Small Animal Questions

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Can dogs have problems with "slipped or blown" discs?

I know people who have had “slipped” discs or have “blown out” discs in their backs causing major problems. Can dogs have this problem too?

Yes, in particular short-legged dogs with long bodies, such as dachshunds, Pekingese, beagles, miniature and toy poodles, cocker spaniels, Shih tzus, Lhasa apsos, and Welsh corgis, are prone to have problems with the discs in their backs and sometimes in their necks. This is called intervertebral disc disease.

Nutraceuticals are a loose and ever-expanding group of “natural” substances added to a dog or cat’s diet with the intended purpose of relieving pain and inflammation associated with arthritis (osteoarthritis or OA).
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Von Willebrand's disease, what is it and what does it mean for my dog?

Von Willebrand’s disease (vWd) is an inherited bleeding disorder that results from deficiency of a protein called von Willebrand factor (vWf). It is the most common inherited bleeding problem of dogs.
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Do cats get thyroid disease?

Yes, overproduction of hormones by the thyroid glands in cats results in a disease called hyperthyroidism. In the majority of cats, the problem is secondary to a benign enlargement of the glands. Rarely thyroid cancer is the cause. Hyperthyroidism most commonly affects cats over 7 years of age.
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Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, what is it and is there a cure?