Seizures in Dogs

A seizure is defined as a paroxysmal, transitory disturbance of brain function that has a sudden onset, ceases spontaneously, and has a tendency to recur. Epilepsy is a recurrent seizure disorder irrespective of cause. Generalized seizures affect the entire body. Most commonly, dogs will fall to the side, make paddling movements with the limbs, and often will urinate, salivate and defecate. Seizures usually last less than 90 seconds. Focal seizures remain localized to one body region. Seizures may start focal and then become generalized. Information about where the seizure activity begins is of value in localization of the seizure focus to one side of the brain. The seizure focus is the point in the brain from which the seizure begins.

After the veterinarian is convinced that a seizure disorder is present, the most important question to be answered is whether the seizure focus is the result of primary brain disease (intracranial), the result of a disturbance outside the brain (extracranial), or is occurring idiopathically (without obvious cause). Initially the causes for seizures, should be categorized into those secondary to an intracranial structural cause, an extracranial cause (metabolic), or an unknown cause (idiopathic).

Metabolic: Extracranial disease resulting in seizures can be separated into those causes arising within the dog itself (endogenous) for example due to liver disease, or those arising external to the dog (exogenous) such as toxins. There are numerous metabolic diseases that can result in seizures. These include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), liver disease, kidney disease, electrolyte disturbances, toxins (poisons), anemia, and heart and lung diseases.

Structural diseases which result in seizures include hydrocephalus, storage diseases, cancer (primary and secondary brain tumor), inflammatory diseases (infectious and non-infectious encephalitis), trauma (injury), and blood-vessel-based diseases. Primary brain cancers originate in the brain whereas secondary cancers develop when cells from cancers outside the brain are carried to the brain in the blood.

Idiopathic epilepsy is a seizure disorder without obvious cause. Idiopathic seizures (Idiopathic epilepsy) begins between 1 year and 4 years of age. Therefore, a dog that begins having seizures at 9 years of age does not have idiopathic epilepsy. Certain breeds of dogs are known or thought to have an increased incidence of idiopathic epilepsy such as beagles, Belgian Tervurens, German shepherds, keeshonds, and collies. High incidence breeds include the Saint Bernard, German shepherd, golden retriever, Irish setter, American cocker spaniel, Wire-haired fox terriers, Alaskan malamutes, Siberian Huskies, and miniature poodles.

To search for an extracranial cause for seizures, a metabolic evaluation is performed. The evaluation may include a complete physical examination, blood tests and sometimes x-rays. To search for a mass in the brain an imaging study (CT, MRI) is performed and sometimes cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is collected. An electrical brain (EEG) evaluation is usually not very helpful, unless it is necessary to localize the seizure focus.

If an underlying disease can be found, then primary treatment for that disease may help to make the seizures stop. If the seizures are recurrent, anticonvulsant medications are often given. The choice of medication depends upon the characteristics of the individual animal's problem. Some of the more commonly used anticonvulsants are listed below. It is important to remember that once an anticonvulsant is initiated, it should not be changed without veterinary assistance. Most animals with idiopathic epilepsy will require anticonvulsant medication for the rest of their life.

Drugs Used to Treat Seizures

• Phenobarbital is a barbiturate. It is the most commonly used anticonvulsant. Toxicity signs include drowsiness/sedation, falling, increased drinking, urination and appetite. With high dosages or prolonged use, phenobarbital can cause damage to the liver. Paradoxically, some animals given phenobarbital may become restless and excitable. If this occurs, consult your veterinarian for assistance. For best results, this drug needs to be given consistently (every day) at least twice daily. This drug should not be altered without veterinary consultation
• Primidone is rapidly metabolized to phenobarbital and some other metabolites by the liver. Phenobarbital contributes 85% of the anticonvulsant activity due to its prolonged half-life. It seems to work no better than phenobarbital for most animals. Acute toxicity signs are similar to those of phenobarbital. Primidone may be more liver toxic than phenobarbital
• Phenytoin (Dilantin) is a commonly used anticonvulsant in people. Because it is metabolized differently in dogs, it not as effective in dogs. It also can be toxic to the liver. Phenytoin is toxic to cats and should not be used.
• Diazepam (Valium) is a benzodiazepine. It is a very effective anticonvulsant, but is metabolized very quickly in dogs, making it's effects short lasting. It is given in emergency situations because it works quickly. Acute toxicity includes drowsiness, lethargy, and depression.
• Potassium Bromide is used mostly as a secondary anticonvulsant in animals refractory to phenobarbital, however, can be used alone. Due to its lack of metabolism it is the ideal anticonvulsant for patients with liver disease. Acute toxicity includes vomiting, anorexia, constipation, sedation and incoordination.

Hypothyroidism in Dogs

Canine thyroid disease can be tough to diagnose.The symptoms can be legion and sometimes contradictory: lethargy, mental lassitude, weight gain, dull coat, skin infections, constipation, diarrhea, cold intolerance, skin odor, hair loss, greasy skin, dry skin, reproductive problems, aggression, and more.
The associated diseases or conditions can be serious: megaesophagus, ruptured knee ligaments, testicular atrophy, cardiomyopathy, excessive bleeding, and corneal ulcers.
The disease can be inherited or of unknown or uncertain origin. The diagnosis can be complex; the treatment as simple as supplementing a basic essential hormone.
This is the description of canine hypothyroidism, the absence of sufficient thyroid hormone to maintain healthy body functions.

Diagnosis
Thyroid disease is considered the most common endocrine disease of dogs. Because susceptibility to one form of the disease may be inherited, it is of great concern to breeders. However, in spite of the attention the disease has received from researchers and the development of more precise diagnostic tests, hypothyroidism is not easy to identify. Part of the problem is that chronic or temporary illness, reproductive hormones, drugs, obesity, and exposure of the dog to temperature extremes can affect the test. Sometimes the only sure test is to supplement with thyroid hormone; if symptoms subside, the diagnosis was accurate.

Veterinarians may suggest a thyroid test if a pet has gained weight or is having chronic skin infections or if a breeding dog is experiencing reproductive difficulties, especially if the animal lacks energy and has a scruffy or dull coat. The veterinarian draws the blood and sends it to one of several laboratories with the equipment for conducting the test. The blood sample should be taken when the dog is otherwise healthy, is not approaching or in a heat cycle, and is not taking pharmaceuticals such as steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or anti-seizure drugs. The latest tests include measurement of two forms of the thyroid hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (levothyroxine) and a search for antibodies that could indicate autoimmune thyroiditis, the genetic form of the disease. Interpretation of the numbers recorded is as important as the numbers themselves, for the relationship between the hormones is complex. In addition, normal ranges of hormone vary somewhat with the breed or mix.

Treatment
Treatment consists of two daily doses of levothyroxine, the hormone identified in the test as T4. Levothyroxine is converted to triiodothyronine by the body; dogs that cannot make this conversion will need both levothyroxine and triiodothyronine. The dosage is based on body weight; thyroid hormones are quickly metabolized and excreted from the body, so splitting the dose is most effective.
One to two months after starting the dog on thyroid therapy, the veterinarian will probably want to redo the tests to make sure the levels are within the normal range. Blood should be drawn four-to-six hours after the morning dose. Dogs on long-term thyroid therapy should have a complete panel of tests every six to 12 months.

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/thyroid.html

Mammary Tumours in Dogs

Mammary tumors are the most common tumors in female dogs who have not been spayed. Mammary tumors can be small, simple nodules or large, aggressive, metastatic growths. With early detection and prompt treatment, even some of the more serious tumors can be successfully treated.

Which dogs are at risk for developing mammary tumors?
Mammary tumors are more common in unspayed, middle-aged female dogs (those between 5 and 10 years of age), although they can, on rare occasions, be found in dogs as young as 2 years. These tumors are rare in dogs that were spayed under 2 years of age. Occasionally, mammary tumors will develop in male dogs and these are usually very aggressive and have a poor prognosis.

Spaying greatly reduces the chances of a female dog developing this condition. In those females spayed prior to their first heat cycle, breast cancer is very, very rare. The risk of malignant mammary tumors in dogs spayed prior to their first heat is 0.05%. It is 8% for dog spayed after one heat, and 26% in dogs spayed after their second heat.It is believed that the elimination or reduction of certain hormonal factors causes the lowering of incidence of the disease in dogs that have been spayed. These factors would probably be estrogen, progesterone, a similar hormone or possibly a combination of two or more of these.

What are the types of mammary tumors in dogs?
There are multiple types of mammary tumors in dogs. Approximately one-half of all mammary tumors in dogs are benign, and half are malignant. All mammary tumors should be identified through a biopsy and histopathology (microscopic examination of the tissue) to help in the treatment of that particular type of tumor.
The most common benign form of canine mammary tumors is actually a mixture of several different types of cells. For a single tumor to possess more than one kind of cancerous cell is actually rare in many species. This combination cancer in the dog is called a 'benign mixed mammary tumor' and contains glandular and connective tissue. Other benign tumors include complex adenomas, fibroadenomas, duct papillomas, and simple adenomas.
The malignant mammary tumors include: tubular adenocarcinomas, papillary adenocarcinomas, papillary cystic adenocarcinomas, solid carcinomas, anaplastic carcinomas, osteosarcomas, fibrosarcomas, and malignant mixed tumors.

What are the symptoms of mammary tumors?
Mammary tumors present as a solid mass or as multiple swellings. When tumors do arise in the mammary tissue, they are usually easy to detect by gently palpating the mammary glands. When tumors first appear they will feel like small pieces of pea gravel just under the skin. They are very hard and are difficult to move around under the skin. They can grow rapidly in a short period of time, doubling their size every month or so.

The dog normally has five mammary glands, each with its own nipple, on both the right and left side of its lower abdomen. Although breast cancer can and does occur in all of the glands, it usually occurs most frequently in the 4th and 5th. In half of the cases, more than one growth is observed. Benign growths are often smooth, small and slow growing. Signs of malignant tumors include rapid growth, irregular shape, firm attachment to the skin or underlying tissue, bleeding, and ulceration. Occasionally tumors that have been small for a long period of time may suddenly grow quickly and aggressively, but this is the exception not the rule.
It is very difficult to determine the type of tumor based on physical inspection. A biopsy or tumor removal and analysis are almost always needed to determine if the tumor is benign or malignant, and to identify what type it is. Tumors, which are more aggressive may metastasize and spread to the surrounding lymph nodes or to the lungs. A chest x-ray and physical inspection of the lymph nodes will often help in confirming this.
Mammary cancer spreads to the rest of the body through the release of individual cancer cells from the various tumors into the lymphatics. The lymphatic system includes special vessels and lymph nodes. There are regional lymph nodes on both the right and left sides of the body under the front and rear legs. They are called the 'axillary' and 'inguinal' lymph nodes, respectively. Mammary glands 1, 2, and 3 drain and spread their tumor cells forward to axillary lymph nodes, while cells from 3, 4, and 5 spread to the inguinal ones. New tumors form at these sites and then release more cells that go to other organs such as the lungs, liver, or kidneys.

What is the treatment?
Surgical Removal: Upon finding any mass within the breast of a dog, surgical removal is recommended unless the patient is very old. If a surgery is done early in the course of this disease, the cancer can be totally eliminated in over 50% of the cases having a malignant form of cancer. The area excised depends on the judgment and preference of the practitioner. Some will only remove the mass itself. Others, taking into consideration how the cancer spreads, will remove the mass and the rest of the mammary tissue and lymph nodes that drain with the gland. For example, if a growth were detected in the number 2 gland on the left side, we would therefore remove glands, 1, 2, and 3 and the axillary lymph node on that side. If it were found in the number 4 gland on the right side, then glands 3, 4, 5, and the inguinal lymph node on that side would be completely removed. With some tumor types, especially sarcomas, complete removal is very difficult and many of these cases will have tumor regrowth at the site of the previously removed tumor.
Owners may confuse a surgical removal of a mammary gland in the dog with a radical mastectomy in humans, with all of the associated problems. In humans, this type of surgery would affect the underlying muscle tissue which complicates the recovery. In the dog, however, all of the breast tissue and the related lymphatics are outside of the muscle layer, so we only need to cut through the skin and the mammary tissue. This makes the surgery much easier and recovery much faster. A radical mastectomy in a dog means all the breasts, the skin covering them, and the four lymph nodes are all removed at the same time. Although this is truly major surgery, suture removal usually occurs in 10 to 14 days with normal activity resuming at that point.
Many veterinarians will spay a dog having a mastectomy (unless she is very old). The value of this in decreasing the recurrence of tumors is still controversial.

Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy: Chemotherapy has not been a very successful nor widely used treatment for mammary tumors in dogs. However, with the constantly changing and improving drugs available, a veterinary oncologist should be consulted to find out if there is an effective drug available for your dog's particular type of mammary cancer. The effectiveness of radiation therapy has not been thoroughly researched. Some anti-hormonal drug regimens are being tested in dogs. At this point in time, surgical removal of the tumors is the treatment of choice.

How can I prevent mammary cancer in my dog?
There are few cancers that are as easily prevented as mammary cancer in dogs. There is a direct and well-documented link between the early spaying of female dogs and the reduction in the incidence in mammary cancer. Dogs spayed before coming into their first heat have an extremely small chance of ever developing mammary cancer. Dogs spayed after their first heat but before 2.5 years are at more risk, but less risk than that of dogs who were never spayed, or spayed later in life. We all know the huge benefits of spaying females at an early age, but every day, veterinarians still deal with this easily preventable disease. Early spaying is still one of the best things pet owners can do to improve the health and ensure a long life for their dogs.

Conclusion
Mammary cancer is a very common cancer and can often be successfully treated, if caught early. If all non-breeding dogs and cats were spayed before their first heat this disease could be almost completely eliminated. If you find a growth or lump in the mammary tissue of your dog, you should inform your veterinarian immediately and not take a "wait and see" attitude.

http://www.peteducation.com/article_print.cfm?articleid=460

Nose Bleed (Epistaxis) in dogs

Epistaxis refers to bleeding from the nose. It is usually from damaged vessels in the nasal mucosa but can also be due to an increased fragility of capillaries or bleeding tendencies. Any breed can develop epistaxis and there is no gender predilection. Dogs with long noses (so-called "dolichocephalic" breeds such as Collies) may be at greater risk for some causes of epistaxis (e.g. nasal tumors).The bleeding may be acute (sudden) or chronic (long standing). How ill the animal becomes often is determined by the underlying cause of the nasal bleeding. It is important to determine if the bleeding is unilateral (one-sided) or bilateral (both nostrils) because some causes of epistaxis are associated with unilateral bleeding whereas others are associated with bilateral bleeding.

Heat Stroke in Dogs

Heat stroke is an emergency that requires immediate recognition and prompt treatment. Dogs do not tolerate high temperatures as well as humans. They depend upon rapid breathing to exchange warm air for cool air. Accordingly when air temperature is close to body temperature, cooling by rapid breathing is not and efficient process. Dogs with airway disease also have difficulty with excess heat.

Common situations that predispose to overheating or heat stroke in dogs are:

1. Being left in a car in hot weather.

2. Being confined on concrete runs; chained without shade in hot weather.

3. Being of a short-nosed breed, especially a Bulldog or Pug.

4. Being muzzled while put under a dryer (this can happen in a grooming parlor).

5. Suffering from airway disease or any condition that impairs breathing.

Heat stroke begins with rapid, frantic, noisy breathing. The tongue and mucus membranes are bright red, the saliva is thick and tenacious and the dog frequently vomits. Its rectal temperature is high, sometimes over 106 degrees F. The cause of the problem usually is evident by the typical appearance of the dog; it can be confirmed by taking its temperature.

If the condition is allowed to go unchecked, the dog becomes unsteady and staggers, has diarrhea that often is bloody and becomes progressively weaker. Coma and death ensue.

Treatment: Emergency measures must begin at once. Mild cases respond to moving the dog to a cooler surrounding, such as an air-conditioned building or car. If the dog's temperature is over 104 degrees F, or if unsteady on its feet, the dog should be cooled by immersion in a tub of cold water. If this is impossible, hose your dog down with a garden hose. For a temperature over 106 degrees F, or if the dog is near collapse, give a cold water enema. A more rapid temperature drop is imperative. Cool to a rectal temperature of 103 degrees F.Heat stroke can be associated with swelling of the throat. This aggravates the problem. A cortisone injection by your veterinarian may be required to treat this.

Prevention:

1. Do not expose dogs with airway disease or impaired breathing to prolonged heat.

2. Restrict exercise during the heat of the day in summer.

3. Breed dogs in air-conditioned quarters.

4. Crate a dog only in an open wire cage.

5. Provide shade and cool water to dogs living in outdoor runs.

http://www.doctordog.com/dogbook/dogheat.html

First aid: move your dog to a cool well-ventilated area give it cool water with glucose or lime juice with a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of sugar once it can chew, give it ice cubes give your dog a cold or ice water bath, if ice is not available sponging with cold water will work take the temperature every 10 minutes stop the bath when your dog's temperature lowers to 103? f treat for shock do not give aspirin give artificial respiration if necessary.

http://pets.indiatimes.com/articleshow/817098261.cms