Dancing Doberman Disease 

This neurological syndrome is characterized by the bending of one rear limb when standing, progressing over months to include the opposite pelvic limb. The affected dog bends and extends the limbs alternatively, as in a dancing motion. A combined reaction to sensory stimulus and automatic neurological impulses is suspected in the behavior. It occurs in Doberman pinschers, with an age of onset from six months to seven years. It occurs in both males and females.

Symptoms and Types

The main symptom of this disorder is presented by the affected dog holding one leg up in a bent position while standing; the alternate limb usually becomes affected three to six months after the onset of the condition, with the same behavior. The dog will alternate legs, appearing to dance around. This behavior cannot be controlled by the dog. Beginning early, soon after the condition has begun to present itself, these hyperactive tendon reflexes will lead to progressive muscle wasting (atrophy) in the limb. Occasionally, the muscles within the leg will lose the ability to detect motion in the dog, and will be unable to respond to the sensory connection the dog is willing to the limbs for movement. The medical term for this sensory reception and the resultant condition is proprioceptive deficit.

Causes

The cause of this disease is unknown, but it is suspected, and probable, that the condition is inherited through a recessive trait.

Diagnosis

Possible diagnosis that can be made in connection with this condition are lumbosacral stenosis, where there is a narrowing of the last part of the spinal canal, which causes compression of the nerve roots; infection of one or more bones in the spinal column and of the intervertebral discs that join them in the lower lumbar spine (intervertebral disk disease, and discospondylitis, respectively). This condition is usually painful; or, a diagnosis of cancer of the lumbar spinal cord, or of the nerve roots may be made by your veterinarian. This condition has a rapid progression and can be painful for the dog.
 

Diagnostic procedures will include electromyography for recording electrical currents in the muscles, and examining the amount of uncontrolled muscle and nerve behavior (fibrillation) in the legs. The transfer of information from the sensory centers to the motor movement centers (motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity) will be measured and examined to detect progression of the disease. And, a tissue sample taken (biopsy) from the muscles behind the knees will be examined for muscle disease and/or nerve loss.

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_dg_dancing_doberman_disease

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Rhabdomyosarcoma in Dogs

Rhabdomyosarcomas are malignant, aggressive, easily metastasizing (spreading) tumors. They arise from striated muscles (banded – not smooth, muscles of the skeletal and cardiac musculature) in adults, and from embryonic stem cells in juveniles. These tumors are often found in the larynx (voice box), the tongue, and in the heart. Aggressive and widespread metastasizing can occur in the lungs, the liver, the spleen, the kidneys, and the adrenal glands.

The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats please visit this page in the PetMD pet health library.

Symptoms and Types

• Large, diffuse, soft tissue mass, generally of the skeletal muscle
• May spread into the primary muscle (forming multiple nodules)
• If tumor is in the heart there may be signs of right-sided congestive heart failure

Causes

• Idiopathic (unknown)

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis, and an electrolyte panel. You will need to provide a thorough history of your dog’s health leading up to the onset of symptoms. While a cytologic (microscopic) examination of a fine-needle aspirate sample may reveal cancer, a definitive diagnosis can only be made with a surgical biopsy (tissue sample).

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_dg_rhabdomyosarcoma

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Hyponatremia in Dogs

Hyponatremia is the clinical term given to a condition in which a dog is suffering from low concentrations of serum sodium in the blood. As a component of the extracellular fluid (fluids outside of the cells), sodium is the most abundant positive charged atom in the body. For this reason, a condition of hyponatremia usually reflects a concurrent condition of hyposmolality, an underconcentration of osmotic solution in the blood serum; that is, a lack in the ability of body fluids to pass through the cellular membranes (osmosis), by which the body’s chemical concentrations are kept in balance. Hyposmolality is typically associated with a decreased amount of sodium content throughout the body.

Theoretically, hyponatremia can be caused by either water retention or solute loss (loss of a dissolvable body substance — in this case, salt/sodium is the solute). Most solute loss occurs in iso-osmotic solutions (e.g., vomit and diarrhea), and as a result, water retention in relation to solute is the underlying cause in almost all patients that are diagnosed with hyponatremia. In general, hyponatremia occurs only when there is a defect in the kidney’s ability to excrete water.

Symptoms

• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Nausea/vomiting
• Seizures
• Dullness
• Coma
• Other findings depend on the underlying cause

Causes

Normal osmolar hyponatremia, causes with typical concurrent conditions:

• Hyperlipemia – excessive fats in the blood
• Hyperproteinemia
• Hyperosmolar hyponatremia

Hyperglycemia – excessive glucose/sugar in the blood

• Mannitol infusion (a diuretic agent)
• Normovolemic (normal blood volume)

Primary polydipsia – excessive thirst

• Hypothyroid myxedema (a skin and tissue disorder) coma
• Hypotonic fluid infusion (fluid with lower osmotic pressure)
• SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion)
• Hypervolemic (too much fluid in the blood)

Congestive heart failure (CHF)

• Hepatic (liver) cirrhosis
• Nephrotic syndrome (kidney disease where there is abnormal leakage of protein, low levels of proteins in blood and swelling of body parts)
• Hypovolemic (too little fluid in the blood)

Gastrointestinal losses

• Renal (kidney) failure
• Low potassium
• Cutaneous losses
• Diuresis (increased production of urine by the kidney)
• Hypoadrenocorticism (endocrine disorder)

Diagnosis

A complete blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis and an electrolyte panel. If your dog has hyponatremia, these tests will confirm low serum sodium concentration. Other disorders that can mimic hyponatremia, and which will need to be excluded, are hyperglycemia, hyperproteinemia, and hyperlipidemia.

Your veterinarian may also recommend testing the serum osmolality will be tested. The osmolality balance of your dog’s urine will be indicative of the kidney’s ability to excrete water, and the sodium concentration found in the urine may indicate a low volume of circulating sodium.

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/endocrine/c_dg_hyponatremia

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Sneezing refers to the normal behavior of expelling air to remove matter through the nasal cavity. Reverse sneezing, on the other hand, refers to the reflex of bringing air into the body to remove irritants in the upper area that lies behind the nose. Dogs may gag to remove irritants from the larynx; this is commonly misinterpreted as vomiting.

Symptoms and Types

Sneezing is often accompanied by a sudden movement of the head downwards, with a closed mouth, and may cause the dog’s nose to hit the ground. Reverse sneezing is often characterized by a backwards head motion, a closed mouth and lips sucking in. Gagging usually causes the dog to swallow after extending its neck and opening its mouth.

Causes

Any breed of dog can be affected by these medical behaviors. The most common causes for younger dogs include infections, the existence of a cleft palate, or bronchial infections. Another primary cause is the involuntary movement of the hairlike cilia that line the respiratory tract and act to remove foreign matter from the air before it reaches the lungs. This involuntary movement of the hair is medically termed ciliary dyskinesis. The most common causes for older dogs include nasal tumors and dental diseases. Other causes can be mucus irritation, inflammation, excess nasal dripping or secretion, pneumonia, chronic vomiting, and gastrointestinal disease. Under vaccinated or unvaccinated dogs are at a higher risk of developing infections, which may lead to consistent sneezing. Chronic dental disease can lead to both chronic sneezing and reverse sneezing. Mites found in the nasal cavities can also be a cause for any of these physical reflexes.

Diagnosis

The first method of diagnosis is to distinguish between sneezing and reverse sneezing in the dog. Next, if the condition is serious, more in depth testing may be performed to see if there is a more serious underlying medical condition.

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/respiratory/c_multi_sneezing

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Lung Damage Due to Smoke Inhalation in Dogs

In smoke inhalation, injury occurs as a result of direct heat damage to the upper airway and lining of the nose. Injury to the tissue is seen after inhalation of carbon monoxide, which decreases tissue oxygen delivery by binding to red blood cells; inhalation of other toxins that directly irritate the airway (e.g., oxidants and aldehydes); and inhalation of particulate matter that adheres to the airways and small air sacs in the lungs.

The extent of damage depends on the degree and duration of exposure to smoke and the material that was burning. Dogs may have serious lung injury with little evidence of burning on their skin. Lung reaction is initially symptomized by constriction of the lungs, airway swelling, and mucus production, followed by an inflammatory response in the trachea and bronchial area, and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Most patients show progression of lung dysfunction in the initial two to three days after exposure. Follow-up bacterial infections are a common cause of death late in the disease due to the wounded tissue being an advantageous receptor for bacteria.

Symptoms and Types

• Smoky odor
• Soot in the nasal or throat passages
• Rapid breathing and increased depth of respiration
• Breathing effort that suggests upper airway obstruction by swelling
• Postural adaptations to respiratory distress (i.e., positioning the body to make breathing easier)
• Mucous membranes may be cherry red, pale, or cyanotic (blue)
• Reddened eyes
• Hoarse cough
• Confusion, fainting
• Vomiting
• Shock

Causes

Exposure to smoke/carbon monoxide, usually the result of being trapped in a burning building.

Diagnosis

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have preceded this condition, such as exposure to burning material. A complete blood profile will be conducted, including a chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, and a urinalysis. The blood count will show the level of red blood cells that are capable of carrying oxygen, and white cells that are capable of fighting infection. The blood profile will also show whether the arterial blood gases are at normal levels and will show the degree of oxygen shortage in the blood. The urinalysis will show how the kidney is functioning. Visual diagnostics, such as X-ray and ultrasound, may also be used to determine if there is fluid buildup in the lungs. A bronchoscopy, which uses a flexible tube with a camera attached and which can be inserted into the airway, may allow your doctor to determine the severity of airway damage.

Samples will be taken of the cells inside the mouth and in the airways and cultured to determine whether there are bacteria present. If there is tissue damage to the airways, your veterinarian may prescribe a prophylactic antibiotic to prevent infection.

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/respiratory/c_dg_smoke_inhalation

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Testicular Degeneration and Hypoplasia in Dogs

Smaller than normal testes are generally easy to spot. There are different conditions that can lead to this disorder: underdevelopment or incomplete development of the testes is known as hypoplasia, an inability to grow and/or mature appropriately; and degeneration of the testes, which refers to the loss of potency after the stage of puberty has arrived.

Both of these conditions can be due to a condition that was present at birth — congenital — or can be due to some other cause that takes place after birth. The congenital forms are usually related to genetic abnormalities that have been inherited by the parent, but may also be due to something that occurred while the puppy was in utero, such as exposure to radioactive substances.

Dogs of any age or breed are predisposed to these conditions, but hypoplasia is most commonly seen in young dogs, and degeneration is more common in older dogs.

Symptoms and Types

In addition to abnormally small testes, infertility is the single most common symptom of these conditions. Semen analysis will show a low sperm count (oligospermia) or an absolute absence of sperms (azoospermia) in the seminal fluid is usually reported.

Causes

• Degeneration of the testicular sacs
• Radiation exposure
• Metal toxicity, including lead
• Chemical toxicity
• Other toxins
• Exposure to heat
• Inflammation of the testes (orchitis)
• Hormone imbalance
• Increasing age
• Adverse drug reaction (e.g., antifungal drugs)
• Hypoplasia
• Genetic
• Injury, trauma
• Tumor of the pituitary gland

Diagnosis

Dogs with these conditions are typically presented to their veterinarians with a compliant of infertility. You will need to give a complete known history, including any such problems that were present in the previous generations of your dog’s familial line and any trauma or injury that may have affected your dog’s scrotum.

Your veterinarian will thoroughly examine the scrotal region and should be able to immediately ascertain whether they are of normal size or are smaller than what they should be for your dog’s breed, size and age. A finding of abnormal size is enough to urge your veterinarian to conduct further tests in order to differentiate testicular degeneration from hypoplasia. An ultrasound image of the testes is usually done to confirm the visual diagnosis of smaller than normal testes.

Your veterinarian will also take a semen sample for laboratory testing, to check for abnormal cell development and to do a standard sperm count. The sperm count will evaluate the number of viable sperm cells in your dog’s semen. If it appears to be called for, under the circumstances, a small tissue sample may also be taken from the testicular sac, using a fine needle, to be sent to the laboratory for further evaluation.

Article source: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/reproductive/c_dg_testicular_degeneration_hypoplasia

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