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Problems causing diarrhoea . Dietary diarrhoea This can occur as a result of sudden changes in diet, scavenging, feeding unsuitable foods or stress (especially in puppies when they go to their new home). Pancreatic insufficiency Malabsorption This is an uncommon condition, leading to defective absorption of digested food. Affected dogs have ravenous appetite, pass bulky, soft faeces, and are underweight. Laboratory tests are often required to confirm the diagnosis. Enteritis This is inflammation of the small intestines which can be caused by infection, e.g. parvovirus, a severe worm burden or food poisoning. Continued diarrhoea leads to dehydration. Colitis An inflammation of the large bowel (colon). Symptoms include straining and frequent defecation, watery faeces with mucons or blood, and of ten an otherwise healthy dog. Tumours of the bowel These are more likely to cause vomiting than diarrhoea, but one called lymphosarcoma causes diffuse thickening of the gut lining which may lead to diarrhoea. . Problems causing vomiting . Gastritis This is inflammation of the stomach and can result from unsuitable diet, scavenging or infection. The dog repeatedly vomits either food or yellowish fluid and froth, which may be blood stained. Obstruction of the oesophagus This leads to food regurgitation immediately after feeding, and may be caused by small bones or other foreign bodies. Diagnosis is confirmed by X-ray or examination with an endoscope, and treatment must not be delayed. Megoesophagus This is a defect in the wall of the oesophagus due to faulty nerve control, which leads to ballooning, retention of swallowed food and regurgitation before the food reaches the stomach. Obstruction lower down the gut, in the stomach or intestine This may result from items such as stones, corks etc. Tumours can also lead to obstructive vomiting. The dog rapidly becomes very ill and the diagnosis is usually confirmed by palpation, X-rays or exploratory surgery. Intussusception This is telescoping of the bowel which can follow diarrhoea, especially in puppies. Surgery is essential. Gastric dilatation. . Diseases producing a cough . A cough is a reflex which clears foreign matter from the bronchi, trachea and larynx. Severe inflammation of these structures will also stimulate the cough reflex. Read the article about reverse sneezing. Laryngitis, tracheitis and bronchitis Inflammation of these structures can be caused by infection, such as kennel cough or canine distemper, by irritant fumes or by foreign material. Usually, all three parts of the airway are affected at the same time. Bronchitis is a major problem in the older dog, caused by a persistent infection or irritation, and producing irreversible changes in the bronchi. A cough develops and increases until the dog seems to cough almost constantly. . Diseases producing laboured breathing . Laboured breathing is normally caused by those diseases that occupy space within the chest, and reduce the lung tissue available for oxygenation of the blood. An X-ray produces an accurate diagnosis. Pneumonia This infection of the lungs is uncommon in the Labrador but can occur, caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or foreign material. Chest tumours These can cause respiratory problems by occupying lung space and by causing the accumulation of fluid within the chest. . Problems causing itchy skin . Parasites Fleas are the most common cause of skin disease, and dogs often become allergic to them. They are dark, fast moving, sideways f1attened insects, about two millimetres long. They spend about two hours a day feeding on the dog, then jump off and spend the rest of the day breeding and laying eggs. They live for about three weeks and can lay fifty eggs a day. Thus each flea may leave behind 1000 eggs which hatch out in as little as three weeks. It is important to treat the dog with an effective, modern veterinary product, and also the environment, i.e. your house, the dog's bed and bedding etc. Lice are small whitish insects which crawl very slowly between and up the hairs. They lay eggs on the hair, spend their entire life on the dog and are less common and much easier to treat than fleas. Mange is caused by mites (usually Sarcoptes) which burrow into the skin, causing intense irritation and hair loss. It is very contagious and more common in young dogs. Treatment is by anti-parasitic washes. Bacterial infections These are common in the dog and are often secondary to same other skin disease, such as mange or allergies. Pyoderma This can be an acute, wet, painful area of the skin (wet eczema), or a more persistent infection appearing as ring-like sores. Both are very common in the Labrador. Furunculosis This is a deeper, more serious infection, which is seen quite often in the Labrador. Contact dermatitis This is an itchy reddening of the skin, usually of the abdomen, groin, armpit, or feet, where the hair is thinnest and less protective. It can be an allergic response to materials such as wool, nylon, or carpets, or to a direct irritant, such as oil, or a disinfectant. Lick granuloma This is a thickened, hairless patch of skin, usually seen on the front of the wrist or the side of the ankle. It is particularly common in the Labrador and is thought to result from constant licking of this area because of boredom or neurosis. . Diseases producing increased thirst . Acute kidney failure The most common infectious agent producing acute nephritis is leptospirosis. Chronic kidney failure This is common in old dogs and occurs when persistent damage to the kidney results in toxic substances starting to accumulate in the bloodstream. . Diseases causing blood in the urine . Cystitis This is an infection of the bladder. It is more common in the bitch because the infection has easy access through the shorter urethra. The clinica1 signs include frequency of urination, straining and sometimes a b1oody urine. In all other respects, the dog remains healthy. Urinary calculi or stones These can form in either the kidney or bladder Kidney stones can enter the ureters causing severe abdominal pain. Bladder stones, or calculi, are fairly common in both sexes. In the bitch, they are larger and straining is usually the only clinica1 sign. In the dog, the most common sign is unproductive straining due to urinary obstruction. Tumours of the bladder These occur and cause frequent straining and bloody urine or, by occupying space within the bladder, cause incontinence. . |
