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Dachshund - 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
Endocrine Conditions
Hypothyroidism
About the condition:
- A deficiency in the secretion of thyroid hormone
How to detect this condition:
- A blood test can determine whether your pet is within the normal range of thyroid hormone.
Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's Syndrome)
About the condition:
- Most commonly diagnosed endocrine condition in dogs
- Caused by elevated levels of a hormone called cortisol from the adrenal cortex.
How to detect this condition:
- A blood test can determine your pet's cortisol level.
Diabetes Mellitus
About the condition:
- Blood glucose levels become dangerously high due to extremely low or lack of insulin.
How to detect this condition:
- Symptoms of this disease are often noticed by owners when their pets seem to be drinking and urinating more that usual.
- Obesity can be a high risk factor for getting this disease.
- Wellness bloodwork will detect increased glucose levels.
Neoplastic Conditions
Mast Cell Tumors
About the condition:
- These skin tumors may range from benign to highly-aggressive malignant and are relatively common in dogs.
How to detect this condition:
- If you notice any new lumps on your dog, please let us know so an examination can be performed.
Neurological Conditions
Inter-Vertebral Disc Disease
About the condition:
- Very common in Dachshunds
- Degeneration of the inter-vertebral discs that can lead to pressure on the spinal cord, which leads to pain and/or partial paralysis.
How to detect this condition:
- Let us know if your pet seems to be in pain and is reluctant to move around. Holding the back in an arched position is another common sign.
- X-rays are important in detecting this condition as they will show any disc irregularities.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Dachshunds, 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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1
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Dachshund
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15
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24
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76
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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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Senior
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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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