HEALTHY
LIVING
The keys to Scottish Terrier wellness lie in a combination of factors.
Canine Wellness
Veterinary Care
At the heart of Healthy Living is the veterinary team, supporting all stages of your Scottie’s life. From puppyhood to the senior years, from routine yearly care to a specialist’s intervention, a successful partnership with your veterinarian is key. Many veterinarians admit that they see very few Scotties in their practice. Sometimes it will be up to Scottie owners and breeders to provide more information on breed specific health issues.
What should your veterinarian know? As a breed, Scotties are hearty and active dogs, but there are issues that you and your veterinarian need to consider in a yearly health maintenance plan.
Breed Awareness
Genetic Disorders:
Scotties have a few genetic disorders that veterinarians should be aware of. Your vet should also be aware of any other testing results or family history on your Scottie.
Allergies:
Some cases are due to the environment or fleas and will manifest in the skin with itching and hair loss; other cases may be caused by food sensitivities and will manifest in the gastrointestinal system.
Liver Enzymes:
Elevations of certain liver enzymes such as Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Alanine Transaminase (ALT) are commonly reported in middle aged Scotties, and these may rise to high levels over the life of the dog. Elevated liver enzymes may be indicative of liver or endocrine disease, but the elevations may also be present in the complete absence of any symptoms or disease process. However, Scotties do have an increased incidence of liver and gall bladder diseases including cancer, so elevations in liver enzymes should never be considered “normal in Scotties” or ever be ignored. Annual or semiannual blood work should be done to monitor organ function including enzyme levels and to assess therapies.
Bladder:
Any Scottie straining to urinate or passing blood should be seen immediately by a veterinarian. Bladder stones and infections are commonly reported. NOTE: After age 5 years of age, all Scotties should be screened once or twice yearly for bladder cancer.
Cancer:
Yearly visits with the veterinarian should include a thorough examination including careful palpation of all lymph nodes, examination of mouth, feet and skin, and heart and lung evaluation. As with bladder cancer, early detection of cancers such as lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, melanoma and mast cell tumors can lead to improved outcomes.
Activity
A key to longevity & happiness!
Scotties are high energy dogs that thrive on lots of stimulation and exercise. Anything from taking daily walks, to engaging in physical sports and events will help your Scottie lose weight, get into shape, and promote a healthy life.
Nutrition
Is your Scottie getting what it needs?
Let food be thy medicine. Good nutrition is Healthy Living and can improve a Scottie’s life expectancy, as well as their quality of life.
Obesity in U.S. dogs is one of the most common health problems facing pets today; and an inadequate diet is one of the leading causes.
Contrary to what one might think, obesity is actually a form of malnutrition that can have a serious impact on a dogs health and longevity; potentially reducing life span by as many as 2 years.
Obesity:
Did you know obesity increases the risk for diabetes, orthopedic injury and arthritis, cardio-respiratory disease, and certain cancers including bladder cancer? Fat tissue, once considered inert, is now known to be biologically active; releasing hormones that drive chronic inflammation, disrupt metabolism and put stress on the body’s organs, such as the liver and the pancreas.
Causes of Obesity
- Excess Calorie Intake via Diet and Treats
- Too many calories in
- Lack of Exercise
- Not enough calories out
- Gut Microbiome
- New research indicates tummies might hold answers
- Genetics
- In some breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers, there is an identified obesity gene, but any dog, including Scotties, can become overweight
- Early Spay or Neuter
- Hormonal changes resulting from early spay or neuter surgeries increase the risk for obesity in dogs
Is My Scottie Overweight?
The Standard of the Scottish Terrier states that the ideal Scottie weight should fall between 18-22 pounds. However, the number of pounds is not always the entire story. Not every Scottie in a healthy weight falls within that range, with some individuals being larger in overall size but proportionately normal in weight. There can be small-frame, 19 pound Scotties considered overweight and 28 pound Scotties who are larger overall and at a healthy weight.
The BCS (Body Condition Score)
The Body Condition Score is a visual and hands-on method to assess fat and muscle coverage over the dog’s body, with an ideal score being 4-5. Ask your veterinarian for help in determining the body condition of your Scottie and proposing a healthy weight, and also in identifying the tools to achieve that goal.
Diet:
There are several high quality dog food formulations that can help maintain a healthy weight in dogs, while making sure they are getting proper nutrition.
Some of these diets require a prescription from your veterinarian, but there are many high quality, reduced calorie foods available over the counter, on-line and in pet stores.
There are also diets designed for senior dogs providing essential nutrients for the less active Scottie.
In addition to discussing nutrition options with your primary vet, there are Veterinary Nutritionists who have the training and expertise to advise pet owners on all areas of their pet’s nutrition, including their metabolism, balancing their diet and treatment of nutrition-based health conditions, such as obesity or allergies.
Pre & Probiotics:
Adding probiotics may also help improve the gut microbiome. Obese dogs are known to have a different intestinal bacterial population than lean dogs. This difference can affect calorie absorption, inflammation and energy consumption. The hard task for many dog owners is to reduce or even eliminate treats that often are the source of excess calories. However, adding a probiotic and replacing store bought treats with fresh vegetables that act as prebiotics, can be an effective, healthy and well-received alternative.
Have More Questions?
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