Dog health conditions

Acid, or Gastric reflux (GR) is defined as the movement of gastric secretions from the stomach into the esophagus. 

Canine acne describes an inflammatory skin condition primarily affecting the chin and lips of young dogs. The underlying disease process is not fully understood, but it is thought that injury to the muzzle causes inflammation of the hair follicles which sometimes leads to secondary infection, pain and itchiness.

Acral Lick Granuloma (ALG) in dogs describes skin injury to the extremities as a result of continuous licking.

Actinomycosis is a type of bacterial infection caused by a variety of Actinomyces species bacteria.

In a dog with Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism), the adrenal glands fail to produce stress hormones due to damage to the adrenal gland or the pituitary gland.

Adenocarcinoma is cancer of glandular tissue and it can develop almost anywhere in the body. Common locations for adenocarcinomas in dogs include the anal glands, mammary tissue, and prostate.

Pheochromocytomas in dogs are tumors arising from the cells of the adrenal medulla, which produce large amounts of hormones, such as epinephrine. Nearly half of all cases are asymptomatic and the tumor isn’t detected until a post-mortem examination.

Canine allergies are common and occur when the immune system overreacts to allergens the dog is exposed to.

The anal glands (AGs) are two small glands situated either side of the anus which produce secretions that are deposited on the feces during normal bowel movements.

Anaplasmosis is a bacterial infection transmitted through a tick bite. Ticks that transmit the disease are found worldwide. Active, outdoor dogs in high density tick areas are most likely to contract the disease.

Antidepressant toxicosis is a form of poisoning in dogs caused by overdose or accidental ingestion of prescribed antidepressants.

Ethylene glycol (EG) is a highly toxic ingredient in antifreeze products that causes poisoning in dogs when ingested

Canine anxiety disorders are characterized by disproportionate fear in response to stimuli that are not dangerous. Examples include storm phobia and separation anxiety.

Arthritis is a general term referring to damage and inflammation of joints. Osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs is a chronic, progressive form of this disease resulting in pain and reduced mobility.

Aspiration pneumonia in dogs is a lung infection resulting from the inhalation of a solid or liquid foreign material.

Asthma inhaler toxicosis in dogs is caused by the inhalation or ingestion of large doses of albuterol.

Atlantoaxial instability (AAI) in dogs affects the first two neck bones in the spine: the atlas (vertebra C1) and axis (vertebra C2), which give the head and neck stability. Changes to the bone(s) or ligaments in these joints can cause instability, resulting in dislocation and spinal cord compression. 

Atopic dermatitis (or atopy) is a common allergic condition in dogs that is similar to human environmental allergies (hayfever). Determining what the dog is allergic to is rarely necessary for management of the disease, but examples of common dog allergens include pollen, dust mites, and mold spores. 

An aural hematoma is a pocket of blood caught between layers of tissue on a dog’s ear. The cause is usually due to injury, including bite wounds, or damage caused by scratching or shaking the head too vigorously.

Uveodermatologic syndrome in dogs is a rare grouping of symptoms that results from the autoimmune system attacking the pigment-producing cells in the eyes, hair, and skin. Symptoms include reddened, cloudy, painful eyes with diminished vision, and whitening of the coat and skin.

Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune skin diseases. In dogs, there are different types of pemphigus that affect different parts of the skin and vary in severity. The cause of pemphigus is often unknown, but there may be a predisposition in certain breeds.

Eosinophilic granuloma and  furunculosis are skin conditions which manifest in dogs as red or yellow bumpy nodules which can be itchy or painful. They result from skin inflammation triggered by hypersensitive reactions and are associated with insect bites.