Dr Steve Surujbally

(continued)   Tongue problems Let’s today look at ailments associated with the tongue.

Gingivitis Last week, it was promised that we would continue our discussion on Gingivitis (Sore gums), specifically with the treatment of this ailment.

Last week, we dealt with the symptoms and treatment of the classic stomatitis (sore mouth) condition.

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.

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

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

A lot of what was said last week during the discussion of genuine lip infections would be valid for this ailment as well.

Lesions (wounds) on the lips are fairly common in dogs and cats, especially playful puppies and kittens.

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

Allergies associated with Rhinitis and Sinusitis Last week we dealt with Sinusitis and Rhinitis (in Greek, Rhis means nose) as being the result of nose infections, or as an accompaniment to special viral diseases of Canine Distemper, Parainfluenza, etc.

(Continuation) Before we went off on that interesting track of the dog’s mega-sense of smell, we had discussed a bit of the anatomy of that structure called the nose.

(Continued)   The more I research this area of canine smelling, the more intriguing it be-comes; and the more I want to share these new pieces of interesting knowledge and information with you.

Continued Canine sense of smell   Last week, as we commenced the new topic of nose ailments, and having dealt with general considerations relative to the canine nose, it was promised that this week we would spend some time on the canine sense of smell.

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.

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

Continued Last week, we discussed external ear infections. Well, more often than not, those infectious agents work their way into the middle ear.

Continued   I had promised last week that we would go delving into the ‘middle ear’ in order to ascertain what sort of stomach-turning maladies we will find there.

(Continued) Biting Flies   The ear flap has an assortment of blood vessels which, when damaged, tend to bleed uncontrollably.

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 the blood has oozed out.

(Continued) Tick infestation on the ear   Throughout the year, it is possible to find ticks abounding on the ear flap (Pinna), and to a lesser degree in the ear canal (ticks usually do not wander deep into the ear canal).