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As much as we would like to believe Yorkshire Terriers are the perfect breed, the truth is there are conditions that are
either inherited, congenital or acquired. With continued research and selective breeding practices many may become conditions of the past.
There's also much happening in the world of research in the area of DNA Mapping. Hopefully one day we will be able to Test each Yorkie
we plan on breeding to make sure each puppy produced will be as happy and healthy as possible.
Please don't believe it's only Yorkshire Terriers that can suffer from these possible conditions, many of the breeds can. Remember that Yorkshire Terriers and all breeds are living breathing
beings, and diseases can strike them just as it does humans.
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Portosystemic Shunts |
CEPS/Veterinary Extension
2938 Vet. Med. Basic Sciences Bldg.
2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
Urbana, Illinois 61802
Phone: 217/333-2907
By Joseph Hahn
Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine
In railroad tracks and electrical circuits, shunts are useful
things, allowing train cars or the flow of current to be diverted
from one pathway to another. But a portosystemic shunt, which
allows blood to flow abnormally around instead of to the liver,
is a serious health problem in pets. Both dogs and cats can have
portosystemic shunts, although it is much more common in dogs.
Normally, the blood carries toxins and toxic by-products of metabolism
from the stomach and intestines to the liver, where the toxins
are removed. "In animals with portosystemic shunts, the blood
bypasses the liver and is diverted to another blood vessel, allowing
toxins to circulate through the body," says Dr. Jennifer
Brinson, a veterinarian who specializes in internal medicine at
the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching
Hospital in Urbana.
Shunts can be either congenital--a condition the animal was born
with--or acquired--a condition that developed later in life. Congenital
shunts are generally diagnosed in animals less than one year old.
Acquired shunts can occur at any age and are often caused by liver
disease. Shunts are also categorized as intrahepatic (within the
liver) or extrahepatic (outside the liver).
"Congenital shunts are most commonly seen in small breed
dogs, such as Yorkshire terriers or toy poodles. These dogs generally
get single, extrahepatic shunts," says Dr. Brinson. "This
disease can also affect large breed dogs. Unfortunately, larger
dogs typically get intrahepatic shunts, which are much more difficult
to treat."
Dogs with congenital shunts tend to be small for their age and
breed. Other signs of shunts include excessive drinking, frequent
urination, and a condition known as hepatic encephalopathy. This
condition arises shortly after eating and may appear as depression,
muscular incoordination, coma, and seizures--signs caused by ammonia
(a by-product of protein digestion) reaching the brain instead
of being cleared by the liver.
Diagnosis of a suspected portosystemic shunt is often done in
three stages. The first stage is checking a blood and urine sample.
If these samples are suggestive of a shunt, second stage tests,
consisting of a pre- and post-bile acid test and an ammonia challenge
test, are performed. These two tests help determine the functional
capacity of the liver. Finally, an ultrasound or nuclear scan
may be used to try to locate and determine the extent of the shunt.
Treatment and prognosis of shunts depend on their location and
severity. "A congenital, single, extrahepatic shunt that
is caught early is a good candidate for surgery," says Dr.
Brinson. "Intrahepatic shunts commonly must be treated medically."
The medical treatment for portosystemic shunts is aimed at reducing
the amount of ammonia circulating in the body and decreasing the
symptoms. A low-protein diet and lactulose to reduce absorption
of ammonia are prescribed. In emergency cases, enemas with water
or lactulose are used to reduce ammonia absorption immediately.
If portosystemic shunts go untreated, the symptoms will get progressively
worse and eventually the pet may die.
If you would like further information, contact your local veterinarian.
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Canine Hypothyroidism |
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CEPS/Veterinary Extension
2938 Vet. Med. Basic Sciences Bldg.
2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
Urbana, Illinois 61802
Phone: 217/333-2907
By Joseph Hahn
Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine
All mammals have a thyroid gland. It is located in the neck
and constantly produces thyroid hormone which speeds up metabolism.
Hypothyroidism occurs when the gland stops functioning and producing
thyroid hormone. It is one of the most common hormonal diseases.
"Hypothyroidism usually happens for unknown reasons,"
says Dr. Leslie Henshaw, a dermatology resident and veterinarian
at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching
Hospital at Urbana. "Most of the other cases are caused
by a destruction of the thyroid gland by the immune system."
This disease usually affects middle-aged dogs and while it is
seen frequently in Golden Retrievers, Irish Setters, and Dobermans,
it can manifest in any breed.
"The first symptom that is usually seen is hair loss,"
remarks Dr. Henshaw. "It is usually not associated with
other skin problems." Other symptoms may include weight
gain, muscle loss, lethargy, and a tendency to seek heat (especially
in winter). Pet owners usually attribute many of these symptoms
to the pet's aging process.
"This is not a life-threatening disease," says Dr.
Henshaw. "If it is left untreated however, the lethargy
will get worse, the dog may experience a mental dullness, and
the heart rate can slow."
"The symptoms with hypothyroidism are usually subtle at
first," she observes. "It is a gradual process which
takes months to one year to develop."
Diagnosis of this disease is done by a series of blood tests.
These tests are fairly common and can be conducted by your veterinarian.
While hypothyroidism is not a curable disease, notes Dr. Henshaw,
it is very treatable. "The treatment consists of oral supplementation
of the thyroid hormone on a daily basis. It is very safe, life-long,
and relatively inexpensive. Treatment often rejuvenates a dog."
Many dog owners are familiar with hypothyroidism because it is
a disease which also occurs in people. Although there are many
similarities, owners of hypothyroid dogs should follow the advice
of their veterinarian, as the dosage of thyroid hormone supplementation
is very different for dogs..
Dr. Henshaw remarked that hypothyroidism can complicate other
skin diseases and, if left untreated, will affect the quality
of life. Once diagnosed, there are virtually no side effects
from the drug therapy and there is very little monitoring needed.
Once the hypothyroidism is controlled with drug therapy, a dog
will no longer be predisposed to other disease conditions. Dog
owners are often pleasantly surprised that their "old dog"
is acting "younger."
If you would like further information or would like to have your
dog tested for hypothyroidism, contact your local veterinarian.
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Renal Failure |
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Veterinary Extension
2938 Vet. Med. Basic Sciences Bldg.
2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
Urbana, Illinois 61802
Phone: 217/333-2907
By Joseph Hahn
Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine
What purpose do kidneys serve? Your pet's kidneys clear
the blood of toxins and conserve water at times when an animal
isn't drinking as much as it should. When the kidneys deteriorate
(chronic renal failure), it can lead to serious health problems
for your pet.
"Chronic renal failure is a slow deterioration of the kidneys
resulting from a variety of inherited or acquired disorders,"
says Dr. Donald Krawiec, a veterinarian specializing in urology
and chief of small animal medicine at the University of Illinois
Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital at Urbana. "It occurs
in middle-aged to older cats and dogs."
He explains that "the signs are so vague that they could
mimic almost any other condition." These signs include excessive
drinking or urination, weight loss, loss of appetite, vomiting,
or general signs of not feeling well.
"There is still a lot we don't know about chronic
renal failure," remarked Dr. Krawiec. "Most of the toxins
that are cleared from the blood by the kidney tend to be products
of protein metabolism. Therefore, we reduce the amount of protein
in the diet to help alleviate this problem. We also know that
animals in renal failure have a hard time regulating phosphorus
and that plays a role in the progression of the disease. Finally,
we know that in humans hypertension (high blood pressure) plays
a role in the disease so in animals we tend to reduce salt in
the diet as well."
The main treatment for renal failure is dietary. Protein, phosphorous
and salt are reduced in the diet to help slow the progression
of the disease. Your veterinarian can recommend an appropriate
diet, most of which are commercially produced and readily available.
The diet is also supplemented with water soluble vitamins. If
necessary, the animal is treated for anemia if the condition is
present.
Renal failure is usually first diagnosed with a blood test and
urine sample and later with the help of radiography. Monitoring
for mild renal failure is not rigorous. At first, animals will
need to be seen monthly until the rate of the renal failure is
determined. Once this is determined, most animals require only
once- or twice-a-year visits.
"The progression of this disease is highly variable,"
explains Dr. Krawiec. "Renal failure will progress rapidly
in some animals and slowly in others. Cats will tend to progress
more slowly than dogs."
"As with people, the cause with chronic renal failure in
dogs and cats is currently unknown," he says. "It is
important to be observant with your dog and communicate any unusual
changes or behaviors with your veterinarian. The changes may be
subtle but it helps if it can be identified before the animal
is overtly ill."
If you would like further information on chronic renal failure,
contact your local veterinarian.
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