How to Care for a Shitzu Dog

Adding a Shitzu dog to your family can be a great way to bring excitement and fun to your home. You must know how to properly care for this particular breed, though, since some aspects of its care differs from other dog breeds. Ideally you should learn this in advance before your dog comes to your home as this makes the adjustment period for both you and the dog much easier. If you do plan to get this particular breed of dog, here's what you need to know about how to care for a Shitzu dog.

• Comb her hair daily. Shitzu dogs have long hair that can easily tangle and become matted. To prevent this from happening you need to spend time each day combing her hair.
• Clean his face. Mucus can build up around his eyes while food can attach to the hair around his mouth. You can clean it off by taking a damp wet cloth and wiping the hair until the mucus and food are removed.
• Provide attention and exercise. Shitzu dogs can be great companions, but they do need time and attention each day from their owners in order to thrive. Without adequate attention they are a breed that can easily become depressed. You need to spend time ensuring they get a chance to be outdoors whether in a fenced area or on a walk through the neighborhood.
• Trim the hair around her eyes. Regardless of how you choose to style your Shitzu's hair, you need to keep the hair on her face short to prevent it from getting in her eyes and causing an irritation or infection.
• Care for him as you would other dogs. While specific steps to care for Shitzu dogs has been outlined here, it's important to remember that he needs much of the same care and treatment other dogs get. Shitzus should receive regular trips to the vet, bathing and grooming as needed, and quality dog food if you can afford it.

Do you know about Shih-Tzu breed?

Discription	The Shih-Tzu is a small, sturdy dog, with a body that is slightly longer than it is tall. The head is round and broad, wide between the eyes. The square muzzle is short, an inch or less from the tip of the nose to the defined stop. The nose is broad, with well open nostrils. Nose, lips, and eye rims are liver on liver colored dogs and blue on blue dogs and black on all other colors. The teeth meet in a level or under bite. The large, round eyes are dark in color, but lighter on blue and liver dogs. The large, pendant, low-set ears hang down and are covered in abundant hair. The back is level. The muscular legs are straight and well-boned. The high-set tail is carried over the back covered in abundant hair. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The double coat is dense and long, flowing down over the dog. The hair above the eyes is often tied in a topknot. There is a profuse beard and mustache and the hair on the muzzle is short. Coat comes in all colors.
Temperament	The Shih-Tzu is an alert, lively, little dog. Happy and hardy, packed with character. The gentle loyal Shih-Tzu makes friends easily and responds well to consistent patient training. They make a very alert watch dog. Courageous and clever. Playful and spunky, this affectionate little dog likes to be with people and are generally good with other pets. The Shih Tzu needs all of the humans in the house to be pack leader, with the rules of the house made consistently clear. They may become untrustworthy with children and sometimes adults, as they try and tell the humans what THEY want THEM to do. They will be obstinate as they take their stand and defend their top position in the pack. They may bark obsessively as they try and TELL you what they want. These behaviors are NOT Shih Tzu traits, but rather behaviors brought on by the way they are treated by people around them.
Height, Weight	Height:  Up to 11 inches (28cm.) Weight: 9-16 pounds (4-7kg.)
Health Problems	Prone to slipped stifle and spinal disc disease caused by a long back and short legs. Also ear infections, eye problems and early tooth loss. Tends to wheeze and snore and can have respiratory problems. These dogs gain weight easily and should not be overfed.
Living Conditions	The Shih Tzu is good for apartment life. They are fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard. This breed is sensitive to the heat.
Exercise	The Shih Tzu need a daily walk.  Play will take care of a lot of their exercise needs, however, as with all breeds, play will not fulfill their primal instinct to walk. Dogs who do not get to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. They will also enjoy a good romp in a safe open area off lead, such as a large fenced in yard. Do not over feed this breed or it will quickly become fat.
Life Expectancy	About 15 years or more.
Grooming	These little dogs require a good daily grooming using a bristle brush. When kept in along coat a topknot is usually tied to keep the hair out of the dog's eyes. Some owners prefer to have them trimmed to make the coat easier and less time consuming to care for. Keep the ear passages and area around the eyes clean. Shih-Tzu's have sensitive eyes that need to be kept clean. There are special drops you can buy to put in them if needed. Ask your vet what to use on your dog. This breed sheds little to no hair and are good for allergy suffers if their coats are kept very well groomed, do to the fact that they shed little skin dander.
Origin	Sixteenth century documents and paintings show dogs resembling the Shih-Tzu. The Shih-Tzu is said to have descended from crossing the Lhasa Apso or Tibetan mountain dog and Pekingese, in the city of Peking in the 17th century. The dogs were favorites of the Chinese royals and were so prized that for years the Chinese refused to sell, trade, or give away any of the dogs. It was not until the 1930s that the first pair was imported to England, when it was discovered by English soldiers during World War II. The Shih-Tzu was recognized in Britain in 1946. The AKC recognized the breed in 1969.

Do you know about ticks?

None of us wants to find a tick on our dogs, other pets or ourselves. They may transmit diseases and even cause anemia or paralysis. As a dog owner, there are some basics you should know about the risks, prevention and removal of ticks. With proper knowledge, you can help protect your dog from the threat of ticks.

About Ticks

Ticks are parasitic arthropods that feed on the blood of their hosts. They are attracted to warmth and motion, often seeking out mammals – including dogs. Ticks tend to hide out in tall grass or plants in wooded areas waiting for prospective hosts. Once a host is found, the tick climbs on and attaches its mouth parts into the skin, beginning the blood meal. Once locked in place, the tick will not detach until its meal is complete. It may continue to feed for several hours to days, depending on the type of tick. On dogs, ticks often attach themselves in crevices and/or areas with little to no hair – typically in and around the ears, the areas where the insides of the legs meet the body, between the toes, and within skin folds. Most species of ticks go through four life stages - eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults. All stages beyond eggs will attach to a host for a blood meal (and must do so on order to mature). Depending on species, the life span of a tick can be several months to years, and female adults can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs at a time. The following types of ticks are the most common:

• Deer tick
• Brown dog tick
• Lone star tick
• American dog tick

The Dangers of Ticks

Though they are known vectors of disease, not all ticks transmit disease – in fact, many ticks do not even carry diseases. However, the threat of disease is always present where ticks are concerned, and these risks should always be taken seriously. Most tick-borne diseases will take several hours to transmit to a host, so the sooner a tick is located and removed, the lower the risk of disease. The symptoms of most tick-borne diseases include fever and lethargy, though some can also cause weakness, lameness, joint swelling and/or anemia. Signs may take days, weeks or months to appear. Some ticks can cause a temporary condition called “tick paralysis,” which is manifested by a gradual onset of difficulty walking that may develop into paralysis. These signs typically begin to resolve after tick is removed. If you notice these or any other signs of illness in your dog, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible so that proper testing and necessary treatments can begin. The following are some of the most common tick-borne diseases:

• Lyme disease
• Ehrlichiosis
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Anaplasmosis
• Babesiosis 

Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis are most common in Sri Lanka.

Tail docking of puppy??

In many cultures and within certain breeds of dogs, Docking Puppies is considered a very important part of puppy raising and of pet ownership. Often, with show dogs, Docking Puppies of a certain breed is even required. Puppy Tail Docking, ear docking, and other procedures are extremely common in many parts of the world, including the United States. Though some people think that docking is barbaric or cruel, it can actually have many benefits, other than just being more physically pleasing. Puppy Tail Docking, in some cases for example, can improve the dog’s balance and make walking, running, and playing easier. 

 Pet owners choose to bring their dog into a veterinarian to have the tail surgically cut and removed. For many dogs, docking the tail in this manner can help to prevent injuries, strengthen the animal’s back, increase the animal’s speed and agility, and improve its appearance.

As mentioned above, Docking Puppies is particularly common in certain breeds. Doberman Pinschers are known for their docked, also called “cropped,” ears, as are boxers. In fact, both of these breeds usually undergo their Docking Puppies procedure as soon as ten days after birth. Australian shepherds usually get docked tails right away as well, as do Rottweilers. However, it is a personal choice as to whether or not to dock the animal, and it should not be made based on breed standards alone.
It is important to note that Docking Puppies is not legal everywhere in the world. While it is legal in the United States, other areas consider it illegal or have some restrictions on when and why a dog may be docked or cropped. Some areas, for instance, allow for Docking Puppies but not for docking adult dogs. It is important for each pet owner to know the rules for the area in which the pet owner lives and to abide by these rules to avoid paying high fines or being subject to legal discipline.

Rabbit Health: Overgrown Teeth Cure

Overgrown teeth are a common problem with pet rabbits. A rabbit's teeth are designed to continue to grow because the teeth are supposed to be worn down when the rabbit chews its food. If the teeth aren't being worn down, they can grow too long. This causes problems when the teeth come into contact with the soft tissue around the mouth. Overgrowth will happen because the rabbit's jaw is not lining up the teeth properly or because the rabbit isn't chewing enough.

1. Symptoms

   • It is easy to see overgrowth on the front incisors, but the teeth on the sides of the mouth that aren't easy to see, called the cheek teeth, also can grow too long. Symptoms can include the rabbit not eating hard to chew foods or not eating at all, food dropping from the mouth, excessive salivation or constant teeth grinding. Rabbits normally will grind their teeth on occasion, but if they do it constantly, it could be a sign of overgrown teeth.
     The roots of a rabbit's teeth can also grow too long. Symptoms of this can include excessive tears. If the roots of the upper teeth grow too long, they can block the tear duct, which forces the tears to the surface. The same problem can cause nasal discharge if the roots come into contact with the sinuses and irritate them. In extreme cases, the upper roots may come into contact with an eye and cause it to bulge out.

   Cutting Or Grinding Teeth

   • When teeth become overgrown, they will need to be trimmed or ground down. This can be done by your veterinarian and can usually be done without sedation, unless the rabbit is excessively nervous.
     If the cheek teeth are overgrown, they will need to be treated by a vet because the rabbit will need to be placed under general anesthesia. Bone cutters can be used to trim the teeth, but this may not cure the problem, and the teeth may need to be cut again in four to six weeks. If the vet uses a grinder to shape all the teeth properly, not just the overgrown ones, this will encourage the teeth to align properly and may solve the problem for good if it is caught early enough. At the very least, it will mean a much longer time before the teeth are needed to be ground down again.

   Removing Teeth

   • If the roots are overgrown, or if overgrown teeth are a chronic problem, removal of the affected teeth may be necessary. This will need to be performed by a vet under general anesthesia. Rabbits can survive without their front incisors because their lips are able to move the move into their mouth. Rabbits can also survive without some of their cheek teeth.

   Prevention

   • Diet is often a cause for overgrown teeth as food pellets are not hard enough to wear down teeth. To help prevent overgrown teeth, feed your rabbit foods that require a lot of chewing, such as root vegetables or leafy greens. You can also give your rabbit untreated sticks, branches or pieces of wood to chew on.

      Regularly check the rabbit's front teeth and have a vet give an annual exam to the rabbit, which will include examining the inside of the rabbit's mouth.

     The top two teeth should overlap the bottom two teeth. This way, as the rabbit chews - hay, wood, bark, pellets, carrots, toys, your furniture - the teeth wear each other down evenly.