Category Archives: Dog Rescue

Understanding Cushig s Disease in American Bulldogs

by

Lumbardo

What Cushing s Disease Really Is

Cushing s Disease, or also known as Cushing s Syndrome and Hyperadrenocorticism, is a disorder relating to the hormonal functions of a dog due to excessive amounts of glucocorticoid. A little bit of background is necessary to understand what Cushing s Disease really is. The pituitary gland normally produces ACTH, a known hormone that produces glucocorticoid, which is very useful in the normal functioning of the dog s system. When the pituitary gland or any of the systems related to it experiences problems, then that becomes Cushing s Disease. Cushing s Disease in dogs are common among older dogs. Any dog, male or female, and of whatever breed, can face the danger of Cushing s Disease or Hyperadrenocorticism.

The Signs of Cushing s Disease

Cushing s Disease is pretty difficult to diagnose. This is because its symptoms do not suddenly show up. The symptoms of Cushing s Disease in dogs occur far in between, and quite silently, that a lot of dog owners do not notice them. And since this disorder occurs more in older dogs, most dog owners are mistakenly led to believe that their dogs are already experiencing the earliest signs of old age. If only it could be as simple as that, but as a dog owner, you need to be on the lookout for any changes, and never cross out the options that these are caused by a disease. These are some of the symptoms you might miss. Your dog may eat more than normal. For you, this may be a good thing. Your dog is developing an appetite. In most cases, that is good, but not if it is related to Cushing s Disease. The higher level of food consumption can then lead to abdominal swelling. Again, don t mistake this as a result of your dog s overeating habits. It may be related to a weakening of your dog s muscles in the abdomen. Your dog may also consume more water than normal, and urinate more as well. Some dogs make this change more obvious, consuming up to ten times more than their usual water amount. This is a very telltale sign, but most dog owners just don t pay enough attention. The most apparent symptom, however, is hair loss, and most dog owners don t miss this one anymore. It is only when hair loss is experienced that dogs with Cushing s Disease are usually given the medical attention that they need.

Treatment Options for Dogs with Cushing s Disease

If you suspect your dog of having Cushing s Disease due to the symptoms above, consult a veterinarian immediately and ask for a urinalysis, complete blood count or CBC, blood chemistry panel, and other tests geared towards detecting Hyperadrenocorticism. Abdominal ultrasound can also be done. When your dog has been diagnosed as a dog with Cushing s Disease, there are several options now facing you. In some more severe cases, surgery becomes necessary. This is most needed when there is a physical abnormality in the pituitary gland that is causing the problem in the first place. Don t, however, consider surgery your first option. Oral treatments are available for dogs with Cushing s Disease, such as Lysodren. This is more commonly used for Cushing s Disease of the pituitary form. It destroys the cells responsible for producing excess glucocorticoid. Another effective oral treatment to treat Cushing s Disease is Ketoconazole, an antifungal agent, and Anipryl. However, if oral treatments are chosen to treat Cushing s Disease, watch out for any side effects.

To learn more about

American Bulldog

and to find other high quality breeds, please visit http://www.11-peaks.com.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

Shih Tzu The Hotly Contested Shih Tzu Size Part Ii

by

Connie Limon –

In addition to the writings of Colonel Burkhardt regarding the practice of cross-breeding the Shih Tzu with Pekingese to reduce size, there is also published information of a booklet by Madam Lu expressing a similar opinion. These writings were done by someone connected with the newly formed Peking Kennel Club. The translator of the booklet was Mr. C.S.K. Chou, but there is no identification of the actual writer was. In reference to the Lhassa Lion Dogs the passage says: There is also every evidence to show that these dogs have been bred down from a larger-sized breed and this theory is supported by the great variety of size and weight which is found in this class of dogs.

We have been told that the empress Dowager did not approve of the use of cruel practices to stunt the growth of the dogs, the passages written by Colonel Burkhardt and this unknown writer seem to imply the imperial eunuchs tried to keep the Shih Tzu small by strictly selective breeding. This selective breeding was approved of by the Empress, according to a Mrs. Dixey. The breedings were not always successful so far as producing the uniform smaller size Shih Tzu, which most likely accounts for the smaller size Shih Tzu appearing in many different bloodlines of breedings between larger Shih Tzu, and not that the appearance of a smaller Shih Tzu in the litter is merely the runt of that litter. We all know that whatever is in the past of any dogs bloodline can appear in the present. This goes for size the same as for health or any other genetic positive or negative influence on that litter.

The years immediately following the 1912 revolution, Colonel Burkhardt also tells us the mating was very haphazard. Some 20 years later there is still complaints in Madame Lus booklet regarding the great variety of size and weight. The same could have been said of the Empress Dowagers Imperial Palace Goldfish which probably increased in size with the breakdown of controlled breeding. The Empress Dowager had many other pets besides the Shih Tzu.

There is strong support for the above viewpoint in the China Weekly Chronicle of June 10, 1934. The report was on Peipings First International Dog Show held on June 7, 1934. The paper states that the Lhassa Lion Dogs were, on the whole, disappointing in spite of their numbers, showing too much deviation from the standard, especially in size, suggesting the necessity of careful breeding to the standard in the future. Well, what exactly was that standard? The official Peking Kennel Clubs official standard did come until four years later. It is uncertain what standard is referred to at this earlier date, but is strong evidence that the question of size in the Shih Tzu has always, absolutely always been a very hot and controversial issue. I am not totally surprised about the myths and lies being spread in the years of 2004 onward about the production of smaller size Shih Tzu being a direct cause of someone being an irresponsible breeder and in-breeding or line-breeding close relatives just to achieve a smaller size Shih Tzu and obtain more money for that Shih Tzu along with the lies that these smaller type Shih Tzu are very sickly, full of health problems, and only the runts of the litter. This is not the reason we have smaller Shih Tzu among us.

All Shih Tzu breeders should have a strong grasp of Shih Tzu history to be able to communicate the facts surrounding the development of our present day Shih Tzu . (Please see Shih Tzu The Hotley Contested Shih Tzu Size Part III).

This article is FREE to publish with resource box.

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Article Source:

Shih Tzu The Hotly Contested Shih Tzu Size Part Ii}

A Yorkie Bichon Blend Extremely Cute, Lovable And Friendly

by

Mike Hargreaves

A Yorkie Bichon mix may also sound just a little strange initially, but with so many cross bred dogs popping up – both intentional and unintentional – theres in reality nothing extraordinary about a Yorkie Bichon mix dog cropping up over time. What this implies for impending dog owners, is something completely different of course.

If youre contemplating getting a Yorkie Bichon mix puppy but are unsure if you want one, and more importantly are unsure what the mixed puppy will finish up like, well, theres only one thing to say: youre not alone. No one may perfectly predict what a mixed breed dog will turn out to be like, and it is spot on in all cases of mixed breed, or cross bred dogs.

To state the obvious, theres a chance that the dogs may become predominantly like their Yorkie father/mother, or like their Bichon Frise mother/father. Nothing like the Puggle mixed breed dog, for the Yorkie Bichon mix to be considered pure, the parents do not have to be specifically of one breed, i.e. you do not need to have a Bichon Frise mother as well as a Yorkie father, or vice versa. It can be either mix, as long as the parents themselves are pure bred dogs.

And this really is where it could sometimes become tricky when cross breeding dogs. For the reason that no one dog breeder will necessarily have all the ancestry of a dog going back hundreds of years, it could be complex to know for certain whether or not the pedigree of the parents themselves have been cross bred at any point in time. Occasionally genetic behavior may well hide themselves for several years, and could instead choose to surface at this point when the dog breeders are going to cross breed the dogs.

The resultant dog could be among the cutest things that you have ever seen, or it can be a mixture of odds and ends. This though is extremely infrequent in good breeding programs, and if you would like a good Yorkie Bichon mix then almost certainly you will get a good combination of a Yorkie Bichon mix.

What then are the characteristics of such a dog, never mind the features of your dog? Well, unfortunately that also is just not as straightforward to tell beforehand and nearly all owners must wait to notice what their Yorkie Bichon mix puppy grows up into: a predominantly Yorkie mix dog, or perhaps a predominantly Bichon mix dog. Whatever you do finish up with though, you can be assured that you will get yourself a warm and affectionate dog who’s extremely loyal to you, and you truly could not ask for any more than that can you? If you are looking for a dog that has a great big personality in a cute petite bundle you’d have to go a long way to find a better choice than a Yorkie Bichon mix.

Please stop at my website for other details on

Yorkie-Bichon

and all the best dog breeds

Article Source:

A Yorkie Bichon Blend Extremely Cute, Lovable And Friendly}