Dog Symptoms Guide

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Salivation - Increased
Increased salivation is often a consequence of a problem in the oral cavity, or mouth. Most conditions which cause pain in the mouth will also cause salivation - see ‘mouth pain’. Sometimes however, salivation can be caused by other conditions as well.

For instance a blockage of the oesophagus, or gullet, can cause salivation because the dog is now unable to swallow any saliva. In this case he will also be unable to eat or drink. Your vet can examine your dog and unblock the oesophagus in most cases.

We see salivation in some cases of poisoning as well. Especially some old fashioned flea preparations can cause salivation if the dog licks the area of application. Most modern flea preparations will not have this side effect. Some other poisons can also cause salivation.

Paralysis of the tongue or other structures in the mouth can also cause salivation, due to the inability to swallow. This can be caused by trauma or other conditions of the nerves in this area.

Most dogs will also salivate during episodes of epilepsy - see epileptic fit.

Shock
Shock is a term, which is usually used for humans, in the context of people being ‘shocked’ by something. This is therefore more a mental state than a physical condition. In dogs, we use the term shock to indicate a physical condition only. Shock is a situation in which several systems in the body are not functioning properly. There are four types of shock possible: hypovolemic shock, cardiac shock, neurogenic shock and septic shock.

The most common one is the hypovolemic type of shock. This means that there is not enough circulating volume of blood in the body. This can happen when their is a blood loss, like in internal or external bleeding, or when the body can not maintain a good circulation of blood. The latter can happen in situations where the body is under cooled or under the influence of certain drugs. Conditions where the blood can not reach the heart can also cause shock: this can happen, for instance, if there is a high pressure in the abdomen, like in bloat (see ‘bloat’).

Cardiac shock leads to shock when the heart can not maintain a good circulation. There are many heart conditions which can lead to this. Neurogenic shock is rare, and usually caused by massive damage to the brain or spinal cord. Septic shock is often caused by an infection which has reached the blood stream before it can be treated with antibiotics.

The symptoms of shock are :a pale discoloration of the mucous membranes (the inside of the mouth, the gums, the eyes etc.), weakness and a fast heart beat and pulse. The dog may feel cold to the touch, especially the extremities like the feet and ears.

The consequence of shock is the same, whatever the original cause of the shock. Several systems in the body loose their function and multiple organ failure may occur. This will lead to a ‘shut down’ of the entire body and death is always the result, if the shock is not treated immediately.

Treatment of shock is often in the form of intravenous fluids (a ‘drip’) and drugs together. Only your vet can do this treatment. It is of the utmost importance that you take your dog to the vet if you suspect that your dog may suffer from shock!

Sneezing
Sneezing is caused by an irritation of the mucous membranes in the nose. This irritation can be caused by many different things.

One of the causes of sneezing is a foreign body. This is an object which does not belong in the nose. This could be an inhaled grass seed for instance, a small toy, a piece of food, or sometimes, in malicious cases, even metal objects. Often the sneezing will be accompanied by discharge (see nose - discharge).

Another reason for sneezing is any fluid accumulation in the nose (see nose - discharge). Allergic conditions are also possible in dogs. These often give different symptoms though, such as itchiness, redness of the eyes, eye discharge etc., but they can sometimes cause sneezing.

If your dog sneezes continuously, ask your vet for advice.

Stiffness
Stiffness is usually the result of pain in the joints. Sometimes it can be caused by an actual restriction of the joint, but more often than not it is because of pain. Certain conditions of the bones can also cause stiffness, as can some nervous conditions. By far the most common reason for stiffness is arthritis.

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joint. This can be caused by many different conditions. There are congenital conditions in which the joint is not formed properly. Developmental conditions, such as hip dysplasia or osteochondrosis, can also lead to arthritis. Sometimes we see infectious arthritis, when bacteria have entered a joint. This can be the result of penetrating trauma or surgery, or sometimes of an infection spreading through the blood.

The most common form of arthritis is the ‘wear and tear’ type of arthritis. Although there is often an initial cause for the arthritis to begin, by the time the dog is diagnosed as arthritic this original cause can not be established. Arthritis will lead to stiffness, reluctance to exercise, sometimes aggression, inappetance or a cracking sensation or sound as well.

Most cases of lameness can cause ‘stiffness’, especially if two or more legs are involved in the condition (see ‘lameness’).

Some cases of stiffness are caused by conditions affecting the nervous system. In these cases there may also be weakness or an exaggerated tenseness of the muscles.

Stiffness can also be caused by abdominal pain and back pain.

Straining
Dogs can be affected by straining in two separate groups of conditions. They can strain to pass faeces, or they can strain on the urine. These conditions have different possible causes and treatments.

Faecal straining can be caused by constipation for instance. This can be due to the type of food which the dog has been fed on. In some cases the dog has eaten something out of the ordinary which has upset the digestive system. Constipation can also be the result of the dog having been given bones. If chewed up the small pieces of bone cause constipation, not least because it is very painful to pass faeces with bits of bone. It may be impossible to pass easily due to an actual obstruction of the anal canal. This can be caused by a growth in the rectum for instance. Another reason for difficulty in passing faeces is an enlargement of the prostate gland. The enlarged gland puts pressure on the colon, or large intestine, and makes it difficult for the faeces to pass through the colon. This is common in older entire male dogs and is often treated by castration of the dog. In rare cases the colon or rectum may have lost its nervous supply and this will lead to atony, an inability to contract and propel the faecal material.

Straining on the urine is often caused by a bladder inflammation or infection, called cystitis, or by a urinary obstruction. Cystitis is either a bacterial infection, or the result of the build up of crystals in the urine. A urine test can often distinguish between these. Urinary obstructions are often the result of bladder stones or tumours in the region of the outflow tract of the bladder. Bladder stones can be the result of a long-standing crystal formation in the bladder. Tumours are more common in older dogs and can often be diagnosed by doing x-rays of the bladder.

If your dog is repeatedly straining on either the faeces or on the urine, it is advisable to seek veterinary advice.

Swallowing
Difficulty swallowing can be caused by anything which causes pain in the mouth (see ‘mouth pain’) or in the throat.

The most common reason for a dog to have difficulty swallowing is an obstruction of the oesophagus (the ‘gullet’)(see also ‘salivation - increased’). This can be caused by food, a bone, a foreign object (something which does not belong there) or even a tumour in the oesophagus.

Paralysis of the muscles in the throat area can also cause difficulty swallowing. This can be the result of hormonal conditions, poisonings, infections or trauma.

The most important possible complication of difficulty swallowing is pneumonia, this is an infection of the lungs. This will happen if foodstuffs enter the windpipe as they are inhaled.

Difficulty swallowing is always a reason to seek veterinary advice!

Swelling
Swellings can involve many different organs or tissues. If the skin or the tissue just beneath the skin is involved, we call them lumps (see ‘lumps’). If an organ or whole part of the body is involved, it may be caused by something quite different from a lump.

Abdominal swelling can be caused by several conditions. One is bloat (see ‘bloat’). Another is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. This can be the result of heart disease, infections or tumours. Furthermore, abdominal swelling can be the result of a swelling of an individual organ, such as the liver or spleen for instance. Pregnancy is also a reason for abdominal swelling, as is an infection of the uterus.

Swelling of a part of a leg, or the whole leg, is often the result of infection, especially if the lymph vessels are involved. These normally drain fluid away from the extremities and if they are involved in an infectious process they do not drain sufficiently. The resulting swelling is called oedema. This can, however, also be the result of serious heart disease. Swelling of a leg can also be the result of a fracture.

Swelling of the face is sometimes seen in dogs. If the whole of the face is involved, it is often the result of an allergic reaction. This can be nettles or a bee sting for instance. If only part of the face is involved, it is often the result of a tooth root infection. The dog will then have a swelling of the face, just below the eye on the upper jaw. There may be a hole in the skin with some discharge as well.

Swelling of the mammary glands in female dogs can be the result of mammary tumours, infections of the glands, or the build up of milk. The latter is obviously often the case after giving birth, but it can also happen in ‘false pregnancy’, a hormonal condition of bitches. In this case the bitch has not actually given birth, but she still produces milk. This can lead to tense and painful mammary glands.