Articles
-
Urate bladder stones are most commonly the result of a genetic abnormality in breeds such as dalmatians. Other causes include liver diseases such as portosystemic shunts. The most common signs that a dog has bladder stones are difficulty urinating and blood in the urine. Strategies for treating urate bladder stones in dogs include medical dissolution and removal. Dogs that have experienced urate bladder stones will often be fed a therapeutic diet for life. Dogs with liver disease will need to be treated appropriately prior to addressing urate bladder stone management.
-
Urinary incontinence (UI) is the loss of voluntary control of urination. The most common clinical sign is pooling or spotting of urine underneath your dog when it is sleeping or relaxed. Urinary incontinence is diagnosed based on clinical signs, medical history, blood tests, and urine tests. Bladder X-rays and ultrasounds are often performed to search for bladder stones or other abnormalities affecting urine storage and outflow. Treatment will be based on your pet's specific diagnosis. Medications that increase urethral sphincter tone such as phenylpropanolamine (PPA), or hormone replacements such as estrogen or diethylstilbestrol (DES), are commonly used alone or in combination. In general, the prognosis is good.
-
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are fairly common in dogs. Dogs with UTIs tend to have the following signs: attempting to urinate frequently when they go outside, straining to urinate, blood in the urine, crying out or whining while urinating, licking their genitals, and a break in house training. Generally, a UTI occurs when bacteria travel up the urethra and into the bladder. If your dog presents to your veterinarian with urinary signs, your veterinarian will first perform a urinalysis. Once the culture and sensitivity results are received, an appropriate antibiotic will be prescribed. Older female dogs and dogs with certain health conditions may be predisposed.
-
Uveitis is an inflammation of one or more of the structures making up the uvea (part of the eye). Signs of uveitis are severe pain with an intense reddening of the visible parts of the eye. Measurement of intraocular pressure is often performed to diagnose uveitis. Treatment involves reducing the pain and inflammation in the eye as well as treating the initial cause of the disease.
-
Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina or vestibule (the area between the vulva and the vagina). It can can have many causes, and can appear in any female dog, at any age, spayed or intact. Prognosis is generally good, especially if the underlying cause is identified and treated early.
-
Valley fever is an infection called Coccidioidomycosis, caused by the soil-dwelling fungus Coccidioides immitis. In the US, it is more commonly found in the southwestern states. Dogs are infected by inhaling spores released by disturbance of soil. These spores infect the lungs, forming spherules, and may migrate to different areas of the body, including the bones, joints, eyes, and rarely the brain. Dogs with weakened immune systems can become ill. Most dogs that are treated appropriately will recover from this disease.
-
Vestibular disease is a condition that affects the vestibular system, which helps a dog maintain balance and move normally. The vestibular system has components in the brain and the inner ear. Disease or damage in these areas can affect a dog's balance and coordination.
-
Vitamin D poisoning occurs when a dog ingests a toxic dose of vitamin D. Common sources of vitamin D poisoning include rodenticides that contain vitamin D3 and certain human medications. The effects of vitamin D poisoning can last many weeks to months.
-
Vomiting is a clinical sign that may occur with many diseases and problems. There can be many causes of vomiting. This handout outlines various types of vomiting, as well as potential causes, diagnosis, and treatments for vomiting in your dog.
-
Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in humans and dogs. It is caused by a deficiency in a protein called von Willebrand factor (VWF), which is essential for blood clotting. VWD affects at least 30 different breeds, but the Doberman pinscher is the breed with the highest incidence.