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Archive for the ‘Small Dogs’ Category

yorkshire terrier

Yorkshire Terrier Colors: Black Tan, Blue Gold, Blue Tan, Black Gold

General Information

Life span: 10-15 years

Size: Sometimes called a Yorkie is a toy sized dog that you will find in sizes from 6 to 12 inches tall. Some will be as little as 2 1/2 Lbs up to 12-14 Lbs. The standard for a Yorkie is not more then 7 Lbs and not over 7 inches tall for shows.

Coat: Main body has darker colors such as black or blue with head and chest lighter tan or gold colors. Hair is long, straight, and glossy with silky texture. The coat when cared for can be as as long as to drag the ground. But most of the time it’s kept in what is called a puppy cut about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long.

Appearance: Compact body, small erect V shaped ears. Medium dark eyes, tails are usually docked. Head is small with short muzzle. Being a true terrier that was bred to fight rats its hard to believe they could look so beautiful when groomed for shows.

Temperment: Active, tough, ready to romp whenever possible. A Yorkshire Terrier is a verry affectionate and loveing friend. They will run and play with children all day or sit on your lap for hours. They are also a good guard dog despite their size. Yorkies are easy to potty train and quick to learn.

The four most important congenital health problems are

Tracheal collapse, Patellar luxation, Retinal dysplasis, Portosystemic shunt (Liver Shunt) Yorkie breed. These four disorders are somewhat common in them and can seriously affect the health of your yorkie pet and may require medical or surgical attention.

Tracheal Collapse

Tracheal collapse is a narrowing of the inner diameter of the trachea, that fluctuates with the stage of the respiratory cycle. When the yorkshire terrier breathes it causing a harsh cough. Made of cartilage the rings of the trachea lose their ability to maintain their shape, and collapse. Most often this disorder is seen in middle-aged toy and miniature breeds. Chronic respiratory infection, obesity, and heart disease can all contribute to the development of the condition, but it appears that there is also a congenital deficiency (yorkie is born with it) in the make-up of the trachea itself.

Patellar Luxation

The knee cap (patella) normally fits into a groove in the thigh bone (femur). The patella slides up and down in this groove as the leg bends and straightens. Patellar luxation means that the knee cap has slipped out of the groove. Your yorkie will be lame when the patella is out of place. There are several reasons why this happens, including malformation of the groove. Luxation may happen only occasionally, or may happen continuously. The knee cap may pop back into the groove on its own, or your veterinarian may need to push it back into place. Over time your yorkshire terrier may develop other degenerative joint changes, such as osteoarthritis.

Retinal Dysplasis

The normal retina lines the back of the eye. The retinal cells receive light from the external environment and transmit the information to the brain where it is interpreted to become vision. In retinal dysplasia, there is abnormal development of the retina, present at birth. The disorder can be inherited, or it can be acquired as a result of a viral infection or some other event before the yorkie pups were born.

There are 3 forms of retinal dysplasia

1. Folding of 1 or more area(s) of the retina. This is the mildest form, and the significance to the dog’s vision is unknown.

2. Geographic – areas of thinning, folding and disorganization of the retina.

3. Detached – severe disorganization associated with separation (detachment) of the retina. The geographic and detached forms cause some degree of visual impairment, or blindness.

Portosystemic Shunt (Liver Shunt)

Portosystemic shunts may be acquired secondary to another disease, or they may be congenital – that is the yorkshire terrier is born with a shunt. A congenital shunt usually occurs as a single abnormal blood vessel that is a remnant of normal embryonic development. These shunts are defined as intra-hepatic or extra-hepatic depending on the location of the blood vessel in relation to the liver. In a yorkie with a portosystemic shunt (PSS) there is abnormal blood flow in the liver. In a portosystemic shunt, as the name implies, portal blood by-passes the liver and goes directly to the systemic venous circulation (caudal vena cava). Blood should flow from the digestive tract to the liver via the portal system into the blood vessels of the liver, and then to the caudal vena cava which is the large blood vessel carrying blood back to the heart One important function of the liver is to clear toxins, many of which are by-products of protein digestion, from the blood. In PSS, these toxins are not cleared, and circulate in the body. This causes the clinical signs associated with PSS, many of which are neurological. The complex of neurological and behavioural signs caused by liver dysfunction is called hepatic encephalopathy. Most yorkshire terriers with congenital portosystemic shunts show clinical signs before 6 months of age. Where signs are subtle, the condition may not be diagnosed until much later.

By Anggun Andy

italian greyhound

The Italian Greyhound is known in its native land as Picooli Levrieri Italiani. The Italian Greyhound loves to run in pursuit of small game or just for the fun of it. Current function of the Italian Greyhound is mainly just as a classic companion pet, although the Italian Greyhound has sporting qualities.

The Italian Greyhound is affectionate, cheerful and intelligent. Avoid rowdy dogs and children when housing the Italian Greyhound. The Italian Greyhound is often timid around strangers. When properly introduced to visitors the Italian Greyhound warms up quickly. The Italian Greyhound has a single coat that is fine and lies flat.

As you might guess grooming requirements of the Italian Greyhound are quite minimal.

The Italian Greyhound is a charming little dog of grace and beauty. The Italian Greyhound comes in colors of all shades of fawn, mouse, white and red. So that even as far back as those days the Italian Greyhounds were of a variety of colors.

As with most of the toy breeds we find that they started out much larger in size, the original Italian Greyhound weighed somewhere around 14 pounds.

In appearance the Italian Greyhound of today should resemble the original version just in miniature size. The Italian Greyhound is gentle and affectionate and not quite a delicate as his fragile form suggests. In cold weather, you need to keep your Italian Greyhound in the house. To keep your Italian Greyhound in good physical shape he requires a good deal of exercise. Take care not to over feed your Italian Greyhound. The Italian Greyhound must never be allowed to become “fat,” in order to retain their beautiful lines and graceful form.

The general appearance of an Italian Greyhound is that of ideal elegance and grace of shape, symmetry and action. The Italian Greyhound has a tail that is rather long, fine with low carriage. One of the most prized colors of the Italian Greyhound is the golden fawn color, but he comes in all shades of fawn, red, mouse, blue, cream and white, blacks, and brindles.

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By Anggun Andy

rat terrier dogs

The Rat Terrier dog is an energetic spunky dog which makes it a great watchdog and family companion. Another characteristic is that Rat Terrier dogs get along well with other pets too.

The Rat Terrier dog was named by President Teddy Roosevelt. They were developed in Great Britain from a cross between Smooth Fox Terriers and the Manchester Terriers of the 1800’s. They were brought to America around 1900, and they quickly spread in popularity. In America, breeders crossed this breed again with the Smooth Fox Terrier, the Beagle dog to retain hunting instincts. It was also crossed with Whippets for their speed, agility, and the blue and brindle color coats.

Rat Terrier dogs are available in many colors. The most common colors are red and white, tri-spotted, solid red, and black and tan. They have a very short hair coat which is easy to groom and this breed does not tend to shed a lot. Brushing does not need to be done on a regular basis, a couple of times a month should do. Baths are also not required too frequently, a couple of times a year should suffice.

The Rat Terrier dog is a small dog standing between 14 and 24 inches and weighing 12 to 35 pounds. Although small this dog does display the toughness of most other Terrier breeds. Untrained they can be destructive and aggressive, but with proper socializing as a young dog, you can easily have a great companion.

Rat Terrier dogs can be a good choice if you live in a small house or apartment. But be sure to give them enough stimulation otherwise they can develop destructive habits if not given the proper outlet for their aggression.

Rat Terrier dogs make great companions and are an excellent choice if you are looking for a dog. With their energy levels and spunkiness they are a welcome addition to any family.

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By Anggun Andy

havanese puppies

People around the world are just beginning to understand what it is that makes the Havanese puppy so appealing. There are a great many things about Havanese puppies that make them so desirable for anyone living in confined quarters. This article will show you all of the wonderful reasons why a Havanese puppy may well be the perfect pet for you and your family.
If you live in a small house or apartment, but you really want to have a dog, then Havanese puppies may be an option you might want to consider. Typically standing less than a foot in height, the Havanese breed is a very small, compact dog that fares well in a smaller home environment. In all, choosing the right Havanese puppies doesn’t have to be a difficult process. In short, Havanese puppies are a wonderful addition to any family, and can be one of the most beautiful dogs to enter into shows and competitions. There’s simply no better choice for families and competitors than the amazing Havanese puppies.

Dogs make great pets, and are wonderful companions. Many prospective dog owners look for Havanese puppies. Havanese puppies are a popular breed of dog, and because of their size and temperament, make perfect pets for families.

Online pet stores allow breeders to showcase many Havanese puppies for sale all in one place. Looking for Havanese puppies for sale online will help you find hundreds of websites with breeders showcasing their puppies. With breeders being able to show their dogs online, instead of in magazines or pet stores, families looking for Havanese puppies for sale have far more options. After you have found the right breeder offering the best Havanese puppy for sale to suit your family, it’s time to bring your new dog home. In addition to puppy proofing, you will want to purchase some basic supplies for your Havanese puppy.

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chihuahuas dog

One way to keep your pup or dog looking clean and nicely groomed is to groom on a regular basis. Making a daily habit of grooming for a few minutes a day will help your pup’s coat look top-notch.

For short coats, a natural bristle brush will help distribute the oils in your Chihuahua’s hair, a rubber bristle brush removes dead hair, and a flea comb will help you check for fleas. Long coats will do best with a pin brush or a wide-tooth comb. Use a hair de-tangle solution to aid in brushing out mats. When grooming your pup, pay special attention to the eyes and ears.

Chihuahuas kept indoors will shed year-round. A daily vigorous grooming using a bristle or rubber curry brush will help hurry the shedding process. More hair will shed after bathing.

If your dog has hairs on his feet that make him slip or track mud, you can snip them off. Most dogs don’t need much trimming, even if they are show dogs.

If you bathe your pup or dog in the sink, it helps to have a spray attachment. If your Chihuahua puppy has skin problems, you may have to get a special shampoo. Work in the shampoo and then rinse your pup thoroughly beginning with the head and working backward. You can follow with a creame rinse if desired. A blow dryer is the best way to dry him off on a chilly day. A good daily grooming and occasional bath will help your Chihuahua pup stay healthy looking, soft, and more fun to hold. Plus, grooming time should be a cherished time between you and your pup, a time to get to know each other better. “How do I care for my new Chihuahua puppy?” hopefully is now a question of the past and both of you can start enjoying a lifetime of a clean and well-groomed coat.

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