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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.
Schnauzer - Specific Wellness Program
Cardiovascular Conditions
 Sick Sinus Syndrome
About the condition:
- This is an irregularity in heartbeat that may lead to fainting.
How to detect this condition:
- An ECG is recommended at 6 years old.
Endocrine Conditions
Diabetes mellitus
About the condition:
- Blood glucose levels become dangerously high due to extremely low or lack of insulin.
How to detect this condition:
- Excessive thirst and urination are warning signs.
- A blood test and a urine test can determine the severity of the condition.
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
About the condition:
- Pancreatitis is a chronic condition in which the pancreas is inflamed, causing digestive enzymes to leak out of the pancreas.
How to detect this condition:
- Warning signs that your pet may have pancreatitis include being uninterested in food when they normally eat well and/or vomiting.
- A blood test is recommended if your pet shows the above signs in order to correctly diagnose the condition.
Hemotological Conditions
Primary Idiopathic Hyperlipidemia
About the condition:
- Hyperlipidemia occurs when there are higher than normal lipid (fat) levels in the blood.
How to detect this condition:
- Signs and problems associated with this condition include abdominal pain, seizures, pancreatitis.
- Bloodwork is recommended at age 6 and every other year thereafter.
Renal/Urinary Conditions
Bladder stones
About the condition:
- Bladder stones are fairly common. The formation of stones can cause blockage of the urinary tract causing abnormal pain and abnormal urination.
How to detect this condition:
- Urinalysis - a chemical and microscopic analysis of your pet's urine. All that is required is a urine sample. (This is recommended to be performed at age 6 and every other year 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 Schnauzers, 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 ultrasound ECG to check
for sick sinus syndrome |
| Age 8 |
51 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis |
| Age 10 |
60 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays of chest, abdomen and hips if needed |
| Age 12 |
69 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
| Age 14 |
78 |
Full blood profile and urinalysis, x-rays |
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