Quality Dog Breeders – What to Look for
New dog owners should always make sure that their pure breed pup comes from a responsible breeder. This is really is the only way to ensure that the animal will be free of any medical problems.
If a breeder you speak with displays any of the following 5 traits, he or she probably isnt breeding healthy puppies in accordance with standards that have been set for the breed.
1. The breeder is willing to sell you any puppy you want, no questions asked.
All reputable dog breeders care about what happens to each and every puppy they breed, even after it leaves their care. A good breeder will ask you many, many questions about your lifestyle, experience with the breed, house and property size, show or breeding experience, and other aspect of your life that may affect the puppys future.
If your answers to these questions are not satisfactory, then the breeder probably wont sell the puppy to you. A good breeder will also require that you sign a contract in which you agree to:
Have the puppy fixed if youre not going to breed it;
Notify the breeder if the dog develops any diseases or medical conditions;
Notify the breeder first if you are no longer able to care for your dog; and, do anything else the breeder feels is important for the health and well-being of the puppy and the breed.
If your breeder doesnt seem to care about the puppys future and only seems interested in payment, go to another breeder.
2. The breeder seems reluctant to answer questions about the puppys pedigree.
A reputable breeder knows all about the pedigrees of the puppies he or she sells. He or she knows who the parents were and can provide you with each puppys lineage, going back several generations. You will also want to register your purebred puppy with the American Kennel Club (AKC).
The breeder is supposed to supply you with an registration application with his or her portion already filled out. After you fill out and submit your part of the application, youll receive a registration certificate. If the breeder you are dealing with cannot provide you with any documentation or registration papers for either the litter or the parents, be extremely wary.
3. The breeder does not seem too concerned with the health of his or her animals.
Any potential buyer of a purebred puppy should be able to see the facility in which the animal was bred. Do the puppies and other dogs there look healthy? If not, then the breeder may not be maintaining an appropriate standard of care.
This could definitely affect the current and future health of the puppy in which youre interested. The breeder should also have a record of the puppys health care, from birth to the present, and should be happy to provide you with copies. He or she should also guarantee that the puppy is free from any genetic disorders.
4. The breeder won’t allow you to see the breeding area.
Any reputable breeder will be happy to give you a tour of their facility. If the breeder youve chosen is not willing to let you see where your potential puppy comes from, the breeder may be running a puppy mill.
Puppy mills are facilities that breed puppies only for profit, not for the benefit or love of the breed. Often, multiple dogs are crammed into one cage, the living conditions are filthy and the dogs there do not receive the proper nutrition or medical care.
If the puppy you want comes from such a facility, it will most likely have serious medical and behavioral issues related to its stay there.
5. The breeder engages in questionable business practices.
If the asking price for your purebred puppy is significantly lower than other prices youve seen advertised for the same breed, there may be something wrong with the dog.
Perhaps it comes from a puppy mill or has some serious medical issues. If the breeder also sells to pet stores, you can be pretty sure that he or she is operating a puppy mill. Reputable breeders usually concentrate on one or two breeds.
If the breeder advertises that he or she has many different breeds for sale, then this is another indication that he or she may be breeding animals indiscriminately, without much concern for set breed standards.
Paul Easton – Working out of New Zealand, he focuses on Niche US markets. Current project – Dog Clothes Dog Clothes, Clothing, T-shirts jackets and more
Dog Health Treatment & Advice : What Does Mange Look Like?
Mange takes the form of scaly, dry lesions and patches of hair loss on a dog’s face, legs and ears, and a skin scrape at the vet’s office will confirm the condition. Identify mange on a dog, seeking both topical and oral treatments, withhealth information from a veterinarian in this free video on pet care. Expert: Dr. Aimee Beger Bio: Dr. Aimee Beger works for mcclintock Animal Care Center in Tempe, Ariz. Filmmaker: Ryan Quinn
Canine Skin Diseases – a Look at Four Common Dog Skin Problems
Canine skin diseases are among some of the most common health problems. Diagnosing them accurately can sometimes prove to be difficult as many other diseases imitate their symptoms. Some of the most common dog skin problems include hot spots, Cheyletiella, mange, and ringworm. This article will take a look at some of these skin conditions.
Hot Spots
Hot spots are areas of skin that have become inflamed. These areas are usually infected also, and the infection can only be superficial in the skin or deep. Symptoms include oozing, redness, and hair loss in the area. Hot spots are usually caused by fleas, mites, injury, or insect bites. Treatment options include topical medications, special shampoos, or oral antibiotics. You should also clean the area daily and apply a cool compress at least twice a day.
Cheyletiella
One of the next common canine skin diseases is Cheyletiella. Cheyletiella are mites that infest your dog and cause skin problems. Although there are three common species of these mites, the one that usually affects dogs is Cheyletiella yasguri. These mites can also transfer from your dog onto you. This usually results in an itchy rash.
If these mites infest your dog, you will notice redness, swelling spots, crusts, and itching. The most noticeable symptom is the so-called “walking dandruff”. If the infestation is advanced enough, you can notice the white mites walking along your dog’s skin. Cheyletiella is treated using shampoos containing pyrethrin, lime sulfur, or selenium sulphide. You should also treat the environment so your dog doesn’t get reinfected. Use a vacuum throughout your home and a flea control spray.
Mange
Sarcoptic mange is one of the next dog skin problems. This disease is characterized by an infestation of Sarcoptes mites. These mites cause severe itching. This causes your dog to scratch himself badly enough to cause sores to develop. Diagnosis of this disease can be difficult as the mites can prove difficult to find. The veterinarian will have to take a skin scraping and examine it under a microscope. Once successfully diagnosed, special shampoos can be used to treat the condition.
Ringworm
Ringworm may be something you’re already familiar with as it can infect humans. Ringworm can be caused by an infection from several species of fungus. An infection causes symptoms such as crusts, scale, and hair loss. Your dog may also experience mild itching. This fungal infection can be treated using oral medications or shampoo with lime sulfur.
These are some of the most common dog skin problems. As a dog owner, it’s important that you learn about a variety of dog illnesses that can affect your precious pet. So, stop by dog-illnesses.com today to learn about some of these diseases such as canine pancreatitis.