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Newfoundland - Specific Wellness Program |
Cardiovascular Conditions
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
About the condition:
- A condition in which the heart walls are thinner than normal and the heartbeat is not as strong.
- Increased prevalence with age and is more common in males.
How to detect this condition:
- An ultrasound or ECG may help detect heart problems.
Pulmonic Stenosis
About the condition:
- This is a condition usually caused by a malformation of the pulmonic valve. Due to this defect, the heart has to work harder to pump deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Depending on the severity of the condition, some dogs may develop congestive heart failure due to the additional workload on the heart.
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, or an ECG may be recommended.
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.
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Congenital Idiopathic Megaesophagus
About the condition:
- The esophagus transports food and water from the mouth to the stomach. The action of swallowing is caused by a natural reflex. In this condition, this reflex is interrupted due to disease, nerve damage, or for genetic reasons (as in the Newfoundland). As a result, the esophagus dialates (expands). This causes food to come back up from the stomach (regurgitation) and may lead to aspiration pneumonia if the food enters the trachea (windpipe).
How to detect this condition:
- Pets with megaesophagus have a tendency to regurgitate their food soon after eating.
- X-rays may be recommended to rule out foreign bodies or other causes of vomiting.
Ocular Conditions
Entropion
About the condition:
- Entropion is the inversion of the eyelid. Eyelashes may also invert causing irritation, pain, and possibly ulceration.
How to detect this condition:
- Monitor your pet's eyes for any signs of irritation such as redness, swelling, or discharge. Please call us if you notice any of these signs.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Newfoundlands, 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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Newfoundland
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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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