Patellar Luxation. Intervertebral Disk Disease. Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome. All of these are some frightening-sounding medical conditions you may have had a veterinarian mention to you when you first brought your Chihuahua or Pomeranian puppy in for their shots. And while it was easy to brush thoughts of them aside in the first few years, your pup may be starting to show signs of these serious conditions. If you’re a small or toy dog owner, you might need some help finding the ideal veterinarian in Van Nuys to help keep your pet happy and healthy.
You might be wondering what makes little dogs so special when it comes to the kinds of diseases or medical maladies they experience. Aside from their frustratingly small bladders, especially small dogs have been extensively bred for their tiny sizes over the years. The quality of breeders has varied heavily, as has knowledge of these health conditions that crop up in small purebred dogs. Unfortunately, there are still some genetic conditions that remain prevalent in these animals generation after generation, though most breeders today work hard to ensure the health of their dogs. A skilled veterinarian in the Van Nuys area can help you keep an eye out for the signs and symptoms associated with small breed-specific diseases. Hopefully these medical conditions haven’t stopped you from welcoming a sweet tiny four-legged friend into your home. Many of them are easily managed with a solid diet and weight management, in fact. Just a pound or two extra on a small dog can be 20% of their body weight! As with all pets, the food they eat will play a big role in their overall health. Your Van Nuys veterinarian can help you with appropriate nutritional counseling to ensure your pet maintains a steady weight. This can include switching them to a small breed food or discussing options for getting them more exercise. It can be tough to figure out just how far those little legs should go in a day, but your vet can give great advice about activity levels and tips for getting them out and about. If you have any questions about your pets, small or otherwise, please feel free to reach out to us at Sweet Home Veterinary Hospital & In-Home Services.