Notes on Canine Internal Medicine, 4th Edition

Notes on Canine Internal Medicine, 4th Edition by Victoria L. Black, Kathryn F Murphy, Jessie Rose Payne, Edward J. H

This book provides separate lists of the common causes of medical problems, and the uncommon causes with sections on presenting complaints, physical findings, and laboratory abnormalities, a new section on imaging patterns, and a section covering diseases of the major organ systems.

SECTION 1 Presenting complaints 

In this section, the common presenting complaints are listed alphabetically according to a stylized format. 

SECTION 2 Physical problems

Significant findings from the physical examination are listed alphabetically.  

SECTION 3 Laboratory abnormalities 

In this section laboratory abnormalities of hematology, serum biochemistry, and urinalysis are listed alphabetically.  

SECTION 4 Imaging patterns 

Differential diagnoses for specific plain radiographic and ultrasonographic patterns and appearances are listed.  

SECTION 5 Organ systems 

The relevant clinical presentations and physical, laboratory, and imaging abnormalities (identified in Sections 1–4, respectively) are given for each major internal organ system. 

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Cotes Clinical Veterinary Advisor Dogs and Cats 4th Edition book (free download)

Cotes Clinical Veterinary Advisor Dogs and Cats 4th Edition By Leah Cohn and Etienne Cote

This Book is like six books in one　— with concise coverage of diseases and disorders; procedures and techniques; differentials, mnemonics, and lists; laboratory tests; clinical algorithms; and a drug compendium. Completely updated from cover to cover, this edition includes over a dozen all-new chapters on new and important topics including hyperadrenocorticism (food-related), hypercalcemia (idiopathic feline), meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology, incidentally-detected heart murmurs, and more.

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Kennel cough in dogs

 Kennel cough

Canine infectious tracheobronchitis, also known as kennel cough, is a respiratory infection caused by many bacteria and viruses. Kennel cough is airborne and highly contagious. You can get it from being around infected dogs or sharing items like toys or bowls. The name kennel cough can be misleading because it can spread quickly in situations with a large number of dogs such as the kennel dweller, and any dog ​​that comes in contact with an infected dog can transmit the disease.

Symptoms:

The main symptom of infectious tracheobronchitis is a strong cough, which may resemble a gag reflex or an attempt to pull out an object stuck in the throat. Infectious tracheobronchitis can go away on its own if your dog's immune system is able to fight off the disease.

Treatment:

Many puppies require prescription medication to help them recover. It is best to have your dog checked out by a vet at the first sign of coughing as not only does this pose a risk of contagion to other puppies but the longer this condition persists the greater the risk of more serious complications such as pneumonia. There are other, more serious causes of coughing as well, so any coughing puppy should be evaluated. You can minimize your dog's risk of contracting infectious tracheobronchitis by getting him vaccinated. Please note that the standard annual booster dose does not protect against infectious bronchitis/kennel cough.

Canine parvovirus

 Canine parvovirus

Canine Parvovirus, commonly known as parvovirus, is a highly contagious viral disease that can be life-threatening to dogs. Puppies up to six months of age are most susceptible to the infection, but older dogs can also be affected, particularly dogs that have never been vaccinated.

 Unfortunately, outbreaks are still frequently reported worldwide and parvovirus infection can be fatal. Parvovirus is transmitted through direct contact with the saliva or feces of an infected animal; Humans can also spread the disease from dog to dog via hands and clothing.

Symptoms:

Usually, dogs have profuse vomiting and often bloody (hemorrhagic) diarrhea that leads to dehydration, Anorexia, depression, and fever are also common symptoms.  Dogs with parvovirus require hospitalization, often for several days, and are given intravenous fluids to correct dehydration. 

Treatment:

Antibiotics are given to prevent secondary infections, along with antivirals if available. Unfortunately, many dogs with parvovirus do not survive even with intensive supportive care, which is why it is so important to prevent the disease through vaccination.

Leptospirosis in dogs

 Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis, often called lepto, is caused by bacteria, not viruses. Dogs can become infected when they come into contact with infected urine or contaminated water. So, if a dog likes to swim or drink standing water or sewage, it may be at risk, especially in areas where rats are common.

Many different strains of leptospirosis can affect humans (called Weil's disease). It can be fatal in dogs and humans.

Symptoms:

Clinical signs often appear from 4 to 12 days after exposure to the bacteria. The animal may suffer from fever, body aches, diarrhea, loss of appetite, jaundice, and lethargy.

Leptospirosis primarily affects the kidneys and liver, and in severe cases leads to kidney and liver failure.

Treatment:

Treatment usually includes antibiotics, fluid replacement, control of vomiting, and other liver support treatments. a proportion of the affected dogs recover but carry the bacteria in their urine for months, posing a risk of infection to other animals and humans.

Vaccination: 

There are many types of leptospirosis comprehensive canine vaccine available includes four strains and is known as the "L4 vaccine".

Infectious Hepatitis in dogs

Infectious hepatitis in dogs

Canine infectious hepatitis is a viral disease that affects the liver, kidneys, eyes and lungs of dogs.

It is transmitted through contact with the saliva, urine, feces, blood, or nasal secretions of infected dogs. An infected dog's urine can be contagious for up to a year, and the virus can survive in the environment for months.

Symptoms can range from a mild fever to sudden death. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, pale gums, conjunctivitis, cough, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.

The disease can progress very quickly and unfortunately, there is no specific cure; However, veterinarians will try to relieve symptoms, and sometimes dogs can survive with intensive supportive care.

Communicable diseases (dogs to humans)

 Diseases transmitted by dogs to humans

 Dogs transmit many diseases, whether viral or bacterial, to ordinary people, and they may be transmitted through saliva, air, contaminated urine, feces, or direct contact with the dog.

The most prominent diseases that dogs transmit to humans are the following:

(1) Rabies: 

Dogs are the main animals that cause this disease. This disease causes approximately 30,000-70,000 deaths every year worldwide. It occurs as a result of a dog bite, and symptoms appear in the infected person, such as agitation, Anxiety, hallucinations, and hydrophobia. 

(2) Norovirus:

This virus infects people of all age groups, and it can be transmitted to humans through contaminated water and food, and it is a rapidly spreading disease among people through saliva. 

(3) Pasteurella:

This disease is transmitted to humans through direct or indirect contact with dogs; such as exposure to dog bites or stings, or cat bites and scratches. This disease can be treated with second or third-generation cephalosporins, macrolides, or penicillin. 

(4) Salmonella:

This disease affects the large intestine in a group of mammals such as dogs, and it can be transmitted to the digestive system in humans through feces and cause many diseases such as gastroenteritis, enteric fever, and blood bacteria, and symptoms of this disease may not appear, whether in dogs or humans.

(5) Campylobacter:

Direct contact with infected animals such as dogs with this disease causes the transmission of Campylobacter bacteria that infect the intestines, and its incubation period is from one to seven days, and its symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Series of major canine disease ( common cold)

Dogs infected with cold

Dogs are infected with the cold virus as humans.

The most prominent symptoms are:

Sneezing, coughing, gonorrhea, congestion, and tearing of the eyes.

Treatment:

(1) Visit the veterinarian to exclude other diseases more serious than the common cold.

(2) The doctor will initially conduct a physical examination of the dog that includes hearing its heart and lungs and may request diagnostic tests to ensure that the symptoms that the dog suffers from are only a cold, and these tests include x-rays, fecal analysis, and a blood test to make sure that he does not suffer from any other diseases. 

(3) The doctor will look into the cause of the common cold; which is often treated on its own, and if it needs treatment, the doctor will prescribe treatments that include antibiotics and sedatives for coughing and gonorrhea, especially if the dog's immunity is weak.

Series of major canine diseases (dental diseases)

 Dental diseases

Oral and dental infections are the most common dog diseases, and the most prominent of these infections are tartar, gingivitis, and abscesses. The incidence of this type of disease increases after the age of three years and when the dog gets older.

The most prominent symptoms of dental and gum problems are: 

(1) The appearance of bad breath, loose teeth, and changes in appetite such as refusing to eat dry foods.

(2) Secretion of blood or pus from the mouth, drooling, bad mood.

(3)  Appearance of lumps on the gums or under the tongue.

(4)  Change in the color of the teeth and gums. 

Treatment:

(1) Dental diseases are treated by the vet; This is done by brushing or extracting the teeth, and sometimes it may be necessary to tooth root implantation.

(2) The dog’s teeth should be cleaned constantly to prevent diseases that may affect the mouth.

Serious of major canine diseases (skin infections)

Skin infections

Most dogs scratch their skin, but if this is repeated continuously, this could indicate the presence of inflammation in the skin.

Causes:

(1) One of the most prominent causes of dogs scratching their skin or their sensitivity is eating some types of foods that cause allergies, such as corn, wheat, or soybeans.  

(2) The inflammation may happen due to a bacterial infection. It can cause what is known as hot spots that cause painful ulcers. 

Treatment:

(1) This sensitivity can be treated by changing the dog’s diet, such as moving to a low-allergic food such as lamb meat, or visiting the vet when the change is not noticed. 

(2) Use allergy shampoo or antibiotic ointment.

Series of major canine diseases (Ear infections)

The most prominent dog diseases and their treatment method 

Dogs can suffer from the risk of infection with many diseases, which are accompanied - each of them - by certain symptoms, and one of the most prominent diseases and methods of treatment that can be referred to when breeding dogs is the following:

Ear infections

Dogs with large, drooping ears are considered more susceptible to ear infections, though any other dog can also be infected with it, and that repeated infection may be due to allergies that often result from eating certain foodstuffs, which are corn, wheat, and soybeans.

Symptoms associated with the disease:

(1) Rubbing the dog to his ears, whether on the ground or pieces of furniture, scratching his ears, or shaking his head; As all of them are considered an indication of the possibility of the dog having an ear infection.

(2) Noticeable redness of the ear canal.

(3) The presence of crusts around the ear, and hair loss around it.

(4) Balance problems, pain, and hearing loss.

Treatment:

Clean and dry the ear, and if he feels pain, he must be anesthetized.

According to the type of infection, an antibiotic or an antifungal should be given as a systemic treatment.

A diet for a dog from an infant until puberty and adulthood

Feed the dog The optimal nutrition is as follows:

Four times a day for 8-week-old puppies, so they are fed at 8 am, 12 noon, 5 pm, and 10 pm.

There is another system that can be followed when we adopt the dog for it, which is feeding once every 24 hours, in case the dog reaches 18 months of age. Also, dogs should not be fed 12 hours before giving them a dose of worms and given 3 hours after the dose, and feeding should be reduced in cases of severe illness or nervousness. Also, in case of continuous vomiting, the provision of food should be reduced so that the situation does not worsen. This should also be taken into account in the case of a lot of work and long travel.

It is noted that bones are very important materials and they do not contain nutrients. They have a delicious flavor and many benefits. They help to secrete gastric juices necessary for the digestion process, especially if they are given before eating. This helps to expel existing gases and facilitate the digestion of food. Therefore, we find that it is advisable to give them. In cases of infectious catarrh accompanied by vomiting, it helps open the appetite for eating.

Dogs should be given the bones of the long, strong, unbreakable type so that they do not crumble into small parts that harm the animal and sometimes cause complications. It is enough to benefit from the marrow in the bones, in addition to the benefit that accrues to the teeth.

The dog always needs balanced food of high value, and at the same time, the dog must like it and accept it with appetite. In general, the dog's food must contain 50% protein and 30% vegetables, and the food must be served boiled in water, provided that salt is added to it in reasonable proportions that animals accept it. Nutrition is very important, especially in developing dogs from the age of two weeks, where any defect in the feeding process leads to abnormal growth of the young puppy and it loses its weight and length, and its immunity will be weak.

 I will set a food program that is compatible with the growth requirements of dogs of all ages:

From one to three months old:

7 a.m: milk + eggs + bread + cod liver oil

10 a.m: minced meat + vegetable soup + bread

1 p.m: milk + bread

5 p.m : minced meat + vegetable soup + bread

10 p.m: milk + bread

From the age of three months to the age of six months:

8 a.m : milk + eggs + bread + cod liver oil

1 p.m : leftover meat + vegetable soup + bread

7 p.m : leftover meat + vegetable soup + rice

From six months to one year old:

8 a.m : milk + bread + cod liver oil

6 p.m : leftover meat + vegetable soup + bread + rice

Necessary substances: The proportion for his share of meat is 20-25 grams of meat per day, per kilogram of the dog’s weight.

Veal, lamb, and horse meat are excellent dog food. Also, fish, carrots, spinach, fresh peas, lemons, pears, and apples are all useful if you include them in the dog's meal.

Beware of pork, cooked potatoes, lungs, soft bread, and all kinds of sweets.

There are also ready meals in the markets in metal cans, duly studied, but beware of the goods which are Commercial and corrupt.

Allowed and prohibited foods for dogs

 Types of dog food 

There are special foods for dogs of different types and sizes, as they have become widespread in the market in different types, and all that the breeder has to do is put the ready-made food for the dog on specific dates.

There are three different types of dog food, which are:

(1) dry food and it consists of fats, And vitamins, bone meal, and some dry meat, in addition to minerals, carbohydrates, and some salts in appropriate quantities, as they are mixed with each other in the form of balls of small sizes, and this type is distinguished to prevent weight gain, in addition to containing all the necessary nutrients. 

(2) Canned food, is a food consisting of a mixture of rice, meat, ground bones, vitamins, and salts, and this food is expensive. 

(3) Home food, this food is distinguished by the fact that it is made by the breeder, it increases the dog’s relationship with the human being, and it is not expensive. Because it is mostly leftovers from human food. 

Dangerous foods for dogs should be avoided: 

Some foods are dangerous and toxic to dogs despite their desire to obtain them from the surrounding environment. 

Examples of this are the following: 

(1) Garlic and onions

Both onions and garlic, in their various forms, are toxic foods for dogs, whether they are dried, raw, or cooked, as eating it results in a disorder in the digestive system as well as damage to red blood cells, and it is worth noting that the signs of poisoning sometimes appear directly, or may be delayed in appearing for a few days.

(2) Chocolate 

Chocolate is considered one of the most tempting foods for humans and dogs, but it is a toxic substance for dogs, and one of the causes of kidney failure sometimes; This is because it contains the stimulant theobromine. The amount of damage depends on the type of chocolate and the percentage of theobromine in it, for example, dark chocolate is one of the very harmful types for dogs; Because it contains high amounts of theobromine. Unlike milk chocolate in which the percentage of theobromine is lower and therefore less harmful, the type of chocolate that does not cause harm to dogs, white chocolate is due to the low amount of theobromine in it.

(3) Macadamia nuts 

Dogs get macadamia nuts indirectly through their presence in certain quantities within some foods, such as baked goods, for example, but this type of food causes a lot of troubles and diseases after eating it, so you should stay away from it as much as possible. After eating small amounts of these nuts, symptoms may appear as vomiting, fatigue, inability to control muscles, general weakness, high temperature, and depression. 

(4) Corn 

Dogs can digest corn in general, but cornbread is one of the foods that must be avoided from being offered to dogs, due to the possibility of causing the death of one of them, and this can be explained by the possibility of intestinal blockages for dogs after eating a very small amount of them.

 (5) Avocado fruit 

Avocado is one of the healthy foods for humans, but this does not necessarily mean that it is beneficial for dogs, as eating avocado may be a cause of death sometimes because it contains Persin, which is toxic to animals. Despite this, it may not be as dangerous to dogs as others, because of their ability to resist this substance efficiently sometimes, so it is recommended to keep it in a place that is difficult for the dog to reach.

(6) Xylitol sugar 

Many foods that humans eat contain industrial xylitol sweeteners, including; Low-fat or sugar-free foods, but dogs that eat these foods may suffer from severe hypoglycemia that results in liver failure, in addition to blood clotting. 

(7) Alcoholic drinks 

Alcohol is one of the most harmful drinks for humans and dogs in particular, regardless of the amount ingested. Among the most prominent harm symptoms to dogs are the following poisoning, diarrhea,  and Central nervous system damage.

(8) Cooked bones 

Cooked bones differ from raw bones completely, as raw bones are a good option for them, unlike cooked bones, which are largely bad, due to the ease of their crumbling which leads to constipation when be eaten in large quantities. They are large and they sometimes lead to death if they cause a hole in the gastrointestinal tract. 

(9) Grapes and raisins 

The breeder should be careful not to offer grapes and raisins in all their forms to dogs, as these foods cause poisoning in dogs for unknown reasons so far, and they are also one of the reasons why dogs suffer from liver and kidney failure, as well.

Dogs nutrition

 Dogs nutrition 

The type of food provided to dogs varies according to the size and age of the dog. The amount of food to be provided to a small dog differs from that of a large dog. Age also plays a major role in determining the type of dog food

Young puppies nutrition

The process of feeding newborn puppies in the first three months needs careful care; The breeder must begin to transfer the puppy from the mother’s milk diet to the puppy’s diet gradually and regularly by removing it for short and then long periods from its mother

The importance of this step lies in making the puppy gradually move away from the mother’s care, and this process is called weaning, and it is preferable To start in the third or fourth week, and there is no need to feed the puppy any additional food before weaning, but in case that the mother is sick and does not produce enough milk, redirected to formula milk or the veterinarian for guidance

Food is provided frequently after weaning to maintain the level of sugar in the blood, and if any side effects occur, such as diarrhea and vomiting, the veterinarian should be reviewed them as soon as possible

Adult dogs nutrition

The food provided to adult dogs must be sufficient. To meet their energy needs, and to compensate for the cells and tissues of the body. The amount of food provided to the dog must be proportional to its size and energy so that it does not exceed its needs, causing diseases resulting from the accumulation of fat, and not less than its requirements to avoid becoming emaciated and weak. In addition, the dog’s activity varies according to its type and movement, so the breeder must determine the amount of food sufficient for his dog’s body

The amount of food required for the dog can be determined by the veterinarian, and this amount may increase in winter, or when the dog performs the physical activity. , or suffering from a disease, and it is usually recommended to provide two meals a day for an adult dog, with an interval between them up to 8-10 hours, and this method helps in controlling animal behavior

 Some people divide meals into three meals; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and each meal has its definite time, and it varies according to the type and age of the dog, during which meals containing raw eggs are served to be special meals for dogs that practice exercises, and it is served after the sixth month of the dog’s life. Referring to meat and bones meal is given to the dog daily to strengthen its jaws and meet its need for protein, and dinner can be replaced with the remains  of lunch, but not every day, until the age of 6 months

When you decide to have a pet at home

 Pets are animals that a person can adapt to under one roof, and one of the best pets for education at home is to mention dogs, cats, rabbits, and fish, except for animals that are known as non-pets, such as the lion and the tiger, but with experience and after a while, these animals are accustomed to their owner. This requires extensive experience in dealing with animals. The relationship between humans and pets is described as a symbiotic  relationship, as the care of pets is beneficial to both of them

Things that must be taken into account before making a decision to care for pets at home

In case you are considering raising pets at home, and you wonder about the most prominent information about pets and the most important points to take into account before the acquisition of any pets, including the cost, responsibility, and so on, we will put in your hands a bouquet of the most important things to take into account before The final decision

Time and effort

The pet needs time and effort from its owner

We start with one of the most important things that must be considered repeatedly before the acquisition of a pet at home, which is time and effort. For example, the dog needs to take it at a picnic at least twice a day, while the cats do not need to do so, for this is considered easier to breed from dogs, and on the other hand, the dog needs to play, which can result in damage to some of the home holdings, so It is advised to acquire dogs in the event of an external space

Financial cost

The financial cost is not limited to the pet price itself. Although some types of animals are expensive strains, the financial cost is the basic animal care needs. In addition, the need to buy food allocated to each type of animal, especially the supplies that the animal needs, such as games, medicines, voting, etc

Place of sleep and play

A dedicated place for sleeping and playing for pets must be provided

After making the decision to acquire the pet, the owner, before taking the animal to the house, will be allocated to him a place for sleeping provided that it is well-ventilated. In addition. allocating a space where the animal can play and move in its comfort

Animal age

When you think about the acquisition of a pet, you must know the appropriate age of the type of animal to be raised. For example, it is not recommended to buy dogs at the age of 45 days, due to their need for the mother at this age. The dog's age should be from two months to 6 months, as It is difficult to train and adapt to the place after six months. As for cats, it is preferable not to be less than a month

health care

Health care is one of the most important things to be taken into account when acquiring a pet

We conclude the list of matters that must be taken into account before the acquisition of a pet with health care as care must be taken to get the animal on the basic vaccinations for it, including preventive, monthly, and annual which protect it from serious diseases. This must be ensured that the animal is not pregnant with any virus, and then the animal should be taken to the clinic to take the monthly pills that would prevent the approaching and living of worms in its body