Dog health conditions

Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal that can be found in paints, fishing tackle, ammunition, drapery weights, and old toys produced prior to the late 1970s. When lead is ingested or inhaled it damages blood cells and circulates throughout the body where it causes widespread damage.

Legg-Calve-Perthes (LCP) disease is a rare condition in dogs that results from loss of blood flow to the head of the femur (the thigh bone) where it forms the hip joint with the pelvis.

Lenticular sclerosis in dogs is a normal part of the aging process in which the lens of the eye (the structure that focuses light onto the retina) hardens and thickens. This causes a bluish, cloudy appearance to the lens. 

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that affects many animals, including dogs and humans.

Lice infestation, also known as pediculosis, describes parasitic infestation of the skin and hair with different species of lice. Infestation is more commonly seen in young, debilitated, and malnourished dogs.

Limb fractures (broken legs) are fairly common in dogs. There are different types of fractures, and combinations are possible and are required in treatment considerations. 

Liver or hepatic failure in dogs is an extremely severe condition that is described as the loss of liver function.

Tumors of the liver describe cancerous growths of the liver, bile ducts, and gallbladder. Dogs with liver tumors often show no symptoms, and diagnosis often occurs while performing tests for other conditions.

Respiratory parasites are tiny organisms that infect the respiratory tract of dogs, and are spread through feces or contact with an infected animal. These parasites live in a host’s lungs, trachea, or airways, and may lead to symptoms such as coughing, rapid breathing, and lethargy.

Cancer of the lower urinary tract is uncommon in dogs. The lower urinary tract consists of the bladder, urethra (tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body), and in males the prostate gland.

Bacterial cystitis is infection and inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by bacteria entering through the urethra in dogs. Bacterial cystitis is commonly called a lower urinary tract infection, or UTI.

Lung cancer in dogs is an uncontrolled, unnatural growth of cancer cells that affects the lungs.

Lupoid onychodystrophy is an uncommon disease that affects the nails or claws of dogs. Dogs with lupoid onychodystrophy typically have multiple nails on more than one paw affected, but are otherwise healthy.

Luxating patellas (LP) is a term for dislocation (luxation) of the kneecaps (patellas). LP is a moderately common condition and is seen most commonly in small breed dogs.

Lyme disease is an infectious disease spread by ticks. Typical symptoms in dogs include lameness, fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and joints and loss of appetite.

Lymphomas (lymphosarcomas) are cancers that are derived from lymphocytes - infection-fighting white blood cells.