTH in response to the adrenals. The net effect is that a mildly fluctuating balance is achieved. This is an oversimplified picture of cortisol homeostasis in the healthy dog.

In Cushing's Disease: The response loop fails to function correctly for one of three reasons:

a pituitary tumor
an adrenal tumor
or veterinary interference.

The result is a chronic excess of blood cortisol. In effect, the dog is being poisoned with too much cortisol and cannot rely on its own regulation to correct the blood cortisol level.

Pituitary Dependant Hyperadrenocorticism: The most common cause of Cushing's disease is a microscopic benign pituitary tumor which over secretes ACTH and ignores the adrenals' response.
The dog's pituitary continues secreting ACTH causing the adrenals to produce cortisol, yet the pituitary does not respond to the elevated blood cortisol levels by stopping its release of ACTH.

Most cases of Cushing's disease are pituitary dependent and dogs with pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism tend to have two very large adrenal glands; Both are constantly working to keep up production of cortisol.

These pituitary tumors are usually quite small (3mm or less) but occasionally they can be larger and their size presents challenges of their own. Larger pituitary tumors over 10mm centimeter in diameter can place pressure on brain tissue and nerves, causing blindness, circling, seizures, or other neurological problems not directly related to hyperadrenocorticism. Some of these symptoms can resemble side-effects of medications used to treat Cushing's disease, further complicating diagnosis and treatment.

Adrenal-based Hyperadrenocorticism: An adrenal tumor is responsible for secreting too much cortisol.

These can be benign (adenomas) or malignant (adenocarcinomas) and are inclined to spread to the lungs and liver. The tumor keeps secreting too much cortisol irrespective of what the brain is telling it and about 15% of Cushing's cases are adrenal-based. In these dogs, one adrenal gland tends to be extremely enlarged (due to the tumor and the overproduction of cortisol that goes with it), and the other tends to be extremely small (to try to compensate for the overactive larger one).

Iatrogenic Hyperadrenocorticism: This is a cause which we can create ourselves if we give a dog too much external glucocorticoid, especially for chronic conditions like allergies.

In doing so we do what the adrenal tumor would do by flooding the dog's body with an excess of corticosteroid. Although both the adrenals and pituitary will attempt to respond to our interference by cutting ACTH and cortisol secretion, if we continue to bombard the dog's body with too much glucocorticoid, symptoms of Cushing's disease will result.

The reason dogs are given irregular doses of steroids like prednisone is to avoid this consequence. Dogs with this form of Cushing's tend to have two very small, atrophied adrenal glands. Nonetheless, if iatrogenic (veterinary-induced) hyperadrenocorticism develops, it is fully reversible. The external source of steroid is slowly withdrawn to allow the adrenals to "wake up" and resume functioning.

Causes: Given that tumor incidence increases with age and those tumors are the cause of Cushing's disease, it is generally a problem seen most frequently in dogs aged 8 to 10 years and can affect males or females alike.

Spayed or neutered dogs can sometimes have a slightly greater incidence of Cushing's Disease.

Although all breeds are at risk, Pituitary-dependent Cushing's is more common in small dogs, with 75% of cases being in dogs weighing less than 44 pounds (20 Kg). Adrenal-based Cushing's cases on the other hand occur 45-50% of the time in dogs weighing more than 44 pounds (20 Kg).

Symptoms: Symptoms of Cushing's disease can be vague and varied and tend to appear gradually and progressively so it is all too easy to mistake Cushing's disease for normal aging. Additionally, many of the clinical symptoms are not unique to Cushing's and could reflect a number of other health concerns.

The most common symptoms include:

Increased urination (polyuria)
Increased water consumption (polydipsia)
Urinary accidents in previously housetrained dogs
Increased appetite (polyphagia)
Sagging, bloated or pot-bellied appearance
Appearance of weight gain due to fat redistribution
Exercise intolerance or general lethargy

It is generally the increased water intake and urination or the coat changes which are most noticeable although other indirect symptoms to consider are the disappearance of previous inflammatory conditions. Dogs with chronic allergies or arthritis may appear considerably better when they develop Cushing's Disease, due to the heavy doses of cortisone they are giving themselves.

Diagnosis: A urinalysis may reflect high levels of protein and low specific gravity (dilute urine). X-rays or ultrasound may show an enlarged liver or either enlarged or atrophied adrenals with half of adrenal tumors appearing mineralized. A CT scan could also be used to search for a pituitary tumor but specific lab tests are more common to pinpoint a diagnosis.

These tests include a urine cortisol and creatinine ratio test, an ACTH stimulation test, and low and high dose dexamethasone suppression tests.

NOTE: There is no single test to diagnose Cushing's, and Cushing's Disease is often difficult to accurately diagnose.

Treatment: Treatment depends on the type of Cushing's disease, as well as on the overall health of the canine patient.

Many dogs with Cushing's are elderly and may have other health problems; treatment can be complicated with no “one size fits all” remedy. The comfort of the patient should be the ultimate goal and a dog with severe arthritis may be more humane not to elect for treatment.

Surgery may be indicated for adrenal tumors and chemotherapy in the form of Lysodren or Ketaconazole may be used to treat pituitary-dependent or adrenal-based Cushing's Disease. Anipryl may also be tried to combat pituitary-dependent Cushing's. Treatment is best viewed as a means to improve quality of life, rather than increase lifespan.

Surgery: If Cushing's disease is caused by an adrenal tumor, the logical approach is to surgically remove the tumor AND the affected adrenal gland. These tumors tend not to recur on the remaining adrenal gland and the prognosis is very good for dogs with benign adrenal tumors however most owners opt for non-surgical treatment.

Pituitary tumors are not removed surgically in veterinary medicine. These tumors tend to be very small and slow-growing and cause little or no damage on their own, aside from over stimulating the adrenal glands. With these canine patients, the symptoms themselves are treated and not the root cause.

Prognosis: Left untreated, Cushing's disease will progress. As excess cortisol is immunosuppressive, it causes dogs to become prone to various infections. They are also predisposed to developing other complications such as hypothyroidism, pancreatitis, diabetes, seizures, hypertension, congestive heart failure, blood clots and liver and kidney failure.

The short-term prognosis is very good. Treated, one would expect symptoms of Cushing's to fully resolve over the course of 4-6 months. Excess drinking and urinating abate quickly. It may take several months for hair and coat improvement to be observed. Dogs generally are more comfortable after the disease is under control and may live happily for years.

Alternatively, some dogs become very uncomfortable if arthritis, allergies, or other inflammatory conditions are unmasked once the excess cortisol is removed, paradoxically reducing the animal's quality of life. Another consideration relates to pituitary tumors themselves. These tumors continue to be somewhat responsive to blood cortisol levels, so it is possible that controlling cortisol release at the adrenal level may hasten the growth of a pituitary tumor, as the pituitary tumor is no longer kept in partial check by excess cortisol levels. Neurologic signs from a pituitary macroadenoma may then present themselves.

The goal of treatment is to improve quality of life and perhaps lengthen life, but except in situations where an adrenal tumor can be completely removed or where a dog can be weaned off external sources of cortisone, Cushing's disease is not something from which a dog recovers. Cushing's disease is managed, not cured.

Canine Diabetes Misinformation

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:36:35 -0400

People looking for more information regarding canine diabetes generally fall into two main categories. Pet owners who have a dog they think may have or has already been diagnosed with diabetes and pet career or kennels worker who would like to learn how to look after a diabetic dog.

It is highly likely that most that look for information will fall into the first category and will already have experience of a pet that has been diagnosed with diabetes; in some cases they may already be aware of the symptoms and the treatment but wish to learn more.

The Internet
The internet can be a great research tool but it can also be a source for inaccurate information, particularly if you don’t know your subject all that well.

There is a lot of conflicting information available regarding canine diabetes and it can sometimes be difficult to ascertain fact from fiction. Several sources echo similar theories, presenting them as facts.

Fiction Presented As Fact
You gave your dog diabetes by feeding dry dog food.

Dogs are meat eaters and vegetarian diets can bring on diabetes

Dogs which are fed meat only diets are more likely to contract diseases like diabetes.

If you feed your pets lots of white rice for example, you will end up giving them diabetes.

None of the above is supported by any scientific or medical data and although anyone with even a basic knowledge of canine diabetes can see them immediately for the myths they are, the majority of people searching for this type of information may not, which is quite worrying.

In many cases dog owners who have had their pet recently diagnosed with diabetes will not have even been aware previously that dogs can suffer from diabetes and this can make this group vulnerable to this kind of misinformation.

Whilst misinformation of this kind is generally frowned upon, in most cases it is not intended to deceive but has been written in the belief it is factual.

Consider the following:
A researcher comes across an article stating "Carbohydrates like white rice are bad for diabetics and should be avoided" and replicates a similar report as "Rice is a carbohydrate and as such is bad for diabetics".

On the face of it both sentences appear similar but the second one is in danger of accidental misrepresentation of the facts; let’s examine why.

Rice is a carbohydrate which absorbs sugars and white rice (boiled) requires less energy to be digested which can cause a sudden increase in blood-sugar levels.

Brown or Basmati rice on the other hand are still carbohydrates which also absorb sugars but as they take longer to digest, they do not cause the sudden increase in blood-sugar levels thus allowing the administered insulin more time to break down the glucose.

It can be argued that the first (original) article stating white rice to be bad was indeed factual but to say ALL rice or indeed, ALL carbohydrates are bad is not only misleading, it is incorrect!

Not all carbohydrates are bad.
Complex carbohydrates take longer to be digested and these can actually be beneficial in helping to regulate blood sugar levels in diabetics. Carbohydrates can also help to obtain a balanced and nutritious diet.

Complex carbohydrates that break down slowly release glucose gradually into the blood stream,. This equates to a lower insulin demand, better long-term blood glucose control and a reduction in blood lipids.

Parvo A Killer in Dogs

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:45:25 -0400

Parvo is a serious viral disease that can be deadly even if treatment is given. The Parvovirus is a disease that attacks dividing cells. The most prominent location for dividing cells in your dog’s body is the intestinal lining or the lining of the digestive system. When this disease attacks and kills these cells it causes dogs and puppies to unable to absorb nutrients or liquids. Parvo is seen more in puppies than in adult dogs, but both can catch the disease.

The most obvious symptoms of parvo include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy and dehydration. Dogs will suffer loss of appetite, diarrhea, high fever, and depression. Their stool can be very liquid, foul smelling, usually yellow in color, and may sometimes contain blood. The secondary symptoms appear as severe gastrointestinal distress, which includes vomiting and bloody diarrhea. The later stages of parvo lead to server dehydration, convulsions, shock, and eventual death.

The transmission of the parvovirus from one dog to another is through their feces and can be alarmingly rapid. It can be carried in an adult dog that shows no outward signs, but the disease can be found in their stool. The disease is not an air born type, but can be spread through the sole of your shoe and even birds may carry this deadly disease into your yard if they have been in contact with the infected feces.
Puppies and dogs which have not been vaccinated are particularly at risk but even dogs which have been vaccinated against parvo can still catch and carry the disease. Early diagnosis and treatment can offer an 80% survival rate but drops sharply if treatment is delayed. Without treatment the survival rate is less than 20% in dogs to less than 1% in puppies.

Once an outbreak of the Parvovirus has been confirmed, everything the dogs came into contact with needs to be sterilized or incinerated and all areas scrubbed or steam cleaned. This also applies to the boots, shoes and clothing of anyone who came in contact with them.

Avoiding Unnecessary Trips to the Vet

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 06:38:07 -0400

As many as 50% of cases Vets see are for ailments which are minor or were preventable. But sometimes knowing when a visit is required is not always self evident. Most pet injuries are of a minor nature which can be remedied by quick thinking treatment by the owner using a range of domestic products.

Minor Cuts and Grasses
Providing the wound is not deep and it is not bleeding heavily, the wound can be bathed gently in clean water and clip any fur which may be in the way before applying an anti-septic cream or ointment. A bandage is often necessary to try to prevent the dog from licking off the cream before it has had a chance be absorbed but care should be taken if using sticky tape to secure the bandage that it is secured to the bandage and not the fur.

Ticks or fleas

Ticks can be easily removed by applying a drop of surgical spirit or an ice cube onto the tick to causes it to loosen its grip. A small pair of scissors opened in a “V” can be slid gently under the tick to lever it off. An alternative method is to make a paste of orange rind and apply it evenly on the fur of the dog. Let it remain there for five hours and then wash it gently.

Dry, cracked paws
Take Vaseline or petroleum jelly and apply it to the paws each day for up to a week and restrict exercise, particularly on grass or fields which may have been sprayed with insecticide. You should find improvements within a few days and the paw will heal. If however there is no sign of improvement you should consult your Vet.

Odor problem
Adding a few drops of vinegar in the dog's bath water is a simple remedy but if you have trouble getting your dog in the bath, using baking soda as a dry shampoo will also work. Sprinkle it on your dog’s coat and leave set for a few minutes and then brush out.

Insects and bites
Insect stings and bites are another common problem with dogs. As soon as you notice this, apply a solution of baking soda and water on the stung area and ice to relieve any swelling. If you notice any difficulty breathing after a sting, however, take your dog to the vet immediately as he or she may have an allergic reaction to the sting.

Diarrhea
Most dogs will suffer from this at some time each year and is generally nothing to worry about but there are exceptions which you need to be aware of. Most episodes of diarrhea soon correct themselves as the dog effectively rids itself of whatever was irritating the bowels. Starving your dog for 24 hours may help in getting your dog’s metabolism back on track, and it will certainly not harm your dog not to eat for 24 hours.

Chicken is an excellent recovery food as it is easy to digest but there are also several complimentary foods available.

A word of caution is in order here. If your dog is experiencing diarrhea try to find the underlying cause before attempting any home remedies. If no cause can be found or the diarrhea persists, call your vet; It is better to be safe than to lose your beloved friend.

Household Dog Dangers

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 05:29:16 -0400

There are many unseen dangers in everyday household objects which all pet owners should be aware of. Cats are often regarded as inquisitive, thus the saying curiosity killed the cat. Dogs however, particularly puppies and young dogs are also very interested in anything in there surroundings which might be new to them.

What follows is not an extensive list by any means but includes items which people often overlook.

1) Antifreeze: Common antifreeze is responsible for a lot of pet deaths every year. It smells and tastes very sweet to dogs but then rat poisons smell nice to rodents; both have the same effect. When draining a car radiator to change the antifreeze, avoid the temptation of leaving it unattended or better yet, ensure no pets have access.

2) Chocolate: Chocolate contains a substance called the obromine which is toxic to dogs. Baking chocolate and dark chocolate is especially dangerous. People often like to reward their dog with a small piece of their chocolate and whilst a tiny bit will do them little harm, they are not doing their pet any favors. There are special doggie chocolates available.

3) Pain Killers: The most common mild pain killers are Paracetamol or Aspirin based but there are many more with a higher strength available. However, as few as two regular strength tablets can kill a small dog.

4) Batteries: Watch batteries are tiny and contain lithium which can cause a potentially fatal ulceration in the stomach within 12 hours. Alkaline batteries are also toxic to dogs so always dispose of used batteries sensibly, safely and at once.

5) Moth Balls: Not as common as they used to be in households nevertheless moth balls are very dangerous to dogs. Their function is to kill moths which eat fabric and so contain an insecticide. If any pet ingests one it can cause central nervous system excitement and seizures.

6) Electrocution: All households have electrical appliances which require a cable to be plugged into a wall socket. The cables covered in a plastic insulation are often quite thick but a dog’s teeth are no match for this and many young dogs die from being electrocuted, particularly in the holiday season from chewing through Christmas tree lights. Puppies will chew when teething but in general dogs will also chew out of boredom so give them something they can safely chew.

7) Household chemicals: All sorts of household detergents are toxic to dogs at one level or another, but fabric softeners fall into the highly toxic category as does mouthwash which often contains boric acid. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, drooling, seizures, and coma.

9) Household Plants: It may surprise you to learn that many common and popular household plants are highly toxic to dogs. A partial list of toxic plants includes poinsettias, lilies, ferns, devil's ivy, aloe, and ivy.

If you think your dog may have eaten any of these substances, or anything else that could poison him, call a vet immediately. It could save his or her life.

Prevention Better Than Cure

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:19:02 -0500

There are several things which owners should do on a regular basis to prevent the onset of a number of illnesses and diseases. Although vaccinations are not something owners perform themselves, these are generally regarded as the first line of defense in preventing many other more serious conditions.

The cost of vaccinations varies considerably from country to country, often due to drug licensing, but the consequences and subsequent treatment of the diseases they prevent often out-weigh the cost of annual vaccination.
Whilst vaccination helps to prevent some particularly nasty diseases there are others waiting in the wings caused by internal and external parasites which require additional precautionary measures.

Worming

All dogs should ideally be wormed at least 3 – 4 times per year using the correct dosage for the weight of each dog. Although worming treatments are available in pet supply stores and even some supermarkets, not all of these products may deal effectively with all parasitic infections.

Whilst veterinary licensed drugs are often a little more expensive, they can in the long term work out the most cost effective form of prevention. Regular worming kills most, if not all internal parasites before the diseases they can cause become more serious.

Some common signs of internal parasitic infestations can include “bottom scraping” on the ground, diarrhea or vomiting. Some pet owners regard worming as “non-essential” and only worm their animals when
they see the signs. Not all parasitic infections show these signs however and Vets are increasingly seeing animals that have not been given any form of preventative medication and are having to treat far more serious conditions.

Cataracts in Dogs

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:00:41 -0500

Cataracts in canines occur when the normally transparent lens of the eye becomes opaque. Cloudy eyes which can be seen with the naked eye are a sure sign of cataracts.

Even though the cloudiness may look like it is on the surface of the eye (the cornea), it is not. Any spot on the lens that is opaque, regardless of size, is a cataract.

Cataracts may affect one or both eyes. Some cataracts are clearly visible to the naked eye, appearing as white or bluish dots, while others are visible only by examination with an ophthalmoscope.

Many dogs develop cataracts as they age and these cataracts may stay small or may worsen until the dog becomes blind. The majority of cataracts are inherited and are found in breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel, Poodle, Husky, Schnauzer, Golden and Labrador Retrievers, and terriers.

Other ailments, such as diabetes, trauma, inflammation, and some puppy milk replacers can also cause cataracts.

Treatment of Cataracts

Unfortunately there are no magic pills or "wonder" creams and surgery remains the only effective treatment.

Cataracts may be surgically removed in one or both eyes however, at around $1000 - $2000 per eye, cataract surgery is expensive and requires significant commitment, administering of eye drops several times daily before surgery and for about 6 weeks after surgery. Your dog must wear a protective plastic e-collar for 2 weeks after surgery, and your pet will not be able to be groomed or vaccinated during the 6 week healing period.

With early treatment, the success rate is currently OVER 90% but, as with any surgery, there are risks and your veterinary ophthalmologist will discuss theses risks with you prior to treatment. Although a cataract left untreated can lead to a spontaneous lens capsule rupture (requiring the eye to be removed) these cases are rare proportionately.

Dogs with cataracts cope surprisingly well; they soon create a mental map of their suroundings and it is often the case where the dogs' lack of sight troubles the owner more than the dog.