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Medical Conditions

  • Ectopic cilia can be an irritating eye problem for many dogs. Growing abnormally through the conjunctiva (the pink part of the eye), they come into contact with the cornea and can cause chronic discomfort to the eye and corneal ulceration. Surgery is necessary to help to correct the problem and help dogs live a more comfortable life. The prognosis for surgical correction of this condition is generally good.

  • An ectopic ureter is an anatomical defect that is present at birth in some dogs. In a dog with ectopic ureters, the ureters do not attach to their normal location in the bladder. Dogs with ectopic ureters may dribble urine or be prone to frequent bladder infections. Signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are discussed.

  • Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne bacterial (Ehrlichia) infection spread by the brown dog tick found in many areas of North America. There appear to be three stages of disease: acute, sub-clinical, and chronic or clinical. Abnormal findings on initial lab work include thrombocytopenia, anemia, hyperglobulinemia, and proteinuria. In-clinic ELISA tests can be used to screen for exposure but will be negative if the infection is new. Blood can be sent for PCR testing to demonstrate infection and to determine the species of Ehrlichia. Prevention includes minimizing exposure to ticks and use of tick prevention medication regularly.

  • An electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) is a test that is used to assess the heart. More specifically, an ECG measures the transmission of an electrical impulse through the heart. This test is not painful and is typically performed as an outpatient procedure. Analyzing the electrical impulses produced as the heart beats can help identify a number of different abnormalities within the heart.

  • Endocarditis is an infection of a heart valve, most often affecting the mitral or aortic valve. It can arise any time that bacteria enter the bloodstream, though it is more common when the heart valve has already been damaged for some other reason. The clinical signs of endocarditis are often nonspecific in the early stages, but may progress to include signs of heart failure later in the course of the disease. The diagnosis and treatment of endocarditis can present a challenge, requiring multiple tests and prolonged courses of antibiotic therapy.

  • Endocarditis is an infection of a heart valve, most often affecting the mitral or aortic valve. It can arise any time that bacteria enter the bloodstream, though it is more common when the heart valve has already been damaged for some other reason. This handout discusses the causes, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this condition.

  • Heart Disease in Cats

    Las enfermedades cardíacas son condiciones muy graves tanto en perros como en gatos, y como en personas. Los gatos normalmente no desarrollan arterioesclerosis o enfermedades de las arterias coronarias, como ocurre comúnmente en los humanos.

  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs

    La cardiomiopatía es una degeneración del músculo cardiaco que hace que el corazón, que es básicamente una máquina de bombeo, desarrolle una insuficiencia de forma progresiva.

  • Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs

    La insuficiencia cardiaca es la incapacidad del corazón para mantener un aporte de sangre suficiente para satisfacer las necesidades del organismo. Una insuficiencia cardiaca suele reflejar un fallo del músculo cardiaco (insuficiencia miocárdica), que puede afectar al ventrículo izquierdo o al derecho.

  • La enfermedad de Cushing es una condición en la cual las glándulas adrenales producen excesiva cantidad de ciertas hormonas. El término médico para esta enfermedad es hiperadrenocorticismo.