Inflammatory Diseases in Dogs

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• With inflammatory bowel disease, the stomach or the intestine or sometimes both are invaded by inflammatory cells that are responsible for maintaining the body's immune system. In the worse cases, the invading cells destroy the normal cells and scar tissue builds up. The cause could be genetics, infections, nutrition or problems with the immune system. The main symptoms are diarrhea and vomiting, and in the worse cases, the dog will become depressed, will not eat, have a fever and lose weight. The only way to get a definitive diagnosis for inflammatory bowel disease is with a biopsy. Treatments include diet changes, anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents and anti-diarrheal drugs.

Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis

• Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) is an acute, progressive inflammatory disease of the central nervous system of dogs. It is common in dogs that are affected by a neurological disease. It can cause irreversible damage to the central nervous system. GME has been found in most breed and in dogs of any age but it is most prevalent in middle-aged, small-breed dogs. Diagnosis can be hard because the symptoms are similar to other neurological diseases. It is usually accomplished by eliminating other diseases. Sometimes a CT or MRI is used, but the symptoms of GME closely resemble those of another disease, neoplasia. The most used treatment consists of corticosteroids, and radiation is used to extend the mean survival time of the dog. Depending on the location and the treatments, the survival time can be as short as 14 days or as long as 404 days.

Pug Dog Encephalitis

• Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE) is a terminal inflammatory disease of the brain that only affects Pug dogs. Other small breeds such as the Maltese, Pekingese and Yorkshire Terrier can have a disease that is very similar. Pug Dog Encephalitis causes seizures, and if the dog has a seizure and is under 1 year old or over 5 years of age it should be tested for PDE. Symptoms are seizures, depression, abnormal gait, blindness, staring off into space, pressing head against the wall or furniture, a staggering walk and intermittent screaming. The cause of Pug Dog Encephalitis is unknown. Diagnosis is difficult because the symptoms are so much like those of other diseases. PDE is always fatal and in most cases is not diagnosed until after death.

Demodicosis

• Demodicosis is more commonly know as mange. It is an inflammatory disease that is caused by the Demodex mite. Just how severe it is depends on two things: the exact type of mite and the number of mites. Demodectic mange can affect a specific part of the body or it can appear all over. Symptoms include alopecia, a redness of the skin (erythema) and the appearance of scales and lesions. Diagnosis is made by skin scrapings, and examining individual hairs can identify the specific mite. Localized cases usually do not need treatment. In severe cases it might take long-term use of medications and lime sulfur dips to cure.

Pancreatitis

• Pancreatitis can be caused by many things including infections, metabolic disorders including hyperlipidemia (high amounts of lipid in the blood), hypercalcemia (high amounts of calcium in the blood), obesity, trauma and shock. Pancreatitis is more prevalent in middle-aged dogs and in certain breeds, namely Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers. Symptoms include painful or distended abdomen, lack of appetite, depression, dehydration, a hunched back, vomiting, diarrhea and yellow, greasy stool. In more severe cases, the dog can have heart arrhythmias, sepsis, difficulty breathing, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which causes multiple hemorrhages. Treatment includes fasting and medication for 24 hours and change of diet.