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Many dog owners have experienced the problem of ticks on their pets. It seems like you can't go to the park in the spring, summer, or fall without your dog being covered with ticks. Today there are numerous products available to prevent ticks from attaching to your dog. It is very important to take advantage of these products because ticks can be carriers of many deadly infectious diseases.

Panosteitis is a painful condition causing lameness in young, large-breed dogs. It is most common in German Shepherds, and typically occurs when the dog is between 5 and 18 months of age. It usually begins with an acute onset of lameness in one front limb, which can then shift to occur in all limbs. The affected limbs are often painful when pressure is placed on the bones. This can be easily diagnosed with x-rays, and it is not a serious condition. It is not known what causes this condition. Treatment consists of anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin, for the pain.

Infectious tracheobronchitis, commonly known as kennel cough, is one of the most common respiratory infections in dogs. This is a highly contagious infection caused by a combination of infectious agents. In most cases, there is a viral infection with the canine parainfluenza virus followed by a secondary bacterial infection with Bordetella bronchiseptica. This disease is known as kennel cough because it is most commonly transmitted between dogs living together in close quarters, such as in a kennel situation.

Introduction
Hyperadrenocorticism, or Cushing's disease, is a very common endocrine disorder of dogs. The disease occurs when there is an excessive amount of cortisol present in the body. This can occur because of an increased production of cortisol within the body, or by excessive administration of corticosteroids. There are three types of hyperadrenocorticism: iatrogenic, pituitary-dependent, and adrenal tumor.

A hot spot, also known as acute moist dermatitis, occurs when an area of the skin becomes inflamed and "nasty-looking" in a very short period of time. Usually this is due to a superficial infection on the skin when the normal bacterial populations grow to abnormal levels and become irritating. It starts out as a tiny irritation on your dog's skin (that you probably didn't even notice). However, your dog did notice, and began to incessantly scratch, lick and chew the area until it developed into this terrible lesion.

It can be a very scary thing…you are sitting with your dog when suddenly she starts shaking and convulsing. What it happening? Could it be a seizure? What exactly is a seizure anyway? A seizure is defined as any involuntary electrical activity in the brain that is brief and episodic.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most important heart diseases in the dog. Large breed dogs such as Doberman pinschers, Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, Boxers, Golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers are most commonly affected with this disease. It is also common in Cocker Spaniels. This disease is rare in small dogs. Dogs are usually affected between four and ten years of age, but Dobermans, Great Danes, and Boxers may be affected earlier in life.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus, or bloat, as it is commonly called, is a life-threatening condition that primarily occurs in large, deep-chested breeds of dogs. Examples of these breeds includes Dobermans, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Greyhounds, and any type of Setter. However, bloat can occur in any breed of dog. Bloat occurs when air, fluid or foam accumulates abnormally in the stomach, causing it to expand. This may or may not be accompanied by a twisting of the stomach. If the stomach twists on itself it is a case of GDV.