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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, especially as they get older. 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. YouÕll 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.
Mixed Breed - Specific Wellness Program
Musculoskeletal Diseases
 Arthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease)
About the condition:
- Arthritis is a condition in which the cartilage surrounding the joints begins to degenerate. It may be caused by a developmental problem, injury, aging, or infection among others.
How to detect this condition:
- The first signs of arthritis are usually stiffness, limping, difficulty getting up or moving, and pain.
- An x-ray is usually recommended to determine the cause of the problem as well as to determine the best route of treatment.
Dermatological Conditions
Atopy (Allergies)
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.
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; it should be performed at 6 years of age and every other year thereafter.
Diabetes Mellitus
About the condition:
- Diabetes occurs where there is hyperglycemia resulting from an absolute or relative lack of insulin in the blood.
How to detect this condition:
- This disease if often noticed by owners when their pets seem to be drinking and urinating more than usual. Blood work every two years starting at age 6 can help in detecting this disease.
Infectious Diseases
Coccidiomycosis (Valley Fever)
About the condition:
- Valley Fever is a non-contagious disease that originates from fungal spores found in the soil in the Southwest. Signs of Valley Fever may include, but not limited to, the following: coughing, lack of appetite or decreased appetite, lameness, diarrhea, enlarged joints and fever.
How to detect this condition:
- A Valley Fever blood test will most likely be recommended along with x-rays to check for signs of lesions caused by the Valley Fever spores.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in mixed breeds, 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 and urinalysis |
| Age 8 |
51 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays of chest, abdomen and hips if needed |
| Age 10 |
60 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 12 |
69 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 14 |
78 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
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