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  • Cirnechi are friendly, affectionate, and loyal – but they're also independent and incredibly intelligent. Although they're only moderate energy dogs, they need plenty of mental stimulation in order to be happy.

  • Nobody would call him "slender," but when he trots down the street with that funny rolling gait, his short legs and wide body doing their best to keep up the pace, he makes everybody smile. The stockiest spaniel, the Clumber is also the most easygoing - in fact, one of the most low-keyed of all sporting dogs.

  • The complete blood count (CBC) assesses different parameters of the cells in the blood including total number, appearance, size, and shape. Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets comprise the cellular component of the blood.

  • Constipation is infrequent or difficult passage of stool or feces. This article outlines the most common causes of constipation, signs, treatment, and prognosis.

  • Cutaneous histiocytosis is an uncommon condition in dogs. It is a non-cancerous increase in the number of reactive cells (histiocytes) caused by an immune system dysfunction. It generally manifests as multiple bumps and nodules confined to the dog's skin. The clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition are explained in this handout.

  • Dandie Dinmont Terriers are live-wire dogs that enjoy rousing play, yet can be as tough as nails when extracting a rodent from its den or when standing up to a challenge.

  • This handout describes and illustrates this condition, and discusses the causes, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment options for degenerative disc disease in dogs. Surgical intervention is specifically outlined and rule-outs for other conditions causing similar signs are also discussed.

  • Degenerative myelopathy (DM), a disease affecting the spinal cord, results in slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis. DM is like some forms of human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment, and it is a progressive, incurable disease.

  • Diabetes insipidus results in excessive drinking and urination. As many conditions cause these signs, a number of diagnostic tests including bloodwork and urinalysis need to be performed to rule out other causes. After more common causes are ruled out, a modified water deprivation test can confirm disease and an MRI or therapeutic trial can be performed. Diabetes insipidus results from reduced production of ADH from the brain or reduced sensitivity to ADH in the kidney. Treatment depends on the cause of the disease either replacing the lack of ADH with a synthetic replacement or using a hydrochlorothiazide and a low salt diet to decrease urine production.

  • Discospondylitis is a bacterial or fungal infection of the intervertebral discs and the adjacent vertebral bones in the back. It primarily affects dogs, though rarely can affect cats. It affects large-breed dogs more often and generally starts as back pain. This handout outlines the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.