Michael S. Garvey D.V.M. - The Veterinarians Guide to Your Dogs Symptoms

Thanks to Mollie Doyle at Villard for her patience, calm, and understanding; to Annik LaFarge; and to Barbara Lowenstein, without whom this project would never have happened. Thanks in particular to Norman Kurz at Lowenstein Associates for his help.

Thanks also to Drs. Michael Garvey, Ann Hohenhaus, Katherine Houpt, and Melissa Wallace for their contributions, and especially to Dr. John Pinckney for his heroic efforts.

Last, but by no means least, thanks to my husband, Arthur Hettich, for his continuing encouragement and support.

Elizabeth Randolph

Part One:

A Healthy Dog's Body
Skin and HairEyes and VisionEars and HearingNoses and a Sense of Smell Mouth and TeethCardiovascular System Digestive SystemEndocrine System Musculoskeletal SystemNervous System Reproductive SystemRespiratory System Urinary SystemOther Systems

How to Keep a Dog's Body Healthy
Choosing a VeterinarianChoosing a Healthy PetA Veterinary CheckupHow Do Vaccinations Work, and What Do They Prevent?Recommended Vaccinations for All Puppies (Chart 1)Other Vaccinations That Are Available for Puppies (Chart 2)Recommended Vaccinations for All Adult Dogs (Chart 3) Optional Vaccinations for Adult Dogs (Chart 4)Spaying and NeuteringProviding Good NutritionExerciseConditions Resulting from Some Deficiencies in a Puppy's Diet (Table 1)Grooming and BathingOther Important Care Procedures

Normal Dog Behavior
Social Behavior of DogsSleeping Behavior Eating BehaviorTerritorial BehaviorCanine CommunicationsCanine Body Language (Table 2)Communicating with a Dog EliminationSome Inappropriate Canine BehaviorsHow Dogs Behave When They're Not Feeling WellWhat to Do if a Behavior Problem DevelopsOwner Responsibilities

Accidents and Medical Emergencies
Avoiding AccidentsSome Canine Medical EmergenciesBreathing Problems Cardiovascular EmergenciesCollapse DiarrheaGastric Dilatation/Volvulus Complex (GDV)BloatHypoglycemiaPyometra Seizures/ConvulsionsSpinal Problems Splenic Tumor, RupturedUrinary EmergenciesShock (Box)Vomiting Whelping EmergenciesSome Accidental Canine EmergenciesBleedingBroken BonesBurnsDrug Poisoning/IntoxicationElectrocutionEye InjuriesHeat Prostration

Contagious and Infectious Diseases
Infectious Viral Diseases Against Which Dogs Can Be ImmunizedFungal Canine Diseases Parasitic Canine DiseasesDiseases That Dogs Can Transmit to People (Zoonotic Diseases)

Care of an Injured or Sick Dog
Emergency First Aid StepsSigns of Pain (Box)Home Care of a Sick or Recuperating DogCasts and Bandages

Appendixes
Appendix A: Some Common Household Products That Are Poisonous

Index

Charts and Tables

Chart 1: Recommended Vaccinations for All Puppies

Chart 2: Other Vaccinations That Are Available for Puppies

Chart 3: Recommended Vaccinations for All Adult Dogs

Chart 4: Optional Vaccinations for Adult Dogs

Table 1: Conditions Resulting from Some Deficiencies in a Puppy's Diet

Table 2: Canine Body Language

Illustrations

Skeletal system

Brachycephalic head

Ticks

Normal, relaxed posture

Aggressive posture

Fearfully submissive posture

Play bow

Dog in crate

Makeshift muzzle

Large dog in makeshift stretcher

Small dog in cardboard box

Compression bandage

Elizabethan collar

Giving oral medication with a syringe

Pilling a dog

Applying eyedrops

Bodyoutside: side, front, rear views 9091

Dehydrationskin

Ear canal

Aural hematoma

Penis

Patella (kneecap)

Nose

Impacted anal sac

Lick granuloma (lick sore)

There are many books on the market designed to assist people in understanding their bodies and health. Several are based on symptoms of disease so that a person can find his symptoms and discover what the most common medical causes of these symptoms may be. There has not been a similar book for pet owners until now. The authors have written this book to help pet owners recognize the medical causes of problems with their dogs and the appropriate steps to take.

One of the difficulties in writing about medical topics for a nonmedical audience is terminology. Words have very specific meanings and are used very carefully in medicine. Many unfamiliar medical terms will be used in this book, and because the intended audience is nonmedical, we have included a glossary at the back of this book.

Among the terminology problems is the fact that the words symptom and sign are both used in this book. By definition, a symptom is a human patient's subjective observation of various pieces of evidence that something may be wrong, which he is able to communicate to his doctor. A sign is something that is objectively seen, felt, smelled, or heard. Because a dog cannot communicate her physical feelings except in the most general way (i.e., change in behavior), she technically cannot have symptoms, and an owner or veterinarian must look for signs of medical trouble. However, because most people are familiar with the use of the word symptom rather than sign, we have used both terms interchangeably in this book.

Michael S. Garvey, D.V.M.

This chapter contains short descriptions of the various systems in the bodies of normal, healthy dogs, touching on the differences between dogs and humans and between dog body types and breeds. The primary purpose of the chapter is to provide dog owners with a basis of comparison in case a dog's body seems not to be functioning correctly.

In general, dogs bodies work in much the same way as those of all other mammals, humans included. And although dogs may differ greatly in size, type of haircoat, nose and ear shape, and length of tail, they are all alike physiologically: a 6-pound Yorkshire terrier has all of the same parts as a 150-pound Newfoundland.

Some of the external differences in dogs bodies, such as eye and facial shape, length of coat, and ear type, may indicate susceptibilities to specific problems.

A Normal Dog's Skeleton

One of the most immediately recognized differences in dogs is the type and length of their hair, or coat. A dog's coat forms an insulating layer between his skin and the external environment. It helps to keep him warm in winter and protects him from the heat and sun in summer. A dog's coat can be short, medium, or long and is either coarse or fine. German shepherds short, coarse coats are the standard for normal, because they are most like the coats of coyotes and wolves. Many dogs have what is called a