Category: Canids

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 is a genetic condition where the animal looks heavily muscled, despite having normal exercise, diet, and other lifestyle factors.

𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐣𝐚𝐰 or more scientifically known as 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲, is a disease where the bones of the jaw and skull proliferate, causing enlargement and an irregular surface. Interestingly, the enlargement is usually 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 (affecting both sides of the head equally).

𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 is the specific term for excessive fibrosis (scar tissue) in the liver, with production of lots of nodules of regenerated liver tissue.

𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐮𝐬-𝟏 is a virus in the family Herpesviridae, which is the same family as human herpesvirus! As you might have guessed by the name, this disease affects canids, like our pet dogs.

𝐄𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 is infection with either Echinococcus multilocularis or Echinococcus granulosus. These are species of 𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬, little internal parasites that can have some serious consequences. Here in North America, E. multilocularis is the most important, and the one that we’ll be talking about today.

GDV is a common issue in dogs, and involves two components: dilation of the stomach with gas, then flipping of the stomach within the abdomen. Sometimes the spleen can get involved in the rotation as well, thanks to its attachment to the stomach.

𝐏𝐲𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐱 is when pus (pyo-) accumulates within the thoracic cavity. Usually, this looks like large amounts of cloudy, yellow or red fluid that contains long strands of 𝐟𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧 (one of the main clotting materials in the bloodstream).

Hemangiosarcoma is a tumour of 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬, which are the cells that line blood vessels. They are most commonly originate in the spleen, skin, heart and liver, but can send metastases anywhere in the body. They are very highly aggressive, and often by the time they are diagnosed, there are already metastases somewhere in the body.

Diabetes mellitus is a 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞, meaning that it impacts how the body processes certain materials. In diabetes mellitus, 𝐠𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞 (the major sugar in our body) is not able to move through its normal metabolic cycle, causing it to accumulate in the blood stream causing 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐥𝐲𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚 (too much glucose in the blood).

Osteosarcomas are tumours that arise directly from the bone. They most commonly develop from the long bones, like the femur or radius, however they can develop from any bone in the body! These tumours very commonly 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 (spread to other organs), particularly to the lungs.