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

My lovebird has diarrhea - Causes and treatment

Lovebird has become one of the most frequently birds they find in our homes.Their color, their beauty, and that nickname of "inseparable" that we like so much, makes them as appreciated as the canaries were once. But the arrival of any bird, exotic or not , puts us in front of new situations that sometimes we are not accustomed to face.Animals and Pets Online will try to help distinguish pathological situations from those that are not, and to handle us in the event that our lovebird has diarrhea , In the following article we explain the possible causes that cause it . It is not always diarrhea, even if it seems We may notice that there are more liquid stools than usual in our lovebird on the floor of the cage and identify it as diarrhea, even if it is not. Evacuations Sewers in birds are made up of a greenish part (they can vary in color if they take feed, they are real feces), a white part (urates, mineral salts), and a liquid part (urine).Everything goes out...

Is it right to have a sugar petaide as a pet?

According to the PETA organization ( People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ), having a sugar petaide as a pet is to deprive you of "everything that is natural and meaningful to them: the company of its own species, fresh air, outdoors and the opportunity to climb or do almost anything other than walking or sitting and looking out of a small cage."[1] To market with them, these animals are raised in unsuitable facilities or brought by illegal trafficking of species in plastic bottles from their home country, Australia. On the other hand, due to the lack of Veterinary information, death in animals held in captivity is very premature.In addition, behavioral problems are accused by the lack of knowledge about the eto Lodge of the species and because of the cognitive deficits that it suffers from being caged, which leads to mass abandonment, ending the animals in recovery centers at best. If you decide Get in touch with one of these centers to adopt one or mo...

How to know what size a mongrel dog will be?

When we talk about a mixed breed dog or mixed breed dog , generally we refer to a dog whose ancestry is unknown and that has typical characteristics of two or more breeds.This is usually the result of a non-selective breeding, but generally fortunate, since a mongrel dog can be exactly as good companion as a dog of a certain breed. Due to numerous factors, although here it is worth highlighting the great genetic variability, there are many advantages of having a mongrel dog and it is important to emphasize this point since unfortunately it is usually grant a lower value to a dog of these characteristics.If you are thinking of adopting a mixed breed dog, you are surely gathering all the necessary information, if you are wondering how to know what size a mongrel dog will be I didn't leave It is to read this article of Animals and Pets Online. Is it possible to know the size of a mongrel dog? Of course, estimating the exact size of a mongrel dog is not an easy task, although ...

Why does my dog have 5 fingers on the hind legs?

Have you ever noticed how many fingers Do you have a dog in the front and back legs? You may have never noticed exactly, but dogs have 5 fingers on the front legs and 4 on the hind legs. However, sometimes we can see dogs that have 5 fingers on the hind legs , some even 6 and are called "ram".Do not be alarmed if this is your case, we will share with you all the necessary information so that you know why this characteristic is due and that you should (or don't). Keep reading this Animals and Pets Online article and discover why my dog has 5 fingers on the hind legs . Why do some dogs have spurs? The spur or "toe" on the hind legs of dogs is mainly due to genetics of a series of breeds concrete , although it can manifest itself in practically any dog.This characteristic does not represent any health problem and is not a disorder or malformation. It is believed that this claw that we can observe in the paws Rear could serve to give more support...

Why do cats like the sun?

If the felines look for sources of heat in every corner of the house or outdoors, it will be for something, and if this action brings them something good, better than better, so we will explain what they are next the benefits of sunbathing for cats: Balances their body temperature Cats are domesticated felines that if they were wild, they would sleep and rest for the day and hunt their prey during the night.When having them as pets, this rhythm of life no longer corresponds to them but even so, they usually spend most of the daytime hours recovering their strength and sleeping in some warm place where, if possible, they directly hit the sun's rays.And why is this? As the body temperature of cats, like that of all mammals, decreases while sleeping because being still and relaxed, your body does not burn any energy and caloric expenditure decreases, so they seek to compensate for that temperature difference and prefer to sleep in hot areas or those that directly give them the ...

5 homemade cat toys

Cats love the game and it's understandable.This is an essential activity for their well-being , since it inhibits acute and chronic stress.Cats begin to play around two weeks of age, first to hunt shadows, thus learning to coordinate. Behaviors of game are very important for a cat, especially if he lives alone (without the presence of other cats).The owner must stimulate this behavior so essential, always through toys, and avoiding hands. In this article of ExpertAnimal we have compiled several crafts from our YouTube channel: 5 jug Homemade toys for cats-Easy, cheap and recycled .If you are looking for cheap DIY options you have come to the right place! 1.Toy and DIY cat food dispenser The first toy we propose is a food dispenser, commercially known as kong.It is a toy that stimulates your intelligence and physical activity and is especially positive for cats with anxiety or stress.do it on our YouTube video about 3 toys for homemade cats or follow the instructions: ...

My dog has an inflamed spleen

What is the spleen and what is it for? The spleen is an organ that is attached to the stomach and performs important functions, among which the following stand out: Acts as a reservoir of blood, red blood cells and platelets.This implies that you can release them to the body when necessary. Serves as a blood filter, eliminating waste. It has an important role in the immune system. The enlarged spleen will retain more blood , which will hinder its functioning and continue to increase its size.So, a vicious circle is established, since, the more it increases, the more cells it will be able to retain and, therefore, the more it will swell.This cycle produces detectable variations in blood analytics.That a dog has an inflamed spleen can be due to different causes, as we will see below.the most serious cases will be necessary to remove it, since it is possible to live without it. Symptoms of spleen inflammation in dogs Our dog may have an inflamed spleen as a result of vario...

Why do chow chow have blue tongues?

Chow chow's tongue is blue or purple due to the presence of pigment cells , that is, cells that contain elements called pigments that provide that color.Genetically they have a higher concentration of these cells and, therefore, have a different color to the other races.These cells, in addition to being in the tongue, are, above all, in the mucous membranes, that is why the chow chow is the only dog with lips, gums and palate characterized by being blue/blackish, if not almost entirely. A curious fact is that this characteristic is not only presented by certain dogs such as chow chow, but we also see it present in other animals such as giraffes, the breed of Jersey cattle and some bear families, such as the polar bear.In fact, some studies conclude that chow chow comes from Hemicyon , a species of mammal that is between the dog and now extinct bears, and that he lived in the Miocene.However, there is still no definitive scientific evidence to reduce this hypothesis, so, for ...

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...

Why do black cats are associated with bad luck?

Cats are animals that have experienced a boom tremendous in terms of entering homes as a pet, more and more people are decided by this friendly feline that is gradually gaining our trust based on being an animal that needs little care and in return provide us with great times fun and even fascination. However, in the street things change, especially with black cats, who suffer from the historical stigma of being considered a symbol or augury that is accompanied by bad luck in case of to cross with him.For some time now the origin of this popular belief that in Animal Expert we will try to shed some light on the cause associated with this belief of because black cats are associated with bad luck and also for you to understand that it's just a mit or. Origins of the myth of bad luck caused by black cats It is necessary to go back enough to find the first town that began to put firewood to ignite the myth. In the Iberian Peninsula were the Celts the first that associated the ...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog