Health Problems Known in the Breed (More information about each disease coming soon)

Eyes

Patellar Luxation

Liver Shunt Dogs with liver shunts often have grave and occasionally deadly consequences. A liver shunt, also known as a portosystemic shunt, is a typical fetal blood conduit that avoids liver tissue while still in the womb, enabling the mother's body to remove toxins for the developing child. However, in certain animals, the shunt stays open after birth, impairing the animal's ability to function as a liver, slowing its growth, and ultimately leading to the deaths of several affected animals. Conventional surgical methods can be used to repair congenital portosystemic shunts, but an ameroid constrictor—a thin metal ring shaped like a C—is implanted as an alternative by a team of researchers at the University of Tennessee several years ago. Over a period of weeks, the shunt gradually closes down as a result of the constrictor fitting around it. Compared to conventional procedures, dogs undergoing this kind of surgical repair typically experience shorter surgeries and less postoperative problems.

Microvascular Dysplasia (MVD) Describe MVD. When Too Little Blood Is Reaching the Liver August 07, 2000 Written by Diplomate ACVIM Celeste A. Clements, DVM Small breed dog owners and veterinarians should be alert for any symptoms of a liver issue that has been identified by pathologists for about 15 years but has only recently been identified by veterinary internists. The congenital condition known as hepatoportal microvascular dysplasia, or MVD, affects the blood supply to the liver. Dogs that inherit this issue may become very sick; among the more severe symptoms of the illness are coma, seizures, and odd behavior. This issue is particularly common in Yorkshire and Cairn terriers. Dogs with MVD don't receive enough blood flow to their livers. A robust liver cleanses and detoxifies blood that is returned from the abdomen's components. The portal vein, which has seven main tributaries and branches throughout the liver lobes, is the route by which blood enters the liver. The liver will not develop normally and its function will be impacted by an abnormal or insufficient blood supply; the severity of the issue actually depends on how severe the deformity is. Blood that is unable to enter the liver through the proper channels is "shunted" or diverted. An enigmatic illness There are other congenital liver abnormalities brought on by an inadequate blood supply besides MVD. Because a portosystemic vascular anomaly, or PSVA, bypasses all or part of the liver, the blood supply may appear noticeably abnormal. With MVD, however, the anomaly is only noticeable at the microscopic level, which is why it can be difficult for veterinarians to track at times. The veterinarian might miss the disease because it is so subtle. In the event that the dog does exhibit symptoms of disease, these typically include increased thirst and urination, food intolerance, or behavioral abnormalities that could be attributed to the impact of metabolic waste products and dietary toxins on the brain. Most patients with significant blood shunting have hepatic encephalopathy, a disorder caused by an excess of metabolic byproducts in the blood that the liver is normally able to filter out. Other symptoms include a coma or seizures, incoordination, depression or confusion, and apparent blindness. Puppies with "shunts" frequently exhibit dementia or strange behavior after eating; more subdued MVD patients in dogs may exhibit symptoms. Looking into MVD Bile acid profiles have gained popularity as a noninvasive method of identifying liver functional abnormalities, including circulatory problems. When measured jointly, the amount of bile acids in the fed and fasted, or postprandial, states provide a valuable indicator of clinically significant liver disease. The liver produces bile acids, which are then kept in the gallbladder as part of bile. In order to facilitate digestion, bile enters the intestinal tract when the gallbladder empties due to hormonal or chemical signals triggered by eating. A large portion of the bile salts are reabsorbed into the bloodstream at the ileum, the end of the small intestine, along with other metabolic byproducts. They then enter the portal circulation and are directed toward the liver. Bile salts are drawn from the blood and circulated in dogs with healthy livers. However, if the patient has bile retention, decreased liver mass, or impaired hepatoportal circulation, the level of bile acids will be elevated. However, a dog with a high level of bile salts does not necessarily have MVD. Since there is a lot of overlap between the various liver diseases, additional diagnostic procedures such as liver biopsy, nuclear scintigraphy, or dye studies are often required in order to distinguish between the diseases. Noninvasive methods such as nuclear scintigraphy can be used to evaluate the presence of shunting in dogs exhibiting abnormal blood circulation to the liver. An enema labeled with a radioisotope is given during this process The colon absorbs this radioisotope through circulation, and in healthy dogs, the labeled blood is delivered to the liver; in shunt-affected dogs, it is delivered to the heart. It is possible to compare the entry of labeled blood into the liver and the heart thanks to computer technology. Although the technique is rarely able to localize the abnormal circulation, estimates of the shunt fraction are generally considered reliable. Surgical correction of the portosystemic vascular anomaly is unlikely if the shunt fraction is less than or equal to fifteen percent. A definitive diagnosis of an issue with blood flow to the liver can be made with a dye study A dye study test for MVD will reveal blunted portal vein branches, uneven distribution of contrast within the liver tissue, and persistence of contrast within the liver tissue. These operations are carried out on a sedentary patient, usually in conjunction with hepatic visualization or liver sampling surgery. Contrast studies, sometimes known as portography, are infrequently carried out even if an anomalous blood vessel is found grossly. Options for treatment If done before the dog reaches two years of age, surgical correction of the shunting vessel through banding or ligation is successful in most cases. Improved liver function and a more normal blood flow pattern are attained, but in certain patients, microscopic circulatory abnormalities may linger, making establishment of of an entirely typical condition. Dogs with MVD are not able to have their liver dysfunction corrected, in contrast to dogs with PSVA. Dogs exhibiting symptoms of the disease are treated with diets low in dietary protein, oral antibiotics to suppress intestinal bacterial growth, and lactulose to lower intestinal absorption of ammonia, which is one of the major causes of hepatic encephalopathy. For the majority of dogs, effective sign control should allow for a good quality of life. However, some people will still experience progressive liver dysfunction, portal hypertension, and an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen as a result. For asymptomatic patients, there is no need for treatment; however, all dogs with MVD may be more susceptible to negative reactions to drugs that the liver processes. When giving prescription or over-the-counter medications, exercise caution, and when making anesthesia plans. It's unknown if MVD makes people more susceptible to infections or inflammatory diseases that cause liver disease. Catching it early It's best to identify dogs with MVD as soon as possible. It's critical to stop the illness from proliferating and from being confused with other conditions that may eventually result in liver failure. A high-risk population of Cairn and Yorkshire terriers may exist; other small breeds with documented cases of MVD include the miniature schnauzer, Lhasa apso, dachshund, Maltese, bichon frise, and poodle. Puppies or young small breed dogs who have consistently elevated serum bile acids but are otherwise healthy should be suspected of having the issue. For patients who may be suspects of of PSVA or MVD, though it might not always be easily accessible. Furthermore, the test only detects gross shunting and cannot conclusively confirm or rule out microscopic abnormalities. The only way to conclusively diagnose MVD is with a liver biopsy that is both decent in quality and size. Most patients can safely have liver biopsies done, but each patient should have their risks evaluated and any potential benefits weighed against them. In dogs with only abnormal test results, it is far more difficult to justify the liver biopsy procedure, even though it may be necessary for symptomatic patients with high bile acids. A liver biopsy as well as a visual assessment of the liver and portal circulation may be taken into consideration if spaying is planned for female dogs who are at risk. MVD is still considered a tentative diagnosis in certain cases, which makes sense as long as no surgically treatable issue is missed. Researchers studying diseases that are difficult to "pin down," like MVD, are still studying the condition. The condition known as hepatic microvascular dysplasia is characterized by the microscopic mixing of venous and arterial blood within the liver. This condition is also known as hepatoportal microvascular dysplasia, so you can search for information under either name. Although it has been identified in several small dog breeds, Cairn and Yorkshire terriers appear to be particularly affected by this condition. Most dogs with this illness probably don't exhibit any obvious clinical symptoms linked to the microvascular dysplasia and are identified, for whatever reason, when bile acid response testing is carried out to rule out liver disease. Unfortunately, some dogs with this condition do exhibit clinical signs. These signs can include urinary tract disease linked to ammonium biurate cystals in the urinary tract, which form as a result of liver problems, gastrointestinal issues, or seizures or other disorders of the central nervous system. The first clue that this illness is present is typically provided by abnormal bile acid response testing. It is also possible for portosystemic shunts to cause elevated bile acid levels. When thinking about the possibility of hepatic microvascular dysplasia, it is necessary to rule out that possibility. A liver biopsy helps to rule out other liver diseases, which provides additional evidence for the existence of this condition. When canines possess microvascular dysplasia without exhibiting any symptoms, and their prognosis is excellent. Therapy is not necessary in many situations. When dietary therapy and medication are used to manage clinical signs in dogs that are diagnosed, the signs can frequently be controlled. The goal of the dietary therapy is cutting back on too much protein in the diet as well as medications like lactulose and antibiotics like metronidazole or neomycin that are used to lower the body's ammonia levels in the digestive tract. Patients with clinical signs of hepatoportal microvascular dysplasia have varying prognoses. Certain dogs respond favorably to therapy and have lifespans that are average or almost average. Others have seen a gradual worsening of their clinical symptoms.  I'm not aware of any technique for forecasting a patient's prognosis. Many lower-protein diets, such as Purina's NF diet, the Hills k/d (tm) and l/d (tm) diets, and others, may be beneficial. The dosage of lactulose is tailored to each patient's requirements by utilizing it to produce a formed, but soft, stool. The standard dosage for neomycin and metronidazole is 22 mg/kg of body weight and 7.5 mg/kg, respectively, given twice daily. This dosage of metronidazole is less than what is prescribed for a number of other illnesses. These are the two most often mentioned antibiotics, though I have seen recommendations for the use of other antibiotics.

Protein-Losing Enteropathy (PLE) What is Protein Losing Enteropathy? Protein-losing enteropathy is the term for excessive loss of plasma and proteins into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Any ailment that harms the GI tract's lining may be the cause. Intestinal lymhangiectasia, immunoproliferative enteropathy, protein-losing enteropathy, and nephropathy in the soft-coated wheaten terrier are among the protein-losing enteropathies that are believed to have an inherited component. The latter disorder is associated with renal protein loss and is hypothesized to be related to bad dietary reactions (see also familial renal disease). How are nephropathy and protein-losing enteropathy inherited? There's a chance of autosomal recessive inheritance. Which breeds are afflicted with nephropathy and protein-losing enteropathy? soft-coated terrier made of wheat What does nephropathy and protein-losing enteropathy mean for you and your dog?  It's possible for your dog to gradually lose weight or not gain any weight at all. Fluid loss from the circulation into the limbs, the belly, or the chest results from the loss of protein into the colon. Your dog can appear bloated in the legs and/or abdomen and have breathing difficulties. The loss of protein, moisture, and fat into the intestine may result in sporadic or chronic diarrhea. Your dog's drinking and urinating will rise if their kidneys lose protein. How are nephropathy and protein-losing enteropathy diagnosed? Your veterinarian will probably suspect one of the disorders that cause loss of proteins into the stomach if your dog exhibits the symptoms listed above. It's essential to do laboratory testing and an intestinal biopsy. How are nephropathy and protein-losing enteropathy treated? This is an incurable condition, but it can be effectively treated by both you and your veterinarian. Reducing the amount of proteins lost into the intestine and getting your dog's protein levels back to normal are the main objectives of therapy. This is accomplished by reducing intestinal wall inflammation with food and medication. Dogs suffering from protein-losing enteropathy should eat a diet low in fat and high in quality protein. These requirements can be met by commercial prescription diets, or your veterinarian can provide you with information on how to make a low-fat diet at home. In any scenario, because of the inadequate absorption of fat that occurs in dogs, you will need to add fat-soluble vitamins to their diet. Corticosteroids may lessen inflammation, which in turn may lessen protein loss and the accompanying diarrhea. Advice on breeding Dogs that are affected shouldn't be put up for breeding. Parents, who are regarded as carriers, and siblings, who are regarded as suspect carriers, should not be used for breeding because the inheritance is believed to be autosomal recessive. SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS DISORDER. Materials Sherding, R.G., Batt, R.M., and Burrows, C.F. 1995. small intestinal diseases. Pages 1224–1225 of Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, edited by S.J. Ettinger and E.C. Feldman. Toronto's W.B. Saunders Co. Protein-losing enteropathy, Proceedings of the 16th ACVIM Forum, pp. 419–421, Williams, D.A. 1998 Canine Inherited Disorders Database Copyright C 1998. Reserved rights apply. Updated: The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, and the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre collaborated to create this database.

Encephalitis

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

Hyperuricosuria

Kidney Disease

Collapsing Trachea