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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.
Jack Russell Terrier - Specific Wellness Program
Dermatological 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:
- It is important to check skin thoroughly during an annual exam. your doctor would recommend a skin scraping if any abnormalities are seen.
Endocrine Conditions
Diabetes Mellitus
About the condition:
- Diabetes occurs when there is a deficiency in the production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas. Insulin facilitates the entry of blood glucose to tissue cells.
How to detect this condition:
- This disease if often noticed by owners when their pets seem to be drinking and urinating more than usual.
- Bloodwork every other year starting at age 6 can help detect diabetes.
Hyperadrenocorticism (CushingÕs Syndrome)
About the condition:
- Most common endocrine condition in dogs.
- Caused by elevated levels of a hormone called cortisol from the adrenal cortex.
How to detect this condition:
- A blood test, recommended at age 6 and again every other year, can determine your petÕs cortisol level.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head (Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease)
About the condition:
- The femur of the leg meets the pelvis forming a ball-and-socket joint called the hip. In certain breeds, such as Jack Russell Terriers, there is a genetic predisposition for the ball section of the femur to deteriorate causing hindlimb lameness, atrophy of the thigh muscles and pain when this joint is moved.
How to detect this condition:
- If you notice that your pet seems to be limping, walking abnormally or they seem to be having difficulty getting up, x-rays are recommended to determine if this condition is the cause.
Patella Luxation
About the condition:
- This condition occurs when the "knee cap" moves in a direction that resembles a side-to-side motion rather than the normal up and down. It can cause intermittent or chronic lameness.
How to detect this condition:
- This may cause intermittent lameness where your pet may hold one leg up.
- Our doctors recommend checking for this condition, which involves feeling the joint movement, during annual exams.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Jack Russell Terriers, 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 |
42 |
Full blood profile |
| Age 8 |
51 |
Full blood profile |
| 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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