- Other diseases in dogs and cats

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), it is one of disease that the body's immune system attacks the red blood cells (RBCs), and destroy it (hemolysis). It is a type of hemolytic anemia. RBC surface is fixed by Antibodies and the associated complement system. It can be detected with the direct antiglobulin test. Drugs also can induce AIHA, including methyl-dopa and fluarabine.

- Diabates mellitus.

In the verinary studies, we could found diabetes is becoming more common in cats. We can see that the symptoms in dogs and cats are quite similar to those in humans. We could see that most of dogs experience type-1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. But in cats, experience type 2 diabetes is more than type-1. The type-2 diabetes also now is becoming common in humans, especially in fat humans. The type-2 diabetes is treatable. We can do diabetic remission in cats, means cat is no longer needs injected insulin. If untreated, it leads to blindness in dogs, and weak legs in cats, and eventually malnutrition, ketoacidosis and dehydration, and death.

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus.

They will generally show a gradual start of the disease over a few weeks. Sometimes it not give you a notice for a while. Normally we will not see in the cats less than seven years old. The first obvious symptoms you can see is they are weight loss or gain. And accompanied by excessive drinking and urination. Cats will have more obsession with water and lurk around faucets. Appetite is suddenly either ravenous or absent. In the dogs, they will have vision problem and cataracts in the next stage. But in cats, they will show back legs may become weak. We can do a quick test by using urine keto/ glucose strips with them. If the keto/glucose strips show glucose in the urine, means diabetes is indicated. But if it shows ketones in the urine, it is an emergency sign, you must bring them to the clinic.

The noticeable thinning of the skin and apparent fragility. These are also serious condition and it indicates that you pet is metabolizing its own body fat and muscle. Dehydration is common by this point and death will follow quickly.

- Laryngeal paralysis.

In most cases, the cause of larygeal paralysis is idiopathic, the it may arise secondary to hypothyrodism, neuropathies, cancer or thauma. Arytenoid cartilages may be affected. It may occurs predominantly in large breed dogs such as Labrador, Retriever, Golden Retriever, Siberian Husky, Newfoundland and St. Bernard.

Some breeds have genetic causes. Such as Bouvier de Flandres, Dalmatians, Siberian Husky and Bulldogs. In Dalmatians, it is a part of another condition, it is called larygeal paralysis-polyneuropathy complex. Please note, the choke collars are not risk factor for the cause.

Symptoms of Laryngeal paralysis.

You can see from thier voice change, the bark becomes hoarse-sounding, gagging or coughing. Some effects are dogs have exercise intolerance, noisy breathing, difficulty breathing and some have cyanosis or syncope. It's following by secondary problem, also aspiration or edema in the lungs. The affected dogs are vulnerable to heat stroke and heat exhuastion because of their limited ability to cool down by panting.

The symptom can be appeared for many times, but owners may notice only their dog's bark sound different or their dogs can't run as much as before, or they can see that their dogs have trouble in hot weather in unilateral cases because the unaffected side can compensate for the paralysised side. However the unilateral cases will eventually progress to include both sides of the larynx. During exercise, during time of stress or excitement, the symptoms are usually worse.

- Portosystemic shunt

Aslo known as liver shunt, it is a bypass of the liver by the body's circulatory system. Congenital portosystemic shunt (PSS) is a hereditary condition in both dogs and cats. Normally the shunt will be found in the small dogs such as Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers, and in the cats such as Persians and Himalayans. The extrahepatic are usually found in mix breeds, but the intrahepatic are found in large dog breeds such as Irish Wolfhounds and Labrador Retrievers. This uncommon acquired portosystemic shunt is found in dogs and cats with liver disease such as cirrhosis causing portal hypertension (highblood pressure in the portal vein).

Symptom of Portosystemic shunt.

Congenital portosystemic shunt usually appears by six month of age. Include failure to gain weight, vomiting and signs of hepatic encephalopathy (a condition where toxins normally removed by the liver accumulate in the blood and impaire the function of brain cells) such as seizures, depression, tremors, drooling and head pressing. The increased amounts of uric acid in circulation and excreted by the kidneys may form the urate bladder stones. Diagnosis of portosystemic shunt is through laboratory bloodwork showing either elevated serum bile acids after eating or elevation of fasting blood ammonia levels, which has been shown to have a higher sensitivity and specificity than the bile acids test.

- Common Diseases.

Cancer was the big cause of death of Goldens according to a 1998 health study conducted by Golden Retriever Club of America. Cancer is the common being hemangiosarcoma, followed by lymphosarcoma, mast cell tumor and osteosarcoma. Cancer was making the breed's most deadly disease.

Hip and elbow dysplasia.

Eye diseases, including cataracts, pregressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma, distichiasis, entropion, corneal dystrophy and retinal dysplasia.

Heart, especially the major problems are subvavular aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy.

Joint deseases, including patella luxation, osteochondritis, panosteitis and cruciate ligament rupture.

Skin diseases, with allergies often leading to acute moist dermatitis, particularly flea allergies, being most common.

Others are including seborrhea, sebaceous adenitis, and lick granuloma.