Health

Periodontal disease is considered as an important cause of drooling in dogs. If your beagle has not been given regular dental checkup and hygiene, there is a possibility of tartar build up, an important predisposing factor of gum infections.
A decaying tooth or a fractured one can also cause drooling. If your beagle suffers from certain teeth problems, bad breath or halitosis may be one of the signs that you can easily discover.

There are various forms of PRA and each form differs in its age of onset and the rate by which it progresses. Some breeds of dogs may develop PRA early in life while there are other breeds wherein PRA develops later in life.

IVDD is caused by the degeneration of one or more intervertebral discs that function as cushions between the vertebral bones of the spine. Degeneration results in the ossification or hardening and herniation of the disc. When this happens, there is pressure exerted on the spinal cord running along the vertebral column. Since the spinal cord is a highly sensitive tissue, any compression even though how minimal may result in the manifestation of nervous signs.

The hormone is produced by the Thyroid Gland which is located in the neck below the voice box.

Hypothyroidism is considered as the most common hormonal abnormality in dogs. Most cases of Hypothyroidism have been observed in dogs between 4-10 years of age. High prevalence has been reported in male dogs which have been castrated as well as spayed female dogs. The disease can affect any breed of dog but is most common in Boxers, Dachshund, Golden Retrievers, Irish Setters, Poodles, Miniature Schnauzers, and Greyhounds.

Before being born, a puppy’s testicles are located within the abdomen. The testicles will start to descend into the abdomen upon birth and complete its descent when the puppy is approximately two months old.

An undescended testicle is usually non-functional and underdeveloped. Removal of this underdeveloped testicle is usually indicated to prevent future problems, particularly cancer. The testicle may still be located within the abdomen or it may be embedded in the tissues of the inguinal region.

Unlike humans, dogs have a third eyelid located in the corner of each eye where the tear duct is located. In normal cases, these eyelids are not seen for they are tucked hidden within the eye tissues.

Although Cherry Eye can affect any breed, sex and age of dog, some breeds of dogs are more predisposed to developing the condition. These breeds include the Beagle, Lhasa Apso, Saint Bernard, Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, and the Bloodhound.

By Charles Graeber

In College Station, deep within the cinder-block bowels of a lab on the campus of Texas A&M University, Madeline the dog waits patiently on a metal table while a veterinary surgeon pulls green sterile scrubs over his pointy cowboy boots. Yesterday, Madeline's blood test revealed the telltale hormonal spike that signals ovulation. It's her turn.

By J. Travis

Foreshadowing a time when a patient's own cells may be harvested, multiplied, and fashioned into a replacement organ, researchers in Boston have successfully transplanted laboratory-grown bladders into six beagles.

"This is the first demonstration that you can engineer a complete organ and replace the native organ with [it]," says David J. Mooney of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who is attempting to grow artificial livers.

by Linda Bren

Tina and Baron have both seen better days. Tina Gilliam, of Gaithersburg, Md., slowly gets out of bed in the morning and carefully pulls on her socks to avoid the pain she feels when she tries to move too fast. Her golden retriever, Baron, also lifts himself slowly from the floor next to her bed. As he limps after her to the medicine cabinet, his gait is much like hers--slow, stiff and deliberate--for like Gilliam, Baron suffers from arthritis.

Linda A. Johnson
Source: The Boston Globe
June 7, 2002

A new backyard contraption designed to kill ticks on the backs of mice could prove to be a powerful weapon against Lyme disease.