Dog Symptoms Guide

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Sign Of ill health guide >>

Tail - Limpness
A limp tail can be caused by paralysis, when the nerves to the tail are damaged. This is often associated with trauma to the tail itself or to the pelvis, for instance after road traffic accidents. The tail can not consciously be moved by the dog and will feel no pain.

Another reason for the tail to be limp can be immersion in cold water. In some dogs, mostly Labradors, we can see a limp tail some time after they have been swimming in cold water, for instance in a lake, or when they have been bathed or shampooed with cold water. This will normally correct itself in time.

Some dogs seem to have a limp tail, when in fact they just hold the tail very low and close to their body. They may be reluctant to wag. This can be a sign of a problem with their anal glands (see ‘anal glands’).

Teeth Problems
The most common problem we encounter involving the teeth is the build up of plaque and tartar on the teeth. This is apparent in nearly all dogs and will lead to gingivitis (an inflammation of the gums) in about 80% of all dogs by the age of three to four years. It is a result of the accumulation of food remnants on the teeth and mineralisation of plaque. It normally leads to halitosis, an unpleasant smell from the mouth, and pain and irritation to the dog. The infection can extend into the tissues surrounding the teeth, this is then called periodontal disease. This causes further pain and can lead to loosening of the teeth. Furthermore, the infection can spread through the body in the blood stream and affect other organs such as the kidneys, the liver and even the heart! Often, dogs with dental disease will need treatment under general anaesthesia. If you think your dog may have bad teeth, please seek advice from your vet.

Broken teeth are common in young dogs, especially if they are very playful. They can break teeth on stones, bones or some toys. In young dogs the pulp cavity, which is the cavity inside the teeth, is very wide and will be exposed when teeth break. This will lead to pain and bleeding from the broken tooth. It can also lead to bacteria entering the tooth root canal causing infections and tooth root abscesses. If your dog breaks a tooth it is always advisable to seek veterinary advice. Sometimes treatment is only possible in the immediate period after the fracture of the tooth.

Sometimes teeth can become discoloured. This is often a sign of the tooth having died. This does not normally cause any pain but will only be an aesthetic problem.

Persistent milk teeth are milk teeth which have not fallen out when the permanent teeth erupted. This process of changing teeth normally takes place between the ages of three and six months in dogs. If milk teeth stay behind, often next to the permanent teeth, they can cause an incorrect position of the teeth and the trapping of food remnants between the teeth. This in turn can cause pain and gingivitis with all its consequences. Persistent milk teeth often require extraction.

Over- and undershot jaws are caused by an uneven growth of the top and bottom jaw. This can lead to malocclusion, which is a poor fit of the upper and lower teeth. In some dogs this is considered ‘normal’, for instance in the Boxer dog, but generally it is a congenital problem.

Testicles - Swollen
Swollen testicles can be the result of several conditions. The most common one is a growth, or tumour, of the testicle. This will normally only affect one testicle, but in some cases both testicles are affected. Treatment for a testicular tumour is normally in the form of castration. There are three different types of testicular tumours and it is impossible to tell which type your dog has unless the removed testicle(s) is(are) examined at a laboratory under the microscope. This is important as one of the types is malignant. Sometimes the unaffected testicle has shrunk before removal due to hormonal changes in the body. One type of testicular tumour can also cause a feminisation of the male dog due to the production of the hormone oestrogen.

The second possible reason for swollen testicles is a torsion of a testicle. This is when the testicle is twisted around within the scrotum. This is a very painful condition and it requires immediate treatment, also often in the form of castration.

The third condition which can cause swelling of a testicle is an infection. This is quite rare, but nonetheless possible. It will cause pain and heat of the affected testicle and will usually require castration.

Testicles - Undescended
Undescended testicles are called ‘cryptorchid’. The condition is called ‘cryptorchidism’. This can affect one or both testicles. The testicles are formed inside the abdomen before birth and then descend into the scrotum through the inguinal canal at some time around the time of birth. If one, or both, of the testicles does not do this, it may stay behind, either inside the abdomen, or in the actual inguinal canal (groin). In general this testicle will not grow as big and not produce any sperm. It will still produce testosterone, the male sex hormone though. If by the age of six months both testicles are not present in the scrotum you should ask your vet for advice. Undescended testicles have an increased chance of forming tumours, later on in life, and therefore it is often advised to have the undescended testicle removed by castration. Cryptorchidism is a hereditary condition and dogs which are affected are not to be used for breeding purposes. Often both testicles are removed at the same time, even if only one of them is undescended.

Thirst - Increased
Increased thirst is often noted by owners, especially if there is only one dog in the household. If there are more dogs present, this may not be noted for some time. Often the dog will also urinate more frequently, or in larger quantities, and this can always be noted by an attentive owner. There are many different reasons for dogs to drink, and urinate, more than normal. It is generally not thought to be a problem if the dog drinks less than 100 ml per kilogram body weight per 24 hours. This would be as much as 3 litres (about 6 pints) for a 30kg (65lb) Labrador! If your dog drinks more than this amount, there is nearly certainly something wrong! It has to be remembered that the water intake of a dog is dependent on many factors, such as the weather, the type of food (dry or tinned), the activity level of the dog or the physical status of the dog (pregnant, lactating etc.).

Increased thirst is nearly always related to increased urination and some of the conditions mentioned below are primarily conditions causing increased urination and secondarily increased drinking.

One of the more common reasons for dogs to drink excessively is kidney disease, especially in the older dog. Liver disease is another common reason. Diabetes Mellitus is also possible in dogs. Furthermore, there are several hormonal conditions which can cause excessive thirst, such as Cushing’s Disease, Diabetes Insipidus, Hyperthyroidism, Hyperparathyroidism etc. Another common condition, especially in older female dogs, is pyometra: this is an infection of the uterus. There are some more, less common, conditions as well, causing excessive thirst.

In most cases, your vet will have to do several tests, mostly blood tests, to find out what the reason for the excessive thirst is in your dog. It is always advisable to visit your vet if your dog drinks excessively.

Ticks
Ticks are small parasites which can sometimes be found on your dog’s body, especially on the head. They normally live in undergrowth and in woods and live of the blood which they suck from their victim. When a dog passes underneath a tick, the latter may let itself drop onto the unwitting victim and attach itself by using large hooks on its jaws. The mouth of the tick is then buried inside the skin of the dog and the tick begins sucking blood from the dog. During this process the tick swells up from a tiny pin prick to an engorged body the size of a pea, but oblong and grey. Eventually, the tick will let go and drop off the dog, after which it will lay several thousands of eggs and die. However, while on the dog, it will lead to pain and itch and the dog may scratch and chew the affected areas. This can lead to damage to the skin and subsequent infections. Ticks may also transmit bacterial or other diseases to the dog.

Many people try and remove the tick from the dog’s skin, but this can lead to the mouth parts of the tick breaking of and causing a swelling and infection. Sometimes these swellings have to be removed surgically. It is always advisable to first kill the tick with an appropriate product and then to remove the tick by twisting the tick out of the skin. There are special tick removal instruments available as well. Killing the tick can sometimes be achieved by covering the tick in oil or butter as this will prevent the tick from breathing. This will take more time than for instance a flea spray though. Burning of the tick, as some people advocate, is not advisable, as this can cause damage to the skin of the dog as well as to the tick.

There are several effective tick prevention products on the market. Ask your vet what the best product is at the moment.