Your veterinarian Rosedale, MD can tell you that all breed types of cats are prone to various joint diseases as they age. For instance, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) can affect all cat breeds including the American Bobtails. DJD (also known as Osteoarthritis) is a long-term disease that occurs when the cartilage surrounding the muscle joints slowly deteriorates. Symptoms of DJD vary based on the severity and the cause of the deterioration. General symptoms include a stiff-legged gait and decreased range of motion. An increased irritability may also be noticed over time. Senior cats as well as obese cats are at a greater risk of developing DJD. Other more subtle signs of DJD may include your cat’s inability to move around freely, lameness of a limb, or even the inability to go in and out of the litter box. If your cat has any of the symptoms mentioned, please call your vet.

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Canine epilepsy occurs when a dog is overcome with sudden or periodic seizures. Your veterinarian Rosedale, MD can help you better understand epilepsy and its symptoms. As with seizures in people, canine seizures are believed to be related to the miscommunication of neurons in the brain. Your vet may need to run a thorough examination of your Dachshund to diagnose his condition. You will need to provide your vet with a detailed health history of your dog. A physical and neurological exam of your dog may be required. Laboratory tests and X-rays are often part of the examination process. The cause for these miscommunications that trigger seizures is often unknown. If a trigger or underlying cause for the seizure cannot be determined then it will be diagnosed as idiopathic or a genetic disorder. If a cause is determined, additional treatment will be recommended to treat the cause in hopes of treating the seizures at the same time. If you want to know more, ... Read more »

If you are interested in adopting a small dog or a toy breed dog then you may want to ask your veterinarians Essex-Middle River, MD about the Yorkshire Terrier. Nicknamed the Yorkie, these little pups are playful, easy to train, loving, protective, and eager to please. The Yorkie is considered to be a hypoallergenic dog breed as it has more of a human type hair than fur. Because of this, there is less dander on a Yorkie’s coat than most average dogs; therefore, making them safe for homes with people with allergies. In addition to their coat and curious character traits, the Yorkie also has an interesting trait known as the Pharyngeal Gag Reflex. This condition causes air to go up a Yorkie’s nose a little too quickly resulting in a backward sneeze. When this happens the pup tends to snort like a pig, but the episode is usually considered harmless and lasts only a few seconds.

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Fatty liver disease is common in both dogs and cats. It usually occurs in toy breed dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers. Fatty liver disease is when large amounts of fat are deposited into the liver. Your vet Essex-Middle River, MD may share that leading causes for fat to be deposited into the liver include malnourishment, cancer, diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney disease and other liver diseases. Symptoms may include rapid weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, muscle wasting, depression, yellowing of the eyes, drooling, and possible collapse in later stages. In order to make a diagnosis your vet may need a history of your dog’s health. Additional tests such as a complete blood count, biochemistry profile and urinalysis may also be conducted in order to determine what the underlying cause of the infected or fatty liver might be. Treatment options will be discussed once a diagnosis is made. Click here ... Read more »

If you own a cat then you may have heard about fatty liver disease (also known as Hepatic Lipidosis) in cats. Your vet Essex-Middle River, MD can tell you that fatty liver disease in cats is a worldwide problem that occurs in middle aged cats of all breeds including the American Bobtail. Fatty liver disease can be genetic or a symptom of an underlying condition. It occurs when large amounts of fat are deposited into the liver. This can cause the cat to lose weight and become undernourished even though his diet hasn’t changed. As a result, his body will transfer fat reserves to the liver to be converted into the proteins needed for energy. A cat’s liver is unable to handle this large amount of fat and may become swollen. In addition, you may see a yellowing of the cat’s eyes. For more information, click here.

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