Leishmaniasis is spread by the sand fly, and has both visceral and cutaneous forms in dogs as well as humans. The dog is believed to be the reservoir for human disease in the Americas.

The infection occurs when the sand fly contaminates the skin of the host with the parasites, and the incubation period from this infection until when the symptoms show can be anything from one month up to a few years. In dogs, leishmaniasis normally spreads through the entire body to most of the organs. Kidney failure is the most common cause of death in dogs that have this disease, and the majority of all infected dogs develop systemic or visceral disease, and as many as 90% of infected dogs will also develop skin problems.

The skin, liver, kidneys, eyes, joints, and spleen are the main organ systems usually affected, with lesions developing on the skin, and also hair loss. The disease is also known to cause hemorrhaging as well.

Histoplasmosis, which affects both dogs and humans, is a fungal disease caused by the Histoplasma capsulatum fungus. The fungus is usually ingested by dogs when they eat or inhale contaminated sand or bird feces. Once the dog has consumed the fungus, it enters the intestinal tract, where the disease starts to develop, usually causing problems in the lungs and small intestine.

Cancer is a scary diagnosis, whether you’re talking about people or dogs. Bone cancer, or the form of Hemangiosarcoma that affects the skeletal system, is one of the scariest.

Bone cancer in dogs and in people can be hard to spot and is usually extremely fast progressing. It is malignant and, left untreated, will be fatal.

Your dog had acute appetite loss, lethargy, abdominal pain, and vomiting. You noticed a slight yellowing of their eyes and gums, indicating jaundice, and you took them straight to the vet without any hesitation.

Your veterinarian took a history and ran some tests, and the verdict was gallbladder and bile duct inflammation. Instant panic. But what is this condition, what causes it, and what can you do?