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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.
Miniature Pinscher - Specific Wellness Program
Dermatological Conditions
 Pattern Baldness
About the condition:
- Pattern baldness is a hereditary condition in which a dog is born with a normal coat of hair, but signs of the condition will most likely appear before the age of one.
How to detect this condition:
- Symptoms may include crusty, oily or scaly patches on the skin, small red bumps, and/or loss of hair.
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.
Eye Conditions
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:
- An eye exam should be performed annually to check for signs.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
About the condition:
- This disease causes an abnormal accumulation of pigment within the retina resulting in progressive retinal degeneration and visual deficiencies.
How to detect this condition:
- Checking the eyes regularly in conjunction with annual wellness exams can help detect this condition.
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 Miniature Pinschers, 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 |
Full eye exam |
| Age 6 |
40 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis to check for signs of bladder stone formation |
| 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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