Dog Health

It's not a puppy anymore. Far from it. The whiskers are hoary, the arthritic joints hurt and the cataracts are cloudy. The veteran dog lives to 10 to 15 years old and appropriate care is...

Rhinitis means inflammation of the nose, which usually leads to a lot of discharge. In dogs, this can happen for a number of reasons. Some of those reasons, such as parvovirus or a bacterial...

The function of the canine kidney is to rid the body of waste produced during metabolism. Removal of waste takes place within the kidneys through a system of nephrons. Contained in each nephron is...

Older dogs run the risk of developing seizures from brain tumors. Seizures cause a wide range of debilitating symptoms, but medications can manage the condition.

Hairballs are a common problem many pet owners associate with cats, but hairballs affect dogs as well. Hairballs occur when a dog licks his fur and that fur enters his digestive tract creating a...

It is not unusual for older dogs to experience the pain of arthritis. Low-dose aspirin, also called "baby" aspirin, is one method of managing that pain. While prescription drugs such as Rimadyl or...

Canine cancer is a common cause of dog deaths. However, canine cancer does not have to lead to death. Dog cancer treatment is available to help your dog overcome her cancer. Ensuring your dog has...

So your dog has been diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is a scary diagnosis for a family member whether it is a furry family member or a human family member. Many forms of canine cancer can be...

According to "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" (Debra M. Eldredge, DVM, et al.), dogs or puppies with salmonellosis (salmonella) suffer from fever, vomiting and foul-smelling diarrhea. But...

An increasing number of canine owners are turning to alternative methods of treatment that are less invasive and provide optimum health benefits. Massage is one of those methods proving to have...

The canine muscular system is composed of individual muscles, which are a group of cells held together by connective tissue. There are three types of muscle tissue: smooth, cardiac and skeletal....

Canine Cushing's disease (or hyperadrenocorticism) is a serious condition where the dog's body makes high levels of the hormone cortisol. Vetoryl is the brand name for trilostane and the only...

Although they are physically very different beings from humans, dogs are mammals and share some nutritional needs with us. Like humans, dogs benefit from water-soluble vitamins on a daily basis...

When the adrenal or the pituitary gland in dogs malfunctions and produces high amounts of glucocorticoid, then it's known as canine Cushings disease, otherwise known as hyperadrenocorticism....

Canine Red Cell is a food supplement for dogs and is widely available in liquid form. Its unique combination of vitamins, minerals and iron provide several healthy benefits for dogs of every breed.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory chronic disease of the joints. It is a severe form of arthritis that can deform canine joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is rare in dogs. Early diagnosis...

The pancreas produces enzymes that help a dog digest food and produces insulin that regulates the dog's blood sugar level. Pancreatitis in a dog happens when the pancreas becomes inflamed from too...

American Red Cross chapters offer certification in pet first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Canine CPR should be done only on animals that are not breathing and have no pulse or heartbeat;...

Hot spots can be trouble for dogs and their owners. Want some easy remedies for these and other canine skin troubles? Read on...

Tyrosine crystals are one among many types of crystal formations that can occur in canine or feline urine. Small amounts of crystals in urine are common, but tyrosine crystals are rare and can be...

Doctors prescribe Topamax (topiramate), a prescription anticonvulsant medication, for treatment of epilepsy and migraine headaches. Like people, dogs can suffer from epileptic seizures; because of...

Canine skin allergies are often a result of inhaling allergens (called atopy) such as dust mites, pollens, and molds. These allergies result in the dog's biting, scratching, licking, and chewing...

Lymph glands, more commonly referred to as lymph nodes, are part of the lymphatic system in a dog. These glands are found all over the body and are designed to filter foreign bodies from the...

Bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, found in ticks and transferred from the tick to dogs through bites, causes canine Lyme disease. According to Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook (Debra M....

Dogs in the wild show fewer symptoms of gum disease because they chew on bones and bark that scrape the surface of the tooth and keep plaque from building up. Unfortunately, domesticated dogs are...

Canine yeast infections, or Candida albicans, can occur in any dog breed and pose a severe health risk if left untreated. These yeast infections can occur both internally and externally, and there...

Canine hookworms are a parasitic pest that attach to the walls of a dog's intestine. Adults feeds on the host's blood, and larva is passed through canine stools to infect other animals, as well as...

Canine dry eye is the common name for keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS. The dog's tear ducts will no longer be able to make a suitable amount of tears. This treatable condition gets worse over time.

The large and small intestines are part of the canine digestive system. The small intestine connects the stomach to the large intestine, where waste is expelled from the dog's body. Canine...

The spine has bone sections (vertebrae) and disks. The disks are cushions that allow the spine to bend and move. The spinal cord runs through a canal in the vertebrae and under the disks.

Canine hiatal hernia, also known as diaphragmatic hernia, is a type of health condition in which the dog's abdominal organs, such as the liver, stomach and intestines, slip under the diaphragm and...

Veterinary oncology is the study of cancer in dogs, cats and other household pets or farm animals. Thanks to recent advances in human cancer research, veterinary oncology has made new...

Potassium is a natural element necessary for the healthy function of canine muscles, nerves and enzymes. This element helps the body maintain proper fluid balance. Potassium is commonly found in...

Canine bladder infections are caused when bacteria enter and infest the dog's urinary tract. The condition can be uncomfortable and painful. Veterinary treatment is recommended for canine...

Ocular is a term that refers to any disease affecting the eye. There are several different ocular diseases that affect our canine companions. If an eye disease is suspected, veterinary care should...

When an owner finds out her dog has diabetes, the first reaction is wondering how long her dog will live. Treatment of canine diabetes has had many advances in recent years, and most dogs will...

Dogs can suffer from inflammatory bowel disease just like human beings do. Oftentimes referred to as Crohn's disease in humans, it is usually just referred to as inflammatory bowel disease in...

Canine diabetes (diabetes mellitus) causes a dog to have sensitivity to or deficiency of the insulin hormone. Chow dogs are particularly susceptible to diabetes, and mix-breed Chow dogs also are...

Canine urinary problems are uncomfortable and painful for your dog and a problem and inconvenient for you. These problems are characterized by difficulty urinating, painful urinating, frequent...

Canine epilepsy is a disease that causes dogs to have seizures that can incapacitate them and twitch uncontrollably. Attacks of canine epilepsy can come at any time, and the cause of these attacks...

Canine meningitis is a life-threatening disease that can often be successfully treated if medical care is sought as soon as symptoms are observed.

Dogs can develop allergic skin disorders just like humans. It is important to get a correct diagnosis from a veterinarian so that your pet's symptoms can be minimized.

Canine pneumonia is an affliction that infects and inflames the lungs and bronchi. These are the tubes which transports air into the lungs. The causes for the infection can vary. Generally, it is...

A primary cause of epilepsy in dogs is a gene inherited from the dogs' parents, according to the Canine Epilepsy Network. Problems with thyroid or liver functions may be linked to epilepsy.

Heart failure is a condition in which the canine heart is no longer able to pump adequate levels of blood to the rest of the body. It can be a devastating diagnosis for any dog owner to receive....

Epilepsy is a condition in which the dog suffers from seizures. It often occurs in dogs between 6 months and 5 years of age, and dogs of any breed or gender may be affected. Understanding epilepsy...

Spinal cord tumors are relatively common in dogs, especially large breeds. Depending on the location of the tumor, a variety of symptoms may be seen, and various treatments are available....

Canine bedsores (also called pressure ulcers) are tough to fix. You must keep the dog from lying on the sore while you treat any infection that settles in the wound. Without preventative measures,...

Omega-3 oil supplements for dogs can be purchased online or at any health food store. Although there are omega-3 oil supplements that are made specifically for dogs, ordinary fatty acid...

In dogs, low platelet levels is a condition referred to as thrombocytopenia. It occurs as a secondary condition, following primary issues such as cancer or an infection. Healthy dogs typically...