It has lots of names; doggy dementia, canine Alzheimer’s, canine brain ageing, canine senility, or canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS).  This can get confusing – especially for owners – but they all mean the same thing and it is more common than you think.

CDS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of senior dogs. It is characterised by a gradual loss of memory and learning and reduced problem- solving ability. The clinical signs are progressive and not easily diagnosed in a consultation. The behavioural changes associated with CDS are more obvious to pet owners at home, than they are to a veterinarian.

The brains of older dogs develop similar neuro-pathological features to the brains of elderly people. The behavioural signs of cognitive dysfunction in dogs are identified by the acronym “DISH.”

We see our friends shaking their head, flopping their ears from side to side.  Is it an ear infection? Might it be a grass seed?  Sometimes we hope that these conditions will just disappear, but the reality is, the more irritated the ear canal becomes, the more trauma our dogs cause themselves.  The constant shaking, with the ferocity, causes the earflaps to literally explode.  An aural haematoma is a pool of blood that collects between the skin and the cartilage of an animals ear flap.  It is typically caused by overly aggressive ear scratching or head scratching that results from an ear infection.  Dogs and cats can both suffer aural haematoma’s though dogs are more prone.

 Take special care to keep these toxins out of your pets reach and pet-proof your home.

1. Chocolate                                                
2. Mouse & Rat Poisons 
3. Anti-Inflammatory medications       
4. Xylitol (sugar-free gum)
5. Grapes & Raisins                                   
6. Antidepressant Medication
7. Paracetamol                                           
8. Vitamin D Overdose
9. Stimulant Medication (e.g.for ADD)
10. Fertilizers

If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these, or any other questionable substance, please seek advice immediately.  Accurate and timely identification of the suspected substance is very important.  Having the container, package or label in hand will save valuable time and may save the life of your pet.

Just like in humans, Diabetes Mellitus is relatively common in dogs.  The disease in dogs is most like Type 1 Diabetes seen in children, where there is a lack of insulin produced in the body.

In the absence of insulin, the body’s fat and protein are broken down instead, resulting in muscle wasting and weight loss, despite the animal being ravenously hungry.

Implicating factors in Diabetes include chronic pancreatitis.  This is a condition that results in the progressive destruction of the pancreas, usually associated with a high-fat diet and obesity. 

In clinic, we see a-lot more skin issues during Spring and Summer, however some animals have skin issues all year round.  We are lucky as residents in the northern suburbs, that we have many parklands and pet areas for our animals, but this also means exposure to more environmental issues.  This is evident, with a 30% increase in dogs presented with environmental allergies between 2008 & 2018. Contrary to what we have believed, 90% of skin issues are not caused by food allergies.

We regularly discuss the benefits of joint support in our animals.  This may be through high quality diets, surgical intervention, or medicinal support.  The dog stifle joint is not unlike the humans. We rely on this joint for ease of mobility and when in pain we seek advice.  This is the same way our dogs require treatment and support.

Hip dysplasia is a deformity of the hip joint (coxofemoral joint) that occurs during an animal's growth period. Many large breed dog owners have heard of it, but the fact is that anyone owning a dog should become familiar with this condition.

In essence, the ball of the femur can’t fit properly into the hip socket. An affected dog may show absolutely no signs of this condition, whilst others may show severe signs.

PennHIP is a scientific method to evaluate a dog for its susceptibility to develop hip dysplasia. The radiographic procedure involves a special positioning of the dog so that the dog's "passive hip laxity" can be accurately measured. In simple terms, passive hip laxity refers to the degree of looseness of the hip ball in the hip socket when the dog's muscles are completely relaxed.

Research has shown that the degree of passive hip laxity is an important factor in determining susceptibility to develop Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) later in life. Radiographic evidence of hip DJD, also known as osteoarthritis, is the universally accepted confirmation of CHD.

Incidence
Mast cell tumours (MCT) in dogs are very common, accounting for approximately 20% of all skin tumours in dogs. For most dogs, the underlying cause promoting the development of the tumour is not known.

The Newest Treatment for Canine ACL Rupture. Rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in the knee (stifle) is the most common Orthopaedic Injury in the dog.