Dog Health

1. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Orthodedic and genetic disease information and research.
2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Any animal poison-related emergency information. Fee-based toll-free emergency number = (888) 426-4435.
3. Jo Bighouse: Flower Essences for your dog.
4. What's in Pet Food – Animal Protection Institute
5. Pet Web Library – MarVista Vet dog and cat medical reference.
6. Grooming: Golden Retriever specific grooming of ears, whiskers, feet, tail, shoulders, then blow drying.
7. Colleges of Veterinary Medicine:
   • Auburn University – College of Veterinay Medicine
   • Cornell University – College of Veterinary Medicine
   • Colorado State University – College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
   • The University of Georgia – College of Veterinary Medicine
   • University of Illinois – College of Veterinary Medicine
   • Michigan State University – College of Veterinary Medicine
   • University of Minnesota – College of Veterinary Medicine
   • Oklahoma State University – Center for Veterinary Health Sciences
   • University of Pennsylvania – School of Veterinary Medicine
8. Washington State University – College of Veterinary Medicine has a wonderful collection of dog (and cat) anatomy images. The organ systems include:

* Notice that the kidneys are not labeled on this picture. The kidneys are tucked up close to the liver toward the spine.

• The cardiovascular system (cat) includes the heart and blood vessels. The cardiovascular system performs the function of pumping and carrying blood to the rest of the body. The blood contains nutrients and oxygen to provide energy to allow the cells of the body to perform work.
• The lymphatic system includes the lymph nodes and lymph vessels. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system that helps the body fight off disease. The lymphatic system also works with the cardiovascular system to return fluids that escape from the blood vessels back into the blood stream.
• The digestive system (cat) includes the mouth, teeth, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, intestine, pancreas, liver and gall bladder. The digestive system absorbs and digests food and eliminates solid wastes from the body.
• The integumentary system is the skin and fur that cover the animal's body. The skin protects the underlying organs. The fur helps insulate against heat loss. Dogs and cats do not sweat through their skin. They only sweat from their footpads and nose. They lose water by panting rather than sweating.
• The musculoskeletal system includes all the muscles, bones and joints.
• The respiratory system (cat) includes the mouth, nose, trachea, lungs and smaller airways (bronchi and bronchioles). The respiratory system is responsible for taking in oxygen and eliminating waste gases like carbon dioxide. Because dogs and cats do not sweat through the skin, the respiratory system also plays an important role in regulation of temperature.
• The urogenital system (cat) includes the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra and the genital organs of box sexes. The urinary system is responsible for removing waste products from blood and eliminating them as urine. The genital organs are involved in reproduction.
• The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord and all the nerves that communicate between tissues and the brain and spinal cord.
• The endocrine system includes several glands that produce hormones. Hormones are substances that travel through the blood stream and affect other organs. Endocrine organs include the thyroid glands, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands and part of the pancreas.
• The organs of special senses (cat) allow the animal to interact with its environment; sight, taste, smell and hearing.
• The hematopoietic system includes the bone marrow which is located inside the bones. Three types of blood cells are made in the bone marrow: white blood cells that fight infection, red blood cells that carry oxygen and platelets that are part of the blood clotting process.

Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine also has a reference section open to the public:

(Some topics have a video version. The videos were produced by KWSU Public Television and require a Real Video Player. SIZE WARNING! Pet Health topics are presented with lots of photographs. Some files are large and may require several minutes to appear on your computer screen.)

a. Procedures

• bathing your dog
• ear medications
• eye medications
• oral medications
• restraining
• oral fluids
• SQ fluids
• trimming toe nails

b. Common Problems

• cancer
• coughing
• diarrhea
• nasal discharge/sneezing
• pain, how to detect
• seizures
• urinary incontinence
• vomiting

c. Diseases

• anal sac disease
• Addison’s disease
• antifreeze poisoning
• cardiomyopathy (dilated)
• Cushing’s disease
• diabetes mellitus
• heart valve malfunction (mitral insufficiency)
• hypothyroidism in the dog
• intervertebral disk disease
• Lyme disease
• lymphoma
• mast cell cancer
• rabies
• salmon poisoning disease

d. Miscellaneous Health Care Topics

• acupuncture
• adopting a pet
• anesthesia: My pet is going under anesthesia…
• cardiac medications
• cardiac patient home care
• cold weather pet tips
• holiday hazards to your pet
• How does my veterinarian make a diagnosis of my pets problem?
• feeding a previously abused, emaciated dog
• gifts for the pet owner & other holiday tips
• service dogs
• What do all those lab tests mean?

e. Anatomy

• cardiovascular system
• digestive system
• lymphatic system
• musculoskeletal system
• nervous system
• respiratory system
• special senses
• urogenital system