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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.
Collie - Specific Wellness Program
Dermatological Conditions
 Muzzle Folliculitis/Furunculosis
About the condition:
- Folliculitis is the inflammation of the hair follicle, which may appear as small bumps on the muzzle.
- Although the primary cause is not thought to be due to infection, a bacterial infection may also occur.
How to detect this condition:
- An exam with your doctor is recommended to diagnose this condition.
Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
About the condition:
- Early signs of this condition may include depigmentation and/or redness of the nose. The nose, which normally appears scaly, may appear very smooth. Later signs may include crusting and ulceration.
- Exposure to the sun may aggravate this condition.
How to detect this condition:
- Monitor your pet's nose for any of the above signs.
Familial Canine Dermatomyositis
About the condition:
- This is an inflammatory disease of the skin and muscles usually found in young Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs. Signs of this condition include crusting and hair loss of the face, tips of the ears and tail, and front surfaces of the legs. These signs usually are aggravated by heat and sun exposure.
How to detect this condition:
- Evaluation of family history and littermates; in addition, a skin biopsy may be indicated.
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Lymphocytic Plasmacytic Colitis
About the condition:
- This is a gastrointestinal disease caused by inflammatory cells of unknown origin. Lymphocytic plasmacytic colitis is one cause of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
How to detect this condition:
- Signs include chronic vomiting, diarrhea, change in appetite and/or weight loss.
- A biopsy of the lining of the stomach and/or intestinal tract is required for diagnosis. This is obtained by an endoscopy.
Hematological/Immunological Conditions
Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia
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 6 years of age and every other year thereafter.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Collies, 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:
| Age 6 |
45 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis |
| Age 8 |
55 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays of chest, abdomen and hips if needed |
| Age 10 |
66 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 12 |
77 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 14 |
88 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
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