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The lens is the transparent structure within the eye which assists focusing. In some dogs, particularly the terrier breeds, the ligaments can break down allowing the lens to dislocate from its normal position.
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Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease of dogs that can affect the blood, liver, or kidneys. It is caused by bacteria that are spiral shaped.
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Icterus is the accumulation of yellow pigment in the blood and tissues. It is one of the most dramatic features of liver disease and is clinically recognised as jaundice.
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The liver is a vital, complex organ which performs a number of crucial functions, principally involved with metabolism and is sometimes termed the "factory of the body" which controls many of the chemical processes necessary for normal bodily function.
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Cancers of the liver cells are called hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas.
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The liver has a massive blood supply so many cancer cells from elsewhere arrive within it and start to grow. In dogs metastatic tumours are three times as common as primary tumours and over 30% of malignant cancer is said to metastasize to the liver.
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Most lung cancers originate from the epithelium lining the airways. In dogs, most are from the alveoli where oxygen is taken up into the body but in people and in cats, most originate in the main airways (bronchi).
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The patella, or knee cap, should be located in the centre of the knee joint. The term "luxating" means out of place or dislocated.
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Lyme disease (not Lyme's disease) is caused by a spirochete called Borrelia. It is transmitted to dogs through the bite of a tick.
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Cancer of the cells of the lymph nodes (lymphoma, lymphosarcoma) has to be distinguished from other causes of lymph node swelling by histopathology. Some types of cancer are slower growing than others but all are potentially life-threatening.