Veronicle Blog

I have been getting my dog groomed once a month since he was a puppy. Now that he is getting a little older I have been looking for other dogs. The groomer mentioned to me at our last visit that one of her clients has teacup poodles for sale and I think that I will look into getting another dog. Not only will my dog have companionship during the day but then they will be each other’s buddies when they get groomed once a month. It will be my happy little puppy family and they get a day at the spa.

I do not know what I fell in love with first, my new tea cup poodle or the clothes that I could buy for her. I had no idea the market that was available to me and my dog. We can even buy some matching outfits for the beach. Recently I bought us both a big lampshade hat to protect our faces from the sun. At first she was really opposed to the hat but after awhile she no longer resisted. Now that I have been putting these clothes on her since she was a few weeks old, she is very used to wearing them.

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The Greyhound is a medium to medium/large dog breed that is graceful and gentle. They weigh between 60-70 pounds and reach 26 inches to 30 inches in height. They are a breed that enjoys family companionship and loves routine. They love to eat at the same time each day, sleep at the same time and walk/exercise at the same time.

Recognized by the AKC, the greyhound is accepted in any coat color or color combination. Their coat is smooth, short, firm and straight. They are very easy groom, only requiring an occasional brushing and only needing a dry shampoo when necessary.
They are sensitive to cold weather and need to wear a sweater when they are outside in the winter to help keep them warm.

Calm inside and fairly high energy outside, the Greyhound can make a good apartment dog provided that they get regular outside exercise and walks. They are sweet and docile in nature and often display a bit of a timid side. Because of their timid side, they do best with older or well behaved children. Early socialization is best for other dogs and small pets. Even with socialization they might chase small, non-canine pets, particularly cats. Consistent training is important, but Greyhounds are fairly easy to train. They are not good watch dogs because of their calm, docile nature.

Dating back over 2000 years, the Greyhound originated in the Middle East. Most sources state that Egypt is their country of origin. Their strength, speed and agility made them excellent hunters and they were originally used mainly to hunt. Today they are mainly used in dog racing. When they can no longer race, they are often destroyed. Fortunately, Greyhound rescue organizations have been working hard to protect retired racing Greyhounds and they have had success with their adoption programs.

If you are looking for a calm, affectionate breed that will enjoy some outdoor exercise but will equally enjoy relaxing indoors with you, the Greyhound might be just what you are looking for. Predictable, calm family environments that will provide them with the companionship that they need are ideal for this breed.

Learn more about the Greyhound or visit us online to talk about Dogs or to see Dog Pictures.

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Some Dogs like Boxers unfortunately, are prone to several potential health problems such as:

- Skin allergy
- Food allergy
- Cancer
- Hip dysphasia
- Bloat
- Heart ailments
- Hypothyroidism
- Fleas
- Worms

Knowing what they are will help you to better monitor your pet’s health and to gather the pertinent information, in case of an illness, that would assist your veterinarian to administer the correct diagnosis and treatment. Below are some common afflictions of Boxers.

Alapechia (Lost of hair on the trunk)

Seems to be more common in male Boxers.

One, which died at the age of 12 years and 4 months, was diagnosed with seasonal alopecia. “He used to go bald once a year but the hair always grew back on,” said its owner.

Bloat

Gastric torsion or GDV or bloat in your Boxer can be life threatening so bring him to the veterinarian immediately.

The stomach gets filled with air and twisting and this can happen suddenly. The symptoms include restlessness, drooling and nausea and the stomach is bloated (distended abdomen). Your Boxer may vomit and continue to retch but nothing would come out.

Cancerous and benign tumors

Boxers are highly prone to cancer.

So any time you see a bump on your Boxer, you should check it out. About 20 out of 100 cases are cancerous.

Watch out for both external and internal lumps, eye ulcers or cherry eye as they called it, as well as dermodicosis or skin sores.

Mast cell tumors are malignant and they do not occur very often but can form either in the skin or within the body.

The related disorders reported along such tumors are round raised masses in the skin of your Boxer, lack of appetite, vomiting and abdominal pain. Check for tarry stools due to bleeding in the upper intestinal tract.

Boxers of any age can develop mast cell tumor but older ones, above 8 years, are more prone to it.

Never take tumors in your Boxers lightly, even a small one! The veterinarian would usually have them removed immediately because of their high susceptibility to cancer.

One owner noticed her Boxer had a bump the size of a mosquito bite that did not go away even after 10 days. The vet diagnosed it a malignant tumor and removed it the very next day. The owner felt so relieved that the tumor was removed before the cancer had a chance to spread.

Another owner found both his Boxer girls had lumps and had it checked out immediately. The vet removed the lumps due to their breed and the Boxers were all fine now!

Yet another owner was not so lucky.

“I have had the pleasure of raising two great Boxers but both passed away much too young of cancer. The last one, Nick, died one week after being diagnosed with anal cancer. It spread rapidly and he was only 7 years old!”

Daniel Lesser
article url: http://www.thingsfordogs.com/dog-health.php

About the Author

Daniel Lesser
Dog and Puppy Articles, Pictures and Resources
http://www.thingsfordogs.com

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You have researched dog breeds and know what kind of dog you
want. Now, how do you go about finding your dog?

Please do not buy your dog in a pet store. This is asking for
trouble, both with health problems and psychological problems.
Pet stores are notorious for getting their puppies from puppy
mills, which just churn out puppies with no regard to their
health or psychological well-being.

I would suggest these as the best three ways to find a dog:

1) Get your dog from a reputable breeder. If you want a
purebred dog, this is a good option. A good breeder is concerned
about the dogs they breed, and will make sure the dog is a good
match for you. They will do their best to make sure the puppy is
healthy and well-adjusted. They will give you advice on how to
raise and take care of your dog.

How do you find a good breeder? One way is to check around in
your community for recommendations. Ask vets or other dog
professionals for their recommendations. You can also check a
dog breeder directory on the internet. You can usually select
the breed you are looking for and your geographic location, and
you will get a list of breeders in your area. Just type “dog
breeder directory” into your search engine to find one.

2) Get your dog from a dog rescue organization. These
groups find homes for unwanted or abandoned dogs of a particular
breed. There is usually an organization for each breed. The
American Kennel Club has a list of dog rescue groups on its
website.

3) Adopt your dog from a shelter. This is a good option
if you don’t care about having a purebred dog. Shelters have a
wide variety of dogs available. I got my dog at a Humane Society
shelter. They do a good job of talking with you to find out what
kind of dog would be best suited to your needs.

It is very rewarding to adopt a dog from a shelter and give it a
good home. Also, I like adopting a shelter dog because you can
adopt a dog who is already past the housebreaking stage, if you
want to. If you don’t find the dog you want there right away,
they can keep an eye out for you, or you can keep returning
until you “fall in love” with one of the dogs.

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