ALL Animals inc Exotics Zoology FACTS of Disease and Heredity Conditions

09/11/2025

15/09/2025

How your dog shows its true bond of love to you.

Your dog loves lying on your head and back for a combination of warmth, comfort, instinctual pack behavior, and a deep bond of trust and affection. Your body acts as a warm, comfortable resting spot, while being physically close fulfills their ancient instincts to huddle for security and belonging within the "pack" of their human family. This behavior is a powerful display of love, trust, and contentment.
Here's a breakdown of the reasons:
Warmth and Comfort
Humans are excellent sources of body heat, and your dog is likely seeking a warm, cozy spot to relax, especially in colder weather.
Your body provides a familiar and comfortable place to rest, similar to a soft pillow.
Instinctual Pack Behavior
As social animals, dogs have evolved from pack animals that huddle together for warmth, protection, and bonding.
Lying on you is a way for your dog to follow this ancient instinct, recognizing you as a vital part of their "pack".
Trust and Security
When your dog lies on you, especially near your head, it shows they feel completely safe and secure in your presence.
They see you as a trusted member of their pack and are displaying their vulnerability by being in close proximity to you.
Affection and Bonding
This close physical contact is a profound way for your dog to show affection and strengthen their bond with you.
It's a way of being as close as possible, much like a human baby seeking comfort by being held.
Protection
Your dog may also be exhibiting a protective instinct, seeing you as part of their pack that needs safeguarding.

09/09/2025

08/09/2025

Hip dysplasia is a complex condition with a strong hereditary component, though environmental factors also play a significant role. Key genetic factors include specific gene variations, particularly in genes like GDF5, which is linked to hip development. Research shows that having a family history of hip dysplasia increases a child's risk, with the risk significantly higher if a parent also has the condition.
Key Genetic Traits and Risks
Family History:
A positive family history of hip dysplasia is a recognized risk factor, and there is a quantifiable increase in risk for children and siblings of affected individuals.
Specific Genes:
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified specific genes and genetic variations associated with hip dysplasia.
GDF5: Variations in the GDF5 gene's promoter region have a strong association with the condition.
Other Genes: Research points to other genes, including UQCC1, MMP24, RETSAT, and PDRG1, as being involved in the susceptibility to hip dysplasia.
Heritability:
The heritable component of hip dysplasia can be substantial, with some studies suggesting common genetic variants contribute around 55% to the trait's heritability.
Why It's Complex
Complex Trait:
Hip dysplasia is considered a complex trait, meaning it results from the interaction of multiple genetic and non-genetic (environmental) factors.
Environmental Influence:
Environmental factors, such as a tight swaddling technique or breech birth presentation, can mask or exacerbate genetic predispositions, influencing the observable condition.
Implications for Families and Breeding
Genetic Risk Assessment:
For humans, a family history provides crucial information, and genetic research is ongoing to better understand the genetic architecture.
Breeding Programs (Canine):
In dogs, where hip dysplasia is also a common genetic condition, genetic mapping is used in breeding programs to reduce the incidence of the trait by identifying genetic markers associated with susceptible dogs.
Genetics of hip dysplasia – a systematic literature review
1 Oct 2024 — Conclusions. DDH is known to be congenital and heritable, with family occurrence of DDH already included as a risk factor in most screening programs.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Genome-wide association study of developmental dysplasia of the ...
31 May 2018 — Abstract. Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is the most common skeletal developmental disease. However, its genetic architecture is poorly und...

Nature

The Genetics of Hip Dysplasia and Implications for Selection - VIN
Hip dysplasia is a complex disease. When a trait or disease is described as 'complex,' it is usually meant that the trait is influenced by both genetic and nong...

VIN

Current knowledge on the genetic background of developmental ...
Several hereditary and environmental factors have been associated with DDH, and these may explain the incidence variability among different countries (11). The ...
PubMed Central
The long (and winding) road to gene discovery for canine hip ...
Genetic mapping is the process of locating a region on a chromosome that harbors a genetic locus that contributes to, or causes, an inherited trait. Subsequent ...
National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)
Genome-wide association study of developmental dysplasia of the ...
31 May 2018 — In humans, polymorphisms in this gene are associated with DDH10, bone size37, height38 and hip axis length39. MMP24 encodes a member of the peptidase...
National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)
What Causes Hip Dysplasia?
Genetics plays a role but is not a direct cause of hip dysplasia. * If a child has DDH, the risk of another child having it is 6% (1 in 17) * If a parent has D...

International Hip Dysplasia Institute

Hip dysplasia - Fitzpatrick Referrals
The word “dysplasia” means “abnormality of development”. Hip dysplasia is a canine genetic condition in which there is a tendency towards development of hip lax...

Fitzpatrick Referrals

Hip Dysplasia | Boston Children's Hospital
Gender: Girls are two to four times more likely to have the condition. First-born babies, whose fit in the uterus is tighter than in later babies. Breech positi...

Boston Children's Hospital

08/09/2025

The therapeutic role Nitrous Oxide can play in canine genetic hip dysplasia
No, nitrous oxide therapy does not cure canine hip dysplasia, as hip dysplasia is a genetic condition that cannot be reversed or cured once a dog develops it. However, therapies that promote nitric oxide (NO) production, such as using the Assisi Loop, can help manage pain and inflammation associated with hip dysplasia, improving a dog's quality of life.
How Nitric Oxide Therapy Works
Assisi Loop:
This device uses pulsed electromagnetic fields to stimulate cells and increase nitric oxide (NO) production.
Nitric Oxide (NO):
NO is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that helps promote healing and reduce inflammation.
Vasodilation:
NO also helps to dilate blood vessels, which improves oxygen flow to the damaged tissues and aids in the healing process.
What is Hip Dysplasia?
Genetic Condition: Hip dysplasia is a hereditary condition where the hip joint doesn't form properly.
Irreversible: Once a dog develops hip dysplasia, the condition cannot be reversed.
Symptoms: It can cause pain, stiffness, and lead to arthritis in the affected joint.
Other Ways to Help Manage Hip Dysplasia
Weight Management:
Keeping your dog at a healthy weight can reduce stress on the joints.
Low-Impact Exercise:
Activities like hydrotherapy can help maintain muscle strength and mobility without putting excessive strain on the joints.
Medications:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
Surgery:
Procedures like total hip replacement can provide a solution for severe cases, often restoring a dog to a near-normal level of activity.

08/09/2025

Red light therapy offers dogs benefits such as pain relief, particularly for arthritis and joint conditions; faster healing for wounds and post-surgical recovery by stimulating collagen and blood flow; reduced inflammation and swelling; and improved skin health for conditions like hot spots and allergies. This non-invasive treatment uses specific wavelengths of red and infrared light to promote cellular activity, enhance circulation, and support the body's natural healing processes.
How Red Light Therapy Works
Cellular Stimulation:
The light penetrates deep into the skin to reach muscles and joints, stimulating cellular activity and boosting ATP production, which is essential for cellular repair.
Increased Blood Circulation:
It enhances blood flow to the affected areas, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissues, which accelerates the healing process.
Anti-inflammatory Response:
Red light therapy helps reduce inflammation, providing pain relief by blocking nerve signals that transmit pain.
Key Benefits for Dogs
Pain Relief:
Alleviates pain associated with chronic conditions like arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other musculoskeletal issues.
Faster Healing:
Accelerates the healing of wounds, cuts, and post-surgical incisions by promoting cellular repair and collagen production.
Improved Mobility:
Reduces joint inflammation and muscle soreness, helping dogs move more freely and improving mobility for those with degenerative joint diseases.
Skin Health:
Addresses skin issues like hot spots, infections, rashes, and the symptoms of allergies by reducing inflammation and improving blood flow to the skin.
Immune Support:
Strengthens the immune system, which is vital for fighting infections and supporting overall recovery.
Post-Surgical Care:
Speeds up recovery time and reduces complications after surgery by decreasing inflammation and swelling and promoting tissue regeneration.
Common Uses
Arthritis and Degenerative Conditions:
Provides respite from pain and improves movement for dogs with conditions like arthritis or hip dysplasia.
Wound and Injury Healing:
Aids in the rapid healing of soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains, and deep cuts.
Skin Issues:
Helps treat skin allergies, hot spots, infections, and wounds by reducing pain and inflammation.
Post-Operative Recovery:
Supports faster healing and reduces pain and inflammation after a variety of surgical procedures.

08/09/2025

Nitric oxide (NO) is linked to hip dysplasia, particularly In the context of canine development and osteoarthritis. Studies have shown that elevated urinary NO levels in juvenile dogs correlate with signs of hip dysplasia later in life, suggesting a potential role for NO in the development and progression of the condition. Furthermore, in adult dogs, increased NO production is observed in other joint conditions like osteoarthritis (OA), where it can contribute to inflammation and tissue destruction, indicating NO's broader involvement in joint pathology that can manifest in the context of hip disease.
NO in Canine Hip Dysplasia
Developmental Aspect:
A study in juvenile Labrador Retrievers found that higher urinary NO concentrations correlated with more severe radiographic signs of hip dysplasia, including the Norberg angle and subchondral sclerosis.
Potential Role:
This suggests that NO might influence the development or progression of hip dysplasia in dogs, though the exact mechanisms are not fully understood.
NO in Adult Joint Disease
Inflammation and Osteoarthritis:
In adult dogs, NO is known to be involved in inflammatory arthritides like osteoarthritis, which can be a consequence or complication of chronic hip problems.
Pro-inflammatory Effects:
Under inflammatory conditions, increased NO production, particularly from inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), is associated with tissue damage and joint pathology, further contributing to the progression of OA that might affect a dysplastic hip.
Implications
Diagnostic Biomarker:
Urinary NO could serve as a non-invasive biomarker for assessing the risk or severity of hip dysplasia in juvenile dogs.
Therapeutic Target:
Given its role in inflammation and bone remodeling, NO and its related pathways are potential targets for future therapeutic interventions in joint diseases, including those that affect the hip joint.

21/07/2025

T cells play a crucial role in protecting the body against both viral infections and cancer. They are a type of white blood cell that can directly kill infected or cancerous cells and also help coordinate the overall immune response.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
1. Viral Infections:
T cells, specifically cytotoxic T cells, can recognize and destroy cells that have been infected by viruses.
They identify these infected cells by recognizing viral antigens (fragments of the virus) displayed on the cell surface.
This direct killing of infected cells helps to limit the spread of the virus and clear the infection.
T cells also include helper T cells that can activate other immune cells, such as B cells, to produce antibodies that neutralize the virus.
2. Cancer:
T cells can also recognize and eliminate cancer cells.
Cancer cells often display unique antigens that T cells can identify as abnormal.
Cytotoxic T cells can directly kill cancer cells, while helper T cells can activate other immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells.
The ability of T cells to target and destroy cancer cells is the basis for some cancer immunotherapies.
3. Key Players:
Cytotoxic T cells (also called killer T cells): These cells directly kill infected or cancerous cells.
Helper T cells: These cells help to activate other immune cells, including cytotoxic T cells and B cells, to enhance the overall immune response.
Memory T cells: These cells "remember" previously encountered pathogens or cancer cells, allowing for a faster and more robust immune response upon subsequent encounters.
In summary, T cells are essential components of the immune system, providing critical protection against both viral infections and cancer by directly eliminating infected or cancerous cells and by coordinating the broader immune response.

21/07/2025

Studies have shown that ivermectin can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, including those from canine mammary tumors, by interfering with cell cycle progression and WNT signaling pathways. Ivermectin's Potential Antitumor Effects:
Studies have shown that ivermectin can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, including those from canine mammary tumors, by interfering with cell cycle progression and WNT signaling pathways.
Signaling Pathways:
Ivermectin appears to regulate multiple signaling pathways involved in cancer development and metastasis, potentially through the PAK1 kinase.
Programmed Cell Death:
Ivermectin can also induce programmed cell death (apoptosis and autophagy) in cancer cells, which may contribute to its antitumor activity.
Combination Therapy:
Ivermectin may be more effective when used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs or therapies, potentially enhancing its antitumor effects.
Salivary Gland Tumors:
Although not specifically studied for salivary gland tumors in dogs, the research on mammary tumors and other cancers suggests ivermectin's potential in this area.
Current Treatment:
The primary treatment for salivary gland tumors in dogs is surgical removal, sometimes with radiation therapy.
Future Research:
Further research is needed to determine the efficacy and safety of ivermectin for canine salivary gland tumors and to optimize its use in combination with other therapies.
Note: It's crucial to consult with a veterinary oncologist or specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations for your dog's salivary gland tumor.