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695 results for “liver disease”
Pulmonary Valve Stenosis in Dogs
Pulmonary valve stenosis is a common congenital narrowing of the heart's right-side outflow valve, causing exercise intolerance, breathlessness, and fluid buildup in severe cases. Surgical repair is the definitive treatment, with supportive care for heart failure.
Ventricular Septal Defect in Dogs and Cats
Ventricular septal defect is a congenital hole in the wall between the heart's lower chambers, with a clear hereditary tendency. Signs include slow growth, easy fatigue, cough, and breathlessness, and severe cases shorten life. Treatment improves heart function and prevents secondary infection.
Hemothorax (Blood in the Chest) in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Hemothorax is blood collecting in the chest cavity from chest trauma, surgery, or a bleeding disorder, causing shock and labored breathing. It is an emergency treated by stabilizing the patient, draining the blood, and stopping the source.
Jaundice in Dogs and Cats
Jaundice is yellow discoloration of tissues from high blood bilirubin due to blocked pigment metabolism; it is a sign of liver, bile-duct, or hemolytic disease rather than a disease itself. Treatment targets the underlying cause and supports the liver.
Ascites in Dogs and Cats
Ascites is the abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen, a chronic condition that may be watery (transudate) or inflammatory (exudate). It causes a symmetrically swollen belly, weakness, and breathing difficulty; treatment targets the underlying disease plus fluid removal and a low-sodium diet.
Hepatic Cirrhosis in Dogs and Cats
Hepatic cirrhosis is scarring of the liver from long-standing injury, leading to loss of function, a bleeding tendency, and nervous signs in advanced cases. Treatment removes the cause where possible, supports the liver, and provides a high-protein, high-carbohydrate diet.
Peptic Ulcer in Dogs and Cats
Peptic ulcers are chronic sores that form in the stomach or duodenum when digestive acid erodes the protective mucosal lining. Affected dogs and cats show reduced appetite, vomiting (sometimes with blood), abdominal pain after eating, dark tarry stools, and weight loss; perforation can lead to sudden, life-threatening peritonitis.
Canine Babesiosis: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne protozoal disease caused by Babesia species that destroy red blood cells, leading to severe anemia and hemoglobinuria. It is treated with babesiacides and supportive care, including transfusion in severe cases.
Canine and Feline Toxoplasmosis: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, with cats as the definitive host; dogs and cats are often silently infected but can develop respiratory and nervous signs. It is treated with sulfonamide-based anticoccidial therapy.
Canine and Feline Schistosomiasis (Blood Fluke Infection): Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Schistosomiasis (Japanese blood fluke disease) is a zoonotic infection caused by Schistosoma japonicum living in the portal-mesenteric veins of mammals and people. It causes anemia, diarrhea, and ascites, and is treated with schistosomicides.