Animals that contract viral infections in the womb may be born with diseased or deformed musculoskeletal systems. Abnormalities may also be congenital (present at birth) if a mother eats toxic plants at certain stages of the pregnancy. Some inherited (genetic) conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system may be neurologic in origin.
Dyschondroplasia
Dyschondroplasia in dogs is a hereditary skeletal dis
Lameness is a sign of illness, not a specific disease. It may indicate a disorder in the musculoskeletal system. Signs of musculoskeletal disorders include weakness, lameness, limb swelling, and joint dysfunction. Nerve and muscle function may be impaired as a result of changes to neuromuscular tissues. Problems with the muscles and skeleton may also affect other organ systems, including the urinary, digestive, and circulatory systems.
The
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system most often affect the dog’s ability to move. How severely movement is impaired depends on the type and severity of the problem. Skeletal and joint disorders are the most common, but problems in the musculoskeletal system can also indicate diseases of the muscles, neurologic problems, toxins in the body, hormonal abnormalities, metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, blood and vascular disorders, poor nutrition, and birth defects.
Erythrocytosis is an increase in the amount of red blood cells in the bloodstream. The condition is also referred to as polycythemia, but polycythemia can also imply an increase in all types of blood cells (including white blood cells and platelets). Erythrocytosis can be relative, transient, or absolute.
Relative erythrocytosis occurs when a decrease in the volume of plasma (the liquid part of blood) results in an apparent in
Leukocytes, or white blood cells, include neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils ( see White Blood Cells of Dogs). These cells vary with regard to where they are produced, how long they circulate in the bloodstream, and the factors that stimulate them into going in or out of the intricate network of blood vessels that branch out through the tissues of the body. The normal numbers of each type of white blood cell also
When bleeding occurs in an organ or body part, a process is set in motion to stop the bleeding. This is called hemostasis. In order to work, hemostasis requires an adequate number of platelets, the right amount of blood clotting proteins (often referred to as factors), and blood vessels that constrict properly. When an injury occurs, the wall of the blood vessel breaks. A normally responsive blood vessel will narrow so that blood flows more slowly
Malignant lymphoma is a common cancer in dogs. It is a progressive, deadly disease caused by the harmful growth of lymphocytes. Lymphoma most commonly arises from lymphoid tissues in the bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, or spleen. Other common sites include the skin, eye, central nervous system, and bone. Although it is common, the causes and origin of the disease are not well understood. Possible causes or contributing factors include viral infection, environmenta
Blood parasites are organisms that live in the blood of their animal hosts. These parasites can range from single-celled protozoa to more complex bacteria and rickettsiae. The method of transmission varies, depending on the parasite, but often they are transmitted through the bites of ticks or flies.
Babesiosis
Babesiosis is a disease transmitted by ticks. It is caused by protozoan parasites
Anemia occurs when there is a decrease in the number of red blood cells, which can be measured by red blood cell count or hemoglobin concentration. It can develop from loss, destruction, or lack of production of red blood cells. Anemia is classified as regenerative or nonregenerative. In a regenerative anemia, the bone marrow responds appropriately to the decreased number of red blood cells by incr
Blood groups are determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens (proteins and sugars) on the red blood cell membrane.
Dogs have more than 12 blood groups, and their red blood cells may contain any combination of these since each blood group is inherited independently. The most important of these is called Dog Erythrocyte Antigen (DEA) 1.1. Typing of blood donors and r