Library
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Anal sac disease is a common problem in dogs that can be very uncomfortable or painful. This handout outlines signs to watch for, diagnosis, and treatments, including identifying and managing underlying causes
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Anesthesia is accomplished by administering drugs that depress nerve function. It is important that you fully understand what will happen to your pet, and that you understand the risks. Anesthetic monitoring in a veterinary hospital is like that found in any human hospital. With today's anesthetics, many of which are reversible, your pet should be almost completely normal by the time of discharge.
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This handout discusses arthroscopy, the insertion of a telescope-like camera into a joint. The joints commonly examined and treated using this technique, along with the benefits and risks of this procedure, are outlined.
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An aural hematoma is a collection of blood between the cartilage and skin of the ear flap. It is most usually caused by trauma but can also be due to a bleeding disorder. Hematomas in dogs should be treated early to minimize pain and disfigurement.
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Bites wounds are one of the most common reasons that dogs need emergency veterinary appointments, and they can cause significant injury to the skin and soft tissues. Even a bite that does not break the skin can cause crushing or bruising injuries to the underlying soft tissues. If your dog has been in a fight with another animal, notify your veterinarian immediately.
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Bladder stones are rock-like formations of minerals that develop in the urinary bladder. The most common signs in dogs are bloody urine and straining to urinate. Bladder stones can develop within a few weeks, or they may take months to form. Most are visible on X-rays or an ultrasonic bladder examination. There are three main treatment options for bladder stones: surgical removal, non-surgical removal by urohydropropulsion, or dietary dissolution. Prevention is possible in some cases, depending on the chemical composition of the stones.
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Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV) is an acute, life-threatening condition where the stomach fills with large amounts of air and then twists around, effectively cutting off the outputs to the esophagus and intestine. Causes, signs, treatment, prognosis, and prevention are discussed.
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This handout summarizes the most common forms of lameness in growing dogs. Included are osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), panosteitis, hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), elbow dysplasia, ununited anconeal process (UAP), fragmented coronoid process (FCP), patellar luxation, and hip dysplasia.
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Bowel incontinence is the loss of the ability to control bowel movements. There are two broad causes of fecal incontinence: reservoir incontinence and sphincter incontinence. In reservoir incontinence, intestinal disease interferes with the rectum's ability to store normal volumes of feces. In sphincter incontinence, a structural or neurologic lesion prevents the anal sphincter from closing normally. Clinical signs, diagnostic testing, and treatment vary based on the underlying cause.
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Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) refers to a particular set of upper airway abnormalities that affect brachycephalic dogs (dogs with short heads/noses). The most common sign of the condition is noisy breathing, and the increased effort associated with breathing can put a strain on the dog’s heart and lungs.