Pet Disease Information
Keep your pet healthy by keeping yourself informed. Learn about the warning signs and symptoms of many common pet diseases. You can also pick up a few recovery tips to help speed up the healing process. Please choose from the items below to read about a certain disease.
Allergy and Food Intolerance
Does your dog or cat vomit frequently, or have diarrhea, or show skin irritation, poor coat condition and/or hair loss? Any or all of these symptoms could point your veterinarian to allergies, and specifically an allergic response to the food you feed. Ingredients in food that your pet cannot tolerate may result in a variety of negative reactions. Allergy and food intolerance is also called an adverse reaction to food and can create ongoing problems with both the skin and the digestive tract.
There are many possible causes for food allergy in dogs and cats. However, some of the ingredients that cause the most common problems are frequently found in common pet foods.
In dogs, the most common causes of adverse reactions are beef, dairy products, wheat, chicken and pork.
In cats, the most common causes of adverse reactions are beef, dairy products, fish, wheat and chicken.
It may take months or years before a pet develops an allergic response to a particular food. However, once an adverse reaction begins with a certain ingredient, your pet will almost always be allergic to that food source. Because adverse reactions to food are most commonly associated with protein sources, your pet may need to be fed a protein source that he has not eaten before. Some of the most frequently used "novel" (called novel because they are intended to be new to your pet) proteins are egg, duck, salmon, lamb and whitefish. In certain cases, through the process of elimination, it may be discovered that your pet is allergic to all these protein sources and will need a food with specially broken down proteins.
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Brain Aging and Behavioral Changes
In recent years, scientists have made great strides in understanding the aging process. Today, many experts agree that aging is primarily caused by unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals.
Age Old ProblemFree radicals are a normal by-product of energy produced by the body. Natural defense mechanisms render most free radicals harmless, but a small percentage remains active to cause cell damage. Over time, the body produces more and more free radicals. The end result is aging.
The aging process attacks every body system and organ in the pet, including the brain. The result is a loss of brain function, and often, the appearance of behavioral changes that were not present in the pet’s younger years. Below is a list of common behavioral changes in older dogs. Check the signs that affect your pet and discuss them with your veterinarian.
- House-soiling "accidents"
- Does not "ask" to go outside
- No longer greets family members
- Does not seek attention/petting
- Does not recognize familiar people or places
- Does not respond to verbal cues
- Sleeps more during the day or less at night
- Appears lost or confused in the house or yard
- Wanders or paces
- Stares into space or at walls
New-Age Solution
Today, Hill’s offers pet owners a revolutionary nutritional solution to help limit behavioral changes in older dogs caused by brain aging.
Living Proof
After only 30 days of feeding Prescription Diet© Canine b/d™ in an In-Home Use Test, owners of older dogs reported significant improvements in the following categories:1
- Disorientation
- Sleep Patterns
- Interaction Changes
- House-Soiling Accidents
Clinical Proof
Prescription Diet© Canine b/d™is the only nutritional product clinically proven to help older dogs:
- Improve alertness
- Increase attentiveness to problem-solving tasks
- Act younger, so they feel younger
Home Care
- Follow-up visits with your veterinarian are important in managing the care of an older pet
- Follow your veterinarian’s instructions for feeding and medicating your pet
- Speak to your veterinarian before changing your pet’s medication or feeding regimen
- Provide free access to fresh, clean water
Prescription Diet© Canine b/d™ - Shown to Reduce House-Soiling Accidents and Improve Enthusiasm3
74%
74% of older dogs with a history of house-soiling accidents experienced a reduction in accidents after being fed Prescription Diet© Canine b/d™.
61%
Enthusiasm in greeting family members increased in 61% of dogs fed Prescription Diet© Canine b/d™.
Feeding Recommendations
A food enhanced with a unique patent-pending blend of antioxidants in combination with other important nutrients helps maintain healthy brain function in older dogs. Protecting fragile brain tissue from oxidative damage by free radicals helps older dogs act younger - they remain more alert and interact more enthusiastically with their owners. Continual feeding helps keep the brain healthy as your pet grows older.
Prescription Diet© Canine b/d™ contains an exclusive, patent-pending* blend of antioxidants and other nutrients to help fight brain aging and age-related behavioral changes in older dogs:
- Vitamins E and C - High levels help neutralize free radical damage.
- DHA and EPA - Help strengthen and protect cell membranes from free radical damage.
*US Patent Pending
- Lipoic Acid and L-carnitine - Help limit the production of free radicals.
- Carotenoids and Flavonoids - From fruit and vegetable sources help inactivate free radicals.
Feeding Tips
Follow your veterinarian’s instructions when feeding any Prescription Diet® therapeutic food.
Gradually introduce the new food over a 7-day period by mixing the new food with the old.
If your pet is reluctant to try a new food, hand feed or mix the dry food with warm water.
Be patient but firm with your pet, because success depends on strict adherence to the new food. Contact your veterinarian if your pet refuses to eat.
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Cancer
There is new hope for dogs with cancer. Years ago, the only solution many veterinarians had to offer their patients with cancer was euthanasia. Today new veterinary treatments abound especially when the cancer is found early. How do you know if your dog has cancer? Some of the most common signs of cancer your veterinarian looks for include abnormal swelling that grows or persists, weight loss, ongoing sores, significant change in appetite, bleeding or discharge from the mouth, nose, ears or anus, offensive odor and difficulty swallowing or eating. Other common symptoms include no interest in exercise, loss of stamina, persistent lameness or stiffness, breathing difficulties or difficulty urinating or defecating. Any or all of these signs could be an indicator that your dog has cancer. Cancer ranks as the number one non-accidental cause of death for dogs1 and can be localized or generalized. Some tumors are benign (non-cancerous), while others are malignant (cancerous).
There are numerous risk factors to the disease.
- Age – Better medicine is helping dogs live longer which increases the likelihood of developing cancer. Nearly half of all pets over 10 will develop some form of the disease.
- Breed – Certain tumors are common in specific breeds.
- Gender – Some tumors are more frequent in one sex than the other. For instance, mammary tumors are more common in females and prostatic tumors in males.
- Environment – Exposure to pesticides, herbicides, radiation and other chemicals may contribute to cancer.
Cancer treatment for dogs has progressed significantly and now includes numerous therapy options that can prolong the patient's life or potentially cure the disease. However, along with problems associated with the disease, the effects of these treatments can be problematic. Nutrition has been found to be a significant factor in both improving quality of life as well as extending it for dogs undergoing cancer treatment. Feeding a food with increased fatty acids, protein and fat is beneficial because it helps meet the added energy requirements of the cancer patient. The right food can counteract both the effect of cancer and the side effects of cancer therapy.
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Dental Disease
Does your dog or cat have bad breath? Does he eat his or her food carefully? Have you noticed pain or bleeding from the mouth when eating, or a foul smelling yellow-brown crust around the gum line? Any or all of these signs could mean dental disease, a painful and serious problem that requires veterinary attention. The original cause of most dental problems is plaque, a colorless film that contains a large number of harmful bacteria. Because your pet doesn't brush his teeth like you do, this plaque can cause tartar to develop on the tooth near and under the gum line. The result is swelling, redness and inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), and eventually periodontal disease, which can destroy the gums and tissue that support the teeth.
There are significant risks associated with poor oral health.
- By the age of three most pets show some sign of dental disease.
- Periodontal disease in pets has been associated with liver, kidney and heart disease.
- Periodontal disease in pets can lead to poor general health.
The good news is that dental disease is a preventable and treatable problem in most pets. Ask your veterinarian for a complete oral checkup for your pet, and schedule regular dental cleanings to help keep your pet in the best of health.
Normal dry pet food provides a dental benefit because of the effect of crunching the kibbles and the moderate scraping action that provides. However, specially formulated foods are available which can do a much better job of cleaning your pet's teeth. Ask your veterinarian for help in selecting the best food for your pet.
Hill's produces four foods specifically designed to keep your pet's mouth as healthy as possible. Prescription Diet t/d pet foods are formulated for dogs and cats with oral health problems. Your veterinarian can prescribe these high quality therapeutic foods to help manage pets with oral health problems. If your pet is basically healthy, with normal plaque and tartar problems, or just with bad breath problems, Science Diet® Oral Care pet foods are a good choice to help keep your pet healthy.
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Developmental Growth Disorders
Is your puppy or kitten at risk of developing skeletal deformities, abnormal posture, bowed legs, severe obesity, painful joints, muscle wasting, hip dysplasia and/or difficulty walking? Veterinarians recognize these signs result from developmental growth disorders, but they are easily prevented if proper veterinary care and optimal nutrition are provided from the very start. These potentially crippling conditions affect millions of pets, most of them large or giant breed dogs. Many factors are involved including environment, genetics and nutrition.
Though all of the contributing factors can be controlled—to lesser or greater degrees—nutrition offers the best opportunity to have an impact on the health of a puppy or kitten. Because too rapid growth often contributes to developmental growth disorders, feeding the right food the right way is critical. What do veterinarians recommend? Basically there are several ways as indicated here:
- Free-choice (food is always made available) feeding of kittens is often preferred as it reduces the risk of underfeeding as well as stomach distension associated with limited time or meal feeding.
- For puppies, free-choice feeding is not recommended unless the puppy is extremely thin. Meal-restricted (dividing daily food amount into 2-3 servings) or time-restricted (giving food for specific time intervals) feeding is most appropriate and allows better control of growth rate and body weight. Your veterinarian can make a recommendation based on your puppy’s breed and body condition
The pet food your puppy or kitten eats will have an impact on its growth rate. Because it’s much easier to prevent developmental growth disorders than treat them, properly feeding the right food will be the best preventive measure you can take. For large and giant breed puppies (those who will weigh more than 55 lb. when fully grown), veterinarians recommend a food with restricted energy and calcium as essential. Medium and small breed puppies benefit from controlled intake of a properly balanced growth formula. For kittens, feeding a food formulated to deliver the right nutrition for optimal growth is essential in preventing developmental growth disorders.
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Diabetes
Has your dog or cat exhibited weakness, increased thirst, frequent urination, rapid weight loss, depression or abdominal pain? Any or all of these signs could lead your veterinarian to suspect diabetes mellitus. This is a condition caused by damage to the pancreas that results in long-term and potentially life-threatening symptoms that must be managed. The pancreas can no longer produce the right amount of insulin to control blood sugar levels. Consult your veterinarian if these symptoms exist.
There are numerous factors that can contribute to a damaged pancreas. Dogs and cats can be predisposed by the disease if they have the following conditions:
- Obesity, genetic predisposition, poor diet.
- Hormonal abnormalities, stress, drugs.
- In dogs, females are affected twice as often as males.
- In cats, the disease is more prevalent in males.
While there is no cure for diabetes mellitus, veterinarians recognize it can be controlled with insulin, exercise and proper nutrition. Fiber is key in managing the disease nutritionally because moderate to high levels of fiber lower insulin requirements and blood glucose levels. Fiber also makes the body more responsive to insulin.
Consistency is also important in the food you feed. The nutritional profile of many commercial foods may vary from batch to batch which can complicate the disease. Feeding a veterinarian recommended food that has a consistent nutrient profile will help keep your pet's metabolism level so he/she can remain healthier.
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Gastrointestinal Disorders
Has your dog or cat been suffering from vomiting, regurgitation, flatulence, weakness and/or diarrhea or constipation? Any of these signs could lead your veterinarian to a diagnosis of a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. Consult your veterinarian if these symptoms exist.
GI disorders and disease affect the stomach and intestines and can very frequently be painful and cause other problems, too. There are several types of GI disorders including colitis, constipation/diarrhea, gastroenteritis and pancreatitis.
Veterinarians recognize many potential types and causes of GI disorders including:
Colitis
Most frequently caused by whipworms (a parasite), tumors or polyps, a change in food, allergies (including those to food) swallowed items or objects other than foods and certain other diseases.
Constipation
Usually caused by insufficient fiber and water intake, eating hair, bones or other foreign objects, aging, tumors, trauma or fractures, prostate disease, spinal cord disease, large bowel nervous disorders, metabolic or endocrine disorders and debilitation.
Diarrhea
Caused by infections, internal parasites, stress, a change in pet food, table scraps or rich snacks, eating spoiled food from the garbage and body organ dysfunction.
Gastroenteritis
Causes may include eating rancid or spoiled food, swallowing foreign objects, eating toxic plants, internal parasites, stress, food allergies and disease conditions.
Pancreatitis
Origins are frequently unknown. Potential causes are feeding a diet high in fat or rich table foods, infections, disease or trauma.
Pet food can have a significant impact on GI tract health. Veterinarians recommend feeding a food that is highly digestible to help prevent irritation to the sensitive stomach and intestines. Also, foods high in soluble and insoluble fiber combined with moderate fat levels help support proper intestinal function. Because several of these conditions may be ongoing, long-term nutritional management of the disorder may be required.
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Heart Disease
Does your dog or cat have a low-pitched cough that sometimes leads to gagging, breathing difficulties that include shortness of breath, reduced ability to exercise, noticeable weight gain or loss and/or swelling in the abdomen? Any or all of these signs may indicate heart disease to your veterinarian. With heart disease, age is frequently a contributing factor; however, there are other elements that may lead to the condition such as heartworm infection.
Though the signs of heart disease are also associated with other conditions, a thorough exam by your veterinarian can rule out other diseases.
- A stethoscope exam can reveal murmurs and fluid in the lungs.
- Palpation can reveal unusual pulses.
- X-rays reveal heart enlargement
- An EKG can identify heart enlargement and irregular rhythms.
- Blood and urine tests can reveal heartworms and the condition of other internal organs.
Heart disease typically causes the heart to enlarge, and this enlargement causes the heart to lose efficiency. Fluid retention then begins to cause problems. Feeding your pet a food high in sodium can contribute to the problem of fluid retention. For this reason, veterinarians recommend a food with low sodium that will help reduce fluid build-up and make it easier for the heart to do its job. Also, if you have a water softener in your home, your veterinarian may advise you to provide distilled water for your pet to drink. This is because many softeners use sodium to treat the water
Once your pet has been diagnosed with heart disease, he or she will always have the condition. But, with proper care and appropriate food, your pet will most likely be able to live a relatively normal life.
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Kidney Disorders
Has your dog or cat experienced a loss of appetite, increased thirst, frequent urination or no urination, vomiting, poor coat appearance and/or depression? If your pet exhibits any or all of these signs, it could lead your veterinarian to a diagnosis of kidney disease. Kidney disease is associated with a sudden or gradual decline in kidney function that can cause discomfort for your pet and be life threatening. Because the kidneys remove waste from the bloodstream and regulate body fluids, any kidney disease is considered serious.
There are many possible causes of kidney disease in pets. Veterinarians describe the disease as either acute (sudden) or chronic (long term). Acute kidney disorders can be caused by:
- Blood loss, shock, surgical stress, trauma
- Severe dehydration, poisons, drugs, obstructed urine flow, infection.
- Chronic kidney disease can result from the above factors, plus:
- Breed and hereditary tendencies.
- Nutritional factors, immune system defects.
Unfortunately, the signs of kidney disease do not appear until more than two-thirds of kidney function has been lost. Once chronic kidney failure develops it cannot be reversed. However, feeding a veterinarian-recommended food formulated especially to assist in the management of the disease can slow its progression. With acute kidney disorders, once the progression of the disease is stopped, many pets recover completely. Again, therapeutic food plays a crucial role in reducing build-up of waste products normally removed by kidneys and slowing or reversing damage to the kidneys. This is done by restricting protein and phosphorus levels in food, as well as by providing optimal nutrition.
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Liver Disorders
Has your dog or cat lost its appetite, had sudden weight loss, suffers from a lack of energy or depression or have jaundice (yellowing of the gums, whites of the eyes or skin)? These signs and other tests may lead your veterinarian to a diagnosis of liver disease. Other possible signs of liver disorders include dark-colored urine, pale gums, or a build up of fluid in the abdomen that could be mistaken for sudden weight gain. Veterinarians recognize liver disorders have many causes and should always be considered very serious. This is because the liver performs numerous important functions for your pet’s body, including the filtering of toxins from the bloodstream.
Because the liver works to rid the body of so many different substances, it is susceptible to damage from many different sources.
- Viral and bacterial infections.
- Poisonous substances that have been eaten by your pet.
- Altered blood flow to the liver due to heart disease or other congenital abnormality.
- Certain dog breeds, such as Bedlingtons and West Highland White Terriers, who have difficulty excreting copper.
Cats who lose their appetite for two to three days may experience Feline Hepatic Lipidosis, a condition associated with a dangerous build up of fat in the liver that impairs proper function.
For patients with liver disorders, veterinarians often recommend specific dietary management because it can have a significant impact on the liver’s ability to function and, in many cases, regenerate. Feeding a food such as Prescription Diet® l/d® that reduces the liver’s workload by providing limited amounts of sodium and protein, easily digested carbohydrates and high-quality fats will help control ongoing liver damage and improve liver function.
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Serious Illness, Accidents, and Surgery
Has your dog or cat been suffered from a serious illness; been severely injured or undergone surgery recently? These conditions may include starvation, trauma, burns, infectious diseases, fever, auto immune disease, anemia, hepatic lipidosis, surgery and some types of cancer, especially in cats. During such stress, veterinarians recognize energy requirements are higher than normal and your pet's body can undergo significant changes. These changes can become especially pronounced if your pet won't eat. In that case, muscle tissue may be lost and organ tissue may be diminished because both can be used to provide energy for healing. Also, the immune system may not be providing complete protection against secondary infection.
During potentially debilitating illness or injury, veterinarians suggest an increased level of care for your pet to fully recuperate.
- The original cause of illness or injury will have to be managed.
- Everything your pet needs for his or her body to repair the damage will have to be provided.
- Nutrients that were depleted during illness will have to be replenished.
- Problems that impair healing, such as infection, must be prevented.
The pet food you feed during this time can have a tremendous effect on your pet's ability to recover. Most food won't have the right consistency or taste for pets who are reluctant to eat. They need a therapeutic food that provides exceptional taste and has the consistency necessary to be fed with a syringe or spoon if needed. Also, most foods won't provide the added fat, protein and key nutrients dogs and cats in recovery need. Feeding a food that is highly digestible and has increased levels of key nutrients will speed recovery.
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Urinary Tract Disease
Does your dog or cat strain to urinate, urinate frequently, have blood in the urine, have reduced appetite or a lack of energy or interest in normal activities? Any or all of these signs lead your veterinarian to consider a diagnosis of urinary tract disease. This condition may be associated with crystals or stones that form within the urinary tract and cause irritation, pain and possibly blockage. In dogs it’s called urolithiasis. In cats it’s commonly called feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).
Though there is no single cause of urinary tract disease, veterinarians recognize there are components that may contribute to the prevalence of the disease.
- Dogs between the ages of two and 10 and cats over one year of age are most susceptible.
- Both males and females get the disease with equal frequency, yet males have a greater risk of life-threatening urethral obstruction from crystals or stones.
- Small breed dogs are more susceptible than large breed dogs.
- Other contributing factors can be lack of exercise, inability to urinate frequently (confined indoor pet), reduced water intake and, for cats, a dirty litter box that repels them from using it.
The food your pet eats can have a significant impact on urinary tract health. For cats, improper urine pH related to diet and infection may be a contributing factor as well as eating a food high in magnesium. For dogs, foods high in magnesium, phosphorus, protein and calcium have been linked to stone formation. Veterinarians believe feeding a product with restricted amounts of these minerals can assist in the dissolution of some types of stones that have formed in the urinary tract.
Any pet who has been treated for urinary tract disease runs the risk of contracting it again. Therefore, it’s important to continue with the nutritional management of the disease and watch closely for the recurrence of symptoms.
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Weight Management
When you place your hands on your pet's side, are his ribs hard to feel or even impossible to feel through a layer of fat? This could mean your pets overweight or obese, conditions veterinarians associate with many potentially painful and even hazardous medical problems that affect over 50% of America's pet population! Your Veterinarian can tell you if your pet is overweight. Some of the serious health effects of obesity include arthritis, heart disease, breathing difficulty, diabetes and even bladder cancer, as well as several other conditions. Excess weight can affect your pet's energy levels and ability to enjoy a full life.
There are many easily identifiable causes of weight gain in pets:
Overfeeding
Pets with unlimited access to food often become overweight. Feeding puppies and kittens too much can create fat cells that stay with a pet for life.
Overeating
Many commercial foods are loaded with salt and fat. This improves taste but can result in over-consumption.
Feeding habits
Feeding table scraps and home cooked meals can lead to obesity.
Lack of exercise
Too much food and too little exercise can cause weight gain.
Age
Older, less active pets are prone to weight gain.
Gender
Female pets are more likely to experience weight gain.
Neutering
Spayed or neutered pets are twice as likely to become obese because of a more sedentary lifestyle. (There are many important health reasons to have your pet spayed or neutered.).
Veterinarians recognize food plays a very important role in treating a pet who is overweight. Along with exercise, a food with reduced fat and calories is essential in helping your pet lose weight and stay fit. Fiber is also a key ingredient in food used for weight loss since it reduces the caloric density of the food while providing the bulk necessary to satisfy your pet's hunger.
Once your pet has been overweight, she may be prone to weight gain and should have an ongoing plan based on good diet, exercise and regular check-ups that include weigh-ins
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