Overview
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is caused by an abnormality in the structure or function of the heart. Because of this abnormality, the heart is unable to adequately pump blood to the rest of the body. When the problem becomes severe enough, there can be fluid accumulations in the body cavities, such as the chest or abdomen.
There are a variety of causes of congestive heart failure in the dog. In older dogs, some of the more common causes of heart failure include: degeneration of the heart valves, heart muscle disease, heartworm disease, and arrhythmias (irregular electrical
rhythms). However, it is important to know that congestive heart failure can develop in dogs of any age.
What to Watch For
• coughing
• shortness of breath
• dyspnea (difficulty breathing) • exercise intolerance
• fatigue
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of congestive heart failure may require several or all of the diagnostic tests listed below:
• a complete physical exam • chest x-rays • blood pressure • blood tests • an electrocardiogram • an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
Congestive Heart Failure—Dogs
• referral to a board certified veterinary cardiologist
Treatment
Treatment of congestive heart failure will vary significantly depending on the cause of the heart failure and the severity of the disease. The goal of treatment is to improve heart function, prevent fluid retention, and slow further deterioration of the heart muscle. Rarely is there a “cure” for the heart disease. Treatment is used to help minimize the clinical signs and help slow the progression of the disease. Initial treatment may include hospitalization with oxygen and intravenous medications. If the fluid accumulations in the body cavities are severe, it may require drainage with a needle (thoracocentesis). Diuretics (i.e. furosemide) may also be administered to help reduce the fluid reten-tion. Often times, patients will go home on an oral diuretic to be administered at home. Many dogs with heart failure will be treated with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor). These medications will help decrease water retention and help dilate vessels. Another drug class used in some cases of heart failure is known as posi-tive ionotropes. These medications will improve the contractility of the heart. Other recommendations for a dog in congestive heart failure may include a reduced sodium diet and/or dietary
supplements such as taurine or L-carnitine. Treatment of congestive heart failure requires frequent monitoring of clinical signs and possible adjustments of medications to help keep your dog as comfortable as possible.
Overview
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common problem in all dog breeds. The digestion of food produces waste products, which are carried by blood to the kidneys to be filtered and excreted in the form of urine. When the kidneys start to fail, they are no longer able to remove these waste products, and toxins build up in the blood producing clinical signs of kidney disease.
CKD affects all breeds of any age, although older pets are commonly affected, as the prevalence increases with age. CKD affects almost every body system causing many changes throughout the body and usually results in the following:
• abnormal filtration of blood and retention of waste materials
• failure of erythropoietin production, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production
• disturbance of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance
CKD can be caused by several different processes including:
• inflammatory disease • infection
• poor blood flow and lack of oxygen • immune system abnormalities • cancer (neoplasia)
• toxins
What to Watch For
• increased thirst • excessive drinking
Chronic Kidney Disease—Dogs
• vomiting • anorexia • weakness • weight loss
• increased urination
• lack of coordination when walking
Diagnosis
Diagnostic tests are needed to recognize CKD and exclude other diseases. These tests include:
• blood tests • urinalysis
• radiographs/abdominal ultrasound • a complete medical history
• a complete physical exam
Treatment
Although there is no cure for CKD, early detection can slow the progression of the dis-ease. CKD can be a life threatening condition that may require hospitalization in extremely ill pets. Intravenous fluid therapy may be nec-essary to help rehydrate your dog. Anorexia resulting from gastric ulceration can often occur in chronic kidney disease; therefore, antacids and appetite stimulants are often used to help encourage your pet to eat. A dietary change to a kidney friendly diet such as Hill’s K/D is often recommended to help manage your pet’s renal disease. Regular rechecks of your pet’s kidney values may also be necessary to determine the course of the disease and to make any adjustments in your dog’s treatment.
Overview
Obesity is defined as excessive accumulation of body fat. This is the most common health concern that is related to nutrition in dogs. Weight gain slowly over time often keeps owners from recognizing there is a problem until the dog comes in for his or her annual exam.
The main causes of obesity in the dog include excessive caloric intake and decreased exer-cise. It is really a matter of simple arithmetic. If the caloric intake exceeds the calories (energy) burned, then the excess will be stored as fat.
What to Watch For
• difficulty walking • difficulty breathing • exercise intolerance • intolerance to heat
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian can help you determine whether your dog is overweight. This may require running diagnostic tests that will determine if there is any underlying medical condition that may be a cause for weight gain. These tests include:
• a complete physical exam and medical history
• routine blood work • urinalysis
• evaluation of diet and treats
• evaluation of current exercise regime
Obesity—Dogs
Treatment
First, if it is possible, it is extremely important to treat any underlying condition that may be causing the weight gain of your dog.
One of the first steps to helping your dog lose weight is by decreasing his or her caloric intake. This can be done a couple different ways. One possible method is by decreasing the amount of food that you are feeding daily. Consult with your veterinarian about how to do this safely. The other method is by chang-ing the diet that your dog is eatchang-ing. There are several weight loss diets that are available. Another way to help your dog lose weight is by increasing the activity level. This can be achieved with something as simple as an increase in frequency and/or lengths of walks. It is important to remember that when start-ing a new exercise program with your dog, to start out slowly and gradually increase activity level. Just as if you led a sedentary life style, you would never just go out and run 10 miles. It would require training to work your way up to that 10 mile run. Finally, some dogs may benefit from new weight loss med-ications. Please consult with us to determine if these medications may be useful for your dog.
It is important to be patient, as with any weight loss program. Weight loss doesn’t hap-pen overnight. In fact, it can take as long as 8-12 months to achieve your dog’s weight loss goal. Frequent rechecks and adjustments will be needed throughout the program.
Overview
Hypothyroidism refers to a condition in which the hormone thyroxine is not duced at adequate levels. Thyroxine is pro-duced and secreted by the thyroid gland, which is a butterfly-shaped glandular organ that is located in the neck. Thyroxine is the primary hormone that is responsible for regu-lating the metabolic rate of many different tis-sues in the body. Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine (hormonal) disorder seen in dogs. It is primarily seen in dogs that are between the ages of 4 and 10 years of age. Any breed can be affected, but some commonly affected breeds include the Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Dachshund, and Miniature Schnauzer. There are two primary causes for hypothy-roidism. Most dogs have what is called pri-mary hypothyroidism. In this case, there is destruction of the thyroid gland itself because of inflammation, degeneration, or infiltration with a tumor. Secondary hypothyroidism is when another condition causes the thyroid gland to produce less thyroxine. Examples include radiation, surgery, or other medica-tions that influence the thyroid gland.
What to Watch For
Signs can be variable and have slow onset making it difficult to recognize. An owner may even think that these are “normal aging changes”.
• lethargy, increased sleep • exercise intolerance
• cold intolerance (seeks warmth)
Hypothyroidism—Dogs
• chronic skin disorders (dry skin, thin hair coat, increased hair loss, chronic infections)
• depression, mental dullness • weight gain
• slow heart rate
Diagnosis
Diagnosis may not be straightforward, making it necessary for several tests to be completed for an accurate diagnosis. It is also important for the owner to give the veterinarian a thor-ough history.
• complete physical exam and history • biochemical profile
• complete blood cell count
• thyroid panel including thyroxine (T4) level, free T4 level, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level • chest/abdominal radiographs
Treatment
Hypothyroidism can be easily treated by giv-ing daily doses of synthetic thyroxine. Proper dosing of the medication is important since in almost every dog, the medication will be life long. Once on the medication, the owner must observe the dog closely for recurrence of clinical signs or signs of overdosing (hyperactivity, excessive weight loss). Periodic blood testing of the thyroid level will also be critical to determine adequate dosing of the medication.
Overview
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition in which a deficiency of the hormone insulin impairs the body’s ability to metabolize sugar. It is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases of dogs.
There are two types of diabetes mellitus. Type I DM occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin. This can be the result of destruction of the cells in the pan-creas that normally produce insulin. Type II DM occurs when enough insulin is produced, but something interferes with its ability to be utilized by the body.
DM usually affects middle-aged to older dogs of either sex. Any breed can be affected; how-ever, obese dogs are generally more suscepti-ble to developing DM.
DM leads to an inability of the tissue to utilize glucose. Disease occurs from high blood sugar levels, inadequate delivery of sugar to the tissues and changes in the body’s metabolism.
What to Watch For
• increased thirst
• increased frequency of urination • weight loss despite a good appetite • seizure-like activity
Diabetes Mellitus—Dogs
Diagnosis
Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of the elevated blood sugar and help guide sub-sequent treatment recommendations. Some of these tests include:
• complete medical history and physical exam
• analysis of the urine to check for glucose and for signs of urinary tract infection • analysis of the blood to determine the
blood glucose concentration and to exclude other potential causes of the same symptoms
• Radiographs/abdominal ultrasound if complications or concurrent diseases such as pancreatitis are suspected.
Treatment
A dietary change to a high protein and low carbohydrate diet may be necessary to help regulate your dog’s diabetes. Some dogs respond extremely well to a dietary change and do not need insulin injections. Other dogs will require daily insulin injections. Your veterinarian will determine what dose of insulin is appropriate for your dog. Antibiotics may be necessary to treat an underlying urinary tract infection if one exists. Regular check-ups with your veterinari-an will be strongly recommended to monitor the status of your dog’s diabetes. It may be necessary from time to time to adjust your dog’s insulin dose.
Overview
Arthritis, also referred to as degenerative joint disease, occurs when there are changes or defects in the cartilage of the joints. Cartilage is the smooth covering of the bones within a joint. It allows the joints to flex and extend smoothly and without pain when a joint is in motion. Over a dog’s lifetime or secondary to a previous injury, the inner lining of their joints can become worn or damaged. This causes inflammation and pain.
What to Watch For
Arthritis can have a very slow and gradual onset. Many owners will assume that these clinical signs are normal signs of aging. Clinical signs of arthritis can include:
• lameness/limping
• difficulty getting up from sitting/laying • difficulty with stairs
• difficulty jumping • swollen joints • loss of musculature • decreased activity level
• crackling sound with joint movement
Diagnosis
• a complete physical exam and history • an orthopedic exam
• radiographs of suspected joints • joint fluid analysis
• blood tests
Arthritis—Dogs
Treatment
Treatment of arthritis will vary depending on the severity of the disease. An important com-ponent to the treatment of any patient with orthopedic disease is weight management. Any excess weight will cause increased stress on these joints. Weight management can be achieved through diet and exercise changes. A dietary joint supplement should also be considered. These supplements are used to help promote joint health. Several products are available specifically for dogs. Pain man-agement is also an important component to treating arthritis. The mainstay of pain relief for arthritis usually includes a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID). These drugs can be used intermittently as needed or can be used on a daily basis. Due to some potential side effects, it is important to monitor certain blood values on a regular basis to ensure safe use of these medications. An owner should NEVER administer an over the counter pain medication without consulting their veteri-narian first! There are many medications that are safe for people, but can be deadly for your dog. Finally, in certain circumstances, surgical intervention may be available/neces-sary for treatment of arthritis.
A
touch of gray on the chin or around the muzzle, once-clear eyes becoming a little cloudy, a slight stiffness in what used to be a frisky gait. Any of these can be telltale signs that your furry friend is entering the “Silver Whisker” years.Generally speaking, a dog 7 years of age or older qualifies as a senior. This varies, however, with the size and breed of the dog. For instance, smaller dogs tend to have longer life spans than giant-breed pets. A giant-breed dog as young as five years of age may be considered a “senior,” while a small-breed dog may not
reach senior status until 10 to 13 years of age. Other factors affecting how individual dogs age include body weight, nutrition, environment, and overall health. Additionally, pets mature more rapidly during the first two years of life, and then again during the final third of their life span. Use the chart at right to determine your dog’s age in human years.
Why is it important to know your dog’s true age? Pets are living longer than ever, thanks to advances in veterinary care and improved nutrition, providing their owners with many more years of love and faithful companionship. The trade-off, however, is that senior pets, just like their aging human companions, become more vulnerable to multiple health problems and diseases such as weight gain and decreased mobility; heart, kidney, and liver diseases; dia-betes; dental problems and periodontal disease; behavioral problems and cancer. The good news is that many of these health problems can be prevented, controlled,
or treated if detected in the early stages.
Ask us how our Silver Whiskers Senior Wellness Program can make your dog’s
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Circle Your Dog’s Agein Human Years
0-20 lbs 21-50 lbs 51-90 lbs >90 lbs
Dog’s Age in Human Years
Age
When Is My Dog Considered
A “Silver Whiskers Senior”?
Color Key
Adult Senior
