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Mixed Breed - Specific Wellness Program |
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Arthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease)
About the condition:
- Arthritis is a condition in which the cartilage surrounding the joints begins to degenerate. It may be caused by a developmental problem, injury, aging, or infection among others.
How to detect this condition:
- The first signs of arthritis are usually stiffness, limping, difficulty getting up or moving, and pain.
- An x-ray is usually recommended to determine the cause of the problem as well as to determine the best route of treatment.
Dermatological Conditions
Atopy (Allergies)
About the condition:
- Certain breeds are predisposed to becoming sensitive to environmental allergens. These allergens stimulate an inflammatory process which usually affects the skin as well as the respiratory tract.
How to detect this condition:
- The primary symptoms of atopy are scratching of the body and ears, licking (especially the feet and in between toes), sneezing, shaking of the head, and redness of the skin.
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. Low levels require lifetime supplementation.
Diabetes Mellitus
About the condition:
- Diabetes occurs when there is hyperglycemia resulting from an absolute or relative lack of insulin in the blood.
How to detect this condition:
- Symptoms if 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.
Infectious Diseases
Coccidiomycosis (Valley Fever)
About the condition:
- Valley Fever is a non-contagious disease that originates from fungal spores found in the soil in the Southwest. Signs of Valley Fever may include, but are not limited to, the following: coughing, lack of appetite or decreased appetite, lameness, diarrhea, enlarged joints, and fever.
How to detect this condition:
- Symptoms may include coughing, limping, skin lesions, or general lethargy.
- A Valley Fever blood test will most likely be recommended along with x-rays to check for signs of lesions caused by the Valley Fever spores.
- Treatment is prolonged and frequent blood titers are used to monitor progress.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in mixed breeds, 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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Mixed Breed
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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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