Apocrine glands are the major type of sweat glands in dogs. These glands are made up of a mass of secretory tubules and an excretory duct that opens into a hair follicle. The glands are located in the subcutaneous fat deep in the dermis.
 
Apocrine glands are a source of common tumors in many breeds of dogs. The majority of these tumors are benign, but there are some that are malignant and can be very aggressive. Along with the presence of the malignancy lies the potential of metastasis to the lungs and regional lymph nodes. Depending on their location, they are classified as glandular (arising from the gland) and ductular (arising from the ducts). Malignant tumors are generally seen in older dogs.

Bartonellosis is an emerging infectious bacterial disease in dogs.  It is caused by the gram-negative bacteria Bartonella, which may also affect cats and humans. In humans, infection of the Bartonella bacterium is also known as cat scratch disease or more commonly as cat scratch fever, though it may not have been transmitted through a cat’s scratch or bite.
 
The Bartonella spp. bacterium is transmitted to dogs via fleas, sand flies, lice, and ticks. Herding and hunting dogs are at a higher risk due to increased exposure to disease vectors like fleas, sands flies, lice, and ticks.
 
Bartonella is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be transmitted between animals and humans.  The disease is not fatal for humans, but it still poses great risks to immune-compromised patients, such as those undergoing chemotherapy treatments or those with the AIDS virus.