Written by Ioana Echim

• ACRAL LICK DERMATITIS: a skin disease caused by an animal's licking a localized area excessively, especially on the legs and paws.
• ACUTE MOIST DERMATITIS: known as "hot spots," a localized area of a severely itchy, inflamed and oozing dermatitis exacerbated by the animal's intense licking and chewing at the spot
• ALLERGIES: same as in humans. Dogs can be allergic to things they come in contact with, eat or inhale.
• ATOPY: an allergy caused from things dogs inhale.
• CATARACT: as in humans, a change in structure of the lens of the eye leading to cloudiness and usually to blindness
• COLOBOMA: an abnormal development of the eye, usually seen in collies, which can lead to blindness
• CORNEAL DYSTROPHY: an abnormality of the cornea usually characterized by shallow pits in the surface
• DERMATITIS, ATOPIC: inflammation and subsequent infection of the skin due to atopy
• DISTICHIASI: abnormally growing eyelashes
• ECTROPION: an abnormal rolling out of the eyelids.
• ELBOW DYSPLASIA: an abnormal development of the elbow joint.
• ENTROPION: an abnormal rolling in of the eyelid
• FACTOR VIII DEFICIENCY OR HEMOPHILIA A: the most common severe inherited clotting disorder of humans and nonhuman animals. Inhereited as a sex-linked recessive trait (carried by females and manifested in males). Affects most dog breeds
• FOLLICULITIS: an infection of the hair follicles.
• FRAGMENTED CORONOID PROCESS: osteochondrosis of the elbow joint.
• FURUNCULOSIS: an infection of the deeper structures of the skin
• GRANULOMATOUS SEBACEOUS ADENITIS: a disease of sebaceous (sweat) skin glands characterized by reactive tissue growth and autoimmune destruction of the sebaceous glands. Hair loss occurs and is poorly responsive to treatment. Common in standard poodles, Akitas, samoyed and vizslas.
• HEMANGIOSARCOMA: a cancer of blood vessels involving liver, spleen or skin.
• HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA: anemia caused by the destruction of the red blood cells by an autoimmune process. Particularly common in cocker spaniels and Old English sheepdogs, as well as several other breeds.
• HEMOPHILIA A: a blood clotting disorder due to deficiency of coagulation factor VIII (this is the most common type of hemophilia in dogs)
• HEPATIC PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNT OR ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULA: a malformation of blood vessels in the liver or an abnormal communication between the arteries and veins in the liver.
• HIP DYSPLASIA: a developmental malformation or subluxation of the hip joints.
• HYPOTHYROIDISM: a common endocrine disease where the body produces an abnormally low amount of thyroid hormones. An autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland which affects more than 50, dog breeds.
• JUVENILE CELLULITIS: an inflammation of cells (usually skin cells) occurring in the young animal.
• LYMPHOCYTIC THYROIDITIS: an autoimmune disease causing inflammation and destruction of the thyroid gland, which becomes infiltrated with lymphocytes (white blood cells) and leads to hypothyroidism. This is the most comon endocrine disease of the dog and has an inherited predisposition
• LYMPHOSARCOMA: a cancerous condition involving the lymphatic system. One of the more common canine cancers.
• MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY: a congenital and often inherited form of generalized muscle dysfunction which causes signs such as poor growth, weakness, abnormal gait, dificulty eating and swallowing, and muscle atrophy. Affected animals have serious health problems and may die or be euthanized.
• MYASTHENIA GRAVIS: a syndrome characterized by muscle fatigue due to an autoimmune disease which produces chemical abnormalities of the muscles and nerves. An enlarged esophagus called megaesophagus can result and causes regurgitation of food.
• OPTIC NERVE HYPOPLASIA: a condition where the optic nerve going from the eye to the brain is too small.
• OSTREOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS: a specific form of inflammation of the cartilage of certain joints which causes arthritis.
• OSTREOCHONDROSIS: a group of developmental diseases resulting in abnormal formulation of joint cartilage. Commonly involves the shoulder, stifle, hock or elbow.
• OSTEOCHONDROSIS: a group of developmental diseases resulting in abnormal formulation of joint cartilage. Commonly involves the shoulder, stifle, hock or elbow.
• PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY: a disease where the retina slowly deteriorates, producing night blindness.
• SEBACEOUS ADENITIS
• SUBAORTIC STENOSIS: a tightening of the outflow opening for blood to go from the heart into the aorta. Common in golden retrievers and Newfoundlands.
• THYROIDITIS: an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland.
• VASCULITIS: an inflammatory condition of the blood vessels.