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    Auto Immune disease in dogs and related symptoms
      
    Autoimmune diseases in dogs follow an almost similar pattern as in humans. Just as
    autoimmune diseases in humans are suspected to be related to a genetic predisposition,
    certain breeds of dogs are more vulnerable than others.

    The immune system is the body’s internal and natural self-healing system of reciprocation
    that comes into action as soon it recognizes an intrusion of foreign bodies. We call a
    disease as immune mediated when some underlying cause has caused the immune system
    to stop recognizing foreign substances. The immune system stops creating antibodies for
    combating the invasion and produces an autoantibody that starts destroying normal cells.
    Such a disease may be restricted to a single organ or region or the whole animal.

    Autoimmune diseases have far reaching consequences depending upon the extent to
    which they have affected the body of the dog. The pathological signs of multiple
    autoimmune diseases are normally seen in the same animal since the animal becomes
    more vulnerable to infections due to a weakened immune system. For example, symptoms
    of liver disease in dogs as well as feline liver disease are common once the immune
    system’s automatic responses are restricted.

    Typically autoimmune diseases occur due to four types of actions that take place within
    the body:

    * An autoantibody targets a specific organ. For example, autoimmune hemolytic anemia
    occurs when an autoantibody targets blood cells. In Addison’s disease the target is the
    adrenal gland.
    * Antibodies that target different proteins in the body are produced. These circulate
    through out the body and cause multiple organ autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus
    erythematosus. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by complex immunoglobulin class molecules
    that are deposited in the lubricating fluid in the spaces between joints.
    * Sometimes antibodies and T-cells act together to restrict the activity of an organ.
    T-cells are one of the two types of cells that carry out an immune response. Autoimmune
    hypothyroidism is an example of disease caused through this mechanism. The thyroid
    receives a large number of T-cells and also antibodies programmed to destroy
    thyroid cells.
    * Autoimmune diseases also arise from deficiencies in the complement system.
    For example liver disease in dogs restricts production of complement serum enzymes
    that have to be activated to carry out an immune response.

    Due to the innate nature of the disease, autoimmune disease has multiple symptoms that
    depend upon the organs, body systems that are being targeted. As most of the symptoms
    tend to confuse and mimic other conditions it requires proper investigation through blood,
    urine and other tests to confirm whether the condition is immune mediated or not. Some of
    the symptoms in dogs, reported prior to diagnosis, include:

    * Diarrhea and colitis: with or without traces of blood
    * Lethargy, depression and intolerance to exercise
    * Muscle wasting and weakness in legs
    * Skin sores, mouth ulcers, lesions, especially nasal and anal lesions
    * Stiff joints, alteration in gait tending to lameness and stiff limbs
    * Enlarged lymph nodes
    * Anemia
    * Seizures
    * Loss of appetite and weight
    * Body odor
    * A marked change in bark
    * Weight gain if thyroid is affected

    A weakened immune system fails to do what it has been programmed to and starts
    rejecting body’s own tissue as foreign. This exposes a dog to repeated attacks by
    infections that further deteriorate an already serious condition. It is now coming to
    light that many well known diseases like hypothyroidism and diabetes may be immune
    mediated and caused by rejection of hormone producing cells.

    For more information about Auto-Immune Disease in Dogs and  Immune System and
    Liver Support Formula:
    Click Here
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