Could your pet have a rare disease hiding behind a common symptom?

Written by Dr Amir, an Ondertsepoort graduate currently working in Cape Town. This blog is intended for informational purposes only. dotsure.co.za is not responsible or liable for any advice or any other information provided herein. If you have questions about your pet’s symptoms, please consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Is that twitch or constant barking a sign of an underlying condition? Dr Amir dives deeper to uncover common conditions that can turn into dangerous diseases.

Rare diseases in dogs

Is your dog barking more than usual? Does it drink much more water than before? As a veterinarian we ask these questions very often. You may be wondering, "Why is that question relevant?" or "why does it matter if my dog is drinking a little more?" And, yes, in some cases these actions may be incidental, but in many cases, it may be an early symptom of an underlying condition.

Conditions such as congestive heart failure, cancer and endocrine (hormone-related) diseases usually show very mild or non-specific symptoms, which most pet owners will not be able to recognize. Heart failure usually starts with mild exercise intolerance and sometimes a cough at night. While certain endocrine diseases can present with an increase in weight and appetite (these usually go unrecognized). Being able to recognise early symptoms is essential to successful treatment of these conditions.

I was recently presented with a case where a dog was drinking much water and urinating excessively but was otherwise completely healthy! After ruling out the more common conditions, e.g., kidney failure, we investigated a condition called diabetes insipidus (DI). This very rare condition is characterised by excessive water consumption and the production of copious amounts of diluted urine.

Part of the kidneys’ function is to maintain the balance of water in the body. Efficient resorption of water requires adequate levels of a hormone called antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which is produced by the pituitary gland. Diabetes insipidus (DI) occurs when the pituitary gland does not produce enough ADH (central DI) or by kidney resistance to ADH (Nephrogenic DI). This results in the inability to concentrate urine leading to excessive urine production, dehydration, and urinary incontinence.

Being able to identify these symptoms as early as possible is essential to successful treatment. If you are worried or concerned, go to see your vet! Prevention is better than cure!