Dr Steve Surujbally

Stomatitis (sore mouth) Pet CornerContinued Two weeks ago, we dealt with the symptoms and treatment of the classical stomatitis (‘sore mouth’) condition.

Let’s take a break today from our current discussion on oral ailments to treat a more acute problem affecting our pets.

Pet Corner Continued Stomatitis (Sore mouth) In terms of a definition, I think the one most easily understood would reflect an inflammatory condition of the mouth which usually produces small vesicles or abscesses. 

Pet Corner Last week we dealt with the symptoms of ailments in the mouth. 

Pet Corner Over the last few weeks, we have been discussing problems associated with the lips in particular.

Pet Corner (Continued) Lip Fold Pyoderma (LFP) A lot of that which was said last week during the discussion of genuine lip infections would be valid for this ailment as well. 

Pet Corner Today we begin a new chapter of canine maladies, viz, those which are associated with the oral cavity. 

Pet Corner Nasal ‘warts’ Really, this condition of the nose tip has little to do with warts. 

Pet Corner -Nasal solar dermatitis  This fancy name is also called ‘Collie nose’ since it occurs with some frequency in the Collie, the Scottish Sheepdog (‘Lassie’ of television and movie fame is a Collie).

Ailments of the nose Continued from last week Difficult breathing in short-nosed dogs Certain breeds like the Pekinese, the Bulldog, Cocker Spaniels, Boston Terriers, and a ‘new’ type we are now calling the ‘Pom-Pek’ (you know, those dogs with faces looking as if they had a run in with a concrete wall and came out second with caved-in faces) seem to have a genetically-based predisposition to experience difficult breathing.

Pet Corner Continued Discharge Any nasal discharge should not be considered as a disease in itself.

Ailments of the nose/nostrilsSneezing Sneezing is a symptom, not a disease in itself.

Nosebleed Pet Corner There are some diseases of dogs and cats where one of the associate symptoms is a bleeding from the nostrils (epistaxis).

Ailments of the nose General considerations Now that we have concluded the discussions on maladies of the ears, it is only fitting that we deal with ailments of the nose and nostrils.

Ear ailments (Conclusion)  Deafness An animal can be born deaf (congenital deafness) or it could acquire the deafness during the course of its life.

Ear ailments  (continued) Middle ear infection (Otitis Media) Last week, we discussed external ear infections. 

Pet Corner (Continued) Bacterial problems of the outer ear I had promised last week that we would go delving into the ‘middle ear’ and see what sort of stomach-turning maladies we will find there. 

Ear ailments Maladies of the ear flap (pinna) (Continued) 1.   Splitting of the ear tips Usually, an underlying infection or some other form of irritation (mange, foreign body stuck in the ear flap, horse fly bite, etc) can precipitate this condition which, as the name suggests, is a fissure (a split) on the tip of the ear.

Ear ailments(Continued) Maladies of the ear flap (pinna) Swollen ear flap (Othematoma) If the inner surface of the ear (usually, but not always, one side only) of your dog suddenly becomes swollen, then 99 times out of 100 it is because small blood vessels in the ear flap have ruptured and  blood oozes out.

The earContinued General considerations By now, it must be clear how susceptible to infection ears are.