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Chihuahua - Specific Wellness Program |
Oral Health Problems
Retained Deciduous (baby or primary) Teeth
About the condition:
- One or more deciduous teeth fail to exfoliate (fall out) before permanent teeth erupt.
- Debris and plaque accumulate between the deciduous and permanent teeth.
- Deciduous teeth can inhibit proper eruption of permanent teeth.
How to detect this condition:
- An oral examination at 6 months of age reveals the presence of "extra" teeth.
Periodontal Disease
About the condition:
- Inflammation and/or infection of the gums and bone around the tooth.
- Bacteria accumulate in the mouth forming plaque and harden into tartar, which becomes a constant source for infection.
- Progressive stages can lead to tooth loss.
How to detect this condition:
- Halitosis or bad breath
- Yellowish/brown deposits on teeth
- Red or swollen gums
- Discomfort when mouth or gums are touched
- Decreased appetite with difficulty chewing
Cardiovascular Conditions
Endocardiosis (Chronic Valvular Disease)
About the condition:
- This condition is the most common cause of heart disease in a dog. The heart valves become deformed leading to abnormal heart function and heart failure.
How to detect this condition:
- Frequent physical examinations allow the doctor to listen for a heart murmur, which may indicate this condition.
- If a heart murmur is detected an ultrasound, a type of non-invasive imaging, is recommended.
Dermatological Conditions
Malassezia Dermatitis
About the condition:
- This is a type of yeast that commonly causes pruritus and a greasy, scaly skin disease.
How to detect this condition:
- It is important to check skin thoroughly. We may recommend a skin scraping if any abnormalities are seen.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Medial Patella Luxation
About the condition:
- This condition occurs when the "knee cap" moves in a direction that resembles a side-to-side motion rather than the normal up and down.
How to detect this condition:
- This may cause intermittent lameness where your pet may hold one leg up.
- Feeling the joint movement during a physical examination will determine if your pet has this condition.
Ocular Conditions
Lens Luxation
About the condition:
- The lens of the eye is normally supported by ligaments which keep the lens in place. In some breeds, including Chihuahuas, these ligaments have a tendency to weaken or break, causing the lens to move from its normal location.
- This problem can be very painful and may cause blindness.
How to detect this condition:
- Please call us if any changes in appearance of the eye or signs of discomfort are noticed.
Respiratory Conditions
Tracheal Collapse
About the condition:
- Many small-breed dogs have insufficient rigidity in the tracheal rings. This can cause the trachea to have difficulty remaining open.
How to detect this condition:
- If you notice that your pet is coughing excessively, then we may recommend that x-rays be taken to determine if they are at risk for tracheal collapse.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Chihuahuas, but instead lists those that we have found to be most common at Hillside Animal Hospital. Please let us know if you have further questions regarding these or any other conditions.
Wellness Recommendations
We recommend six month wellness exams for the life of your pet since they age so much faster than humans do. Frequent visits allow us to discuss recent changes, detect potential problems, tailor diagnostic recommendations, and initiate therapy that will benefit your pet long term.
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Your Pet's Age in Years
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Numbers within the chart are your pet's age in human years
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Juvenile
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Adult
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A series of wellness consultations and vaccines are required as a puppy develops. Problems can be addressed early based on a breed's disposition. Early findings may dictate the path of future wellness.
The primary wellness consultation is scheduled for routine vaccines, the first line of prevention. The second wellness consultation is meant for vaccine boosters and basic wellness blood work. Wellness blood work is essential in early detection and treatment of medical conditions. Each consultation allows us to spend time with you to discuss any changes that may have occurred as your pet ages and make recommendations accordingly. Factors such as size, sex, age, lifestyle, and breed will dictate a patient's recommendations. Radiographs may be recommended for some patients as baseline evaluations for future comparisons.
Adult wellness blood work includes a basic chemistry (8), a complete blood count, and a heartworm test. We recommend evaluating wellness blood work annually for the lifetime of the pet.
With senior patients, each wellness consultation is for routine vaccines and boosters, along with a physical examination. Changes for seniors can be subtle, so maintaining a healthy senior pet requires an owner's observations along with twice a year physical examinations to evaluate these changes. The doctors recommend annual comprehensive wellness blood work and urinalysis for all of our seniors. Doctors rely on blood and urine tests to provide important information about a pet's health to determine appropriate therapy. Radiographs may also be recommended as these changes occur to again ensure appropriate therapy.
Senior wellness blood work includes a comprehensive chemistry (25), a complete blood count, thyroid hormone level, urinalysis, and a heartworm test. Depending on medications, some prescriptions require frequent blood monitoring in addition to routine wellness.
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FAX: 480-551-1738
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