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Labrador Retrievers - Specific Wellness Program |
 Endocrine Conditions
Diabetes Mellitus
About the condition:
- Diabetes occurs where there is hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) resulting from an absolute or relative lack of insulin in the blood.
How to detect this condition:
- Symptoms of this disease are often noticed by owners when their pets seem to be drinking and urinating more than usual.
- Wellness bloodwork will detect increased glucose levels.
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Chronic Hepatitis
About the condition:
- This is an inflammatory liver disease which usually progresses to cirrhosis.
How to detect this condition:
- Wellness bloodwork will help with early detection and monitoring of liver values.
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 age 2 in breeding dogs) and then again later as your pet ages to monitor progression.
Elbow Dysplasia
About the condition:
- This condition occurs when the elbow joint grows and matures improperly. Progression causes pain and arthritis in the elbow joint.
How to detect this condition:
- It is important to have X-Rays taken to find any deformities or degeneration of the elbows.
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 Labrador 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.
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Your Pet’s Age in Years
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Labrador Retriever
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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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