adrenocorticism affects salt/potassium balance in the body and glucorticoid as well. Secondary adrenocorticism usually only affects the glucocorticoids. It is not known why primary adrenocorticism occurs but it may be an immune mediated process. Secondary adrenocorticism probably occurs most often when prednisone or other cortisone being administered for medical reasons are suddenly withdrawn. It can occur as a result of pituitary cancer or some other process that interferes with production of hormones that stimulate the adrenal glands.

Most dogs with Addison's disease initially have gastrointestinal disturbances like vomiting. Lethargy it also a common early sign. Poor appetite can occur as well. These are pretty vague signs and it is extremely easy to miss this disease. More severe signs occur when a dog with hypoadrenocorticism is stressed or when potassium levels get high enough to interfere with heart function. Dogs with this problem will sometimes suffer severe shock symptoms when stressed, which can lead to a rapid death. When potassium levels get high heart arrythmias occur or even heart stoppage which also is fatal. In some cases, especially secondary Addison's disease, there are no detectable electrolyte changes.

This disease can be picked up by changes in the ratio between sodium or potassium by accident at times. When this happens it is still extremely important to treat for it. It is confirmed by an ACTH response test -- administration of this hormone should stimulate production of adrenal hormones. If this does not occur then hypoadrenocorticism is present. In cases in which the electrolyte levels are normal this is the only test for the problem and it will be missed unless it is looked for specifically. At times this disease can be hard to differentiate from renal failure because the symptoms and even the blood work can be similar, so the ACTH response test may be necessary to differentiate them.

Basic Genetics

To learn more about how genetics and inheritance works, click here.

Bloat

The normal stomach sits high in the abdomen and contains a small amount of gas, some mucus, and any food being digested. It undergoes a normal rhythm of contraction, receiving food from the esophagus above, grinding the food, and meting the ground food out to the small intestine at its other end. Normally this proceeds uneventfully except for the occasional burp.

In the bloated stomach, gas and/or food stretches the stomach many times its normal size, causing tremendous abdominal pain. For reasons we do not fully understand, this grossly distended stomach has a tendency to rotate, thus twisting off not only its own blood supply but the only exit routes for the gas inside. Not only is this condition extremely painful but it is also rapidly life-threatening. A dog with a bloated, twisted stomach (more scientifically called "Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus") will die in pain in a matter of hours unless drastic steps are taken.

Chronic Active Hepatitis

Chronic active hepatitis is a liver disease where there is inflammation of the liver and death of liver tissue present. Dogs that are affected with this disease develop a slow, progressive liver failure. Researchers have found in some breeds a familial predisposition to the disease.

Symptoms of the illness usually don’t appear in the dogs’ early years, not until there is significant damage to the liver. Usually CAH appears around 5-7 years of age. Some of the early signs of CAH are loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, vomiting yellowish bile, weight loss, depression, increased water intake, increased urination, and sluggishness. As the disease gets worse, jaundice may appear (the whites of the dogs eyes will appear yellowish), and clotting problems may occur. Fluids can build up in the abdominal area, so that a dog may look like it’s in whelp. Behavioral changes may occur, such as the dog might stand and stare at the wall, or in a corner, or just stand and be confused. All of this is due to toxins that have built up in the body that used to be metabolized by the liver. In some breeds copper will build up in the liver. This will vary from breed to breed. Copper will be stored in larger than normal amounts in the liver.

Yearly blood screening is always important to the health of your dog. To have a yearly baseline to judge future blood tests can prove to be valuable in assessing the health of your dog. One of the first signs of liver trouble would be an elevated ALT. To further define liver problems, a vet will usually perform a liver biopsy. This would give a definite diagnosis of CAH. This would determine to what extent the liver is damaged as well as establishing copper levels, if any. A vet will often do a guided needle biopsy, with the assistance of an ultrasound, to visualize the area of the liver in to determine which area to biopsy. This test is usually accompanied by bile acids tests before and after to complete a correct diagnosis.

Dogs can often be treated with medications and special diet, depending on how damaged the liver is when diagnosed with CAH. The dog will never be cured but can be maintained for a time if the condition is caught early and treated properly. Each dog’s case will vary.

Cushing's

There are 3 forms of Cushing's Disease. Most dogs have the more common form, Pituitary Dependent PD, with this form the dogs have a slow growing form of cancer that is located in the pituitary gland. This causes the adrenal glands to produce to much cortisol, because the tumor triggers to much ACTH to be produced.

The next form is the Non Pituitary, here there is a tumor in one or both of the adrenal glands. Here also to much cortisol is produced as a result of the tumor. The tumor is often malignant. The malignant tumor is called an Adenocarcinoma and it is aggressive where it can spread to other parts of the body and organs. The non cancerous tumor is called Adenoma.

The last form comes from pets being on long dosages (long term use of) "Cortisone" , a drug used often on pets. This drug comes in many forms. No matter what form it comes in it can cause problems with long term usage of this medication. This long term usage makes the body think it has more cortisone in the body that it does and then the body misreads the actual amount there is in the body.

There are many warning signs of Cushing's. Some of the more common ones are: excessive appetite, drinking large amounts of water, frequent urination, large pot belly, Thin skin, hair loss on the body, thinning of hair and drastic change of texture of hair.

This is usually seen in older dogs, but can begin much earlier in life. It can be very slow in progressing. There are tests to tell you if your dog has Cushing's. If you suspect it. Call your vet and get proper testing done to get a correct diagnosis.

Ear Care

Ears should be cleaned weekly. Gently pull the long hairs out of the ear canal regularly, and swab the ear canal with your finger wrapped in cotton moistened with ear cleaner recommended by your Vet or Groomer. If the puppy is scratching its ears or the ears have a bad odor, see your vet immediately.

Epilepsy

Seizures in dogs can be caused by a variety of factors. A common cause of seizures in all varieties of Poodles (as well as 25 or 30 other breeds) is "idiopathic epilepsy." Idiopathic epilepsy generally is inherited, and it can result in either mild or severe seizures. Sometimes, seizures involve episodes of unusual behavior, such as running frantically as if being chased, staggering, or hiding in the bathroom. Although seizures can be frightening to watch, the long-term prognosis for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy generally is very good. Importantly, however, many other factors can cause seizures in dogs besides idiopathic epilepsy. Causes include a variety of metabolic disorders (such as liver disorders), infectious diseases that affect the brain (such as distemper), tumors, exposure to poisons, severe head injuries, and more. The prognosis for seizures due to these other disorders varies depending on the particular disorder and how early it is diagnosed. Thus, when a dog begins to have seizures, it is very important for the dog to receive a thorough diagnostic work-up to determine the cause.

This website on canine epilepsy covers a wide variety of topics written by both lay persons and epilepsy experts. This is an excellent site, however, as with any website, you should check with a knowledgeable professional before applying any of the information to your own dog. You also are welcome to contact Barbara Licht, Ph.D. (who is heading a research project on the genetic basis of idiopathic epilepsy in Poodles) to obtain information on the diagnostic testing that is recommended, treatments, or to learn about her current research.

Hip Dysplasia

The hip joint is a ball and socket connection. If the joint is malformed the head of the femur will not properly align with the cup of the hip socket. This misalignment can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, with proper diet and exercise the animal can lead a full and active life. In more severe cases surgical correction or euthanasia are the only alternatives. Diagnosis is generally done with an X-ray. The two preferred testing and rating systems for this condition are Penn hip and OFA certification.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism (malfunctioning thyroid) is caused by an inadequate production of the thyroid hormone. Symptoms include; skin conditions, obesity, excessive hunger, irregular heat cycles, excessive coarse coat texture, inability to stay warm, and lethargy. Treatment of hypothyroidism is the use of an inexpensive drug given daily.

Testing for thyroid malfunction is obtained by taking a blood sample. Females should be tested after sexual maturity and the blood tested between heat cycles.

Most laboratories can do T-3 and T-4 screening. Complete thyroid testing includes: TT4, TT3, FT4, FT3, T4AA, T3AA, TGAA and cTSH, OFA Thyroid Registry Panel, FT4D, cTSH and TgAA.

Neonatal Encephalopathy

“Neonatal” refers to the time immediately after birth. “Encephalopathy” refers to a disease affecting the brain. Thus Neonatal Encephalopathy means a disease of the brain that becomes apparent soon after pups are born. The disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, and most affected puppies die shortly after birth. With intensive nursing care, affected pups can be kept alive for a few weeks; however, none have survived past their fifth week. 

Affected pups are weak, uncoordinated, and mentally dull from birth. If they survive the first few days, they nurse adequately. They may not, however, be able to compete with stronger pups in the litter and their growth may be stunted. Some cannot stand at all. Others manage to struggle to their feet and walk with jerky movements, falling frequently. Seizures develop in most affected pups at 4-5 weeks of age. Attempts to control these seizures with medication have proven futile, and the pups die or are euthanized before they reach weaning age.

Post-mortem examinations have been performed on some affected puppies. While no changes were found in the first brains examined, more recent examinations have found changes in organization of the portion of the brain responsible for coordination (the cerebellum) and possibly in the area of the brain that would produce seizures (the cerebrum).

Information on the disease and how to have testing done can be found here.

Optic Nerve Hypoplasia

Optic Nerve Hypoplasia is a congenital failure if development of the optic nerve which causes blindness and abnormal pupil response in the effected eye. Maybe unable to differentiate from micro papilla on a routine (dilated) screening ophthalmoscopic exam. Micro papilla is a small optic disc which is not associated with vision impairment. For more information see The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) website.

More links to eye health care issues:
Entropian
Corneal dystrophy
Cataracts
Inherited cataracts & juvenile cataracts
Juvenile cataracts
Why yearly CERF exams are important
More on PRA
Persistent Papillary Membranes

Sebaceous Adenitis

This is a major problem in our breed. It is estimated that 50% of all Standard Poodles are carriers or affected. It is hard to ID and can be misdiagnosed as hypothyroidism, allergies, etc. All breeding animals should have a skin biopsy preformed by a veterinary YEARLY and analyzed by a recognized veterinary dermapathologist. Unless the disease is active the test will come back negative.  Therefore, frequent testing is essential.  The Orthopedic Foundation For Animals maintains a registry for SA tested Poodles. On its web site OFA lists the names and addresses of approved dermapathologists and laboratories as well as the procedures for submitting a sample for analysis. Currently, there is no cure. Help stamp out this problem by testing your poodle, be it pet or breeding animal. For more info on this problem click here.

Von Willebrand

Von Willebrand's disease (vWD) is an inherited bleeding disorder. It is a complex and difficult disorder to deal with, because genetics, diagnostic abnormalities, pathogenic mechanisms, and sometimes conflicting clinical signs are all involved. The commonality between all vWD is a reduction in the amount or function of von Willebrand factor (vWF), which is manifested through abnormal platelet function and prolonged bleeding time. Different breeds exhibit different variations of the disease, and some individual animals appear to "acquire" vWD. The organizations dealing with this topic is Vetgen.

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