Tonsilitis in Dogs

Every veterinarian has heard the remark, "I didn't know a dog had tonsils." And the veterian would like to respond with, "Yes, and they havehearts and lungs and kidneys, too," but we hold our tongues and ex - plain that inflammation of the tonsils is not an unusual finding. As isnow the case in human medicine, we rarely remove them as was donein the past but utilize antibiotics to combat the infection that is theusual cause of tonsillitis.

Fungus or Mycotic Infections. There is no evidence that mycoticdiseases other than ringworm are transmitted from dog to man or viceversa, and there is also little evidence that they are transmitted fromdog to dog. Some of these diseases have specific geographical distribu - tion, whereas others are found everywhere.

To identify the causative agent the bacteriologistuses specific media to grow specific fungal agents in and special stainsto identify them.

When these diseases become generalized many infected dog will not survive even with treatment. Specific treatment is necessary forspecific diseases and that is why the bacteriological identification iscritical. When successful, treatment either with or without surgery isprotracted, often extending over many months.