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West Highland Terrier - 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
Ocular Conditions
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye)
About the condition:
- This is a common disease characterized by reduced tear production resulting in drying and inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea.
How to detect this condition:
- Checking the tear production of your pet's eyes will help diagnose this condition.
Cataracts
About the condition:
- Inside the eye is a lens that focuses light on the back of the eye or the retina. Vision occurs at the retina. This is similar to a camera which has a lens to focus light on the film. If the lens becomes opaque this is called a cataract. The most common cause of cataracts is genetic inheritance.
How to detect this condition:
- Frequent eye exams can help detect this condition.
Neurological Conditions
Inter-vertebral Disc Disease
About the condition:
- 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 your doctor 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.
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Chronic Hepatitis
About the condition:
- 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.
Dermatologic Conditions
Malassezia Dermatitis
About the condition:
- This is a yeast that commonly causes pruritus and a greasy, scaly skin disease.
How to detect this condition:
- Frequent physical examations will allow the doctor to check skin thoroughly. A skin scraping may be recommended if any abnormalities are seen.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in West Highland Terriers, 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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West Highland Terrier
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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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