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Dogs + Surgical Conditions

  • Ear canal tumors are abnormal growths that can develop from any part of the ear canal (the skin, the glands of the skin that produce earwax and oil, and the underlying connective tissues, muscles, and bones). Initially, these tumors may appear as one or more pink, white, or purple nodular masses in the ear canal. If benign, they may grow to a certain size and may or may not be problematic. If malignant, they may grow, ulcerate (break open) and bleed, and nearly always become infected, causing recurrent or chronic ear infections. The treatment of choice for ear canal tumors is surgical excision.

  • Ectopic cilia can be an irritating eye problem for many dogs. Growing abnormally through the conjunctiva (the pink part of the eye), they come into contact with the cornea and can cause chronic discomfort to the eye and corneal ulceration. Surgery is necessary to help to correct the problem and help dogs live a more comfortable life. The prognosis for surgical correction of this condition is generally good.

  • Degenerative Joint Disease in Dogs

    Se trata de un término más apropiado para describir la artritis crónica (osteoartritis) que consiste en un deterioro gradual del cartílago articular.

  • Degenerative Disc Disease in Dogs

    La médula espinal es uno de los órganos más importantes y sensibles del cuerpo. Si sufre una lesión, las células nerviosas no se regeneran y serán reemplazadas por tejido fibroso o cicatricial. Las lesiones de la médula espinal normalmente resultan en un daño permanente e irreversible. Para protegerse de cualquier lesión, la médula espinal discurre a través de un canal óseo, de forma que está protegido por hueso en todo su recorrido excepto en aquellos puntos donde se unan las vértebras. Estas uniones están rellenas de una especie de cojines de goma llamados discos intervertebrales. La disposición de las vértebras de forma individual y los discos intervertebrales van a permitir los movimientos de la espalda sin que los huesos entren en contacto con la médula espinal. Esta protección extrema de la médula espinal refleja su importancia y su fragilidad.

  • Prostatic Disease in Dogs

    La próstata es una glándula localizada cerca del cuello de la vejiga urinaria de los machos. La uretra pasa a través de ella justo a la salida la vejiga. Su función consiste en producir algunos fluidos que forman parte del semen canino.

  • Pain Management for Dogs

    El control y evaluación del dolor son muy importantes incluso cuando el perro sufre procesos relativamente rutinarios como una castración. El control del dolor se incorpora rutinariamente en todo aquel tratamiento que pueda resultar doloroso.

  • Ectropion, or outward rolling of the eyelid, can cause problems such as recurring conjunctivitis and drying out of the cornea. The clinical signs are a "sagging" or outward-rolling lower eyelid, although ectropion can affect any of the eyelids. A thick mucoid discharge often accumulates along the eyelid margin. Diagnosis is usually made on physical examination. Testing for hypothyroidism and for antibodies against certain muscle fibers may be done if looking for underlying causes. The treatment for mild ectropion generally consists of medical therapy; if the condition is severe, surgical correction can be performed to shorten the eyelids.

  • Entropion, or rolling in of the eyelids, is seen in many breeds and is considered a hereditary disorder. Most dogs will squint, hold the eye shut, and tear excessively (epiphora), though some patients will develop a mucoid discharge. Entropion can cause additional eye problems, such as corneal ulcers, perforations, or development of pigment on the cornea interfering with vision and chronically irritating to the dog. Entropion is corrected with surgery.

  • An FHO, or femoral head ostectomy, is a surgical procedure that aims to restore pain-free mobility to a diseased or damaged hip by removing the head and neck of the femur (the long leg bone or thighbone). This procedure is commonly recommended for smaller dogs, especially those who are at a healthy weight. Active dogs often experience better results with FHO than less-active dogs. It is important to follow your veterinarian's post-operative instructions. Most dogs will show signs of complete recovery approximately six weeks post-operatively.

  • This handout discusses fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP) in dogs, one of the causes of front limb lameness in young, larger breed dogs such as Bernese mountain dogs, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, rottweilers, and German shepherds. The clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this condition are outlined.