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Canine
Jaundice
Any dog can develop jaundice. It is very unusual,
however, to see jaundice in young puppies.
Dogs with jaundice have a yellow discoloration of
body tissues such as the eyes, gums, and skin. The condition results
from increased levels of bilirubin in the body, which is one of the
by-products of heme, a red blood cell protein. Jaundice generally is
not a disease; rather it is a symptom of a number of canine
illnesses.
The causes of jaundice are
classified as pre-hepatic, hepatic, or post-hepatic in origin.
Pre-hepatic jaundice occurs when red blood cell breakdown, or
hemolysis, produces bilirubin faster than the liver can metabolize
it. Hepatic jaundice results from primary and secondary diseases
within the liver that interfere with the liver cells’ ability to
metabolize bilirubin or excrete it normally into the biliary tract.
Post-hepatic jaundice can result from obstruction to the flow of
bilirubin-containing bile within the bile duct or from injury that
causes leakage from the gallbladder or bile duct.
Once identified on physical
examination, jaundice needs to be assessed further to determine the
type and cause. Bloodwork is useful for measuring the bilirubin
level and identifying concurrent abnormalities. It will also help
determine if anemia is a factor in the affected dog’s jaundice. If a
pet is not anemic, then the jaundice is likely to be due to liver
disease or to post-hepatic biliary abnormalities. Some patients may
have jaundice that has multiple causes.
The outlook for a jaundiced
dog depends on the cause of the jaundice. In general, jaundice is a
significant and serious sign, and the prognosis for most disorders
causing it is guarded, or uncertain. However, many diseases
associated with jaundice can be managed successfully with specific,
supportive therapy based on timely and accurate diagnostic test
results.
Feline
Icterus, jaundice
Any age, sex, or breed can be affected. Obese
cats that suddenly stop eating are more at risk of developing
jaundice resulting from a syndrome called feline fatty liver
disease, or hepatic lipidosis.
The whites of the eyes of a cat with jaundice
often are more yellow than they are white; the animal’s skin and
gums may develop a yellowish tinge as well. These changes in color
result from deposits of bile pigment entering the cat’s tissues, a
common occurrence among animals with jaundice. Unfortunately, this
yellowish hue is not as serious as the possible diseases that can be
associated with it, including kidney damage, liver disease, and
disorders of the nervous system.
Clinically known as icterus, jaundice occurs when the cat’s body
has too much of a substance called bilirubin, which comes from red
blood cells that have been processed by the spleen, the liver, and
by bone marrow. In a normal cat, the liver will absorb, metabolize,
and excrete this bilirubin. Jaundice results when too much
bilirubin is being produced, when the liver is not able to
adequately process the bilirubin, or when the bilirubin cannot be
excreted.
Jaundice is not a disease but a symptom caused by a wide range of
feline diseases that result in too much bilirubin being present in
the body. Some of these diseases can be fatal. When the underlying
illness is severe and irreversible, neither it nor the jaundice can
be treated.
Canine
Kennel cough
Dogs.
Many owners are familiar with the harsh, dry,
“goose honking” sound associated with kennel cough. Infectious
tracheobronchitis, or kennel cough, is a term that is used to
describe a common, very contagious respiratory disease of dogs in
which there is inflammation of the upper respiratory passages, and
occasionally the lower airways such as the lungs. Viruses,
bacteria, or a combination of the two can cause kennel cough.
Despite the loud, frequent coughing, kennel cough will often go
away on its own if the dog’s immune system is healthy and strong.
However, in severely affected puppies and debilitated older animals,
kennel cough can be life threatening if it goes untreated.
Pneumonia can be a complication of the disease. Fortunately,
vaccines are available that will help protect the animal from this
disease.
Canine,Feline
Canine typhus, infectious jaundice,
Leptospira
Dogs, cats, humans, and all other animals can
become infected with different types, or serovars, of Leptospira.
A contagious bacterial disease of animals that
can be passed on to humans, leptospirosis affects the kidneys and
the liver, causing damage that can lead to organ failure and death.
Typically, rodents and wild animals are carriers of the disease.
Infection occurs most commonly when the mucous membrane or abraded
skin of an animal or human comes into contact with urine containing
the infective leptospire bacteria.
Once infected, the organism begins to replicate in various
tissues and causes significant infection in the liver and kidneys,
with clinical signs developing within a week of exposure. Cats tend
not to be significantly affected by leptospirosis. Dogs, however,
can develop serious clinical disease, although not all canines with
leptospirosis will show clinical signs of infection. In fact, many
animals that have this disease will be asymptomatic or will have
chronic or mild symptoms.
Animals can transmit leptospirosis to their owners. People who
suspect that they have been exposed to infection should consult a
physician.
Canine
Lyme disease, tick fever
Dogs, cats, and humans.
Without treatment, Lyme disease causes problems
in many parts of the dog’s body, including the heart, kidneys, and
joints. On rare occasions, it can lead to neurological disorders.
Lyme disease most commonly is associated with symptoms such as a
high fever, swollen lymph nodes, lameness, and a loss of appetite.
Dogs get Lyme disease from a tick that passes the Borrelia
burgdorferi bacteria into the animal’s bloodstream when it bites.
The tick must remain attached to the animal’s skin for at least one
day before the bacteria can be transmitted.
The ticks, called Ixodes or deer ticks, generally are found in
specific regions of the United States: the northeastern states, the
upper Mississippi region, California, and certain areas in the
South. Like dogs, people can suffer from Lyme disease—they, too,
catch it from ticks carrying the infection. Infected dogs do not
transmit the disease to humans. For both canines and humans, the
illness is treated by antibiotic medication.
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