High cholesterol in dogs - Causes, symptoms and treatment

Cholesterols are essential fats that All animals need to properly develop their body and maintain a balanced metabolism.While cholesterol has gained a certain "bad reputation" thanks to the consequences of its high levels in the bloodstream, it is one of the lipids that the body produces naturally and it is present in practically all cells, participating in digestion, the synthesis of vitamin D and the production of hormones.

The problem arises when blood cholesterol levels are constantly excessive, characterizing a clinical picture called hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia .Although it usually affects humans much more frequently, dogs can also be diagnosed with high cholesterol.

In this Ex article pertoAnimal, we will tell you more about the symptoms, causes and prevention for high cholesterol in dogs .Of course, we highlight that hyperlidemia, as well as any other disease or health problem, can only be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.Therefore, do not offer natural remedies or homemade solutions, or self-medicate your best friend without the prior guidance of a trained professional.

What does it mean for our dog to have high cholesterol?

The term "high cholesterol" is used to refer popularly to the clinical picture called hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia, which is characterized by the constant presence of excessive cholesterol levels in the bloodstream .

In this sense, it is essential to differentiate a eventual or temporary elevation from a hyperlipidemia picture.When feeding or experiencing complicated situations (stressful, scary, etc.) , it is normal for dogs to show an increase in blood cholesterol.However, these levels should normalize after a few hours of feeding or the negative context.

But if we talk about a case of triglycerides and cholesterol high in dogs, we observe that fat levels in the bloodstream remain high after having performed blood tests in a fasting context from 8 to 12 h.

Causes of high cholesterol in dogs

As with people, high cholesterol in dogs can have different causes, so it is essential to have the experience and knowledge of a veterinarian who, with the help of technology, can evaluate the specific cause of hypercholesterolemia in each patient.

In general, high cholesterol conditions in dogs are usually associated with congenital abnormalities, metabolic problems or an inappropriate diet and a sedentary lifestyle.We summarize the causes and risk factors that may be associated with a picture of hyperlipidemia in dogs:

Pregnancy : Pregnant bitches may be especially vulnerable to developing a picture of hyperlipidemia, so we must pay special attention to the nutrition of a pregnant dog and the appropriate exercises for the period of pregnancy and lactation;
Nephrotic syndrome : it is a degenerative disease qu It affects the kidneys and is characterized by a complex symptomatology that includes hyperlipidemia, proteinuria and interstitial edema.It usually develops from a complication of glomerular kidney disease in dogs (ERG).
Unbalanced food , with an excess of foods high in fat, meat, dairy or industrialized products.
Sedentary or poor physical activity , that is , when the dog does not perform the exercises it demands to maintain optimal health and a balanced behavior.
Problems in the functioning of the thyroid gland (especially canine hypothyroidism).
Diabetes .
Anomalous and excessive activity of the adrenal glands.
Pancreatitis .
Cholestasis : It consists of the total or partial obstruction of the bile ducts that is usually related to liver or liver problems pancreas.
Old age : older dogs tend to show a greater predisposition to accumulate fat in their body and need special care with their diet and physical activity.They can also be more vulnerable to many diseases and certain behavioral problems.Therefore, it is essential to provide adequate care for elderly dogs, as well as effective preventive medicine.

Symptoms of high cholesterol in dogs

High cholesterol in dogs is usually a silent disease, whose first signs are not very specific and difficult to recognize in our best friends.For this reason, many dogs are only diagnosed when their symptoms are already more advanced.It is also essential to make preventive consultations to the veterinarian to make the necessary blood checks and ensure the optimal state of health of our hairy.

Next, we list the symptoms that are usually associated with high cholesterol in dogs:

Bruises or patches on the skin.
Abdominal pain.
Formation of orange or yellowish bumps on your skin, which are filled with fat (known as dermal xanthomas).
Seizures.
Nervous system disorders (which can lead to changes in your behavior usual).

Treatment for high cholesterol in dogs

When observing one of these symptoms in your best friend or any alteration in their appearance or behavior, do not hesitate to go quickly to the veterinary clinic.A trained professional can perform the necessary tests to confirm the diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia , as well as establishing an appropriate treatment according to the needs of your hairy.

Most likely, the veterinarian will recommend a change in the diet and exercise routine of your hairy, with the goal of controlling cholesterol levels and improving their quality of life.In general, adult patients with hyperlipidemia adopt a feed for dogs with high specific cholesterol or a high-fiber diet (which helps metabolize cholesterol molecules), low in fat (maximum 10%), and with high quality protein.

Depending on your dog's health status and cholesterol levels, the veterinarian will assess the need for administr ar specific drugs or natural supplements that help reduce blood fat levels and prevent the development of diseases and complications related to high cholesterol in dogs.

Can Danacol be given? To a dog?

Due to the benefits of this product in humans to lower high cholesterol levels, many people wonder if they can give it to their hairy ones too.The truth is that dogs can eat natural yogurt thanks to the fact that it is an excellent source of probiotics, but when we talk about its liquid version and, in addition, made especially for humans, we do not recommend offering it .So, as we said, it is advisable to go to veterinarian to be the specialist who determines how to lower high cholesterol in the dog.

How to avoid high cholesterol in dogs?

Preventing high cholesterol in dogs is not only possible, but it is essential to offer an excellent quality of life to our best friends.The best preventive measure is to provide a complete and balanced nutrition to our furry, having taking into account their age, size, health status and the specific needs of their body.

For this, the ideal is always to have the guidance of a veterinarian when deciding on the best diet for our dogs.In addition, we should never offer forbidden dog food, as well as greasy, fried or industrialized human meals.

It will also be essential to offer an active life to our dogs, giving them the possibility to exercise regularly with at least 2 or 3 daily walks of 30 to 40 minutes.On the other hand, preventive consultations to the veterinarian every 6 months they will allow us to monitor the health status of our faithful companions, as well as to diagnose any imbalance in their organism early.

This article is purely informative, at ExpertAnimal.com we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in the case If you have any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to High cholesterol in dogs-Causes, symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our section of Other health problems.

Comments

Animals with exoskeleton - Names and examples

The body of the largest vertebrate animals is not a mystery to most of people: it is known that it has a skeleton, internal vital organs (heart, brain, etc.), a dermis of variable and organ characteristics through which the five senses are manifested, among other characteristics. However, have you wondered what the invertebrate morphology is like? Then you need to know all about the animals with exoskeleton, names and examples. Don't miss this Animals and Pets Online article! What is the exoskeleton? The exoskeleton is an external structure that covers the body of various animals, including arthropods.It is characterized by being resistant but flexible .This structure It consists of different substances depending on the subfile to which the animal belongs: chitin for insects and fungi, calcium in mollusks and corals or silica in diatoms among other components. In turn, the exoskeleton is formed by three structures : Cuticle : non-cellular layer secreted by the hyp...

How to make homemade brood paste for mandarin diamond?

The diamond mandarin ( Taeniopygia guttata ) is a small bird from Australia, very popular among those who wish to have a bird at home and are not very expert in terms of the care they need. With a cheerful and outgoing temperament, they are singing animals whose diet is gramineous, that is, they feed mainly on seeds.If you have a pigeon of this species, or your bird couple is about to have young, in ExpertAnimal we recommend the following recipe from homemade brood paste for mandarin diamond , very simple and easy to do. Steps to follow: 1 The breeding stage of breeding is extremely important for your mandarin diamond to become a healthy and strong bird.In addition to providing all the vitamins, minerals and other components necessary for its development, during this period of its life the The animal must learn to consume all the food required by its species.Otherwise, as an adult it will reject most of the things you try to give it. That's why the ingredients in p...

How to scare stray cats? - 15 non-harmful remedies

The presence of stray cats In the home it is not always welcome, especially if they defecate, dig and break the decorative plants or the garden.In fact, it can be considered a risk situation if they are also wild cats, since they are not properly socialized and can be carriers of parasites and viral diseases, factors that can worry parents and animal owners. Therefore, although we consider ourselves animalistic, we can face a serious dilemma when we want to scare off street cats that appear in our garden or terrace.Is there a really effective repellent for cats? How to drive away cats without harming them? Is it possible to apply any method to drive away effective and lasting stray cats? Or worse: it may not even be street cats, but domestic cats that take advantage of your garden to do their needs.What should we do then? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain How to drive away stray cats with basic and effective advice, we will propose some home remedie...

Types of canaries and their names

How many races of canaries are there? At present, more than 30 types of canaries are known , this being the most abundant species of domestic bird in the world with parakeets, although there are many classifications possible, the canary breeds are usually divided into three large groups: Singing canaries : here, we find the most coveted breeds in canariculture, thanks to their incredible ability to learn and play melodies complex and a great variety of sounds.In the next sections we will see the main races of singing canaries. Canaries by color : this, perhaps, is the most basic classification of canaries, based on the color of their feathers.It is divided into subgroups according to the predominant pigments in its plumage, the lipochromic canaries (shades of dominant and recessive white, yellow and red) and the melancholic canaries (colors black, agate, green, bromine, isabela, brown and tona corrugated qualities). The position or position canaries : also called a design or...

Diclofenac for dogs - Dosage and uses

The diclofenac sodium is the active substance of a a well-known drug and used under the trade name of Voltaren or Voltadol.It is a product that is used to fight pain .Has your veterinarian prescribed it for your dog? Do you have questions about its uses or doses? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about diclofenac for dogs , how this drug is used in veterinary medicine and what aspects are important to consider for its use As we always insist, this and any other medication can only be administered to a dog by veterinary prescription . Is diclofenac bad for dogs? Diclofenac is an active substance included in the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories , that is, those commonly known as NSAIDs.They are products that are prescribed for pain relief, especially related to bone joint problems .Diclofenac can be used for dogs as long as it is prescribed by the veterinarian. Veterinary use of diclofenac Diclofenac for pain in dogs is used in veterinary me...

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION in animals - Types and examples

Animals, as individual organisms, appear and disappear, but the species a which we belong is maintained, all thanks to reproduction, one of the vital functions of living beings.Within the animal kingdom we can find two reproductive strategies, asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction, more widespread among animals. sexual reproduction is the typical reproductive strategy of animals, although some of them can be reproduced exceptionally by means of an asexual strategy.Therefore, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain that is the sexual reproduction of animals . Characteristics of sexual reproduction of animals Sexual reproduction is the reproductive strategy that many animals and plants carry out to give rise to new individuals that perpetuate the species. The characteristics that define this type of reproduction are several In the first place, in the sexual reproduction there are two individuals involved, unlike the asexual reproduction that is only ...

Cetaceans - Meaning, Types and Features

The cetaceans are the marine animals most famous for their presence in ancient tales and legends.They are animals that have always aroused great interest on the part of the human being.These animals, in general, are great strangers that, little by little, are disappearing without, apparently , let's do nothing. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about cetaceans, which are, their characteristics, where they live and other curiosities .Do you want to know more about these inhabitants of the sea depths? Keep reading! What are cetaceans? The order of the cetaceans is composed of two suborders, the myxicets, formed by the bearded whales, and that of the odontocetes, composed of cetaceans with teeth, such as sperm whales, dolphins and killer whales. The evolution of the cetaceans has resulted in a similarity between these two living suborders, being the result of evolutionary convergence.The common structural characteristics between the two groups, suc...

Animals without central nervous system

What is the function of the nervous system? Any of us could answer this question by saying that the central nervous system serves us primarily to think, have ideas, awareness and we would not be wrong, but the nervous system goes further. The reason for its existence is to give animals the main characteristic that separates it from other groups of living beings, the locomotion .Animals are characterized among other things by our ability to move. Animals without central nervous system are not non-sentient animals , we must differentiate between perception of the environment and its possible threats and the presence or absence of a central nervous system. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about animals without central nervous system , starting with the definition of the system itself and the adaptations of animals that do not possess it. What is the central nervous system? The central nervous system is one of the two subdivisions of the nervou...

10 reasons to walk your dog

The dog is an animal that needs to walk 2 to 3 times a day, But do you know why that is so? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain why it is so important to walk with your dog, why the garden does not replace the walk and many other things that, perhaps you do not know. Do not forget This is a very important habit that you must carry out on a daily basis.Not doing so can be very harmful for your pet, do not forget it.Keep reading and discover 10 reasons to walk with your dog . 1.They must make their needs The first reason, and the most important , to take a dog for a walk, is to allow him to do his needs until he is satisfied. Apart from puppies that are not yet able to go outside or who are learning to urinate, it is very negative to allow our dog to urinate and defecate at home.In addition to causing a bad smell, we will be creating an unhealthy environment important that can lead to serious health problems in dogs and humans. 2.It allows them to ...

Types of monkeys and their names

Monkeys are primates classified according to scientific jargon in the Platirrinos or monkeys of the new world and the Cercopitecoideos or monkeys of the old world.The hominoids, which would be primates that have no tail, where man enters. Animals such as orangutan, chimpance, gorilla or gibbons also do not enter the scientific classification of monkeys, since the latter, in addition to having a tail, have a more primitive skeleton and are small animals. Then you can see the scientific classification of monkeys in more detail, where you can distinguish two different parvordenes and a total of six families of monkeys, all this in this article of Animals and Pets Online.The different types of monkeys and their names you can see them below: Classification of the Simiiform infraorder To correctly understand everything about the types of monkeys we must detail that there are a total of 6 families of monkeys grouped in 2 different parvordenes. Parvorden Platyrrhini: This in...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog