June 4th, 2009 by admin

Noninfectious osteoarthritis is the commonest form of joint disease in the aging dog, a situation not too different from that in humans. The disease is progressive and causes few, if any, noticeable symptoms in the early stages. It is not uncommon for a veterinarian to discover the existence of degenerative joint disease or its predisposing causes during a routine checkup.

Primary arthritis develops from the normal wear and tear of a joint with time and age. While seen occasionally in very old dogs, it is not the commonly observed arthritis that it is in people. The bulk of aging dog arthritis cases are secondary to disorders which happened or started earlier in life.

The following are just a few of the many such disorders:

• Obesity in any breed but especially in the large and giant breeds.

• Mechanical trauma such as falls and jumping mishaps.

• Torn ligaments in any joint but especially the stifle joint in toy or miniature poodles.

• Chronic dislocating patella (slipped knee cap), most common in toy breeds.

• Osteochondritis dissecans, a disease of young dogs.

• Hip dysplasia.

June 4th, 2009 by admin

Black and Tan Coonhound

History and origin: First used in Medieval England, the Black and Tan Coonhound was perfected in the southern United States.  This breed is one of six types of Coonhound and was used as a tracker of opossum, raccoon, and bear.  It is a working hound that is not usually seen in the show ring.
Description: Standing 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 70 and 90 pounds, this is a big, strong, agile scent hound.  The shedding coat is short, dense, and requires regular brushing with a hound glove.  Regular ear check is important with this breed.
About the breed: This is a very strong, hardy, active, driven breed that is primarily a” hunting dog and should not be considered for use as a family pet.  The Black and Tan Coonhound is not as adaptable to the home as the Beagle or Basset.  He is best owned by a hunter who can put his natural abilities to the best use. The Black and Tan is eager, alert, and possesses a superb sense of smell and will be easily distracted by any scent wafting through the neighborhood.  Similar to the Bloodhound and to a lesser extent, the Basset, this breed can be provoked to aggression if required to obey when he does not want to or when he does not understand what he is expected to do.  This is an explosive, non-thinking type of aggression that comes with very little warning.  The instinct to track in this breed is usually stronger than his owner’s ability to control; the dog goes into a driven, trance-like state that is hard to break through.  The Black and Tan Coonhound is normally suspicious of strangers and is not recommended for families with children because of his potential for aggression.  Though bred to be a pack hunter, he can be very dog-aggressive.  The Black and Tan Coonhound is also very vocal, making him best suited to life on a farm or in the country.  He is susceptible to hip dysplasia and ear infections and must have his ears cleaned regularly.  His owner must handle the dog liberally from day one or risk being bitten.
Feeding: Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of branded meaty product with biscuit added in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete dry food.
Ideal Home: A house with a fenced yard or a kennel is essential.  This breed does not make a good family pet because he does not understand and will not tolerate children.  He does much better if owned and used by a hunter on a regular basis.  He is a working hound that needs regular exercise as well as supervision and firm no-nonsense leadership.  Obedience training and socialization from day one are necessary.

June 2nd, 2009 by admin

Afghan Hound

History and origin:

Often referred to as the “Dog of Noah’s Ark”,  the Afghan Hound is one of the oldest, if not the oldest breed in existence.  He was used as a herding dog, a guard dog,  and a hunting dog.  The Afghan’s long coat allowed him to stay warm in the harsh climate of Afghanistan, something that his faster, short-haired cousin from Egypt, the Greyhound, would not have been able to do.

Description:

The Afghan Hound stands 25 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 50 and 60 pounds.  He possess an athletic body that is capable of supple and agile movement. The shedding coat is long, silky, and hard to maintain.  It absorbs moisture and odors and requires daily brushing and regular clipping to prevent matting. The feet and ears are feathered, and there is a topknot of long silky hair.  The color may be silver, cream, black, brindle, black-and-tan, or a combination of shades.

About the breed:

This fast, graceful sight hound is aloof, dignified, and somewhat snooty with all but his close family.  He is very elegant and aristocratic by nature who is also reserved and suspicious toward strangers.  Though warm and affectionate to his owners, the Afghan is a hunting dog who is very independent and will not tolerate boisterous children or uninvited attention.  He may shy away from the unwanted petting hand of a stranger.  This breed is very laid-back at home, happily curling up on a sofa idling the day away.  However, he also needs plenty of exercise and free running to keep him fit.  Training is difficult with the Afghan.  Sensitive and not overly bright, he will balk if pushed too quickly.  He processes information more slowly than other breeds.  Training technique must therefore be clear, slow, and precise.  Overbearing methods will only to panic the breed and possibly bring on fearful snapping.  As with most sight hounds, the Sit and Come commands take an especially long time to teach.  The Afghan needs to be socialized from an early age so as to limit his aloof, distrustful nature.  This is not a breed to spoil or pamper, despite his beauty and his elegance.  Spoiling will enhance a dominant attitude and increase the chances of aggression.  Because of his hunting nature, this breed can also be small dog-aggressive and has a very high prey drive toward smaller animals.

Feeding:

Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 ½ -2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with added biscuit in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete dry food.

Ideal Home:

The owner of an Afghan Hound should be an easy-going person who does not demand constant attention and affection from the dog.  A hunter by nature, this breed needs a big place for him to be able to run free and is therefore not suitable for apartment living.