|
Golden Retrievers - Specific Wellness Program |
 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.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Hip Dysplasia
About the condition:
- Caused by various deformities of the hip along with the development of degenerative joint disease
- Nutrition and exercise can help in prevention.
How to detect this condition:
- It is important to have X-rays taken to find any deformities or degeneration of the hip joints.This is recommended at the time of spaying/neutering (or at age 2 for breeding dogs) and then again later as your pet ages to monitor progression.
Neoplastic (Cancer) Conditions
Lymphosarcoma
About the condition:
- Lymphosarcoma is a malignant disease also commonly termed malignant lymphoma; the most common tumor in dogs and is associated with the lymph system.
How to detect this condition:
- Frequent physical examinations can help to detect this disease.
- Although cancer doesn't have a specific test, comprehensive blood work helps lead to possible diagnosis.
Neurological Conditions
Discospondylitis
About the condition:
- This is an infection of the intervertebral disc with osteomyelitis of adjoining vertebral bodies.
How to detect this condition:
- Signs may include loss of appetite, fever, pain, and/or partial paralysis.
- X-Rays are recommended to help diagnose this condition.
Ocular Conditions
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
About the condition:
- This disease causes an abnormal accumulation of pigment within the retina resulting in progressive retinal degeneration and visual deficiencies.
How to detect this condition:
- Frequent eye exams can help detect this condition.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Golden Retrievers, 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.
|
|
Your Pet's Age in Years
|
|
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
|
Golden Retriever
|
|
14
|
22
|
29
|
34
|
40
|
45
|
50
|
55
|
61
|
66
|
72
|
77
|
82
|
88
|
93
|
|
|
|
|
Numbers within the chart are your pet's age in human years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Juvenile
|
|
Adult
|
|
Senior
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
FAX: 480-551-1738
Full Fusion