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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.
Lhasa Apso - Specific Wellness Program
Cardiovascular Conditions
 Endocardiosis (Chronic Valvular Disease)
About the condition:
- This condition is the most common cause of heart disease in a dog. The heart valves become deformed leading to abnormal heart function and heart failure.
How to detect this condition:
- Annual exam - your doctor will provide a thorough physical examination and can listen for any heart murmur, which may indicate this condition.
- If a heart murmur is detected an ultrasound, a type of non-invasive imaging, is recommended.
Dermatological Conditions
Atopy
About the condition:
- Certain breeds are predisposed to becoming sensitive to environmental allergens. These allergens stimulate an inflammatory process which usually affects the skin as well as the respiratory tract.
How to detect this condition:
- The primary symptoms of atopy are scratching of the body and ears, licking (especially the feet and in between toes), sneezing, shaking of the head and redness of the skin.
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Pyloric Stenosis
About the condition:
- A disorder in which the opening from the stomach to the intestine is thickened causing obstruction.
- Signs are usually seen before age 1.
How to detect this condition:
- Chronic vomiting is one of the signs of pyloric stenosis.
- If this occurs, x-rays and/or an endoscopy may be recommended.
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 tear production of your petŐs eyes at every annual exam.
Renal and Urinary Conditions
Bladder Stones
About the condition:
- Bladder stones are fairly common, however the formation of stones can cause blockage of the urinary tract.
How to detect this condition:
- Urinalysis - a chemical and microscopic analysis of your petŐs urine. All that is required is a urine sample. (This is recommended to be performed at age 6 and every 2 years thereafter)
- Ultrasound - a type of non-invasive imaging that allows any stones to be detected in the bladder or kidney.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Lhasa Apsos, 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 |
Eye exam |
| Age 6 |
40 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis to check for stones |
| Age 8 |
48 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis |
| Age 10 |
56 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays of chest, abdomen and hips if needed |
| Age 12 |
64 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 14 |
72 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
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