The Dignified Family Dog - The Afghan Hound

Afghan Hounds were bred in Afghanistan to hunt large prey. The long fur kept it warm in mountainous areas. The breed is very fleet and an independent, intelligent hunter that would hold leopards at bay till horse mounted hunters could catch up to the prey. This means they have great endurance and speed (they outrun most horses). Additionally, they think for themselves and are very independent. Because of it's hunting instincts, as a pet, they will still chase small animals and are used for coursing trials and games. Afghan Hounds should be kept in a large fenced yard and on a leash, once they escape they can be very difficult to capture. They are also bright enough to find ways out of fenced yards and are quite good at being an escape artist.

Afghan Hounds are between 24 and 29 inches tall and weigh 44 to 60 pounds. This is a healthy breed, typically living for 12 to 14 years. Afghan Hounds are affectionate and loyal to family members. They can have a tendency to be a one-person dog and are frequently aloof to strangers. They are also affectionate on their terms, not yours! When the Afghan Hounds wants attention, they will let you know, otherwise just leave it alone. They do tolerate children; however, this is a large dog and can easily knock small children down. Also, do not expect it to run and play with children. Despite this size, they are content to lay around when indoors and do adapt to apartment living. That said, the Afghan Hound does require regular, daily exercise regardless of living arrangements. This is a high-energy dog.

The long flowing, fine texture coat is a hallmark of the breed. Afghan Hounds do shed and keeping the coat is excellent condition is not for the faint of heart! The coat tangles and mats easily, requiring daily brushing to keep it tangle free and blowing. Additionally, frequent baths are required to keep the coat clean and shiny. Owners either invest time to learn to deal with the coat or invest in a good groomer. Either way, plan on spending time and money to keep the Afghan Hound looking great. As with all dogs with ears that are not erect, they are prone to ear mites and ear infections. Carefully checking the ears on a regular basis is recommended.

Training your Afghan Hound can be a challenge! They are very independent and do not particularly care if they please you or not. They are not motivated by food and snacks, either so this can make training a challenge. Therefore, it is not a good breed for a first-time dog owner. Due to the personality, sensitivity, and intelligence of the breed, consistent, patient, and positive training methods are required. Even when this approach is done with the Afghan Hound, it may still only train on its schedule, not yours. The good news is that Afghans rarely bark, so apartment dwellers and neighbors are happy. This means that the breed is not a good watchdog. Despite these features, the dog can be affection and fun and like to play games, so there is an upside as a companion. Owners just need to go into the relationship, realizing what the dog will and will not do.

Afghan Hounds are beautiful and dignified, but can be aloof as a companion dog. Grooming of this breed is a major consideration and investment of time and money. This is an independent breed, that can try your patience, entertain you and be your best friend or not, all within a 30 minutes' span of time. Afghan Hound aficionados love their dogs, but the reverse may not be true.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Dignified-Family-Dog---The-Afghan-Hound&id=9586095

Your Dogs Shake Their Heads Because Of Itching Ears - What To Do

I've had two dogs that shake their heads and over the years have learned a lot about what causes it. I spent a lot of time scratching my dog's ears to give them the needed relief they desired and it always worked to give them relief for a period of time. When I hit the right spot on their ears their tongues always got going with me getting a bath.

Of course, ear mites are the first thought that comes to mind and to save most of the $50.00 it would cost to have a vet check out my dog's ears I just went a purchased a bottle of 'Ear Mite Solution" from the pet store for $8 dollars. I've read posts from people who take their dogs to the vet for every little condition and that's great if you have the dollars to do so but I myself don't have the gold mine I can dig in every time I need to pay a bill. I've always been a do it your self-er hands on person anyway. I put some cash away for when my dog really needs to go to the vet for major injuries.

The ear mite solution never worked most likely because the problem wasn't ear mites so I went back to the pet store and purchased an "Ear Wash" solution and to my surprise that worked so much better for at least for a week or so. This took place over several years as I got myself educated on my dog's ear itching problems.

Normal Clean Ear

I did look inside my dog's ears and they always looked "Pink and Clean" with no signs of bits, infection, swelling or other abnormalities. Yes, I read so many articles about dog ear itching and sorting out the information became my goal. After all was read and sorted I came to the conclusion that the problem with my dog's ears was "Bacteria" and/or "Itchy Skin".

A point to watch for is if you treat your dogs ears a certain way or with a type of solution and the itching comes back fast, over a period of time or never. Observing the amount of time elapsed gives a clue as to if your dog's ear itching problem is "Mites", "Bacteria" or "Itchy Skin". Mites should be gone within 3 weeks, Bacteria should die fast and may come back later on, Itchy Skin problems without visual abnormalities will never go away but can only be soothed.

A "Black Granular Seepage" most likely is yeast or bacteria. Older dogs that are getting ready to pass away will often have bacterial problems in their ears that cause this black granular seepage. If the black substance has a distinctive foul odor it is most likely a bacterial infection or bacterial yeast. Black seepage doesn't always produce a foul odor though. Young dogs can get the black seepage but it mostly comes in older dogs up in their years or close to passing away.

Ear Mites produce a dark crusty substance that isn't the black gooey substance produced by yeast and bacteria. The black gooey substance can still be produced with an ear mite infestation but it's only produced because the ear mites have caused a bacterial infection. If you check your dog's ears regularly and notice a dark crusty substance accompanied by red and inflammation you are most likely dealing with ear mites. The dark and crusty substance is waste matter produced by the ear mites.

A yellowish discharge from your dog's ears is most likely just wax. Some dogs will have more discharge and some will have less. An ear cleaning solution will take care of this. Humans get wax buildups as a normal process of life and the same is true for dogs also.

Except for the ear mites and swelling, an ear cleaning solution for $7 to $11 dollars at the pet store will take care of the problem. If it's deemed that your dog needs a "Deep Cleaning" then it's time for your dog to go to the vet. "Never" put a Q-Tip to far down into your dog's ears because they have eardrums that can rupture just like humans.

The main accomplishment you will be trying to achieve with your dog's ears is to "Kill The Bacteria" and the ear cleaning solution does this. Most likely if your dog gets a bacterial buildup in their ears one time it will happen again and again over time which will require an ear cleaning now and again. Keeping your dog indoors helps but your dog says going outside now and again for a while will be fun.

Alkaline water alone will kill a lot of the bacteria if not all of it but the ear cleaning solution you get from the pet store or vet has a chemical content designed to do a better job of it. The ear cleaning solution with the chemical content will also work well on dog ears that just have plain itchy skin.

Any good ear cleaning solution should have an alkaline water base. You can get dry ear powder also and this works well but surely not as good as the liquid ear cleaner that is alkaline. Bacteria like places that are not alkaline to grow. The ear powder I've used does a good job but is really a pain to get into the dog's ears when the dog is flopping around wanting to "Get Away". The powder won't always go deep and may leave pockets for bacteria to grow again later.

You can get your dog an ear mite solution from the pet store also if the discharge you notice is dark and crusty. If it's determined that ear mites are causing the bacterial infection you will need to use the cleaning solution to get all the seepage out then use the ear mite solution.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Your-Dogs-Shake-Their-Heads-Because-Of-Itching-Ears---What-To-Do&id=9721479

Dog Ear Infections

Show the same concern and love you'd show your children. Become aware of the signs of dog ear infections, how to avoid them, and seek treatment when your pet appears infected. A dog ear infection can be maddening and painful. Have your dog examined by a veterinarian, to determine proper medication or treatment.

The longer infection is present, the harder it is to get rid of.

Your veterinarian must make sure the eardrum is not damaged; some medications can result in hearing loss if given to a pet with a ruptured eardrum. A sample of the material in the canal for microscope examination should be done by the veterinarian to determine the organisms causing the infection. If there is more than one bacterium then a broad-spectrum antibiotic might be necessary with follow-up visits to your veterinarian to ensure treatment is working and infection has disappeared. With proper diagnosis and treatment, your dog's ear infection can be cured.

Dog ear infections are caused by many things. Wet ears not dried after swimming or bathing, buildup of ear wax, grass seeds and foxtails from running in brush, untreated ear mites, using cotton tips improperly to clean ears, and growths in the ear canal, can all lead to infection. However, if the dog has recurrent ear infections, an underlying problem such as improper diet, allergies or thyroid disease, may be the cause.

They need to be checked out.

If your dog is irritable, scratching its ears, rubbing them; if the ears look bloody, waxy or swollen; if a foul smell emanates from the ears; if your canine winces or cries when the ears are touched; all are signs of dog ear infection. Your pet may hold its head as still as possible, then to one side or down, shaking its head and opening its mouth. Dogs can become dizzy, exhibiting poor balance and coordination, if infection progresses to the inner ear. Dogs may walk around in circles, and vomit.

Untreated dog ear infections will progress deeper into the canine's ear. Otitis media usually results from infection spreading from the external ear canal to the middle ear. Middle ear infection can be difficult to clear up, with weeks passing before the infection disappears. Restricting activity of your pet may be necessary.

Causes of dog ear infection include bacteria; yeast ear infections cause redness, swelling, discharge, and foul odor.

A dog's ears are particularly susceptible, due to their structure. Dogs with floppy ears receive less air circulation and sunshine and have more problems than dogs whose ears stand up straight. Yeast loves dark, moist environments. Fresh air and sunshine are yeast's enemies.

The internal structure of a dog's ear allows water to get trapped, thereby keeping the whole inside of the ear much moister. Dogs are best able to avoid and recover from ear yeast infections if their overall immune system is healthy. Unhealthy dogs are more susceptible to infection or infestation than their healthy counterparts. A healthy diet substantially increases your dog's immunity.

Mites are highly contagious so transference between living creatures including people is possible.

Otodectes cynotis, better known as ear mites, visible with careful examination, are small parasitic creatures that live in your dog's ears or most anyplace on the host body causing severe itching, inflammation and infection.

Treatment involves medications and products used for flea control. For severe infestations in multiple-pet households, insecticides are sometimes used for treating the environment.

A Dog That Has Ear Mites

A concern for dogs that are professionally groomed is the practice of plucking hairs from the dog's ear. The serum then secreted from the pores is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, a common cause of ear infection. Veterinarians generally discourage plucking the dog's ears.

The usual treatment of dog ear infections is administering medication and cleaning ears daily for 1-2 weeks. Remember, your pet's ears are uncomfortable and likely painful, be gentle and use caution. Ask if you don't know how to clean them.

Allergies may play a role in inflammation and subsequent infection of the dog's ears, especially food hypersensitivity dermatitis and canine atopy (allergic dermatitis). Dogs with these conditions often develop inflamed ears. The ears become itchy, creating an "itch-scratch-itch" cycle that causes scabs around the ear, hair loss, crustiness, raw skin, and a brown wax in the ear canals.

Become familiar with your dog's ears so you will notice early warning signs of infection.

Avoid dog ear infections by practicing preventive care -- especially important for animals with pendulous ears, lots of hair in their ears, allergies or other medical problems that render dogs prone to ear infections. A weekly ear cleaning with an approved cleansing solution can minimize or prevent dog ear infections.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Dog-Ear-Infections&id=1019639

Your Dogs Shake Their Heads Because Of Itching Ears - What To Do

I've had two dogs that shake their heads and over the years have learned a lot about what causes it. I spent a lot of time scratching my dog's ears to give them the needed relief they desired and it always worked to give them relief for a period of time. When I hit the right spot on their ears their tongues always got going with me getting a bath.

Of course ear mites are the first thought that comes to mind and to save most of the $50.00 it would cost to have a vet check out my dog's ears I just went a purchased a bottle of 'Ear Mite Solution" from the pet store for $8 dollars. I've read posts from people who take their dogs to the vet for every little condition and that's great if you have the dollars to do so but I myself don't have the gold mine I can dig in every time I need to pay a bill. I've always been a do it your self-er hands on person anyway. I put some cash away for when my dog really needs to go to the vet for major injuries.

The ear mite solution never worked most likely because the problem wasn't ear mites so I went back to the pet store and purchased an "Ear Wash" solution and to my surprise that worked so much better for at least for a week or so. This took place over several years as I got myself educated on my dog's ear itching problems.

I did look inside my dog's ears and they always looked "Pink and Clean" with no signs of bits, infection, swelling or other abnormalities. Yes, I read so many articles about dog ear itching and sorting out the information became my goal. After all was read and sorted I came to the conclusion that the problem with my dog's ears was "Bacteria" and/or "Itchy Skin".

A point to watch for is if you treat your dogs ears a certain way or with a type of solution and the itching comes back fast, over a period of time or never. Observing the amount of time elapsed gives a clue as to if your dog's ear itching problem is "Mites", "Bacteria" or "Itchy Skin". Mites should be gone within 3 weeks, Bacteria should die fast and may come back later on, Itchy Skin problems without visual abnormalities will never go away but can only be soothed.

A "Black Granular Seepage" most likely is yeast or bacteria. Older dogs that are getting ready to pass away will often have bacterial problems in their ears that cause this black granular seepage. If the black substance has a distinctive foul odor it is most likely a bacterial infection or bacterial yeast. Black seepage doesn't always produce a foul odor though. Young dogs can get the black seepage but it mostly comes in older dogs up in their years or close to passing away.

Ear Mites produce a dark crusty substance that isn't the black gooey substance produced by yeast and bacteria. The black gooey substance can still be produced with an ear mite infestation but it's only produced because the ear mites have caused a bacterial infection. If you check your dog's ears regularly and notice a dark crusty substance accompanied by red and inflammation you are most likely dealing with ear mites. The dark and crusty substance is waste matter produced by the ear mites.

A yellowish discharge from your dog's ears is most likely just wax. Some dogs will have more discharge and some will have less. An ear cleaning solution will take care of this. Humans get wax buildups as a normal process of life and the same is true for dogs also.

Except for the ear mites and swelling, an ear cleaning solution for $7 to $11 dollars at the pet store will take care of the problem. If it's

deemed that your dog needs a "Deep Cleaning" then it's time for your dog to go to the vet. "Never" put a Q-Tip to far down into your dog's ears because they have eardrums that can rupture just like humans.

The main accomplishment you will be trying to achieve with your dog's ears is to "Kill The Bacteria" and the ear cleaning solution does this. Most likely if your dog gets a bacterial buildup in their ears one time it will happen again and again over time which will require an ear cleaning now and again. Keeping your dog indoors helps but your dog says going outside now and again for awhile will be fun.

Alkaline water alone will kill a lot of the bacteria if not all of it but the ear cleaning solution you get from the pet store or vet has a chemical content designed to do a better job of it. The ear cleaning solution with the chemical content will also work well on dog ears that just have plain itchy skin.

Any good ear cleaning solution should have an alkaline water base. You can get dry ear powder also and this works well but surely not as good as the liquid ear cleaner that is alkaline. Bacteria like places that are not alkaline to grow. The ear powder I've used does a good job but is really a pain to get into the dog's ears when the dog is flopping around wanting to "Get Away". The powder won't always go deep and may leave pockets for bacteria to grow again later.

You can get your dog an ear mite solution from the pet store also if the discharge you notice is dark and crusty. If it's determined that ear mites are causing the bacterial infection you will need to use the cleaning solution to get all the seepage out then use the ear mite solution.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Your-Dogs-Shake-Their-Heads-Because-Of-Itching-Ears---What-To-Do&id=9721479
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The 4 Most Common Dog Health Problems And What You Can Do About Them

Our pet dogs rely on us for food, love and care. Like us, our pet can suddenly feel ill and as a dog parent, it is important to know what to do when they get sick. It is ideal to know the most common health problems that are likely to hit your furry friend at any time to be better prepared.

Here are the top 4 common dog health problems and what you can do to care for your pet when they experience it:

Ear Infection

Usually caused by bacteria, ear mites, yeast or hair growth in the ear canal, canines are prone to ear infection. Symptoms include ear odor, ear discharge (brown, yellow or bloody), scratching, head shaking or tilting, loss of balance, redness and swelling of the ear canal and unusual eye movements. A simple ear infection can be cured through cleaning and medicating the ear canal, but it's ideal to bring your pet to the vet if symptoms don't clear up.

Worms

Dogs are naturally curious and would put everything in their mouth, that's why it's easy for parasites to enter their system. Roundworms, tapeworms and whipworms are common internal parasites in canines and are pretty easy to deal with but hookworms are known to be fatal to dogs, especially puppies. A change in appetite, diarrhea and weight loss are signs that your pet has worms and should be brought to the vet immediately. Treatment depends on what type of worm infestation he has.

Hot Spots

A bacterial infection, hot spots (medical term is acute moist dermatitis) are those bare, inflamed areas in your dog's fur that they can't stop scratching. Fleas are a common cause of a hot spot. Depending on the cause, these itchy and painful spots may be treated with antibiotics, topical medications, steroids or simply shaving and cleaning the affected area.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea can hit canines as easily as it can hit us and are usually caused by food-related problems. In dogs, it can also be caused by intestinal parasites, parvo virus or even stress. Symptoms of diarrhea are obvious - loose, watery stools sometimes accompanied by lethargy, dark and bloody stools and vomiting. Be sure that your pooch remains hydrated but if symptoms last for more than a day, it's time to bring him to the vet.

Knowing these common dog health problems will help you better take care of your furry friend!