Dog Lovers

Making sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise is not usually difficult. Dogs, especially at a young age, love to play. They need no excuse to do so, and in most cases, need very little to play with. A ball or a chew toy, or even an old shoe, can provide hours of entertainment for your furry friend. However, as they get older, it becomes more difficult to get your dog to play. The age begins to wear on their joints and makes it more difficult to move around, let alone jump for a Frisbee. However, there can be serious health complications that will come with your pet not exercising regularly.

Just like humans, dogs need exercise to stay healthy. It is also important that they eat the right foods, and the correct portions of food. Health issues can become very serious when a dog does not exercise regularly, especially when the dog enters their senior years of their life. From the age of six years old, a dog is considered a senior citizen. Once they reach that age, joint problems and heart conditions begin to worsen, especially if they are not exercising regularly. This can lead to many different severe issues in their bodies.

If the dog is not getting the correct amount of exercise and they begin to gain weight, the strain on their bodies becomes greater and they can develop osteoarthritis. This is a condition that is essentially the degeneration of the joints and the bones in the joints, causing mobility issues and severe pain. The more weight that is put on these joints, the more painfully it becomes and, soon, the dog cannot stand, or even get comfortable lying down. Eventually the dog will not be able to move enough to eat or drink, which can lead to starvation and dehydration.

Other health issues can arise from your dog not exercising. If your pet pooch does not exercise on a regular basis, their weight can compound and put undo strain on their heart. This can cause heart failure, heart disease, and can lead to the failure of other organs, such as the lungs, liver, kidneys, and brain, as well. Not only will exercise help manage your dogs weight; the activity will help benefit your pets mind, as well. Activity helps the flow of blood, which will ensure that enough oxygen is taken to your dogs’ brain, helping in the maintenance of brain cells. The extra activity will also help regulate your dogs’ blood sugar levels, which need to be at a specific level in the brain.

Making sure that your elderly pooch stays healthy and happy is very important. Keep a watchful eye on your dog and see a vet immediately if anything about their behavior changes. If your dog seems to become more lethargic, or they shy away from human contact, they may be in pain. Also, if your elderly dog begins to cough during exercise, or for any exhaustive activity, including walking up stairs, consult a veterinarian immediately.

Possibly the most endearing and expressive face found on any breed of dog can be seen on the pug dog breed. With its almost impossibly large dark eyes and a button for its nose, the pug’s mug seems to simultaneously express that it has the weight of the world on its shoulders and an overarching desire to be loved.

The modern pug has its roots in China and goes back almost a thousand years. The Chinese referred to it in their writings as the dog with short legs and a short head. Europe didn’t see a pug until the early sixteenth century when China began trading with countries such as England and Spain. Once in Europe the breed became very popular among the noble class.

The pug usually weighs between fourteen to eighteen pounds at adulthood. Though the pug’s wrinkly head is small and is home to its expressive face, it is not the only major identifiable feature found on the dog. A pug’s tail typically has a high tightly curled loop, and in some cases the tail has a double loop. Further, the pug comes in two colors fawn and black. They will generally live about 12-15 years.

The expression “personality is everything” certainly applies to the pug dog breed. Playing the role of show-off or clown comes naturally to the pug. He also offers great displays of affection to his owners. His multi-faceted nature ultimately translates to a dog which is imbued with winning charm and great dignity.

Before making a pug the newest member of the family, prospective owners should be aware of a few things about pug ownership. Though pugs are short-haired dogs, they profusely shed hair on a seasonal basis. Its personality and size rules it out as a guard dog. Moreover, the dog’s physical make-up makes it very sensitive to heat so it shouldn’t be thought of as a workout partner. Lastly, they are prolific snorers and snorters.

Because pugs have such short legs and their faces are not elongated like most dogs, pugs are prone to health issues. Leg-related problems include patellar luxation (knee dislocation) and hip dysplasia. Facial issues that can arise consist of corneal ulcers, encephalitis, elongated soft palette, and pinched nostrils.

According to Webster’s the Latin phrase “multum in parvo” translates into “much in little.” Perhaps no dog breed other than the pug dog breed can so completely capture the spirit of that saying. He brings into the home a lot of bang for the buck.

Even if you have a regular grooming routine you can give your dog a great benefit is reduced likely hood of ear infection if you just spend a little more time working on his ears. Some dogs are more prone to ear infections than others, if you’re ever owned a dog who was susceptible to such infections you know how much trouble they can be.

There are three places where infections occur in dog’s ears, the outer, middle and inner ears all suffer from their own unique types of infection.

Treatment of outer ear infections can be pretty simple. These types of infections generally show us an inflamed ear that may excrete a bad smelling waxy discharge. Middle and inner ear infections are more serious and usually need a veterinarian’s attention as they can become quite sever very quickly. Many things can cause canine infections. Ear mites, bacterial overgrowth, and even food allergies can cause infections in dogs.

If you incorporate a good ear cleaning in your grooming routine your dog will get used to having his ears handled. Not only is it good to clean the ears, but this practice will make it much easier if you ever have to treat an infection with medications that are administered to the ears. By making a consistent point of cleaning your dog’s ears well during your regular grooming session you will assist your dog in keeping his ears infection free.

Ear cleaning is a simple matter for the most part. You can complete the required ear hygiene for most dogs with a simple ear cleaning solution and a soft rag. Raise your dog’s ear to open it, apply cleaning solution and rub the ear gently to help loosen any dirt. Then clean the ear and dry with the soft cloth. Many dogs won’t require frequent ear cleanings but should have their ears inspected to be sure they are free of waxy build up.

Dogs with long floppy ears may suffer frequent infections as their ears are often closed and no air can circulate. The circulation of air is something that is very important in maintaining the health of a dog’s ears. Some breeds of dog have a lot of hair in them, another barrier to good circulation of air. When you do your regular grooming take a little time to deal with this hair to keep problems from developing later.

If you believe your dog already has an ear infection and you aren’t able to get him to the vet immediately you can do some first aid intervention at home. Vitamin E or cod liver oil can help ease the pain of an infection if you palce a few drops in the infected ear. You can also use plain white vinegar as a simple cleaner for your dog.

One of the best ways to adopt an older Shitzu is to go to the animal shelter. Animal shelters are nothing more than just shelters ran by the county or the city that take in many animals for a variety of reasons. However, as you may already know, shelters have a wide variety of dogs and they’re no guarantees that a Shih Tzu would be at that animal shelter for certain. Therefore, if you’re diligent, you should be able to find one at some other shelter, one just may show up.

In most cases, animal shelters have close relationships with purebred rescue groups and they ship any purebred dog to them. Therefore, if you’ve really got your mind set on getting a Shih Tzu, you may want to start your search with a rescue group. In addition, if you’re someone that doesn’t mind getting a mixed dog, for instance, a Shitzu mixed with another breed, then an animal shelter is for you. One of the best ways to assure yourself of getting a Shih Tzu or a Shih Tzu mixed is to get to know the workers at the shelter, and tell them to call you if that particular dog shows up.

Here are some points to consider if you ever decide to adopt a dog from the animal shelter.

1) When you adopt a Shih Tzu from an animal shelter, it will bring you and your family lots of joy as well as some challenges. You may have to start from the beginning when it comes to housetraining, socialization and trust.

2) The information you receive on the dog will be limited if any at all. You may be oblivious to the past of the dog, whether it’s been mistreated or if it had any medical issues in the past. However, workers at the shelter may be able to give you clues, but that’s usually all the help you can expect to get. Remember, shelters just don’t have the time and resources to evaluate every dog that comes through the door. Therefore, you and your new Shih Tzu will have some things to work out.

3) You must get approval from the shelter before you can adopt the Shih Tzu. Many shelters (at least the good ones) require application forms that can be quite lengthy. The shelter just wants to make sure that the dogs don’t end up right back in the shelter.

4) Adopting a Shih Tzu at an animal shelter is a lot cheaper than buying one from a breeder.

A Shih Tzu just wants to be loved and to worship you; therefore, treat your new dog well whether he or she is a puppy or an older dog. They’re also adaptable little dogs and they’ll give you years of joy and satisfaction.

Choosing a dog groomer can be a hard decision. We all love our pets and we want to give them the very best. The groomer will be a big part of your pets life so you want to find one that you can stick with for years to come. Although, most of us have not a clue what to look for when choosing a dog groomer so I have created this article to help you to determine which groomer is right for you and your pet.

There are some obvious things that you will want to look for when researching a groomer. Visit the location and take a look around. Is it clean? Where are the dogs kept when they are not being groomed? Do they provide water to dogs in kennels? Are the dogs given regular bathroom breaks. These are all questions you should ask the groomer. Any good groomer will be happy to answer all of your questions and many will even give you a tour of the facility. Although, keep in mind if the groomer is extremely busy on the day you visit they may not have time to show you around. If this is the case simply ask them if there would be a better time to come back and discuss your concerns.

You will also want to look for a groomer who will be asking you questions. Most professional groomers will have a information sheet for you to fill out. It should ask basic questions about your dog and any health problems or allergies he may have. It should also ask who you would like contacted in case of an emergency. An emergency at the grooming salon is rare but it is important that they know what vet your dog should be taken to if there is a problem and who should be called. They should also ask about your vaccination records and will need proof of your dogs rabies vaccination. If a groomer does not ask about any of these things I would look for a different groomer.

You may want to stay with your pet but don’t be surprised or mad if the groomer declines. There is a very good reason that most groomers do not want owners to stay with the dog during grooming. When dog are being groomed the groomer will need their full attention. If the owner is in the same room many dogs will be much harder to groom because they are more interested in going back to their owner. This can be dangerous for the dog and the groomer. Groomers are using razor sharp tools and it is very important that your dog is not distracted and is listening to the groomer. Some shops are now installing web cams so that you can see your dog being groomed without actually being in the room with them. Although many shops do not have such high tech features. Be understanding and realize that the groomer is keeping your dogs best interest at heart.

There are many great groomers and grooming salons. Many people start out going to one of the big box pet stores for grooming only leave unhappy with the price and the quality of the groom. The simple fact is that the most talented groomers do not work for these big box pet stores. You will find them at the smaller more personal salons around your town. I am sure that there may be a few great groomers working at the large box stores but the truth is most are still learning the art of grooming.

Heated cage dryers are a concern with many pet owners after hearing stories of pets being left under a dryer only to be found dead. These are heart wrenching stories to say the least. However, when used under proper supervision cage dryers are not harmful but in the wrong hands they can be deadly. Ask if the groomer you are considering uses heated cage dryers. If they do, you will have to make your own decision about weather you trust them to use them correctly. You may want to ask where the cage dryers are located and if the dogs are supervised while under the dryers. Something to note is that all the big box pet stores will use heated cage dryers.

Once you have researched all the groomers in your area and made a decision on who to use stick with them. You know you have the perfect groomer when your dog is happy to see them every six weeks. I hope this article has given new pet owners some good guidelines for choosing a groomer.

Treating hair loss in dogs can be very easy in some cases, while in other cases it can be extremely complicated. But there is one certainty about how to treat this very troubling and potentially painful condition in your dog; there is no single treatment. The only way to successfully treat hair loss in your dog is to first identify the actual underlying cause and than treat that cause.

There are several potential causes of Alopecia, which is hair loss in your dog, and each case will have different treatments. Here are some of the most common causes of hair loss and the treatments.

Allergic & Irritant Dermatitis:

Treating hair loss in dogs with allergic or irritant dermatitis will all depend on the actual underlying cause of the allergy. The cause may be from an antibiotic that was recently applied to your dogs skin, or it may be caused by a substance such as rubber, wool, or by far and away the most common cause, plastic. These types of hair loss will first show signs of red skin or blisters, which are very quickly followed by hair loss. Testing for this type of loss will include both patch tests and exclusion trials.

Once identified, the first form of treatment will be either eliminating or restricting exposure to the allergen. Plastic is the most common cause, and it is for this reason that you should always use metal dishes for both food and water for your dog. Medical treatments will include antihistamines along with steroids. But before you use steroids on your dog, seek a second opinion. Steroids have several benefits, but they also have some very serious side affects.

Atopy:

In treating hair loss in dogs with atopy, it will be extremely important to also understand the actual cause. Atopy is an allergic reaction to something that your dog has inhaled, as opposed to something they have come in contact with. It can include pollen, dust mites, as well as mold. The first symptoms that your dog has this condition are licking of their feet and inflamed ears. Once this occurs, they will begin to scratch, but it will not be a normal scratching; it will become so severe it will develop into hot spots. Once hot spots occur, the hair loss can range from minor to severe.

There are several forms of treatment with this condition. Again, the first form of treatment will be to identify the actual cause and than eliminate it. Biotin supplements are very effective with atopy, as well as fatty acid supplements. In most all cases, when combined with antihistamines and medicated shampoos, it can very easily be eliminated. However, in the most severe cases, autoimmune therapy may have to be used and this will involve steroids.

Callus:

Callus is not as common as some of the other causes and treating this condition can be very easy and very effective. Callus is the result of chronic pressure and is most prevalent in larger dogs. It will cause the areas over your dogs bones pressure points to become thickened, and as a result, they will loss their hair in these areas. The best form of treatment is to provide your dog with softer bedding as well as padding around the affected areas. This will be quite successful in the vast majority of cases.

Cushing’s disease:

This disease can be a very serious threat to your dog and can cause not only hair loss but thinning of the skin as well. However, it can also very easily cause blackheads and these can become infected, resulting in even more hair loss. It is the result of an increase in corticosteroids in your dogs body by an increased production or by very high doses of corticosteroids that have been given to your dog for another condition. It may also be caused by glandular tumors.

If it is caused by tumors, the only effective treatment will be to remove the tumors surgically. Treating hair loss in dogs with this condition will also involve adrenal gland testing and than treating this condition to slow the corticosteroid overproduction. If it is the result of too high of steroid doses, your veterinarian will have to gradually lower the steroids to stop the condition.

Demodectic Mange:

This is also called red mange or puppy mange, and is caused by an infection with the Demodex mite. It almost always occurs as the result of a weaken immune system in dogs, especially puppies. If will first start out a scaly red skin that can very easily turn into pustules, and as a result, can cause severe hair loss. Treating this condition will always be done by medicated dips. If steroids are even mentioned as a treatment with this condition, run; do not walk, as they can have catastrophic side effects with this form of mange.

Folliculitis:

This is situation where your dogs hair follicles have become infected, usually with staph bacteria. The first symptoms will be in the form of pustules and they will break open and form bulls eye type lesions. Short hair breeds will loss small patches of hair within these lesions while long haired breeds most commonly develop seborrhea. The only effective treatment of this form of hair loss will be with antibiotics. Because of its severity, most veterinarians will extend the usage of antibiotics seven to ten days after the appearance of resolution, just to be on the safe side.

Seborrhea:

Treating hair loss in dogs with this condition can be difficult, only because it may be hard to find the actual cause. It can be inherited in some cases, but in the vast majority of cases it is caused by another disease. If severe enough, it can cause a lot of hair loss in your dog, but it usually only causes small patch loss. However, this is where the term wet dog stink comes from, as your dog will become very stinky. Antiseborrheic shampoos combined with fatty acid supplements are the most effective treatments.

Hypothyroidism:

Treating hair loss in dogs with this condition has only one effective form of treatment: a lifetime thyroid supplementation. It can cause both hair losses as well as very dry brittle hair and may also cause your dog to actually change colors in severe cases.

Ringworm:

Ringworm in dogs is the result of several types of fungal infections, and can cause hair loss as the result of scaliness and crusty skin. The most affective treatment for this condition is with lime sulfur dips.

Summary:

Treating hair loss in dogs in most all cases can be very effective if the actual underlying cause is first identified, as there is no one single treatment. Understanding the actual cause will help in the correct form of treatment.

Regardless of the type of dog you own, pure breed or mongrel, your animal is regarded as a family member. You bathe them; make sure they receive their medications and vaccinations; provide them with the necessary vitamins and minerals. Grooming stores provide a number of different accessories you may need for your dog, including dog coats, which are bought to protect the dog against the harshness of the elements.

Having a dog requires a constant commitment from their owners; regular grooming, daily feeding, regular medical attention, deworming and shots. A dog owner will do all this out of love for the animal and in return will receive the dog’s love and loyalty.

In an attempt to provide protection for the animals, many dog owners are increasingly purchasing dog coats for their animals, and in fact it is said to be the most frequently purchased item by dog owners from the pet supply stores.

Because there are so many different breeds of dogs, and the fact that they come in so many shapes and sizes, and their characteristics vary so much between the breeds, it is not always easy to find just the right coat that would fit or suit your particular dog.

If you are shopping online you will be able to find a wide variety of coats, for large and small dogs, in different shapes and sizes and colors, in personalized styles and with fancy collars and other accessories.

One of the many dog coats selections includes the waterproof type. These are obviously made to keep the dog dry in wet weather during their daily walks. Some are quite thick too help protect the dog from the cold also during the winter months, and they also prevents the dog from getting sick.

Coats for the Halloween season are created to protect the dog during that time of the year but they are also fashioned in different themes so that the dog can also be a part of the festivities. Varieties are cow dog costume, prisoner dog coat costume, and Bumble Bee costume

Another type of dog coat seen has been inspired by Hollywood personalities. These give the dogs a pampered look as they are dressed in fashionable styles. The fabrics are embellished with pearls, embroidery, gem stones, and other custom fashions.

Yuletide dog coats are put on during the Christmas season. This is the time of year that many dog owners make their dogs feel extra special in the specially designed Santa suit coat or in more formal attire.

The important consideration is the comfort of the dog, regardless of the style of coat that is worn. Take the time to ensure that the coat you buy for your dog is made of quality materials and that the dog will not be irritated by them. All coats should be made of 100% fabrics (Cotton, wool and waterproof nylon) to ensure a long lasting comfort. The fabric should be suitable for regular cleaning.

To kill germs, you should use an antiseptic lotion; to eliminate bad smells, mix ¾ of water to ¼ of fabric softener and apply on each side of the coat, and then let dry in the sun.

Dog coats might be a necessity if living in a very cold climate, since the exposure to very cold temperatures could be detrimental to the dog. Even if you do not live I such an environment, providing a dog coat for your favorite animal will show the love you have for your four footed friend and will not cause him any harm.