The larynx is a little structure made of cartilage that sits in the throat and opens into the trachea, or windpipe. When the animal breathes in, the cartilages that make up the larynx are pulled apart to allow air to flow through. When the animal swallows, the larynx closes up to force food into the esophagus rather than into the airways. Laryngeal Paralysis in dogs is a condition whereby due to dysfunction of the nerve or muscles that control the larynx, the laryngeal cartilages are not pulled apart when the animal breathes. Continue reading »
Apr 272012
Remember back in the day when the family pet was fed leftovers from the family dinner? Whether it was a chicken carcass or leftover lamb roast, the four-legged member of the family was considered a garbage disposal of sorts. Well, we have since learned that some of these table scraps can make out pets very sick. Cooked bones, for example are a bad idea when it comes to our pets. While raw bones for dogs helps maintain dental health, when you cook bones, they become softer and can cause havoc in the gastrointestinal tract. Continue reading »
Apr 242012
“My cat has a chronic stuffy nose. She has been treated with nose drops, surgical procedures and antibiotics. Now I’m using NeoPolyDex and Little Noses because blood is still draining from the Rhinoscospy that was performed last week. My vet advised me to get a Rhinoscospy because it could be a tumor. Her stuffy nose used to clear up and return. But I’ve never seen a tumor that grows, decreases, and grows again. Please help me! I don’t like to see my cat like this. My cat is not a quitter.” Continue reading »
Apr 172012
The trachea, or windpipe, is made up of several cartilage rings joined together by ligaments. Tracheal Collapse, or Dynamic Airway Disease, is a condition whereby weakening of the cartilage rings causes collapse of the trachea and a dynamic reduction of the tracheal diameter. The narrowing of the trachea means that airflow, and therefore breathing, becomes more difficult in affected dogs. A collpased trachea in dogs occurs mostly in middle-aged to older small and toy breed dogs.
Symptoms of a collapsed trachea in dogs include a chronic dry cough which is made worse by excitement, stress, heat and exercise, especially when on a collar and leash. Difficulty breathing in dogs in these situations may also be noted. In more severe cases, collapse may occur. Respiratory infections can occur secondary to tracheal collapse, and in these cases, the cough will be productive and the pet may be unwell.
Diagnosis of the disease can be done using x-rays or bronchoscopy, which involves using a tiny camera to visualize the airways with the pet under anaesthetic. There are 4 grades of the disease, with grade 4 being the most severe, and bronchoscopy can be used to establish the severity in each case.
In milder cases, any secondary infection should be treated, a harness should be used instead of a collar, and any stressful situations or overheating should be minimized. Lifestyle changes, such as walking the pet only during the cooler part of the day using a harness should be instituted. If the affected dog is overweight, weight loss is very important to improving its breathing. In very severe cases, surgery may be an option, and this is an area of veterinary surgery that is currently being developed.
Did your dog ever experience difficulty breathing? Was the diagnosis a tracheal collapse or something else? Tell us about it in the comments!
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Apr 032012
When you take your pet to the vet with a condition that is painful, your pet may be given one or two of a number of drugs that relieve pain and reduce inflammation. At times, you may wonder why the vet has decided your pet needs pain relief, as he/she may not be displaying the signs of pain that you expect, such as whimpering or not eating. The truth is, pets do not exhibit pain in the same way as humans and for the most part, they have a survival instinct that causes them to hide pain as much as possible. This is because in the wild, if animals show obvious signs of pain, they will become an easy target to their predators. Medications that may be used for pet pain relief include: Continue reading »
I saw some interesting veterinary cases while I was working in London. One Sunday, when I had the misfortune of being at work instead of curled up on the couch with a good book or meeting friends for brunch, one such case happened to walk in. Continue reading »
Urinary incontinence in dogs is the inappropriate passage of urine. It can be caused by congenital abnormalities, which the animal is born with, or acquired disorders. Signs of urinary incontinence include the involuntary dribbling of urine, which may be noticed as puddles left behind particularly when the dog has been sitting or sleeping for a period of time. Continue reading »
Feb 292012
Our pets have a tendency to chew on things that we wouldn’t expect them to. This leads to poisonings and toxicities that can make them quite ill. Lead is one such toxic material, which is most commonly found in household items such as paint, linoleum and plumbing supplies. This applies more closely to old houses as newer materials are less likely to contain lead. Lead is also found in car batteries, golf balls and fishing weights. Here’s some infomation on lead poisoning in dogs and lead poisoning in cats. Continue reading »
Feb 242012
Onions may make us humans cry but they do much, much worse in our canine and feline companions. Onions and dogs and cats are not a good match! Onions belong to a group of plants called the Allium species, which also includes leek, garlic, chives, shallots and scallions. While they are tasty in human foods, these vegetables, whether raw or cooked, are extremely toxic to pets. Continue reading »
Feb 222012
Snail and slug baits are poisons that we put into out gardens to protect our plants. Unfortunately though, what is tasty and attractive to the slimy little creatures is also attractive and just as poisonous to our furry friends. Snail poison and dogs or cats are not not a good match! Continue reading »
