Dogs Immune and Blood System Articles

The most important internal defense that your dog has to fight off disease causing bacteria, toxins, parasites, and viruses is the immune system. The dog immune system has two major components: the skin and the adaptive immune system. When the dog immune system malfunctions, it can attack its own body (called autoimmunity), overreact (called hypersensitivity), or react insufficiently (called immunodeficiency or suppression). Vaccinations help optimize your dog's immunity, as well as diet and exercise. Learn more about your dog's immune system and the illnesses that your dog is more susceptible to without his proper defenses in place.

• vonWillebrand’s disease

  I recently had our 5 1/2 month old Doberman tested for vonWillebrand’s Disease before I had her spayed.  She has the disease.  My vet said that she had only 3% of the vonWillebrand’s factor, which sounds pretty bad to me. 

• Understanding Blood-Loss Anemia in Dogs

  Anemia in dogs can be very worrisome for an owner, but there are explanations as to why your dog may have anemia. One of the most common causes of anemia in dogs is the loss of blood.

• Thrombocytopenia and Platelet problems

  The disorders that most commonly induce thrombocytopenia (platelet deficiency) are drug reactions (cephalosporins can cause these), cancers, infectious illnesses --- especially ehrlichiosis , systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and von Willebrand's disease. It is important to consider all of these possibilities in a dog thrombocytopenia.

• Spleen Problems in Dogs

  Lot of things make spleens enlarge, unfortunately. Splenic enlargement occurs when pets are anesthetized with some anesthetics, in stressful or shock inducing situations, when blood parasites are present, if there is bruising (hematomas) affecting the spleen, if there is splenic cancer (particularly hemangiosarcoma)

• Pemphigus

  There are several related immune mediated skin disorders called pemphigus complex. These have a common mechanism of action in which the body produces antibodies against the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis). Pemphigus foliaceus is the most common of these diseases in the dog.

• Lymph Problems

  Lymphoma is often discovered pretty much the way you did - by accident. It does not seem to cause much pain or discomfort in the early stages. It therefore comes as a shock to many owners expecting a minor problem and going home coping with a diagnosis of malignant cancer.

• Lupus in Dogs

  In this disease, the immune system forms antibodies against the nuclear component of its own cells. This can cause a variety of effects but the most common ones are arthritis, kidney disease, skin disease and blood disorders (anemia and/or decreased in platelet numbers). A great number of other effects and side effects of this disease can occur so it is hard to rule in or rule out when faced with a multi-systemic disease.

• Lupus Erythematosus

  This is a rare disease of the immune system. In this disease, the immune system forms antibodies against the nuclear component of its own cells.

• Liver Shunts and Vascular Anomalies

  Some dogs with portosystemic shunts can be maintained long term with dietary therapy, combined with lactulose and an antibiotic such as neosporin or metronidazole. However, surgery is still considered to be the best option for most dogs with this problem.

• Leukemia in Dogs

  Leukemia is the presence of cancer cells in the bone marrow itself. This is different from lymphoma, the other common white blood cell cancer, because lymphoma arises from tissues outside the bone marrow, such as lymph nodes or the spleen. There are two forms of leukemia, acute and chronic.

• Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) or Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA)

  Dogs with IMHA usually experience a sudden onset of clinical signs, including depression, lethargy, pale gums or conjunctiva, sometimes jaundice or a heart murmur and bruising.

• Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

  In hemolytic anemia, a loss of red blood cells (rbcs) occurs due to destruction of the rbcs. The destruction occurs due to antibodies which stick to the the rbc and cause the body to react, leading to destruction of the cell. This can be the direct result of a drug, toxin, blood parasite, virus or other primary cause

• Immune Disorders of Dogs

  This is the condition that leads to hypothyroidism in many dogs. Hashimoto's Disease is one of the names of this condition in humans. Some dogs appear to be able to tolerate lifelong lymphocytic thyroiditis without ever developing hypothyroidism, though.

• How Anemia in Dogs Can Develop

  Anemia in dogs is a symptom of illness rather than an illness itself. Anemia in dogs is defined as a low red blood cell count and can have many causes.

• Hormonal Disorders of Dogs

  Information on canine diabetes, Addison's Disease and other hormonal disorders.

• Hemolytic Anemia

  Hemolytic anemia describes the condition in which this loss of red blood cells occurs because the red cells break up (lyse). This can happen inside the blood vessels (intravascular hemolysis) or outside of the blood vessel (extravascular hemolysis). Hemolytic anemia can occur for many reasons, including heat stroke, parasites, viral infections.

• Ehrlichia in dogs

  Some tick borne diseases can be found in many parts of the world and others have very limited geographical distribution. Lyme disease, is an example of a tick borne disease that is most prevalent in a fairly limited geographical area. The Ehrlichia family of parasites is found in many areas of the world.

• Ear problems in dogs- Hematoma

  There are two major problems with ear hematomas. 1) They seem to hurt pretty badly in some cases. In others this doesn't appear to be true. 2) They cause scarring when they heal that can crumple the ear.

• Dogs & Anemia:  Effects and Treatment of IMHA

  Dogs anemia is not a specific disease but the result of some disease in progress. Anemia is a reduced number of red blood cells or hemoglobin or both.

• Dog Immune System Basics

  The dog immune system is a complex and effective defence against the bacteria and viruses that your dog meets in everyday life. The system is always changing...

• Diabetes Control

  Diet is an integral part of the treatment for dog diabetes. 

• Coomb’s test

  A Coomb’s test is a test for antibodies or complement (another protein/enzyme that works with antibodies) attached to the surface of red blood cells.

• Canine Lymphoma: How to recognize and treat this aggressive disease

  Multicentric canine lymphoma involves the lymph nodes and the lymphatic organs. This diffuse form of lymphoma can cause enlarged, but painless lymph nodes on the neck, under the front legs, and in the groin area.

• Bloodwork- Alkaline Phosphatase

  Anything that causes the death of a number of liver cells will raise the ALT and AST levels. This includes trauma, toxins, bacterial infections, lack of blood flow to a portion of the liver for any reason (blood clots, low blood pressure, portosystemic shunts), bile duct blockages, pancreatitis and many other conditions.

• Blood borne Parasitic problems in dogs

  For ehrlichiosis, the most common vector is the brown dog tick. For this reason, ehrlichiosis occurs anywhere this tick occurs. At present, it has been reported in 34 states, with the northern states being spared in most instances. The southeastern and south central states are the most heavily affected.

• Blood and Lymph Disorders of Dogs

  My dog Thor recently became quite passive and didn’t eat normally. He is a 9 year old diabetic that takes 14 units of insulin twice a day.

• Biopsy in Dogs

  A needle biopsy is a very simple test to perform and it doesn't hurt any more than an injection. We do needle biopsy of lymph nodes pretty frequently. We read the slides in our office and send a slide to a veterinary pathologist who does cytologic exams, as well.

• Are Canine Immune Booster Products Effective?

  Canine immune booster products and their effectiveness have been a cause of heated debate and controversy for the last several years. The jury is still out on their effectiveness.

• Anemia in Dogs:  A Symptom, not a Disease

  Anemia in dogs occurs when your dog's red blood cells are functioning improperly or simply aren't able to oxygenate his cells. Anemia in dogs can have a number of different causes.

• Anemia

  Anemia is the condition in which there are fewer red blood cells than normal.

• A Guide to Dog Immune Supplements

  Dog immune supplements help keep the immune system strong, to keep your dog healthy and free of disease. But how can you help boost his immunity?

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