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Pet Health Articles

  • Diabetic ketoacidosis is a medical emergency that occurs when there is not enough insulin in the body to control blood sugar (glucose) levels. It is important for your veterinarian to perform appropriate tests in order to diagnose this disease as similar signs can occur with other medical conditions. Treatment involves hospitalization with IV fluids, short acting insulin and electrolyte replacement. The most important step in prevention is ensuring proper insulin dosing is being administered.

  • Behavior problems in pets can be due to physical illnesses, behavioral illnesses, or both. In addition, some behaviors that you find undesirable are perfectly normal for a dog. It is always important to identify and treat underlying medical physical conditions once they have been identified. In most cases, physical and behavioral conditions must be treated simultaneously.

  • The diaphragm is the muscular partition that separates the abdomen and the chest. Tearing or disruption of this thin muscle is called a diaphragmatic hernia or diaphragmatic rupture. The most common cause of diaphragmatic hernia is blunt force trauma.

  • Contenido en español actualizado.
    Translated from the original English article Diarrhea in Dogs

  • Diarrhea is not a disease, but rather a sign of many different diseases that may be minor or serious. Some cases may resolve on their own or with minimal treatment, while other cases require in-depth diagnostic testing and more aggressive treatment to address the underlying condition.

  • Diazepam (brand names: Valium®, Diastat®, E Pam Tab®, Meva®l, Vivol®) is used as a muscle relaxant, anti-anxiety medication, appetite stimulant, and an anti-seizure medication. It is also used as a preanesthetic in hospital. It is used off label to treat anxiety, seizures, tense muscles, or decreased appetite. Give as directed by your veterinarian.

  • Diazoxide is given by mouth and is used off label in cats, dogs, ferrets, and other small mammals to treat low blood sugar associated with insulin-producing tumors of the pancreas. Diazoxide is given by mouth in the form of a liquid suspension or compounded capsule.

  • Dichlorphenamide is used off label (extra label) to treat glaucoma in dogs, cats and rabbits. This medication also acts to change the pH of the urine to an alkaline state, so it may also be used to treat urinary crystals and stones that form in acidic urine.

  • Diclofenac ophthalmic is a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) used to treat eye inflammation in cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, and other animals. Diclofenac ophthalmic comes in liquid drop form, given directly into the eye.

  • Diethylstilbestrol is given by mouth and is used off label to treat urinary incontinence. Give as directed by your veterinarian. Side effects are uncommon when using a low dose, but may include mild vaginal spotting. It should not be used in pets that are allergic to it, in females with estrogen-sensitive tumors, in pets with anemia or low white blood cell counts, or in food production animals. If a negative reaction occurs, please call your veterinary office.