Tick-borne diseases

Several diseases can be transmitted by ticks. The most commonly known of these is 'biliary fever' - a misnomer, as not all affected dogs are bilious (ie with a yellow staining of the gums) or even have a fever.

Biliary is caused by an organism called Babesia canis. Less commonly, ticks may transmit another organism, Ehrlichia canis. However, not all ticks carry these parasites.

Babesia lives in red blood cells and destroys them. As these are the cells responsible for transporting oxygen around the body, essentially all systems in the body are affected by a lack of energy. This explains the typically vague signs in the affected dog: lethargy, inappetance and possibly increased thirst. Other signs may include pale, white or yellow gums, vomiting and diarrhoea.

In the early stages, biliary is easier to treat. Therefore, a dog showing any of these signs should receive prompt veterinary attention. Most cases of biliary can be diagnosed by examining a film of blood under a microscope. Your veterinarian will then be able to suggest the best treatment.

Although being researched in the UK and South Africa, no vaccines are currently available for any of these diseases. Therefore, the most effective method of control is through prevention of tick bites. If you value your pet, don't trust supermarket products! Your vet will assist in selecting the best products available for tick control.

Skin allergies

Does your dog keep you up half the night with its incessant scratching? Probably a quarter to a third of patients presented to veterinary hospitals suffers from some form of skin disease. Although there are many causes of skin problems, notably ringworm and mange in younger animals, most cases are caused by allergies.

An allergy is an abnormal response by the body to a normal stimulus. Hay fever sufferers will attest to this. Allergic dogs respond in similarly, but through their skin. A stimulus causing no response in many animals will result in allergic animals becoming intensely itchy.

The prime offender of these stimuli is the flea. Most normal dogs will experience mild local irritation from a fleabite. An allergic dog can have an all-over itch for seven days from a single bite. Again an abnormal response from a normal stimulus. Not that flea bites are considered normal.

Interestingly, worms also cause allergic skin disease, as do food allergies. In the latter instance, dogs become allergic to certain proteins in the food. Contact allergies (eg grass) exist as well, as does atopy, where inhaled allergens, such as plant spores, cause itchiness.

There are three elements of treatment in the allergic animal. Firstly, the itch can be controlled with cortisone or cyclosporin. Your vet will guide you through treatment methods. Secondly, any other itchiness causes should be eliminated, such as bacteria, mites and yeasts. If you have an allergic pet, discuss a full skin work-up with your vet. Lastly, and most importantly, do try to identify the stimulus that triggers the allergy.

This is the difficult part. Most animals probably have more than one trigger, but often eliminating the most important triggers will prevent the animal from itching. Your vet will help you here, but obviously the most crucial part is ruthless flea and worm control.

Many hypoallergenic diets are available. If your pet has the itch, let your vet help you select the products that will make his/her (and your) life much more bearable.

Psychological scratching

Continual scratching by dogs often relate to an underlying psychological problem. The two most common causes are anxiety and/or depression.

Causes of anxiety include:

1. Deprivation anxiety, which affects animals kept in isolation. Because they aren't exposed to other animals, they're extremely anxious when the occasion arises. This is seen in dogs as fear plus aggression.
2. Territorial anxiety is triggered by upsets in the pet's life such as moving house, death of a person or another pet, introduction of a new pet or new-born baby
3. Enclosed environment anxiety is seen where dogs are prevented from going outside, resulting in a profound lack of visual stimuli.
4. Boredom anxiety arises where the pet has insufficient stimulation and is common in single pets, with owners at work and children at school.

Depression is manifested when the pet becomes withdrawn. It may arise involuntarily, but usually follows untreated anxiety states.

Signs of anxiety and/or depression in your pet's behaviour may include any of the following: excessive licking all over the body, excessive licking of one spot on the body, biting chunks of hair out and continual scratching.

Fortunately, help is at hand to treat your anxious, licking pet. It's imperative to get to the bottom of the psychological causes. This means giving your vet a meticulous history of the pet's environment and behaviour. Changes to the environment and surroundings will probably be advisable. The pet also may have to be given more stimuli, such as toys, daily walks and attention.

Often, advice from a specialist animal behaviourist certainly is advisable. As a last resort, modern veterinary anti-anxiety drugs - similar to Prozac for humans - are useful in treating animals suffering from behavioural disorders.

So, if your pet is continually licking or scratching, or has a chronic skin condition, don't rule out the possibility that the cause lies between the ears.

Arthritis

Degenerative arthritis can creep up on dogs without owners even realising it. This insidious disease usually is caused by accumulated wear-and-tear on the dog's joints and the various structures within them, or because of a previous joint injury. It can be extremely painful for the animal, particularly after the pet has had active exercise, laid down to rest and attempts to rise again.

Observe your dog carefully to see if it has trouble getting up after a nap. Also, watch your pet's gait and make a note of any stiffness or unusual sluggishness when first rising. Often, the stiffness of arthritis will disappear as muscles and joints warm up. If you see any warning signs in your older dog, your vet may recommend X-rays to examine the internal joint structures that may be causing the problem. If diagnosed, a variety of medications are available to treat degenerative arthritis and greatly improve your companion's quality of life.

One of the safest non-drug treatments is a glucosamine-chondroitin supplement, which falls under the category 'nutriceuticals'. If administered in the early stages of the condition, glucosamine helps with joint pain in about 75 percent of affected dogs. Omega-3 fatty acids, believed to have anti-inflammatory properties for joint and skin conditions, also have proven effective in relieving arthritis pain. Some pet food manufacturers add these fatty acids to their foods as a joint-supportive supplement. It also is available in supplement form to be added to food.

Arthritic pets must be exercised daily. Keeping those joints moving is imperative. And of course, the animal shouldn't be overweight. Extra weight adds strain to the joints.

People sometimes give aspirin to their animals to relieve arthritis pain. Although it helps relieve joint pain, aspirin has a risk of nasty side-effects, such as stomach ulcers or even intestinal bleeding.

Depending on the severity of the arthritis, your vet also may recommend treatment with an anti-inflammatory, such as Rimadyl or Previcox.

Arthritis is not a death sentence. Improve your pet's quality of life with good nutrition, moderate daily exercise and watching those calories.

Cruciate injury

Has your dog ever suddenly become lame in his or her back leg? If so, your vet has possibly diagnosed it as a cruciate ligament injury.

One of the most common problems seen by vets every week is hind leg lameness in otherwise healthy, active dogs, as a result of tearing a ligament in their knee (stifle) joint. Any dog (and sometimes cats) can rupture their cruciate ligament through excessively boisterous play, jumping, or running and turning suddenly, twisting the knee. Running and fetching balls or frisbees is an activity almost guaranteeing a cruciate injury.

Usually, this injury occurs in overweight females over five years of age, or in any of the breeds with slightly skew or bowed back legs, where the poor conformation predisposes them to injury. However, highly active, lean dogs also are at risk.

It's certainly a shock when your vet immediately recommends surgery. But unfortunately in most cases treatment with painkillers and rest is unrewarding as the stifle joint remains unstable because of the tear. The best bet is to operate sooner rather than later to minimise some of the serious arthritic and painful consequences.

There are different ways of repairing this injury, but many vets prefer extracapsular stabilisation with a strong Securos nylon suture, because of the good results and relative affordability. In most cases, your pet's knee has to be opened to check that the cartilage cushions, or menisci, aren't damaged. These must be repaired and the damaged ligament removed. Then the knee will be stabilised carefully using specialised equipment for optimum function after the op.

Your pet will go home with a bandage for a week and you'll have to keep him/her strictly confined to allow healing. It's difficult explaining bed rest to a lively mutt! However, the initial two weeks after surgery are crucial for good healing. Your pet must be kept quiet and only allowed short, controlled walks on a leash in the garden to do the necessary. After that, a gradual return to strength can be expected over the next eight to ten weeks.

Despite all that effort, you'll agree it's a pleasure to see your best friend back to his/her happy self again. And then, no more ball fetching.

Thoracolumbar disc disease: A common back problem

When dealing with back pain and/or paresis in the dog Thoracolumbar disc disease is the most common consideration. Certain breeds such as the Dachshund have a genetic disc defect, especially the soft jelly-like nucleus. As the disc degenerates, it loses water content and the nucleus becomes brittle and calcifies. This interferes with the shock absorbing capacity of the disc, leading to a weakening of the circular disc fibres.

In Dachshunds, the majority of discs will have started degenerating by two years of age. Normal everyday wear and tear often causes severe weakening of the intervertebral disc's outer fibres. Most dogs present for disc problems aged between three and six years. Other breeds that commonly are affected are Maltese Poodles, Terriers and Pekinese.

The outer fibres of the disc may rupture and the brittle nucleus is forced out, pushing against the spinal chord. Severe pain is caused when the nerve roots are entrapped. If the nucleus has been forced out very rapidly, the spinal chord bruises and swells. Being located in the bony canal of the vertebrae, the spinal cord can't move away and the swelling causes even more pressure. The nerve cells of the spinal cord are highly susceptible to oxygen shortage and they quickly deteriorate. Sometimes the disc just bulges upwards, also causing pressure on the spinal cord. This normally occurs in the middle of the back where most of the movement occurs - hence the name thoracolumbar disc disease.

Consequently, nerve tracts that transmit impulses from the brain to the hind legs and back again can't function properly. The dog will be weak in the hind legs and may even become paralysed and lose bladder control. Also, it's extremely painful.

This is a genuine veterinary emergency and must be treated correctly as soon as possible. Treatment choice depends on the patient's clinical and neurological signs, which can be evaluated only by a veterinarian. It's impossible to manipulate a ruptured disc back into place. Besides, any manipulation certainly will worsen the pressure on the spinal cord and may result in complete and irreversible paralysis.

Conservative non-surgical treatment is normally only considered if there isn't significant pressure on the spinal cord. The most important aspects of conservative treatment are pain relief, reducing the swelling of the spinal cord and limiting the extrusion of additional nucleus by confining the pet for at least one week. However, recurrences are common (about 40 - 60%) and tend to be worse than the first episode.

Providing the best and most predictable results, surgery also will prevent recurrence of the disease at the same disc. But before surgery can be attempted, the lesion must be localised accurately with specialised radiography such as a myelogram or even an MRI scan.

Surgery involves drilling away a little bit of the vertebrae with a burr and removing the offending extruded nucleus. This relieves pressure on the spinal cord cells immediately and provided they haven't died yet, they can recover completely. Sometimes the spinal cord can be bruised so severely that surgery will be of no benefit. Usually, this can be diagnosed beforehand.

The surgical procedure is truly rewarding for the owner(s), as well as the veterinarians, nurses and staff. And with hydrotherapy, patients recover even faster.

Heart disease

Heart disease is increasingly common in dogs - probably because their average life expectancy is increasing due to improved veterinary care. Congenital heart defects are present from birth, but only cause signs with age. Other diseases develop later in life because of ageing effects or heart damage. The most common heart disease develops as the dog ages and its heart starts to wear out.

CAUSES OF HEART DISEASE

Heart valves
The valves within the heart may fail to develop properly, eg mitral dysplasia, or may degenerate as a result of ageing (endocardiosis). Specific infections can affect the heart valves (endocarditis). Abnormal valves allow leaking blood between heart chambers even when they're closed. When valves leak, abnormal blood flow can be detected when listening to the heart (a murmur) and on ultrasound.

Heart muscle
Generally, the heart muscle may be either too thick or thin. If the muscle is too thin the heart is unable to contract properly and if the muscle is thick the heart can't relax, filling with blood between contractions. In either case, the heart is unable to pump out sufficient blood.

Electrical conduction
Abnormal electrical conduction affects the heart's rate and rhythm. Electrical abnormalities can be caused by disease outside the heart. If the heart beats too quickly, there's not enough time for it to fill properly between beats and so it pumps less blood with each beat. If the heart beats too slowly, there aren't enough pulses to supply sufficient blood to the body. Chaotic rhythms occur where contractions of different parts of the heart aren't synchronised and so pulse volume is reduced.

Pericardium
The pericardium is a strong sac that surrounds and supports the heart. Changes to the pericardium usually result in heart constriction (because it has thinner walls).

THE TWO MOST COMMON TYPES OF HEART DISEASE
Valvular heart disease
Particularly common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, this disease can occur in almost any breed. As a dog ages, its valves may become worn and thus leaky. Instead of closing properly each time the heart pumps, the valves flop open, allowing blood to move backwards and forward through the chambers. This results in reduced blood supply to the body.

Dilated cardiomyopathy
Seen most commonly in large and giant breeds, particularly Dobermans, Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds, some Spaniels also are affected by this disease. It might sometimes affect dogs of any breed. The disease causes stretching of the heart muscle walls so that the heart swells. Heart muscle contractions become weak, so blood isn't pumped around the body effectively.

The signs of heart disease are often similar, whatever the cause. Many of the signs of heart disease can be confused with natural ageing changes. Reduced energy and less desire to exercise are common. Dogs with severe heart disease often have poor appetites and may lose weight. If water retention occurs as a result of heart failure, you might not notice that your dog is losing weight. Other common signs of heart failure are panting and coughing due to fluid build-up in the lungs. But remember, these signs may be seen with many other diseases too. Less commonly, dogs with heart disease may faint or collapse.

Through a stethoscope, a change in the heart sounds might be heard - fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat, or a murmur. X-rays may show that the heart is enlarged and ultrasound is used to see whether the heart muscle and valves are working normally. An electrocardiogram records the electrical activity that causes the heart muscle to beat and can be used to see if the beat is irregular.

When examining your new puppy for its first vaccination, your vet will listen to the heart to detect any possible congenital heart problems. Some congenital heart defects can be corrected by surgery.

Heart disease doesn't necessarily mean heart failure. Many dogs with heart disease have no outward signs of illness and are able to lead relatively normal lives without medication. If signs develop, these can be treated. However, in most cases, heart disease becomes worse and treatment merely slows down the progression rate. Treatment includes: controlled exercise; drugs to improve the strength of the heart beat or change the heart rate; drugs to remove excess fluid retention; and/or dietary changes, depending on the type of heart disease.

Life expectancy depends on the type and severity of the heart disease. Some animals with heart disease may live normal lives with no symptoms. Others don't respond to treatment and may die quickly. Your vet may be able to give you an idea of the likely lifespan of your pet. When managing any disease, the most important consideration is the quality of life your dog has. If you're concerned that your dog is feeling unwell, or consider that the treatment isn't helping him, you must contact your vet for further advice.

Bloat in the dog

Also known as gastric dilatation, gastric volvulus or gdv, there are few challenges in veterinary medicine that rival an emergency presentation of bloat in the dog. A dog with a bloating stomach has a short time to live without emergency veterinary intervention.

Canine bloat occurs when there's gas production in the stomach and that gas build-up is unable to be expelled via belching or vomiting, or passed through the intestines and out as flatulence. Once the stomach is unable to expel gasses, a series of events occur that result in such intra-abdominal pressure that the dog can't survive. Circulatory collapse and heart failure ultimately result, after extreme stretching of the stomach wall, constriction of intra-abdominal blood vessels, widespread death and destruction of the stomach wall and the release of intestinal toxins.

Some bloat cases occur rapidly when fermentation of grains in the wet and warm stomach environment creates gas. The influence of grain in creating an environment conducive to bloat seems even more plausible in that it's rare for dogs on meat-based diets to develop bloat.

There are two types of bloat: gastric dilatation - expansion of the stomach from the gas or material build-up in the stomach; gastric volvulus (torsion) - the stomach rotates and thereby twists the esophagus and small intestine closed so there's no passage of stomach contents or gas in or out of the stomach.

The usual history is of a large-breed dog that's recently eaten a meal of dry dog food and then engages in physical activity. However, sometimes there's no history of physical activity and the dog is suddenly seen trying to retch and vomit unsuccessfully. The dog paces, attempts to pass stool and repeatedly makes retching, gagging noises. Salivation is common.

TREATING BLOAT
Time is a decisive factor in correcting bloat successfully. Supportive medications such as cortisone, antibiotics and intravenous fluids are administered immediately when the dog is brought to the vet.

The veterinarian may need to decompress the stomach initially by inserting a large diameter needle right through the abdominal wall. A stomach tube is inserted gently down the oesophagus to gain entry into the stomach. If no volvulus is present, with careful and gentle manipulation within the abdominal cavity, the tube can be directed into the stomach and the gas and stomach contents can be drained by gravity.

If there's volvulus present, the vet will need to incise the stomach to dissipate the gas and bring the stomach back to a reasonable state of size and pressure. Once the intra-gastric pressure is lowered, the presence or absence of rotation of the stomach can be ascertained. With volvulus present, the spleen is also involved and often its blood supply becomes strangulated. Occasionally, the vet will elect to remove the spleen at this time.

In severe bloat where the stomach is stretched for long periods, the blood supply is shut down. When there's necrosis (cell death) of the stomach wall, the prognosis is poor. The massive cell death and absorption of toxins through the stretched stomach wall create severe cardiovascular damage and blood pressure problems. Once a state of shock begins, the chances of the patient's recovery are slight. Even dogs that survive surgery and seem to be recovering often succumb to endotoxic shock hours and even days after the procedure.

When the stomach contents are emptied through the stomach incision, the stomach wall is finally sutured closed. If volvulus is present, the surgeon will rotate the stomach (and spleen) back to the normal anatomical position. Then the stomach tube is inserted through the mouth into the stomach and additional flushing and antibiotic administration is done. Before closing the abdominal incision, the surgeon will tack the stomach wall against the inner abdominal wall to prevent future episodes of gastric dilatation/volvulus.

PREVENTING BLOAT
Any deep-chested, large-breed dog is at risk, such as the Great Dane, Golden Retriever, Malamute, Saint Bernard, Irish Setter, Labrador Retriever, Weimaraner, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd and Irish Wolfhound.

Rather feed two small meals a day instead of one large meal. Although water should always be available, don't allow the dog to drink large quantities of water at one time. Don't allow exercise for at least two hours after a meal and feed a diet composed of more meats and less grain.

Epilepsy & Seizures

Epilepsy is a pretty broad term - used to describe seizures that can't be explained by identifying a source of the seizure activity. It covers any unidentifiable brain disorder that leads to seizure activity. Congenital epilepsy normally shows up by the time a dog is two or three years of age.

Brain tumours are possible in almost any case of seizures. However, brain tumours often have some other identifiable clinical signs since they often damage nerves exiting the brain or the centres controlling these nerves. Thus gait abnormalities, facial paralysis, vestibular disorders, blindness, or other signs of nervous system damage may occur with a brain tumour, helping with identification.

Viral illness, fungal diseases, trauma, vascular disease or other problems also can lead to seizures by affecting the brain directly. Liver disease, kidney disease and hormonal disorders cause seizures by more indirect effects. When nothing is found, vets fall back on the term idiopathic epilepsy to define the problem, even although it simply means the problem can't be identified.

Seizure control is possible. The standard rule of thumb has been to use seizure control medications when seizures occur more than once a month. Some vets feel it's wiser to start sooner than this because it appears that 'mirroring' and 'kindling' of seizures can occur in dogs.

Mirroring is when a seizure focus occurs in one side of the brain and then an identical site occurs on the other side after several seizures. Kindling is when the seizure focus in the brain develops strong enough pathways that it makes it easier for the seizure to occur - almost as if the brain 'learns' to seizure. It's possible that by controlling seizures quickly through the use of medications that these effects could be stopped and that may lessen the amount or duration of using seizure control medications.

Vets try to decide on an individual basis what the potential risks are: whether the pet owner can administer seizure control medications on a set schedule and the medication risks. Then they decide when to start trying to control seizure activity. If a dog has a violent seizure, they may start immediately. If there's a mild seizure and then subsequent seizures occur at long time intervals, they may not attempt to control them. This decision has to be made on a patient by patient basis.

Coughing

Coughing occurs fairly frequently in dogs and there are many causes. A thorough history and physical examination help the veterinarian decide which causes of cough are most likely in your pet and which diagnostic tests and effective therapies to recommend.

Your description of the nature of the cough, when it occurs and if anything brings on coughing can be helpful in pinpointing the cause. Some causes of cough result in difficulty breathing between coughing episodes, whereas with other diseases, the pet breathes normally between coughing episodes. Some types of cough occur more commonly at night, such as animals with lung oedema. Cough caused by tracheal irritation or tracheal collapse often occurs when the pet's excited or tugging on its collar. The coughing may follow exercise or excitement, or be stimulated by drinking water. Coughing during or shortly after eating may be because of disease of the larynx or oesophagus. Some coughs sound moist and others are harsh and dry. Moist coughs indicate fluid accumulation in the airways or lungs.

Dogs that hunt or spend time outdoors may inhale grasses or other foreign materials through the nose into the airways. In addition to causing coughing, foreign materials can travel down the airways and through the lung causing an infection with a large amount of pus developing in the space surrounding the lung. This disease is called pyothorax.

Animals that have exposure to other animals in a shelter or boarding facility are more likely to have kennel cough, which is caused by several infectious organisms, including bacteria and viruses. Vaccinations are not 100% protective against the agents of kennel cough. Kennel cough usually becomes apparent within a few weeks after your dog has been exposed to other dogs infected with kennel cough. It usually resolves itself without treatment. If the cough is severe enough that the pet has difficulty sleeping, cough suppressants can be given to suppress the frequency. If the cough doesn't subside within 10 days, your pet should be evaluated for other diseases of the lungs or airways.

The pet's age and breed also influence the causes of cough. Young animals are more likely to develop a cough due to bacterial or viral infections. Middle-aged to older small breed dogs are more likely to have heart disease because of leaky valves. Middle-aged to older large breed dogs are more likely to develop paralysis of the larynx.

Tracheal collapse occurs most commonly in middle to aged overweight small breed dogs. The cough often sounds like a goose honking. Treatment for tracheal collapse includes weight reduction and intermittent use of cough suppressants and sedatives. Surgery can be performed in dogs with severe collapse that don't respond to weight reduction and cough suppressants. Recently, the use of stents in the trachea has been described as reasonably effective in dogs that are severely affected.

Cough can be because of heart disease, which may cause heart enlargement that puts pressure on the airways causing cough, or the heart may fail and lead to oedema of the lungs.

Air particles such as dust, pollen and smoke can cause allergic lung disease and coughing. In older patients, lung cancer has to be considered. Lung cancers in dogs and cats most often originate from other organs and are transferred through the blood to the lung. Some cancers may be controlled with medication. In some cases, single lung tumours that originate within the lung may be surgically removed.

Tests that may be recommended to identify the cause of a cough include a blood profile to screen multiple organs, a stool exam to look for parasites or their eggs that are coughed up and swallowed, chest x-rays or x-rays of the trachea. The larger airways can be examined using a bronchoscope. Sterile fluid can be flushed into the airways to collect samples for culture or microscopic exam. Large foreign bodies in the airways can be removed by bronchoscopy. Specific tests may be performed if heart worm disease or an infectious cause for the cough is suspected.

Don't self-medicate your pet, because treatment for one cause of cough may be wrong for treating another type of cough.

Obesity

Overweight dogs have a remarkable resemblance to coffee tables. Not only is an unnatural fat appearance embarrassing to man's best friend, but also to his/her owner. Simply put, excessive weight in an otherwise healthypet is a direct result of consuming unnecessary amounts of food. If your dog is overweight, your veterinarian should examine it for heart, thyroid or other metabolic disorders. A detailed history should be taken with emphasis on exercise frequency, amount and type of food being fed and other parameters relative to calorie requirements.

A common myth maintains that sterilisation causes obesity. Any pet, neutered or not, will gain weight if it's over-fed relative to its energy requirements. And you have control over the amount your dog eats. Spaying may slightly slow the dog's metabolism; therefore, it may require less food.

Vets encounter four typical cases when presented with an overweight dog. And most owners give standard responses when the vet politely suggests that a dog would benefit from losing weight.

1. "But doctor, she hardly eats a thing." Well, whatever she's eating, it's too much! This pet probably has food out all day and nibbles a little at a time. Come dinner time and the pet picks at the left-overs, taking only the choicest morsels and appear not to have eaten much. However, over a 24-hour period its total calorie intake is excessive and it gains weight.

2. "But doctor, he begs for his treat." This dog has discovered that the more he fusses, the more likely that he'll be rewarded. Thus the owner is training The Beggar by rewarding his behaviour. Sadly, the dog's health may suffer if obesity is the result.

3. "But doctor, she's so good and we don't want her to go hungry." This poor dog became overweight because the owner's signal of affection has focused on feeding. The owners' method of showing affection should rather be directed towards physical activity than feeding.

4. "But doctor, he refuses to eat dog food." In this case the dog has trained his owners to feed him chicken, liver, cookies, etc. Although most table scraps are fine to feed in small amounts, this canine has been given a choice and emphatically has made his choice. Gourmet dog usually overeats because he isn't receiving a proper nutritional balance, plus everything tastes so good there's a reward factor in eating. The solution is: you choose, not your pet.

What to do
Start by feeding a high-quality, balanced dog food. Meat should be the first item listed on the ingredients list, not maize. Now record an accurate pre-diet weight. Reduce by one-third your dog's total daily ration previously given. Include all treats, snacks, or left-overs if you insist on continuing to provide these. Don't give in if your dog begs for food. Plus, increase your dog's daily walking time by a third. Reweigh the pet after two weeks.

If you find on weighing your dog after two weeks that it has lost even a little weight, you're on the right track; keep up this schedule. If no weight loss is evident, again reduce by one-third the amount being fed and increase the daily exercise. Weigh the pet again in two weeks' time. Depending on the results, either keep feeding this amount or reduce again by one-third the total amount being fed. If you persist, a good outcome is certain. TAH specialist veterinarian Frank Kettner advised, "Dogs shouldn't lose more than 2% of body weight a week. A 20 kg dog that ideally weighs 16 kg shouldn't lose more than 400 gm a week. This implies that weight loss will take two-and-half months at the very least and more realistically, between three and five months!"

It's also important to gain everyone's cooperation in restricting the dog's food intake. There's usually someone in the household who feels sorry for the dieting pet and surreptitiously provides a little something extra. It would be more helpful for this person to take the dog for a run to burn a few calories.

Keep in mind that most overweight dogs have slow metabolisms. They simply don't burn calories fast and in fact generally don't have eager eater appetites. Because of this slow metabolism, though, they don't require that much food.

Remember, feed high-quality, meat-based food, control the amount fed, provide more exercise and be persistent. Help your pet live a longer, leaner and more enjoyable life.

Canine parvovirus

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a contagious disease characterised by diarrhoea that's often bloody and often associated with vomiting. Current vaccinations help control proliferation of this disease but despite being vaccinated, some dogs still contract and die from parvo.

The disease is spread through contact with faeces containing the virus. The latter is known to survive on inanimate objects such as clothing, food pans and cage floors for five months and longer in the right conditions. Insects and rodents also may play an important role in transmission. Therefore, any faecal material or vomit needs to be removed with a detergent before using a bleach solution. The latter should be used on bedding, dishes, kennel floors and other contaminated impervious materials.

Generally, incubation is from 7-14 days. Active excretion of the virus in the faeces can begin the third day after exposure, often before clinical signs appear, and may last for one to two weeks after the disease's onset.

There's a broad range in symptom severity. Many adult dogs exposed to the virus show few, if any, symptoms. The majority of cases are seen in dogs less than six months old with the most severe cases in puppies younger than 12 weeks. There also are significant differences in response to parvovirus infections and vaccines among different dog breeds, with Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers and Labradors more susceptible than other breeds.

The intestinal form known as gastroenteritis is most common - characterised by vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, dark or bloody faeces and in severe cases, fever and lowered white blood cell counts. Acute parvovirus enteritis will progress rapidly and if left untreated death can occur as early as two days after the onset.

Not all cases of bloody diarrhoea with or without vomiting are caused by parvovirus and many sick puppies are misdiagnosed. The only way to know if a dog has parvovirus is through a positive diagnostic test. In addition to traditional testing of the blood for titers, a simpler test of the faeces with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay antigen test is also available. Testing of all suspect parvo cases is the only way to diagnose and treat the disease correctly. A complete physical exam and additional laboratory tests such as a complete blood count and chemistry panel help to determine the severity of the disease.

Parvo treatment usually involves supportive therapy. Intravenous administration of a balanced electrolyte solution is preferred and special shock fluids are used in bad cases. In less severe cases, subcutaneous or oral fluids may be used, but this is often not enough. Antibiotic therapy generally is given to help control secondary bacterial infections. In those dogs with severe symptoms, antiserum against endotoxins may be given.

In cases of vomiting, drugs to slow the vomiting are used. After the intestinal symptoms start subsiding, a broad spectrum de-worming agent is often used. Patients are encouraged to eat as soon as possible and tube-feeding is often applied. The cells of the stomach intestine need 'external' nutrition to regenerate.

Undertaking treatment of affected dogs and puppies without professional veterinary care is extremely difficult. Even with the best available care, the mortality of severely infected animals is high. Without the correct amount of properly balanced intravenous fluids, the chance of recovery in a severely stricken animal is small.

If a puppy recovers from parvovirus infection, he's immune to reinfection probably for at least 20 months and possibly for life. In addition, after recovery the virus isn't shed in the faeces.

In summary, parvovirus is a common problem that's a huge killer of puppies. Due to its ability to be transmitted through hands, clothes and most likely rodents and insects, it's virtually impossible to have a kennel that won't eventually be exposed to the disease. Modified live vaccines are safe and effective, but despite the best vaccination protocol, all puppies will have a window of susceptibility of at least several days where they'll be at risk.

In addition, the newer CPV-2c strain presents new challenges. Prompt treatment by a veterinarian will increase survivability in infected puppies and working with your vet on a vaccination programme best for your puppy is important.

Canine distemper

A multi-systemic viral disease of dogs, canine distemper is highly contagious and attacks a large number of animal species. In about half the cases, it's fatal. Most often the disease is transmitted through contact with respiratory secretions. Contact with faecal material and the urine of infected dogs also can cause infection. Fortunately, vaccines have made canine distemper a rare disease among vaccinated dog populations.

The virus belongs to the paramyxovirus group, of which human measles also is a member. Disinfectants, sunlight and heat can kill the virus quickly. In the body, canine distemper virus attacks and grows within the white cells of the blood and lymphatic system, as well as the cells that line the intestinal tract.

Young puppies between three and six months of age are most susceptible to the disease and are the most likely to die from it. However, non-immunised adult dogs are also highly susceptible to distemper. These older dogs often develop mild cases.

Canine distemper virus is passed rapidly through coughed or sneezed saliva droplets. It then invades the lymphatic tissue. Within two to five days lymphatic tissue throughout the body is infected. By the sixth to ninth day, the virus is present in the blood. It then spreads to the surfaces of the lungs, intestine and bladder and, on occasion, to the nervous system.

Distemper is seen most frequently in older puppies that are losing their protective maternal antibody. Once an animal is infected, the virus is shed in all body secretions. The virus shedding onset begins about a week after infection. Once outside the host animal the virus dies rapidly. Animals that are infected incubate the virus without signs for 3-6 days. About the seventh day of infection, most dogs develop a fever and become depressed. During the next two weeks, dogs either develop antibodies against the disease that protect them and kill the virus or they gradually go downhill. There is much variation in the duration and severity of the clinical disease.

Dogs that go downhill develop a cough, secondary bacterial pneumonia and inflammation of the intestines. Many of these dogs show infection and damage to the brain with central nervous system signs of tremor and convulsions. Laboured breathing and an unkempt appearance are common. By the third week most dogs have either died from the infection or recovered. Exceptions are the cases in which damage to the brain is delayed for up to three months. These delayed cases often show no respiratory or intestinal signs before delayed nerve damage occurs. In a few cases, the virus persists in the eyes, footpads and nervous system.

Signs vary from case to case. Mortality from the disease is about 50% with mild cases showing few or no disease sign. Most dogs that die from distemper die from neurological complications. In dogs in which the brain is attacked, incoordination, stumbling, seizures and paralysis occur. Both the grey and the white brain matter are destroyed. Some dogs become blind during the course of the disease as the virus attacks the retina. Neurological disturbances that may be seen are aggression, disorientation, convulsive head and paw movements and aimless wandering.

Because the virus attacks the cells that produce immunity, dogs are always immuno-suppressed early in the disease. As the disease progresses through days six to eight, dogs that are destined to recover produce strong antibody responses that neutralise the virus. The virus-neutralising antibody produced by the 10th to 20th day protect the dog from reinfection for years and sometimes for life.

No antiviral drugs for canine distemper are available. Therefore, the disease is treated symptomatically with antibiotics, intestinal coatings, antispasmodic agents and emollients. Dehydration brought about by diarrhoea is corrected with intravenous electrolyte fluids. Debilitated dogs, unable to eat, benefit from injections of essential vitamins and nutrients. Once dogs develop nervous system signs there's no effective treatment unfortunately.

Excellent vaccines are available to protect dogs from canine distemper virus. Ideally, puppies should receive a combination measles virus/canine distemper virus when they are six to eight weeks old. Then, every three to four weeks they should receive a modified live virus distemper shot for an additional two vaccinations. Thereafter, annual booster vaccinations are sufficient in dogs with a normal immune system.

Signs of cancer
All owners dread a cancer diagnosis in their dogs. But, by recognising early warning signs, the prognosis might be better, plus your pet's life could be prolonged while maintaining quality of life.

Great advancements have been made in veterinary medicine. Consequently dogs are increasingly living much longer than expected. While there are several forms of cancer in dogs, early diagnosis is often key to a brighter prognosis. These warning signs and symptoms that potentially may suggest cancer could be either quite subtle or visibly apparent. It's imperative not to ignore them.

Sores that don't heal
A sore or ulcer appearing out of the blue that doesn't heal in a timely manner may be indicative of cutaneous mast cell cancer. This cancer may take different forms and is often confused with other benign tumors types or conditions. Therefore it's often referred to as the 'great imitator'.

Lumps, masses and nodules
The dynamic is the same as in humans: to catch something in its earliest stages. Lumps that get quite large in a short amount of time raise a red flag. Even the most innocuous-looking lump types might be cancer. Most lumps are easily evaluated through a fine needle aspiration done at the vet's surgery.

Painful legs
A highly aggressive form of cancer mostly seen in large to giant dog breeds such as Rottweilers is osteosarcoma, better known as bone cancer. This type of cancer easily metastatises and often leg amputation is necessary to relieve pain and provide the dog with a few more weeks or months of life. Limping, pain and unexplained fractures shouldn't be ignored.

Sudden bleeding
Bleeding may be internal or external - in other words visible or not. Cases of internal bleeding such as in hemangiosarcoma of the spleen causes dogs to develop pale gums (indicative of anaemia), weakness, wobbly legs and even collapse. External bleeding includes for example frequent nosebleeds, which may be squamous cell carcinoma of the nose.

TAH's Dr Ian Campbell warned, "Numerous types of cancer can affect many different organs. The problem is often cancerous lesions are internal and develop insidiously. Therefore, the rule of thumb is to take your pet for at least two health checks a year. Should there be any concerns, your vet will recommend one or maybe more of the following: blood tests, scans or X-rays.

"Regrettably, even with the utmost vigilance and check-ups it is possible to miss signs of cancer until the disease is too far developed. That's why it's called a dread disease."

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Cushing's disease

Common in dogs but rare in cats, Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism) is the over-production of the hormone cortisol by the adrenal glands. Most dogs with Cushing's are aged about six years or older but sometimes the disease may occur in younger dogs.

The signs are varied. Some of the more common signs include symmetrical hair loss, pot-bellied appearance, increased appetite, as well as increased drinking and urination. Hair loss caused by Cushing's disease occurs primarily on the body, sparing the head and legs. Usually the skin isn't itchy as with most other skin diseases. When picking up a skin fold on a dog with Cushing's disease, the skin appears thinner than normal. This is noticed predominantly on the under-abdomen. The pet may have fragile blood vessels and may bruise easily. Less common signs of Cushing's are weakness, panting and an abnormal way of walking (stiff or standing or walking with the paws knuckled over).

Different treatment regimes are required for the two types of Cushing's disease. The most common form is caused by overproduction of a hormone by the pituitary gland in the brain that in turn controls the amount of cortisol produced by the adrenal glands. This is pituitary-dependent Cushing's. A small percentage of dogs with Cushing's disease have a tumour of one of the adrenal glands which is called adrenal-dependent Cushing's.

There's no single test to diagnose this disease. The history, physical exam and results of initial blood and urine tests often provide a strong suspicion for the presence of Cushing's. Laboratory tests that are most commonly altered by Cushing's are an increase in the liver enzyme ALP, increased blood sugar (although not as high as the blood sugar levels of diabetic patients), higher cholesterol and diluted urine.

The large amount of cortisol in the body suppresses the immune system and predisposes the pet with Cushing's disease to bacterial infections - the most common location being the bladder. Pets with the disease may have a silent bladder infection - in other words they don't show signs of having the infection such as straining to urinate. A urine culture may be necessary to diagnose the infection.

Specific tests for Cushing's help confirm the diagnosis and x-rays of the belly often show a large liver. Occasionally the x-ray will show calcium in the area of one of the adrenal glands that's suggestive of an adrenal tumour. Ultrasound of the belly may show enlarged adrenal glands in pets with pituitary-dependent Cushing's or enlargement of just one of the adrenal glands in pets with an adrenal tumour. The adrenal glands aren't always seen during an ultrasound exam. In some patients with an adrenal tumour, the tumour can be seen growing into large blood vessels close to the adrenal gland or spread from the tumour may be seen in the liver.

To confirm the diagnosis and determine the type of Cushing's disease present, specific tests are performed . These have varied results. In some cases the results are clear and diagnosis is made, but in other cases a further series of tests must be performed.

Treatment of pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease is lifelong oral medication. The initial treatment is called induction. After induction, medication is given less often, usually once or twice weekly for the rest of the pet's life. Some pets will have a recurrence of Cushing's disease signs later in life despite being on medication. The prognosis for pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease with treatment is usually good. Some signs will disappear quickly and others gradually. Appetite and water consumption usually return to normal within a few weeks. Full recovery of the fur may take several months.

Adrenal-dependent Cushing's disease is treated by removing the cancerous adrenal gland surgically. Adrenal gland tumours can spread to other parts of the body in which case all the cancer can't be removed surgically.