Cats and dogs.
Carsickness is a common problem in cats and dogs. Pets suffering from carsickness show symptoms including salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Two factors play a role in carsickness. The first is true motion sickness. The second is anxiety or stress related to being in a car.
Dogs
Obesity is a syndrome in which the amount of excess body fat an individual carries is great enough to cause harm to health and well-being. Obesity is a debilitating syndrome that is linked to a number of serious health consequences for dogs.
A number of factors play a role in the development of obesity in dogs. However, the root cause of obesity is the consumption of more calories than the body needs.
Dogs
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to circulate blood throughout the body in a normal fashion. In dogs, two types of heart disease may lead to heart failure. The most common type of heart disease in dogs is caused by a malfunctioning (or leaky) valve in the heart. Another form of heart disease, called cardiomyopathy, is caused by a defect in the muscles of the heart. Although these two syndromes develop in different fashions, both often lead to the same result: heart failure.
Dogs
Diabetes mellitus (known simply as diabetes) is a serious disease of dogs. The main characteristic of diabetes is an inability to control the level of sugar in the blood. This leads to chronically high blood sugar levels, which in turn lead to the symptoms of the disease.
Management of diabetes in dogs is challenging but possible. With proper treatment, many diabetic dogs lead essentially normal lives. However, without treatment the disease inevitably leads to serious complications.
Dogs
Arthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is a condition in which one or more joints in the body deteriorate. Arthritis may occur as a result of trauma, natural aging, or syndromes called dysplasias in which the joints do not develop properly.
Dogs
Allergies are the most common cause of skin problems in dogs. In dogs, allergies often cause itching, hair loss, and inflammation of the skin. In some dogs, allergies help trigger ear problems (such as ear infections) as well as skin problems.
Primarily dogs; occasionally cats
Aural hematomas occur when blood accumulates underneath the skin in the external portion of the ear. A noticeably swollen area develops on the ear. The area is often painful or irritating to the pet.
Aural hematomas develop when trauma occurs to the ear. Direct trauma or chronic, violent head shaking can break blood vessels in the ear. Broken blood vessels allow blood to accumulate under the skin, forming a hematoma.
Dogs
Acral lick is a syndrome in which dogs excessively groom the skin at the junction of the leg and the foot. This can result in trauma and irritation to the skin, known as dermatitis. As the process continues, a fleshy pink mass known as a granuloma may develop at the site.
Cats, usually middle-aged or older.
Overview
Kidney disease, or kidney failure, is the most common major medical problem of older cats. Many cats survive with kidney disease for months or years after diagnosis. However, kidney disease generally is not curable. The disease is chronic and progressive, and over time causes fatality in most cases.
Cats and dogs of both genders.
Overview