How To Care For Your Face

As the dog grows older, it faces the risk of certain disorders. These common occurrences in older dogs are capable of assuming life threatening proportions. Female dogs face the problems of mammary gland tumors, pyometra, false pregnancy and mis-mating. These problems can be averted by an ovariohysterectomy. If your aged dog has already had this surgery, then you have already removed the root causes of many major threats to her health.

As far as a male dog is concerned, castration will prevent two reproductive disorders which occur in aged dogs. However, castration has extensive side effects. Hence, this surgery should not be done for mere preventive reasons. Performing this surgery after the reproductive disease affects the dog makes more sense.

Male dogs suffer from balanoposthitis, which is the inflammation of the penis and the prepuce. This disease can affect even young puppies. However, it is far more common in aging males. The condition leads to yellow or grayish discharge at the opening of the prepuce. In some cases, greenish pus like discharge takes place. The surface of the penis and the prepuce develops many little bumps and bacteria growth will take place in the secretions. The dog will begin to discharge the secretions if it lies on any surface for any length of time.

If the problem is not very severe, you can treat it yourself. Gently flush the sheath twice a day with hydrogen peroxide solution for at least ten days. Use rubber human ear syringe to clean the penis and the sheath. However, avoid contact between the syringe tip and the penis. Fill in hydrogen peroxide until the sheath bulges. Massage the fluid back and forth within the sheath and let the fluid drain out. Clean the surrounding areas carefully.

However, if the problem is a severe one, contact your vet and apply medications to the delicate tissues. Since the medications cause irritation, it would be applied under anesthesia. Soothing antibiotics should be prescribed to control the irritation.

Aged dogs would be frequently bothered by this problem. Regular flushing with the peroxide solution and application of antibiotic ointments should be done at least once or twice a week. This will keep the discharge under control and also prevent any other serious problems.

As compared to humans, the man’s best friend does not face similar risk of cancer. Cancer exists in the form of a lipoma, which is a usually benign fatty tumor or breast tumors, which usually are malignant in nature. Even if the cancer is malignant, the malignancy does not pose the risk of death. Occasionally, dogs face liver or spleen tumors. Such tumors may spread to the lungs as well. Only in such cases does the risk of death occur as the tumor may bleed and cause death. If the tumor is malignant, it can cause sufficient damage to organs like liver and cause the death of the dog.

Dogs commonly face the problem of fibrosis of the heart and kidney. It is the most common cause of death in those dogs which die due to any disease.

There are several steps to be taken in order to decide if a guinea pig would be the right pet for you and basic guinea pig care tips and information to better put the pet owning in perspective. There are a few things to consider in the general care tips such as if you own other animals that may pose a threat to the guinea pig as cats and dogs can be potentially life threatening.

Lets take a look at a few in depth considerations before purchasing a small animal and alternatively if you have newly acquired a pig than this is the article for you to read to gain some basic knowledge about guinea pig care.

Important Issues Of Pet Ownership

Aside from guinea pig general care you must also consider such things as your precious time and if you are able to dedicate enough time to the pets maintainence. They are very lovable and social creatures that thrive on interaction from the owner so it is imperative that you realize this early and are able to accommodate that into you schedule.

This is very high on the scale of guinea pig general care right next too food and habitat because they are susceptible to becoming very lonely and can ultimately get sick and well, you know the rest!

In learning the basic guinea pig general care it is imperative to understand that they naturally live in packs or families in their natural habitat. In fact, the boar or male pig actually lives with eight or nine females at any one time and this is perfectly acceptable and they get along great together.

In learning the basic guinea pig general care for your new pet it is essential to know that in order to stave off this loneliness because face it, you can’t give your pet the affection and interaction that it requires so getting another one is almost a necessity and most people don’t know that when they set out to purchase a pig.

There are a couple of basic guinea pig tips to be learned before running out and randomly picking out two guinea pigs that strike your fancy because certain combinations do not mix well together. For example, a guinea pig general care rule of thumb is that you should never mix two males together because when they mature between 5 – 7 months they begin to fight over who is the ‘boss’ of the dwelling.

On the flip side, you can house as many female pigs as you wish because it is natural to them to live together however; it is not advisable to add a male to this mix unless of course, it is neutered.

Pug dogs are perky, small dogs that have a short, sleek coat and cute inquisitive face. These loyal dogs are extremely smart and sensitive to commands. They are sturdy and rugged, love to play and are fantastic with kids. They are not yippy like some small dogs tend to be and are great for a small house or apartment. They typically are outgoing and sociable with humans as well as other animals. They do need attention, like any other pet, and will reward you with their loyal companionship.

History

Pug dogs are an Ancient Asian breed. In the sixteenth century Pugs were all the rage in European high society and a Pug is rumored to have saved the life of William, Prince of Orange when the dog barking gave them notice of the Spanish invasion. Many pugs were found in Chinese Imperial palace in the mid 1800’s. The AKC recognized pugs in 1885.

Breed Standards

Pug dogs should be 12 to 14 inches tall for males and 10 to 12 inches for females. They grow a short coat in black, fawn, apricot or silver. These dogs are stocky with a round eyed face, prominent eyes and curly tails. Pugs should weigh in between 13 to 20 pounds.

Medical Concerns

Pugs often have respiratory and skin related problems. Their “button” ears which fold overcan create a friendly environment for mites – therefore their ears should be checked frequently. These little dogs have flat faces with protruding eyes which might make them prone to ulcers on the cornea. Pugs are also prone to colds and should avoid harsh weather- either very cold or very hot.

Grooming and Care

Bathing pugs is recommended but care should be take to be sure you dry them completely after bathing as they can catch cold easily. Care must be taken with Pugs to insure their ears do not harbor pests and the folds of skin on their faces should be cleaned. Pug dogs are rather easy to care for and groom because of their short hair.

Pugs make loving and loyal companions but like most toy breed dogs do take extra care and attention. Before you adopt a pug, you need to make sure that you can provide him with a proper home. Pugs should not be kept outdoors for any length of time so you will need to provide suitable housing inside the home. Also, make sure you have the time to devote to your dog as he does require your attention.

Maltese dogs are not only beautiful but are lovable and kind natured dogs. As a member of the toy breed, they are small in stature and don’t get much bigger than 6 pounds. Most of their bulk comes in the form of thick white hair. Their coats hang long, flat and silky over the sides of the body and skim the ground.

Taking care of the Maltese coat is the most important part of grooming the breed. Maltese should be brushed and combed a minimum of every other day. Daily brushing, however, is recommended if you want to keep their coat healthy.

The best brush to use is an open-spaced pin brush. Avoid brushes with ‘balls’ on the pins. Start by lifting up the top layer of hair, spray a light coat of water or a leave in conditioner and brush the bottom half of the coat free. Continue until that layer is tangle-free all the way to the skin and then work up to the top layer of hair. Always make sure to brush the dog’s underbelly to prevent matting.

If your Maltese does develop mats, try to work it out gently at first with your fingers. Trying to brush it out first may result in hair loss. You can also try spraying the mat with de-tangler or a coat conditioning oil to loosen the hair.

Gently pull apart the mat with your fingers and the end tooth of a comb as necessary. The most important thing to remember is to go slowly because if you try to remove the mat too hastily, you may end up needing to cut the mat out.

Another important part of taking care of the Maltese coat is regular bathing. Before beginning the bathing process, brush and comb your dog thoroughly to get rid of any dead hair and knots. If there are any mats present, they must be taken care of first because water will only tighten the knot.

Once you’ve prepared your dog, clean the dog’s ears and then place a small ball of cotton inside. This will help prevent any water from entering the ear canal and causing an infection. Make sure to have all of your necessary equipment ready before beginning the bath and have plenty of towels within reach.

Begin the bathing by getting your dog wet to the skin and then applying a quality, tear-free shampoo along the back, each leg and under the tail of your Maltese. Start lathering your dog and work from the back to front. Rinse the coat and then shampoo again.

After you’ve rinsed the second time, make sure to wash your Maltese’s face carefully with a washcloth. Rise a third time over the dog’s face and body to make sure all traces of soap are gone. Any leftover residue will irritate the dog’s skin so this is a very important step.

Many Maltese owners like to use conditioner on their dog’s coat. A special type of conditioner called a ‘coat handler’ works as a leave in conditioner, detangler and fragrance all in one.

Work the conditioner or coat handler through the dog’s hair and then squeeze excess water from the coat. Pay close attention to the ears, tail and legs when removing water. Then you can start drying with towels. Once your dog is at the damp-dry state you can begin to blow-dry. After blow-drying, you can comb out the dog’s hair to make it smooth. Wash your Maltese no more than once a week for a healthy coat.