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Cushing's disease is a condition in which the adrenal glands overproduce certain hormones. There are three types of Cushing's disease, each of which has a different cause. The most common cause of Cushing's disease is a pituitary gland tumor. Cushing's disease may also be the result of a benign or malignant tumor of the adrenal gland itself, or may be caused from the excessive administration of an oral or injectable steroid. Clinical signs, treatment, and prognosis are discussed.
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Cushing's disease, or hyperadrenocorticism, is the overproduction of cortisol hormone by a dog's body. The clinical signs of Cushing's disease are similar, regardless of the underlying cause of the disease. However, it is essential to identify the type of Cushing's disease as the treatment and prognosis differ slightly depending upon the form of the disease.
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Treatment for Cushing's disease using mitotane involves two phases: initiating phase and maintenance phase. Monitoring your dog's food and water intake is very important. This handout provides detailed treatment instructions for dogs prescribed mitotane. Follow your veterinarian's instructions carefully.
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A cutaneous histiocytoma is a common benign (harmless) tumor of the skin in dogs, typically younger ones. Their development, appearance, diagnosis, and treatment are explained in this handout.
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Cutaneous histiocytosis is an uncommon condition in dogs. It is a non-cancerous increase in the number of reactive cells (histiocytes) caused by an immune system dysfunction. It generally manifests as multiple bumps and nodules confined to the dog's skin. The clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition are explained in this handout.
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Lymphoma is a type of cancer that is common in cats. When it occurs in the skin, it is called cutaneous lymphoma, but this form is quite rare. Feline cutaneous lymphoma can present various clinical signs, including itching, alopecia (hair loss), scaly skin, skin redness, loss of skin color, ulcers, nodules, pustules, and plaques.
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Lymphoma is a type of cancer that is common in dogs. When it occurs in the skin, it is called cutaneous lymphoma, but this form is quite rare. Canine cutaneous lymphoma can present various clinical signs, including itching, alopecia (hair loss), scaly skin, skin redness, loss of skin color, ulcers, nodules, pustules, and plaques.
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Cuterebra are botflies that spend the larvae stage of their lifecycle within rodent or rabbit hosts and can accidentally infect dogs. They enter through the nose, mouth or a skin wound. They usually develop a cyst under the skin that can be located as it enlarges and often a breathing hole can be seen. The larva (warble) will leave the dog when it is ready to form a pupa but it will often leave behind a secondary bacterial skin infection or abscess in the empty cyst. Rarely, the larva/cuterebra migrate aberrantly through the dog causing inflammation and damage to different tissues, including the brain and eyes, and even potentially cause a severe systemic inflammatory response. Treatment depends on what damage has been done and can include removal of the warble, debridement or removal of the cyst, antibiotics and symptomatic and supportive treatment of the results of aberrant migration. Prognosis is generally good if only the skin is involved. Cuterebra infection can not be prevented easily, so monitoring the dog regularly for signs is important.
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Cuterebra is the scientific name for the North American rabbit or rodent botfly. Cats are accidental hosts of Cuterebra larvae, and they are rarely evident from external skin inspection. A hole enlarges when the warble has matured, often leading to an infected empty cyst. Treatment depends on when the condition is discovered, and in many cases, antibiotics are used to treat secondary infections.
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Blue-green algae, also called cyanobacteria, are found in fresh and brackish water of ponds and lakes. These microscopic bacteria can also grow in backyard fountains, garden pots, bird baths, and anywhere water is stagnant. Regardless of where they are found, cyanobacteria can be dangerous.