• The small dog trend: impact of size on pet health
• Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in dogs
• Canine hydrocephalus
• Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia
• Paroxysmal gluten-sensitive dyskinesia in Border Terriers
• Texture analysis of wet petfood
• A short guide to... Dental disease in small-breed dogs

Smaller dog breeds are becoming more and more popular – for a number of reasons – but this popularity comes at a price. Jamie Freyer reviews the situation and discusses some of the most important factors that clinicians need to be familiar with.

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head – more commonly known as Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease – is a commonly occurring problem in small dog breeds. Professor Millis presents an overview of the disease and the preferred options available for treating the condition.

Some of the smaller breeds of dog are prone to hydrocephalus, which can be associated with various health problems; William Thomas describes how to best diagnose the condition and the preferred options to treat and manage affected patients.

This condition is most commonly seen in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and can have a severe impact on the quality of an affected dog’s life. Sandra Sanchis Mora and Ludovic Pelligand offer an overview of the condition, the underlying pathophysiology, and the options currently available to manage the disease.

Certain dog breeds are recognized as being prone to certain diseases, and many are well-known in the veterinary world. Here Mark Lowrie describes an unusual condition that has been recently reported in Border Terriers with an unknown etiology but which appears to respond to a gluten-free diet.

The texture of any given foodstuff is dependent on many different factors, and in turn links to other aspects of the food, including palatability and ease of ingestion. Hervé Rehault offers a brief insight into the science of texture analysis and how it impacts on formulating a diet suitable for small dogs.

Although dental disease is commonly seen in all breeds of dog, smaller dogs are more prone to certain specific dental disorders. Jenna Winer and Frank Verstraete present a pictorial guide to some of the most frequently encountered conditions and how to treat them.