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As your Partner in Pet Health, the team at Hillside Animal Hospital would like to provide you with as much information as possible regarding your role in keeping your dog happy and healthy. With this in mind, we have developed new Breed-Specific Wellness Programs. These programs are intended to increase your awareness on health conditions that have been found to be commonly associated with your dog's breed. While many dogs live a long, healthy life without facing major health issues, we feel that educating pet owners about possible health conditions is the best way to be proactive in detecting health issues before they become a problem. You'll find important recommendations for scheduling physical exams and diagnostic tests which we encourage you to discuss with the doctor throughout your pet's care. Please contact us at 480-391-7297 if you would like further information or to schedule an appointment.
Cocker Spaniel - Specific Wellness Program
Cardiovascular Conditions
 Dialated 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/ECG is recommended at age 6.
Neurological Conditions
Inter-vertebral disc disease
About the condition:
- Very common in cocker spaniels.
- 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. These are recommended starting at age 6 and then every 2 years.
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.
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:
- We should check the eyes of your pet at every annual exam.
Hematological/Immunological Conditions
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia/thrombocytopenia
About the condition:
- This condition causes mild to severe anemia (occurs when there are too few red blood cells present in the bloodstream to carry enough oxygen through the body) which can have very serious consequences for the overall body function and well being of your pet.
How to detect this condition:
- Blood work should be performed at 4 years of age.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Cocker Spaniels, but instead lists those that we have found to be most common at Hillside Animal Hospital. Please let your doctor know if you have further questions regarding these or any other conditions.
Wellness Recommendations
An annual physical exam is recommended for the life of your pet so that any problems can be detected. In addition, we recommend the following diagnostic evaluations in order to provide more thorough veterinary prevention and care:
| Annually |
|
Check tear production of both eyes, full eye exam |
| Age 6 |
42 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays to check
for disc-irregularities, ECG |
| Age 8 |
51 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 10 |
60 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays of chest, abdomen and hips if needed |
| Age 12 |
69 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 14 |
78 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
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