Dog Breeds: The Afghan Hound

Sometimes called the Tazi or the Baluchi Hound, the Afghan Hound is one of the more glamourous of the large breed of dogs. It stands about 25 to 29 inches tall (63-74 cm), weighs 50 to 60 lbs (23-27 Kg) and has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.

It has a beautiful long coat and comes in just about any colour. This long coat has one drawback as the dog tends to develop hairballs from grooming itself. There have been incidents where some of these dogs have choked to death on a large hairball, so owners are encouraged to groom Afghans daily to remove any loose hair.

The dogs originated in Afghanistan, hence the name, but they can now be found nearly everywhere. As well as being used as pets, show dogs and herd dogs, because of their strength and speed, Afghans are frequently used in dog races in many countries. They are also highly regarded as excellent competitors in agility trials.

Afghans have an Oriental expression and their eyes appear to look right through you, presenting a very aloof and dignified temperament. Some owners find this breed's Oriental or Eastern personality hard to handle. As well, with their strength and speed, they require extensive obedience training which can be difficult as they have a reputation of being difficult to train. In spite of this, many people hold these dogs in very high regard. One way to ease the difficulty in training is to utilize this breed's strong pack allegiance. Since a daily walk is required to prevent the dog from developing behaviour problems, the Afghan should be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the leash. This will reinforce the dog's natural instinct that the “pack leader” always goes first. In this way the dog will learn that the human is always first and must be obeyed because they are the “pack leader”. With this in mind, the owner should also teach their Afghan to enter and exit doorways after the human.

Afghans have four very distinctive features. Many have a ring (tight curl) at the end of their tail and a saddle of short course hair from the front shoulders to just in front of the hind quarters. Most also have a long topknot and all have high hip bones.

Afghan owners should be aware that this breed has a very high prey drive and as a result they usually do not get along with other small animals, so they should be tightly controlled when around small pets.

So, if you would like a large regal looking dog, you should consider the Afghan Hound as one of the top contenders.

Until next time,

Teia

Grooming and General Care of Your Dog

Medical Update: I went to the vet last Wednesday and had a thorough examination. My groin has completely healed and the lump beside my nose has disappeared. The area of my chin that was covered with weeping lumps has healed up, and the swelling has nearly all gone away. The vet told dad that he could reduce my “Prednisone” treatment from one half tablet in the morning and one half tablet at night to one half tablet in the morning. Dad must continue to monitor my condition and let the vet know if anything shows up again. Now, on the following Monday, everything is still OK, so hopefully my problems have been solved. Unless something happens again, no further medical reports will be given. Thanks to all who sent get well messages. Now, on with today's post which deals with grooming and general care of your faithful companion.

The amount of grooming your dog will need depends on the breed of the dog and the length and texture of her coat. Generally, dogs with long hair will require more grooming than short haired dogs. Some long haired breeds will require a bath every week or so to keep their coat from matting, with daily brushing in between.

Before commencing to brush your dog, you should examine her for cuts, sores, mats in the area where the legs meet the body and in the hair on her ears. Also check her anus for crusted stool as this could cause a sore to develop. And, check inside her ears to ensure that there is no wax buildup.

Dogs with short hair only need to be bathed occasionally, but they still need weekly brushing to remove dead hair and surface grunge.

Non shedding dogs will require regular baths and hair cuts to keep them looking nice and to prevent matting of their coat. You should purchase a breed specific book so that you can get advice and tips for your dog from specialists.

If you plan to enter your dog into dog shows, then you should consult with a professional groomer to learn what needs to be done to prepare your dog. And, even if your dog is just a family pet, you should take her to a professional groomer at least once to learn how to properly groom her and what tools you will need.

If you just try to do it all yourself, without expert advice, you could end up spending a lot of unnecessary money on items that either don't work, break or become unserviceable quickly, or just don't do what you want them to do. For example, if you plan on cutting your dogs hair yourself, make sure you get good quality dog clippers. Hair clippers for humans will not stand up to regular clipping of your dog's hair. Some types of hair require special types of brushes. Dog nail clippers must be used to cut your dog's nails. Human nail clippers either will not cut the nails, or they will splinter the nail when cutting.

When dad was younger he cut the hair of the family dogs, and both mom and dad groomed and bathed them. Now that they are older, they take us to a professional groomer for baths and haircuts. They brush us and clean our eyes, ears and bums between visits to the groomer, and give us emergency baths when we get really grubby. Our groomer, as well as giving us a bath and haircut, also trims our nails and thoroughly cleans our ears and removes excess hair from the inside of our ears so wax doesn't build up.

For further information on grooming view:

“Drying the Dog” posted Wednesday August 26, 2009.
“Tips, Techniques and Equipment for Brushing Your Dog” posted Wednesday July 1, 2009.
“Improve Your Dog's Health with Proper Grooming” posted Sunday April 26, 2009.
“Bathing Your Dog” posted Wednesday March 25, 2009.

Until next time,

Teia

Grooming Your Pet Cat

Regular grooming of your cat is vital to keeping it healthy, especially if your cat has long hair. Think of the cat's coat as the fur and skin together: You cannot have a healthy coat unless both the skin and fur are healthy.

It is the nature of most cats to maintain well-groomed coats. If you examine your cat's tongue, you will see little bristles on it that face toward the back of the tongue. Cats use these bristles to groom themselves, often for hours at a time.

Most cats do their own grooming, but they need your help to do a complete job. For example, your cat's tongue cannot reach behind her ears or on top of her head or back. Also, the bristles on her tongue cannot always get through matted hair. That's where you come in.

Grooming a cat, whether it has long or short hair, requires both work and patience. These guidelines will aid an amateur groomer. However, there may be times, even when following these guidelines, when you will not be able to do it yourself and will need professional assistance. This is especially true if you have a long-haired cat that mats badly, or a cat that becomes violent during grooming.

Most cats do not like water and if bathing is necessary you may require assistance from a professional who knows the special handling needed to bathe an objecting cat. Some cats object so strenuously to bathing that you will need to get them sedated. If that's the case with your pet, do not let your groomer do it, let only veterinarians give your pet sedatives of any kind.

When you get a kitten, it should not need to be groomed until it is at least 14 to 16 weeks of age.

When brushing your cat or kitten, always brush with the hair. If you brush against the lay of the hair, you could scratch your cat’s skin. In addition, most cats do not like to have their hair pushed backward. Since you want grooming your cat to be enjoyable for both of you, start at the head and work toward the tip of the tail. On the sides of your cat, start at the back bone and brush toward the stomach. Most cats are ticklish, so be very gentle when grooming your cat’s tummy. If your cat has mats in its hair, use a dematting comb. These combs are available from most pet supply stores. Unless you are well versed in cutting cats’ hair, I suggest that you leave getting your cat’s hair cut to a professional groomer. My mom and dad have owned a number of cats over the years and they never found it necessary to have the hair cut on any of these cats. Brushing is another matter. As long as you are gentle, most cats enjoy being brushed.

Several different types of brushes are available for pets. Some of them are slicker types with wire bristles. Others are pin brushes with thicker metal bristles with rounded tips. Others have bristles with little plastic balls on the ends and still others have bristles just like your own hair brush. Pin brushes are better than slicker brushes because they are gentler on the skin and do not scratch or hurt. All are relatively inexpensive, so use the one that does the best job with the least amount of fuss from your cat. I cannot recommend any specific type of brush, because like dogs, each cat will feel comfortable with a different style of brush depending on their particular coat.

The finale of a thorough grooming is trimming your cat's nails. There is a special nail clipper designed for cat nails. Dog nail clippers are too cumbersome and splinter cats' nails. So, when buying nail clippers, you may want to get a recommendation from your vet. Mom and dad got the nail clippers for their cats from a veterinarian and they were very effective.

Mom and dad found that an overall brushing once a week was sufficient for most of their cats. They had one cat that created a grooming problem. This cat was a little strange. He would walk along the picket fence to avoid getting his feet wet, but whenever he saw the neighbour’s daughter he would jump into the nearest puddle and lie there feebly meowing. She would rush over and pick him up and cuddle him, getting covered in mud, much to her mother’s annoyance. She would pack the cat home and he would lay in her arms with a sappy look on his face and purr like mad. I think he had a crush on her. Fortunately, he enjoyed a bath when he got muddy, so this made cleaning him up a little easier to do.

Until next time,

Teia

Unusual Pets – Gerbils

When manufacturers of pet supplies came out with fantastic houses, tunnels, wheels and other devices for Gerbils, Guinea Pigs, Hampsters, mice and rats, these rodents began to appear as pets in houses around the world. What were considered as rarities a number of years ago are now available in just about every pet store. This posting features the behavior of Gerbils and how to understand what they are doing.

Gerbils are popular pets and can provide hours of fun as you watch their antics. Part of this comes from the fact that they are inquisitive creatures, almost to the point of being recklessly foolish. A new smell or object entering their cage will bring them out of their houses or tunnels. Often if there is a strange noise a Gerbil is more likely to come out of hiding for a look than cower in a safe place.

Gerbils communicate via high-pitched squeaking sounds, often when they are playing or frightened. These are usually inaudible to humans, but very young or old Gerbils tend to squeak louder and more in the range of human hearing.

Gerbils also communicate by many nonverbal signals. By observing their body language you should be able to determine what your pet is trying to “say”.

When Gerbils meet, they often put their noses together and it looks like they are rubbing noses. However, if you look very closely at this greeting action, you will see that they are actually licking each other's mouths. The reason for this, is that Gerbils recognize each other by the taste of the other's saliva.

Another common Gerbal action is called 'drumming'. During this action, the Gerbil stands up and quickly thumps the ground with its hind legs. Drumming can either be a warning signal to other members of the group when danger approaches, or a courting behavior between males and females. Drumming is a learned action and you will sometimes see young gerbils imitating their parents even when there is no danger around.

An excited Gerbil will often leap into the air with all four feet off the ground. Boxing like swings of the front paws sometimes accompany this leap. These boxing movements are usually playful, but sometimes they lead to something more serious. When Gerbils fight they usually start out boxing each other and then switch to head butting before starting to wrestle.

Frequently your Gerbil will sit upright. While sitting, if it sniffs and moves its head up and down, it is just being curious. However, if it stands in a frozen position, with its paws folded as if praying, then the Gerbil is frightened.

When a Gerbil rolls in front of another Gerbil and offers its throat, it is asking for a cleaning session. The recipient of this action usually finds this an irresistible request and a thorough cleaning session ensues. If you see a Gerbil thoroughly grooming itself, it is a sign that it is relaxed and happy.

Gerbils are usually sociable animals, however, they can become irritated and want to be left alone. This will usually result in the Gerbil pushing others away with its head. When in this “mood,” it will even push your hand away in this fashion.

An understanding of your pet gGerbils' body language will add to your enjoyment of these friendly creatures and assist you in taking care of their well being.

Until next time,

Teia

Cat Breeds: The Ragdoll Cat

Are you thinking about buying a Ragdoll kitten? These cats are renowned for their laid-back character and they are pretty to look at, but before you acquire one you should know a few things about them.

Breed Characteristics

Ragdoll cats belong to the larger cat breeds with their body weight ranging from 8 to 20 pounds. The breed came into existence in California in the 1960's by crossbreeding Persian, Birman and Burmese cats. Kittens are born with a white coat that later develops into various colors: seal, chocolate, lilac, blue and less common lynx, tortoiseshell and flame. Their coat is thick, semi-long and does not require any “special” grooming care, as it doesn't tend to form mats.

Ragdoll cats are very affectionate and good-natured pets. They are so placid that you can manipulate and pull them into almost any position. When picked up, they go floppy and their body sags.

Their trusting and easygoing nature makes them an ideal family pet. They are great companions with almost dog-like affection. They are very gentle with children. However, their lack of aggression works against them, as they seldom defend themselves. They simply lack fighting instincts. The means that Ragdolls, when left to go outside, will become victims of any aggressive cat or dog that they encounter. Your cat could suffer severe injuries or even become a fatality if left unattended outdoors. I recommend that you keep your Ragdoll cats indoors!

Actually, it is a good idea to keep all cats indoors as there are a lot of dangers outside. In addition, your cat could become annoying to your neighbors. Cats love to do their “business” in gardens and as a result, your cat could get into the neighbor’s yard where its presence is not appreciated. Having your cat messing in a neighbor’s yard has created many neighborhood squabbles. When mom and dad lived in an Ottawa, Ontario suburb, they had a cat that loved to go outdoors and particularly loved to go camping. When he had to remain indoors, he became very depressed. Mom and dad were continually getting complaints from the neighbors and the board of directors of the condominium development that they lived in. They decided that they would give the cat to an older couple who had a summer cottage at a lake where mom and dad kept their trailer. The cat loved it there. Interestingly enough mom and dad continued to get complaints from the neighbors and the board of directors. It turned out that the cat in question wasn’t their's at all. However, since the old boy loved his new family and living at the lake, they left him to finish out his years in happiness.

As stated, cats need some stimulation so they don't become bored and depressed. Just like dogs, they need exercise to prevent them from becoming obese and sickly. Therefore, to keep her fit and happy you should get your Ragdoll used to walking on a leash. Just remember to keep your ragdoll away from other cats and dogs while it is walking on a leash.

Ragdoll cats are intelligent and can be easily trained. They love human company and respond well to rewards, so it is quite easy to teach them many tricks.

It is not always a good idea to acquire a Ragdoll kitten if you already have other cats and especially cats displaying aggressive behavior. In this case you would need to keep them separated. However, the Ragdoll will not look for conflicts, so if your other cats have an amicable nature it may not be a problem bringing a Ragdoll into the family.

Ragdoll Care

They don't require any special care or intensive maintenance. The breed doesn't suffer from any special medical conditions and they live to a good age. Many people are hesitant to acquire a Ragdoll because of its long haired thick coat. Compared to Persians and other long haired breeds, they are easy to care for because their coat can be easily maintained by brushing it once a week to remove dead hair.

In conclusion, this blue-eyed beauty will make a perfect pet if you have nothing against keeping cats indoors. Give it enough attention, an occasional brush, a walk on a leash and your Ragdoll will be a happy pet that will give you all the affection you can handle.

Until next time,

Teia

How to Buy a Dog From a Breeder

The first thing to decide before buying a dog is what type and size you want. Many factors are important when buying, but be sure to consider what breed is suitable for you and your family. Some breeds require a lot of daily exercise and others require daily grooming. Remember also that different breeds may have genetic health issues to watch out for.

Larger dog breeds can be susceptible to hip dysplasia. This is a degenerative disease that affects the hip joint. When a dog with hip dysplasia matures, the hip joint and socket lose their ability to bear the animal’s body weight. They will have a hard time running or walking and even standing may become difficult. The only cure for this condition is surgery and even that is not very successful. My mom and dad had two dogs with hip dysplasia. The first one was a female Bichon Frise. She was operated on and it changed her whole personality. She went from an energetic puppy with a limp to a dog that only moved when it had to. Their second dog with hip dysplasia was a German Shepard cross. He did well until he was eight, with the help of an Aspirin on days when his hips were sore.

Smaller breeds of dogs can have genetic concerns of their own. Dogs that are in the "Toy" breed category, like the Pug, the Pekinese and the Lassa Apso are susceptible to breathing problems. These dogs have a short muzzle (or nose), which does not leave much room for sinus and nasal development. This is a condition that is often not evident in early development.

So, what should you look for when buying a dog? INFORMATION is the key word! After you decide what type of dog you want, seek out people who already own this type of dog. Maybe somebody you know already owns one? Get the word out that you are looking to buy a dog. Talk to people and gather as much information about the breed as you can. If you go to a pet store, talk with people. Pet owners love to talk about their pets.

Do research on the internet about your dog breed and print out whatever information you can find. Buy books and read about the bread you are interested in. Know that it is extremely important to become an educated consumer BEFORE you buy your dog from a breeder.

Finally, when you talk with dog breeders, ask any questions that come to mind. Honest dog breeders will be more than happy to talk with you and answer every question. Note the condition of the dog’s environment. Are the dog pens clean? Are the puppies well cared for? Can you see the mother and father? What type of puppy food are they being feed? Have the puppies had their shots? Reputable breeders love their animals and go to great lengths to provide a proper "home like" environment. Puppies are products of their surroundings. A good, clean environment will surely be reflected in a dog's playfulness.

Beware of breeders who are interested only in making money. They generally don't pay much attention to their dog’s emotional needs and health concerns. Also, they may inbreed their dogs and this can trigger severe health issues. AVOID THESE BREEDERS!

Some breeders may offer a 72-hour guarantee. This allows you time to take your puppy to a vet for inspection. If any health issues are identified, contact the breeder and get your questions answered.

Good, honest breeders care for their dogs and it shows in their surroundings. There are no guarantees that you will always have a normal, perfect puppy, but you greatly increase the odds when you do your homework first!

Mom and dad have gotten dogs from breeders, pet stores and the Humane Society. They have loved them all, but each source has produced both good dogs and dogs with problems. Sometimes, in spite of all your research, your heart takes over from your head and you just have to get that cute one that bounded over and licked your hand. In those cases, your affection for the dog overcomes any short comings that it may have.

Until next time,

Teia

Suggestions to Help Prevent Your Cat from Getting Hairballs

Cats are fastidious animals. They prefer clean things and apparently the one thing they like really clean is themselves. Because of this, they spend an excessive amount of time grooming themselves. The act of licking themselves helps to untangle and remove loose hair. Their tongue is specifically made for the task. It is covered with little bumps and toward the center of the tongue are tiny barb-like bumps that act to snag the hair. Unfortunately, this habit of grooming can lead to the formation of hairballs in your cat’s stomach.

Cats cannot digest the hair they swallow. However, they are able to pass the hair through their digestive system in small amounts. A problem occurs when the cat does not get enough fiber in its diet to push the hair through its system and out with its stool. When this occurs, the hair builds up and forms a hairball.

The distressed cat begins to cough and attempts to vomit the hairball up. For the loving cat owner, the gagging and retching is worrisome not to mention the annoying cleanup afterward. While the occasional hairball is probably nothing to be too alarmed about, frequent hairballs could be a cause for concern because they can result in digestive track troubles such as loss of appetite, constipation and in rare instances complete blockage of the intestinal tract.

You cannot prevent your cat from swallowing its loose hair. However, there are things that you can do to lessen the likelihood of hairballs forming. There are also natural remedies and commercial products that you can use to help the cat pass the hair through its digestive tract before hairballs form or break them up before they become too tightly packed. The best way to prevent your cat from swallowing large amounts of hair is to comb or brush your cat regularly. If the cat is well groomed, there won’t be very much loose hair for the cat to swallow. Long-haired cats should be combed or brushed daily and shorthaired cats once or twice a week.

If your cat needs assistance with its hairballs, there are commercial products that can be applied to the top of its front paws. These products are available from your veterinarian or better quality pet stores. The cat will lick these products off their feet and when swallowed these products will assist the hair to pass through the digestive system. Some people have reported that they have used lubricants such as Crisco All Vegetable Shortening, mayonnaise or butter as substitutes for these commercial products. Before you consider using these home made remedies, check with your veterinarian because the use of these products could cause other digestive problems. A few people have even used Vaseline, but it is not something that I would recommend. As previously stated, if you feel that your cat needs assistance eliminating hairballs from his system, check with your veterinarian as he or she is in a better position to determine the severity of the problem and what product would work best for your particular cat.

You may also feed your cat specially made cat food diets and treats that are intended to prevent the development of hairballs. Another interesting solution that I have heard about, but cannot vouch for its effectiveness, is to mix in about a teaspoon of canned pumpkin to your cat's normal food. Another suggested preventive method is to feed your cat grass a couple of times a week. I have no idea if this works or not, but I do know that dogs frequently eat grass when they have digestive problems. Again, check with your veterinarian. If he says it is acceptable, then you can consider growing the grass indoors. Rye, wheat or oat grasses are the best types to use and can be purchased at pet stores or on the Internet. Do not feed your cat grass from a chemically treated lawn it could be fatal to your cat.

It must be noted that cats will vomit for various reasons other than hairballs. Some of these may be from serious underlying conditions. Therefore, before attempting any of these remedies, it is advised that you consult with your veterinarian to rule out any other illness and to see which, if any, of these solutions should be tried. Along with your vet's help and one or more of these suggestions, it is possible that your cat will be able to live virtually hairball free. And remember, regular grooming of your cat will do much more than cut down the chances of him getting a hairball. It will allow you to remove dead hair, keep him clean, check for fleas or hidden injuries and allow you to bond more closely with your beloved pet.

Until next time,

Teia

Improve Your Dog's Health with Proper Grooming

You probably know the typical benefits of grooming your dog, such as removing knots and tangles in the coat. However, grooming also allows air to flow through the fur more easily, which helps the dog to cool itself during hot weather. Brushing also gives your dog's coat a nice healthy shine. However, there are many lesser known benefits to a regular grooming regime for your pet that I thought you might like to know.

It may come as a surprise to you to learn that the simple act of grooming can do much more for your pet than just improving the look of her coat. By making grooming a regular activity with your dog you'll be pleasantly surprised by the numerous health benefits that can be achieved.

Some of the many health benefits of grooming include:

1) Removing dead hair which improves the overall look of the coat as only new healthy hair is left behind. This will help prevent the dog from getting hot spots from the dead hair matted next to her skin.

2) Improving the blood flow to the follicles of each hair will improve the health of the entire coat. The lymphatic system is also stimulated by grooming, giving the same health benefits to your dog that you would get from having a massage.

3) Improving the emotional state of your pet, because of the bonding achieved whilst grooming. A gentle hand and kind voice while grooming goes a long way to building a bond with your dog and helps build trust between the two of you.

4) Having the opportunity to notice any potential health problems by becoming familiar with your dog's body. Tender areas for instance could indicate an injury of some sort which may require further investigation. It is also important to look for health dangers such as ticks which if left undetected can be deadly to your pet. It will also allow you to detect if your dog has fleas which can potentially cause all sorts of problems for you and your dog.

5) Paying attention to your dog's paws while grooming by clipping long nails and checking the pads of the feet for any sore areas that may need attention. (See previous postings on the topic of fleas).

You can find all the tools you need for effective grooming at local pet supply stores. Or, if you prefer, you can find a number of Internet locations that carry pet supplies. Just do a Google search on pet supplies or pet grooming supplies and you will have numerous sites to check out.

If you make a habit of visiting your local pet store, once you become known by the staff, you will learn all kinds of interesting things and you can frequently work out a discount for being a frequent buyer.

Most areas of the country have classes at community colleges where you can learn the correct methods of grooming your pet. Also check out dog clubs and groups where you will find other dog owners to give you some tips and advice on where to start.

If you find that you enjoy grooming and become proficient enough you may wish to start a dog grooming service in your local area. Dog grooming is in BIG demand and can be a profitable part-time/full-time business.

By putting in a little time and effort along with a few dollars for some basic grooming tools you will be greatly rewarded with a healthier, happier dog. Even if you're just starting to learn about correct grooming techniques your dog will still benefit greatly from the little time and effort involved in grooming.

Until next time,

Teia