Physiology. Amylase is a calcium dependent enzyme which hydrolyzes complex carbohydrates at alpha 1,4-linkages to form maltose and glucose. Amylase is filtered by renal tubules and resorbed (inactivated) by tubular epithelium. Active enzyme does not appear in urine.
The prostate is an accessory sex gland that surrounds the urethra and neck of a male dog's bladder. The prostate gland produces a fluid that helps nourish and transport sperm. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a condition in which the prostate gland is enlarged. The word hyperplasia means increased in size.
Canine Hyperthyroidism. Thyroid cancer in dogs (thyroid carcinoma) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in dogs. The cancer is in the form of a tumor (also called a neoplasm which means abnormal cell growth). Hyperthyroid problems only occur in 10% of dogs that have canine thyroid cancer. Thyroid tumors in dogs are usually fast growing and large.