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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.
Newfoundland - Specific Wellness Program
Cardiovascular Conditions
 Dialated cardiomyopathy
About the condition:
- A condition in which the heart walls are thinner than normal and the heartbeat is not as strong.
- Increased prevalence with age and is more common in males.
How to detect this condition:
- An ultrasound/ECG is recommended at age 6.
Pulmonic Stenosis
About the condition:
- This is a condition usually caused by a malformation of the pulmonic valve. Due to this defect, the heart has to work harder to pump deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Depending on the severity of the condition, some dogs may develop congestive heart failure due to the additional workload on the heart.
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, or an ECG is recommended.
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.
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Congenital Idiopathic Megaesophagus
About the condition:
- The esophagus transports food and water from the mouth to the stomach. The action of swallowing is caused by a natural reflex. In this condition, this reflex is interrupted due to disease, nerve damage or for genetic reasons (as in the Newfoundland). As a result, the esophagus dialates (expands). This causes food to come back up from the stomach (regurgitation) and may lead to aspiration pneumonia if the food enters the trachea (windpipe).
How to detect this condition:
- Pets with megaesophagus have a tendency to regurgitate their food soon after eating.
- X-rays may be recommended to rule out foreign bodies or other causes of vomiting.
Ocular Conditions
Entropion
About the condition:
- Entropion is the inversion of the eyelid. Eyelashes may also invert causing irritation, pain, and possibly ulceration.
How to detect this condition:
- Monitor your pet's eyes for any signs of irritation such as redness, swelling, or discharge. Please call us if you notice any of these signs.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Newfoundlands, 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 4/5 |
35 - 42 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays of chest, abdomen and hips if needed |
| Age 6 |
49 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays, ECG of the heart to test for any heart conditions |
| Age 7 |
56 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis |
| Age 8 |
64 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 9 |
71 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis |
| Age 10 |
78 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 11 |
85 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis |
| Age 12 |
93 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 13 |
100 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis |
| Age 14 |
108 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
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