DESCRIPTION

The Lhasa Apso is identifiable by its long coat that reaches all the way to the floor. The coat is heavy and double-coated, draping over the whole body and coming in the following colors: Gold, cream and honey (the most popular colors), however they also come in smoke, dark-grizzle, slate and a multi-color assortment of brown, white and black. The color of the Lhasa Apso can change as it grows and matures. Some have likened their appearance to a miniature version of the Old English sheepdog. The coat itself, has a hard. heavy texture and feel, without silkiness. The hair cascades over the body as well as the apple shaped head, finishing over its eyes. Lhasa Apsos have dark a dark beard and moustache, with a medium length muzzle, without squaring. The ears are feathered heavily and pendant in shape, whilst the eyes are deep set, dark brown in color and large (but not overly so). They have a longer body than they are tall, with strong loins and well developed thighs. Forequarters are straight and both forelegs and hind legs are covered with hair. They have cat-like feet with thick pads and a tail that is well feathered and carried in a screw like fashion over the back.

TEMPERAMENT

Their slightly ostentatious look, hides a hardy dog, full of character. The Lhasa Apso is an assertive and intelligent breed, with a friendly and lively disposition, displaying a lot of affection for its masters. They can be trained to a high obedience level, however unfortunately, due to their size, many owners neglect obedience training and do not reinforce their position as pack leaders, as a result this breed is susceptible to ´small dog syndrome.´ This can lead to a variety of unwanted and negative behaviors. Having said this, if this dog is made aware of its place in the ´family pack´ and owners display alpha dog traits, they should make wonderful little pets. When training a Lhasa Apso, motivational and positive reinforcement methods achieve the best results The Lhasa Apso is a vocal dog, with a keen sense of hearing and so can make a good watchdog.

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Signs of aging in your dog are gradual, just as with us. Slowly becoming grey around the muzzle, slowing down, not a quick to get up from lying down, and sleeping more.

These are natural normal signs of elderly dogs, and are inevitable. Depending on the breed and size of your dog, the rate of aging can be quite different. For example at 10 years of age, a dog under 20 pounds is approximately equivalent to 56 human years. Compare the same aged dog (10 years old) that is over 90 pounds, and they are equivalent to approximately 78 human years.

Vets usually consider a small dog to be senior citizens around the 12th year. A large breed dog reaches the same stage around their 7th year. This is according to a report from Tuft’s University.

Using established guidelines to determine when your dog starts entering their golden years will help to understand any changes in behavior and health. Keeping regular checkups with your vet is also most important as your dog ages, as any irregularities can be found early.

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Hypothyroidism in dogs occurs when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones. It is one of the most common endocrine problems that dogs experience. Large and mid-sized dogs usually develop this condition more often than small breeds. You may be wondering what are some of the symptoms of this disease?

Symptoms

Dog hypothyroidism produces a wide variety of symptoms. This is due to the fact that thyroid hormones are important to virtually every organ system. Some of the most common symptoms of this disease include weight gain, lethargy, and general weakness. Your dog’s hair may become rough and fall out if the condition is allowed to get worse.

Diagnosis

Hypothyroidism in dogs can be difficult to diagnose accurately. This is thanks to the fact that the condition produces a variety of non-specific signs. Your veterinarian will take a medical history and perform a physical exam. If he suspects hypothyroidism based on the history, exam, and symptoms, he will need to take a blood sample to determine the level of thyroid hormones in the blood.

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Admittedly, I have been a little behind the times when it comes to the recent talk of Pet Insurance that has been floating around. Dog and Cat Medical Insurance talk is taking off these days and I wonder, “Where have I been?” OK, my kitty seems fairly uninterested in all of the hullabaloo and he is pretty self-sufficient, as well, save for a stray flea here and there, but I am interested enough to get the facts.

So, what is the interest as of late?

Let me give you a bit of what has been talked about in the news lately. The negative news media folks tend to make it look like our precious Pets are being neglected and are always the first to go during economic troubles and that is not true at all. In fact, it seems that people have not been letting Fido and Fluffy go without and, in fact, have actually spent more on their pets, according to recent newscast and articles I have ferreted out, and that includes in the realm of Pet Health Care. Evidently, the California Governor thinks that people love their Pets as well, because he wants to tax them somehow when they are taken to the vet. Oh, brother, another way for government to get into our wallet, but that is an article for another day.

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Potty training Yorkies can be a hassle and frustrating. Especially when they potty on your carpet all the time. So, what I’m going to do is share with you some tips on how to potty train Yorkies. That way, your dog will know how and where to go potty.

The tips on how to potty train Yorkies are:

1. Reward Good Behavior. The first way to potty train your dog is to reward them for their behavior. If you are trying to get your dog to potty outside in the grass, whenever you take them outside to potty and they do it, be sure to reward them.

Even if your Yorkie potties outside while you’re playing with them. This will let your dog know that the grass is where they should potty.

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They are small in stature but big in heart. Developed to work on farms the Pembroke Welsh Corgi retains their herding instincts but can do more than herd. “Cruiser” completed the requirements for Tracking dog, Tracking Dog Excellent” and “Variable Surface Tracking” title after having won his show championship for conformation. Proving a pretty dog can work Cruiser was the first conformation champion of any breed to earn a champion tracking title.

“Ceri” was the first Pembroke to win a master agility champion title. Corgis with proper training can be hearing dogs and work in other service capabilities.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi historically has a history that speaks of legislation and adaptation. The Romans classified dogs according to use. In the 10th century the only dogs allowed to peasants were small dogs for pest control. Shepherds were allowed to keep their dogs but they had to be mutilated but the shepherds dogs were allowed a docked tail which allowed them to work. Later taxes were charged on dogs except for those with docked tails - the Pembroke had a natural bob-tail that was an early selection trait.

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A Shetland sheepdog is not a “mini-collie” but a distinct separate breed that actually has roots in the Border collie. A native of the Shetland Isles in far northern range of Scotland he was a dog developed to help on crofts, or small farms, where there wasn’t much food to be had. A small dog was needed for that reason, yet a tireless worker in all kinds of weather which gave rise to selection for a durable coat and a loyalty to their owners.

Shelties are also thieves - they’ll steal your heart slicker than any pickpocket! They are commonly sable, black and white, tri color and blue merle. They can be barkers without patience and training but are a loyal, observant dog. Their intelligence and trainability make them among the most successful obedience breeds.

The sheltie coat does require regular grooming to remain tangle free and prevent it from becoming matted. There is a double coat with an outer layer that is more harsh and straight and an undercoat that is very dense. This can help shed rain from a working standpoint and enough harshness to the coat to resist tangling. For pet dogs you must be committed to thoroughly combing a Sheltie a couple times per week. It is not advisable to shear or close cut a Sheltie’s natural coat.

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Pneumonia in cats is a serious condition. It occurs when there is inflammation in the lungs. The condition can quickly become life-threatening as it progresses. As the disease advances, your cat will have more and more trouble breathing. It can effectively be treated if caught early enough.

Causes

The inflammation in the lungs is a condition caused by bacteria. However, this is usually the result of a viral infection that affects your cat’s lower respiratory tract. Common viruses that can result in cat pneumonia include feline parainfluenza virus and calicivirus.

Symptoms

Pneumonia in cats is easily noticeable as your feline will appear extremely ill. He will stop eating and drinking which can lead to dehydration, a potentially serious condition. As the disease advances, your cat will have breathing difficulty. Some cats also develop a fever.

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Ringworm in cats is caused by various fungal organisms. Since cats less than a year old don’t have fully-developed immune systems, they are affected most often. Cats with longer hair also have more problems with ringworm. The condition is also very infectious as it can be transmitted to other cats, dogs, and even you.

Forms

As I mentioned earlier, cat ringworm is caused by various fungi. They include Microsporum Canis, Microsporum Gypsum, and Trichophyton. Most cats are affected by Microsporum Canis. So, what are some of the symptoms you should look for?

Symptoms

This fungus dwells in your cat’s hair follicles. This weakens the shafts which causes hair to fall out. As the condition progresses, the hair loss will develop into circular patches usually on the head and limbs. Your cat may also have dry, flaky skin that’s very itchy.

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Diabetes is cats is a relatively common problem. The condition occurs when insulin fails to balance levels of glucose. Obese and older cats have an increased risk of developing diabetes, although it can affect cats of any age or breed.

Cause

Cat diabetes occurs because either the body doesn’t use produced insulin as it should or because the body isn’t producing enough insulin to begin with. There is no known reason why this happens, although certain conditions can increase the risk of developing this disease.

One of the most common factors that increase the risk of development of diabetes is obesity. Genetics, hormone imbalances, and pancreatic diseases can also play a role. In some cases, medications can even cause it.

Type

Diabetes in cats doesn’t usually produce any symptoms in its early stages. When the disease advances, your cat may develop liver disease and secondary bacterial infections. This causes signs of disease such as increased urination, rough hair, lethargy, and increased appetite. Although cats can start to eat more, they sometimes lose weight. If your cat develops a disorder known as neuropathy, his hind lings will also become weak.

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