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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.
Rottweiler - Specific Wellness Program
Gastrointestinal Conditions
 Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis, Enteritis, and Enterocolitis
About the condition:
- This is a chronic inflammation of the stomach and small intestine, small intestine only, or small intestine and colon.
- These are various forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
How to detect this condition:
- Signs include chronic vomiting, diarrhea, change in appetite and/or weight loss.
- A biopsy of the lining of the stomach and/or intestinal tract is required for diagnosis. This is obtained by an endoscopy.
Immunological Conditions
Susceptibility to Parvovirus
About the condition:
- Parvovirus is mainly transmitted via the feces of infected dogs. It is stable in the environment, therefore can exist for long periods of time. The virus can contaminate inanimate objects such as shoes and clothing, thus can be transmitted indirectly from one dog to another. It is believed that Rottweilers are more susceptible to infection by parvovirus. Puppies and young dogs are also more susceptible to infection.
How to detect this condition:
- Symptoms of infection can vary, but the most common signs include severe vomiting and diarrhea. Additionally, some dogs have a fever, a lack of appetite and seem lethargic. It is important that if your pet experiences any of these symptoms, that they are seen as soon as possible. A small blood test can be performed to determine whether parvovirus infection is the cause of the symptoms.
How to prevent this condition:
- Vaccination is key in preventing parvovirus infection. The DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza combination) vaccination is highly recommended to be given yearly. Puppies should be given a series of four vaccination boosters beginning at 8 weeks of age and every three weeks until the series is complete.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture
About the condition:
- The cruciate ligaments in the knee connect the tibia and femur (the bones of the hind legs) and allow the knee to flex as a hinged joint. Severe twisting of the knee can cause these ligaments to rupture, often during exercise or in overweight dogs.
How to detect this condition:
- If your pet suddenly begins limping or unable to bear weight on its leg, please schedule an exam with the doctor. They will be able to determine whether your pet has ruptured its cruciate ligament by a physical examination and/or x-rays.
Hip Dysplasia
About the condition:
- Caused by various deformities of the hip along with the development of degenerative joint disease.
- Nutrition and exercise can help in prevention.
How to detect this condition:
- It is important to have x-rays taken to find any deformities or degeneration of the hip joints. This is recommended at the time of spaying/neutering (or at age 2 for breeding dogs) and then again at age 6.
Neoplastic Conditions
Primary Bone Tumors (most commonly Osteosarcoma)
About the condition:
- The absolute cause of malignant (capable of spreading to other parts of the body) bone tumors is still unknown, but it is known that genetics may be a factor in the development of these tumors. These tumors most likely occur in the bones of the extremities in large breed dogs.
How to detect this condition:
- The most common symptom of this condition is limping. If you notice that your pet begins limping, we recommend that they be seen for an examination by the doctor. X-rays will most likely be recommended to determine the cause of limping.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Rottweilers, 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:
| At time of spay/neuter |
X-ray hips |
| Age 6 |
40 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays of hips |
| Age 8 |
48 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays of chest, abdomen and hips if needed |
| Age 10 |
56 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 12 |
64 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 14 |
72 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
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