After working with dogs for nearly 30 years, I have dealt with many strange maladies. General health issues are usually quickly assessed by a knowledgeable vet. Quirkier, less common health issues can stump even the most informed vet for a time. I have created this page to describe a few illnesses and help dog owners pay better attention to symptoms that may otherwise go unnoticed. These simple observations can help a vet recognize something that could easily “slip under the radar”. Time is often of the essence and survival may depend on quick assessment and diagnosis. Don’t try to use these pages to replace your vet as that may cost you the life of your dog. This information is a tool to help you recognize some illnesses that could affect your dog and be mistaken as other illnesses with similar symptoms. I provide the most accurate information possible but please understand that I am not a veterinarian and offer this page only as an educational tool, not a replacement for veterinarian care.
Ear Infections
Probably the most common, and often least recognized, of all Lhasa apso illnesses, the ear infection causes such a rash of side affects that it can literally alter a dog’s personality, causing it to become an outcast in it’s own family.
How do you recognize the ear infection? Symptoms may include any of the following: Scratching ear and head, shaking head, licking toes, yellow scaly stuff between toes and on nails, foul odor from ears, discharge from ears, thick brown stuff in ears, whining and cocking of the head, sleeplessness and consistent relocation from place to place, loss of hearing, and one of the worst symptoms, aggressive or extreme sensitivity to touch.
Ear infections are often deep in the ear and can go unnoticed indefinitely. Many are not treated long enough or with strong enough antibiotics and only return as soon as antibiotics are stopped. Most require external and internal medications. Generally, 10 days is needed (min) to be effective.
Yeast infections spread from toenails to ears and from ears to toenails, a vicious cycle of re-infection. This never ending cycle creates chronic ear infections for the life of the dog. Keep ears dry, especially during bath time and when swimming etc. Use an anti-fungal powder or cream at least once every two weeks, in both ears and between toes, more often for dogs with consistent issues, keep ear free of hair on inside using pulling or trimming method (be sure hair does not fall back into ear). Do not feed bread, pasta or sugar products as they feed yeast. Grain free food may also help.
Beware of any personality change as this can be an identifier to an ear infection. Left untreated, dogs can become very edgy, easily agitated and unpredictably snappy. It is very painful and extremely annoying, causing a dog to feel “insane” with the ongoing symptoms. Don’t let this go untreated as it can ruin a good dog.
Anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis is a sudden and severe allergic reaction to a foreign compound introduced into the body. The difference between Anaphylaxis and a common allergy is the common allergy appears slowly, taking the form of a rash and itching, respiratory congestion or diarrhea.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis occur within one hour of exposure to the allergen, but more often than not within thirty seconds. In severe cases of anaphylaxis, the first sign is a rapid drop in blood pressure causing paleness of the gums and breathing difficulties.
Dogs often urinate, defecate and vomit in response to the histamine release. Heartbeat is often rapid, weak, or irregular. The pets appear uncoordinated, restless and frightened. Bloody diarrhea may follow. When swelling of the larynx occurs pets can die due to an inability to breathe. In the most severe cases, shock, manifested by collapse, convulsions and coma, soon follows. Some pets’ temperature falls to subnormal while others run fevers.
Adjuvants are compounds added to vaccines to increase their overall effectiveness. Intervet & Heska are two companies that offer a non-adjuvanted 3-year vaccines. They contain none of the adjuvants that may cause cancer or immunological disease later in life. This change in vaccines will help but even non-adjuvanted injectable vaccines are not risk-free.
An allergen is any substance that causes a reaction; substances that the immune systems of a few animals and people recognize as “foreign” or “dangerous” but which cause no response in the majority of pets and people. An anaphylactic allergen can be a drug, insect sting, ingredient in food, a vaccine component, or a cosmetic ingredient. Allergens cause the body to chemically react producing substances inside the body that cause changes in heart function, blood pressure, blood vesicle permeability as well as injury to surrounding tissue. These are the visible signs of anaphylaxis. There are two forms of anaphylaxis: true anaphylactic reaction and anaphylactoid (anaphylactic-like) reactions. Clinically, it is difficult to distinguish between the two.
If your pet has had prior vaccine reactions, think seriously before having any vaccines administered. A vet will insert a tube in the windpipe if the pet is having difficulty breathing through its swollen larynx. A drop in blood pressure and circulatory collapse starves the body of oxygen and must be quickly corrected. The liver and intestines are specifically affected. Capillary blood vesicles become more permeable, leaking blood serum into the tissues. Intravenous fluids must be given rapidly, in large quantities to counteract this.
Dogs must be closely monitored so as not to over-flood their lungs with fluid (pulmonary edema). Saline solutions such as Ringer’s solution should not be given at a rate over 20-25ml/pound/hour. One very good sign is urination, proof that fluid correction is sufficient. Colloidal fluids such as the polysaccharide, dextran (2.5-5ml of Dextran70 solution / pound body weight IV over 5-10 minutes) or hetastarch, are preferable to saline solutions because they do not leave the circulation (leak) as rapidly as Ringer’s solutions.
Dogs need to immediately receive injections of epinephrine (1.25-2.5 micrograms/pound IV). This compound is produced by the adrenal gland normally, and increases heart rate and blood pressure while slowing mast cell disintegration. Oxygen therapy is also helpful, as is the intravenous administration of rapid-acting steroids such as prednisolone sodium succinate (SoluDeltaCortef, 7.5-15mg/pound) or dexamethasone sodium phosphate (Decadron, 1-2mg/pound). At the same time the pet should receive an injection of antihistamine (chlorpheniramine maleate, Chlor-Trimeton 0.25mg/pound) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl, 0.5 mg/pound).
If dog is hypothermic (low body temperature) keep very warm. Dogs with a body temperature above 105F should be rubbed down with iced water. It is also wise to give these pets one of the penicillin-derived antibiotics to prevent secondary infections related to increased intestinal and pulmonary permeability. Dogs can die or be left severely impaired. The liver suffers greatly during anaphylactic shock. It is considered the major “shock organ” of the body. This is because the liver cells are very sensitive to inadequate oxygenation and edema. The loss of blood supply (ischemia) to the stomach and small intestine can result in necrosis (death) of the cells that line these organs forming bleeding ulcers. Dogs vomit bloody mucous and/or pass blood in their stools. In some cases bacteria gain access to the abdominal cavity (peritonitis) through these ulcerated areas. In some cases entire segments of the intestine die.
Another result of anaphylaxis is called disseminated intravascular coagulation. In this condition, pooled blood coagulates within the vessels of the circulatory system leading to a deficiency in platelets. Without sufficient platelets, hemorrhages occur throughout the body. This can also be fatal.