English Mastiff

English Mastiff

Your English Mastiff

Dog:

Dogs are valuable friends and much socialized animal in the world. Due to their good company with humans, dogs have gained the ability and became uniquely adapted to human behaviour. With good trainings like agility, intelligence, behaviour, obedience, loyal the dog become your family. Dog should not be left alone for long time. This may leads to the change of dog’s behaviour and may turn the dog to be destructive and aggressive.

English Mastiff:

The English mastiff breed is a giant, faithful, unique and pure dog breed. It is a working dog breed. It is brachycephalic means short-nosed. So calm and gentle. Courageous, docile, dignified, strength and well matured guarding dog breed. This dog breed is considered as the largest dog breed in the world and can weigh 220 pounds or more.

It is a house dog. Mostly prefer to stay in house with family. Also known as lap dog. They like to get into lap of their loved ones. Let the dog be with family to make their life longer.

When they shake that massive head, drool flies everywhere. Shaking of head is nature of dog. Dog owners are not supposed to be irritated because of this. However, that if you let it dry, it’s easily wiped away. They also snore. A snoring Mastiff can make a lot of noise. Because of their great size, they have short lifespan. The ideal living environment for a Mastiff is a house of fence with a large back yard. Avoid this breed in a house with young children.

English Mastiff’s Features and Qualities:

Height: 27 to 30 inches at the shoulder, Weight: 120 to 230 pounds, Life Span: 8 to 10 years

This Dog is so vigilant, courageous, strong, and stubborn. A massive, magnificent, heavy-boned, broad headed, deep and thickly muscled dog. Body is covered by short double coat of fawn or brindle stripes. Its wrinkled forehead looks amazing. Mastiffs have an easy-care coat, but they shed heavily.

Need of strong leadership, good training for manage this breed. Might become aggressive without strong owner ship. The English mastiff loves their people and always wants to be with them. Breed dies quickly if left outdoors or exercised in the heat of the day. Love them and let them live longer. Mastiffs are the breed with problem of easily gets overheat.

Watchdog Ability	Very high	Adaptability	high	Health Issues	medium
Stranger Friendly	less	Shedding Level	high	Child Friendly	Very High
Affection	Very high	Intelligence	medium	Trainability	medium
Grooming	Medium	Playfulness	medium	Exercise Needs	high
Territorial	Very high	Barking Tendencies	Less	other animal Friendly	Less
Apartment living	Less	Tolerates being alone	medium	Tolerates cold whether	high
Drooling	Very high	Potential for weight gain if not properly exercised	high	Energy level	Very High

This breed must have extensive socialization with strong leadership. Dog respects the owner a lot. It is awesome family dog. Make sure the puppy to be vaccinated. This breed is also seen competing in weight pulling.

The English mastiff’s short coat is easy to groom. But it shed a lot. Brushing once a week is good. The wrinkles need special care to avoid any infections. Wiping of wrinkles is good enough to prevent skin infections. A well-socialized Mastiff treats normal strangers politely and gently.

Check the ears and clean them. Brush the teeth often or use dental treats. Trim the nails regularly. Exercise the dog regularly, but don’t overdo it at first. Let the dog live longer, stay healthier and be happier.

Parameters must be considered before taking English Mastiff puppy:

Most of health conditions are not detectable in a growing puppy. So, it is always recommended that, get a puppy from only a reputable breeder who is committed to breeding the healthiest animals possible.

• They breeder must produce independent certification which certifies that the breed parents and grandparents have been screened for genetic defects and deemed healthy for breeding. This certification is available with registered breeders only.
• Check with breeder before taking a puppy. Ask for certifications and relevant documents of parent dog lines and puppy vaccination certifications. If breeder able to provide those, then you can take that puppy.
• If breeder tells you the excuses such as puppy doesn’t need to do any of tests because puppy’s parent lines never had problems, dogs have been regularly vet checked, or any of the other excuses to skip the puppies and parent dog’s genetic condition. Get away from that breeder.
• Careful breeders screen their breeding dogs for genetic disease and breed only the healthiest and best-looking specimens.
• The breeder must be able to explain in detail about the needs and care to be taken for the breed from his experience.
• Breeder must have several years of experience about breeding of his specific breed. Breeder usually don’t sell his dogs to mediators or pet stores. They sell to owners only.
• Breeder generally shows his breed of dogs, litter, mother, certifications about their health, veterinary records, vaccination records, deworming records and competition participation certifications of parent dogs to the buyers. This is good sign about breeder. Buyer need to get into this discussion before taking puppy.
• Breeder must be able to explain the health and behaviour history of this breed parents, grandparents.
• Breeder must be able to show the genetic testing reports of parent dogs and puppies too. Breeder must not breed the dogs with hereditary disorders. Buyers need to know and ask the genetic testing reports.
• The breeder should always have references of earlier buyers from him on the same breed. Buyers need to verify the same with the earlier buyers.

English Mastiff’s Health line:

Dogs can’t tell us anything. The only way to find out the sickness of dog is potential signs and symptoms

• Drop in energy level (Lethargic) – Your dog can exhibit a lack of energy because of normal tiredness, a deficit in nutrition, or a more serious illness.
• Changes in daily habits, behaviour – Your dog does not take food or looking very dull in behaviour or not performing daily activities
• Changes in urine, stool, salivation or thirst – Your dog does any of daily activities more frequently with changes in colour.
• Walking difficulty – Your dog’s inability to walk is typically due to either a problem with the dog’s joints or issues with his spinal cord
• Diarrhoea, vomiting – When your dog’s intestines become irritated or inflamed because of some bacteria or viruses
• Dry and itchy skin – Dry skin is a symptom associated with a wide range of conditions such as allergies, parasites or due to other serious medical disorders. Provide chews of immune boosters which can prevent the allergies.
• Weight loss – this can be observed in dog on monthly check up. Not a good sign in healthy dogs. Must be treated by finding the exact reason.
• Loss of hunger – it could be a sign of significant illness like cancer, infections, liver and kidney problems
• Fever – Dog’s body temperatures reach 106 F, it is considered as fever. If untreated, may leads to serious and fatal complications.
• Scratching or shaking the head, tender ears, or ear discharge, cloudiness, redness, itching, or any abnormality in the eyes – these symptoms might be due to ear infection, ear tinnitus, eye infections.
• Leg stiffness, reluctance to rise, sit, run, jump, or hopping – these symptoms in your dog might be due to joint pains or arthritis.
• Swollen lymph nodes or glands – might be due to infections
• Any abnormal shaking, trembling, or excessive involuntary tremors
• Dull coat, hair loss, sluggish, weight gain
• Fainting, weakness, cough, or shortness of breath during exercise

Hip dysplasia, Bloat, Fungal or bacterial infections in deep wrinkles are the common health problems of mastiff breed.

Bone and Joint Problems: Both hips and elbows are at risk for dysplasia, an inherited disease that causes the joints to develop improperly and results in arthritis. Stiffness in the Dog’s elbows or hips may become a problem. Surgery is sometimes a good option in severe and life-limiting cases. Keep in mind that overweight dogs may develop arthritis years earlier.

Huge and heavy bodied dogs need comfortable beds to sleep. This comfort zone must be provided to avoid the joint and back problems. Mostly orthopaedic beds are much useful in this scenarios. consult your vet before buying any bed. Usually, fi the dog is getting older, it need some comfort in sleeping stage because of tired bones and back. obviously, the consideration of orthopaedic, high levelled, wider, smoother, soft beds are suggestible.

Sometimes Dog’s kneecap (patella) may slip out of place (called patellar luxation). When symptoms are severe, surgery may be needed to realign the kneecap to keep it from popping out of place.

Ichthyosis: Dry, flaky, itchy skin is a common problem for dogs, but this breed is prone to a severe flaking skin condition called ichthyosis. Several palliative treatment options of food or special shampoos and fish oils give variable levels of relief, but there is no definitive cure for this inherited disease. There is a genetic test available for many breeds that can determine whether the dog is clear, a carrier, or affected.

Thyroid Problems: English mastiffs are prone to a common condition called hypothyroidism in which the body doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone. Signs can include dry skin and coat, hair loss, susceptibility to other skin diseases, weight gain, fearfulness, aggression, or other behavioural changes. Need to conduct a blood screening test annually to screen for the disease. Treatment is usually simple replacement hormones given in the form of a pill.

Epilepsy: There are three types of seizures in dogs: reactive, secondary, and primary. Reactive seizures are caused by the brain’s reaction to a metabolic problem like low blood sugar, organ failure, or a toxin. Secondary seizures are the result of a brain tumour, stroke, or trauma. This problem is often an inherited condition.

Lifelong medication is usually necessary to help keep seizures under control, with periodic blood testing required to monitor side effects and effectiveness.

Bloat: Bloat is a condition in which when a dog’s stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid, making it expand. It is also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) or Gastric Torsion. The stomach puts pressure on other organs. It can cause dangerous problems like decline in blood flow to their heart, tearing of stomach walls, harder in breathing. It is a life-threatening disorder.

The dogs which are normally much taller than their width, creating a high height to width ratio. This occurs in large dog breeds. According to the American Kennel Club, Mastiffs are 5 to 8 times more likely to bloat than a dog with a low height to width ratio.

Preventative measures can be taken to reduce the risk of bloat. Some strategies that are currently recommended are

• Feed smaller meals more frequently with time of 2 to 3 hours in between
• Do not use a raised food bowl
• Never let the dog drink a large amount of water all at once
• Avoid strenuous exercise on a full stomach

None of these measures will guarantee that the dog won’t bloat, but they may help reduce the severity of the problem if it arises. Regular vet examinations are required.

Reproduction: Breeds with a large head and small pelvis are more prone to difficulties during the birthing process. Dog pelvis is just too small to pass puppies and a C-section is often required.

Eye problems:

• Corneal Ulcers: Because of the size of eyes, those can be injured and prone towards corneal ulcers. This is characterised by reddening of eyes, rupturing of the eyes.
• Dry Eyes: Kerato conjunctivitis and pigmentary keratitis are the diseases causes less tear production and black spots in eyes which leads to dryness of eyes in pugs. This can be controlled with medication and special care. If not rectified, it might leads to blindness.
• Proptosis: The eyeball is dislocated from the eye socket.
• Distichiasis: This is a condition in which abnormal growth of eyelashes on the margin of the eye.
• Progressive retinal atrophy: It is a degenerative disease of the retinal cells in which loss of photoreceptor cells that leads to blindness.
• Entropion: The eyelids rolls inward.

Osteosarcoma: This is the most common bone tumour in dogs. It typically afflicts middle-aged large and giant breeds like Mastiffs. Early symptoms include lameness and leg pain. Early detection is critical.

Cystinuria: This is defect of kidney functioning. Kidneys could not stop the flow of cysteine into the urine. This further leads to accumulation of cysteine in the kidney walls and tubes which results in formation of kidney stones. Ultimately leads to renal impairment and death. There is a DNA test available to determine this condition in dog. Better to consult vet on this.

Aortic Stenosis: Aortic stenosis is a heart disease that can be described as narrowing of the aortic valve of the heart. Can be prevented by food supporters. The most common form of aortic stenosis in dogs is sub aortic stenosis caused by fibrous nodules. Congenital aortic stenosis usually affects the subvalvular region, and occurs mainly in large breeds. This results in weakness, breathing difficulty, fainting, and sudden death in extreme cases. Vet examinations are required for tracing the disease.

Food must be avoided for your dog (English Mastiff):

Do not feed your dog onions, garlic, grapes and raisins. All these can be toxic to your pet.

Avocados: Avocados contain a toxin called persin. Persin is perfectly safe for human consumption but can be very poisonous to dogs. This toxin is found in avocado plant parts such as fruits, pits, leaves and bark. So you must avoid giving any part of the plant to your dog.

If a dog eats these accidentally by any chance, fluid may accumulate in the dog’s lungs and chest. This can make it difficult for them to breathe, which can lead to oxygen deprivation and even death. Fluid can also accumulate in the heart, pancreas and abdomen, which can lead to other fatal complications.

Xylitol: Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is often used to sweeten candy, chewing gum, toothpaste and baked goods. It was considered safe for human consumption but deadly for dogs. Eating foods that contain xylitol can lead to a sudden and significant drop in a dog’s blood sugar. Initial symptoms often show up within 30 minutes of consumption and include vomiting, weakness, depression, difficulty moving, coma, seizures, liver damage and death.

Coffee, Tea and Other Caffeine:

Caffeine is naturally found in coffee, tea, and cocoa. It is also often added to soft drinks and medications. Caffeine can speed the heart rate and stimulate the nervous system in dogs. Within two to four hours of consuming caffeine, dogs may experience restlessness, excessive thirst, a lack of bladder control, vomiting and diarrhoea.

If dogs ingest too much caffeine, they can experience abnormal heart rhythm or lung failure, which can ultimately lead to death. In fact, several cases of death have been reported in dogs due to an overdose of caffeine. The average cup of coffee or tea contains between 40 and 150 mg caffeine, so even just a few sips could be deadly for a dog. The minimum dose of caffeine at which death was reported was less than 1 mg per kg of body weight.

Grapes and Raisins: Grapes and raisins can be extremely toxic to dogs. They can cause rapid kidney failure which leads to death. The toxic compounds in grapes even in small amounts can make your dog sick. It is important to note that poisoning can happen from eating raw grapes and raisins, or from eating them as ingredients in baked goods like cookies, cakes and snack bars.

Watch for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue and depression. These may be followed by signs of kidney failure, such as excessive thirst and very little urine production.

Alcohol: Alcohol is found in a variety of products including alcoholic beverages, perfumes, mouthwash, paint, varnish and various cleaning products. While occasional alcohol consumption is safe for humans, dogs cannot tolerate it, even in small amounts. Symptoms usually develop within an hour after consumption and include tiredness, depression, lack of muscle coordination, low body temperature, poor breathing, vomiting and diarrhoea.

If a dog consumes too much alcohol, it can result in lung failure, seizures, coma and even death. The toxic dose of alcohol in dogs has recently been reported to be about 8 ml per kg of body weight with death occurring 12 to 24 hours after ingestion. Alcohol poisoning in dogs usually happens after accidental ingestion of alcoholic beverages. Rotten apples contain alcohol.

Yeast Dough: It’s also a concern if a dog eats raw dough that contains yeast. As the yeast cells ferment, they actually produce alcohol, which causes a dog’s blood alcohol level to rise and can ultimately cause alcohol poisoning and death. The dough will expand in dog’s stomach and can cause severe bloating. This puts pressure on the surrounding organs and can make it very difficult for the dog to breathe.

Chocolate: Chocolate contains the stimulant chemicals theobromine and caffeine, both of which are very difficult for dogs to metabolize. If a dog eats chocolate, it can cause stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration. This may leads to more serious problems like heart attacks, internal bleeding, muscle tremors, seizures and death.

The darker and less sweet the chocolate, the more toxic it will be to your dog. It is most common for dogs to experience chocolate poisoning on holidays like Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas. Presumably because these are times when people often have chocolate on hand.

Salt: Eating too much salt could lead to a condition known as salt poisoning or water deprivation in dogs. This can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, depression, tremors, fever and seizures. It may even be fatal in severe cases. The toxic dose for dogs is around 4 grams per kg of body weight. It is also important to make sure your dog always has access to fresh drinking water.

Maintenance of your English Mastiff:

Most of health conditions are not detectable in a growing puppy. So, it is always recommended that, get a puppy from only a reputable breeder who is committed to breeding the healthiest animals possible. They produce independent certification which certifies that the breed parents and grandparents have been screened for genetic defects and deemed healthy for breeding. This certification is available with registered breeders only.

Check with breeder before taking a puppy. Ask for certifications and relevant documents of parent dog lines and puppy vaccination certifications. If breeder able to provide those, then you can take that puppy.

If breeder tells you the excuses such as puppy doesn’t need to do any of tests because puppy’s parent lines never had problems, dogs have been regularly vet checked, or any of the other excuses to skip the puppies and parent dog’s genetic condition. Get away from that breeder. Careful breeders screen their breeding dogs for genetic disease and breed only the healthiest and best-looking specimens.

• Care: Despite their giant size, a English Mastiff need to be house dog. They can get cold in the winter, so they shouldn’t be left outside in colder climates which leads to short life. Mastiffs of all ages are chewers and will chew on anything that smells good or looks interesting. Give some chewable toys, shin bones, yak bones, femur bones, bone treats, to avoid this.
• Exercise: An adult Mastiff will be satisfied with a couple of 20- to 30-minute walks daily. Because of their giant size, they are not suitable as jogging companions. They overheat easily and their joints can be damaged from the stress of running. Don’t allow your Dog for running until they are at least 18 months old. Because, till then their bones are still growing. In fact, your dog may not be ready to go jogging until they’re two years old.
• Crate Training: Mastiffs are people dogs, and they aren’t meant to spend their lives locked up in a crate or kennel. Allow them in crate for sleeping only.
• Brush your English Mastiff’s teeth: Brush your Dog’s teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar build-up and the bacteria. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath.
• Trimming of nails: Trim the nails once in a month. If you can hear the clicking sound on the floor while your dog is walking, it means that the nails are too long. Your dog may not cooperate the trimming too deeply as it hurts the blood vessels of nails. Smooth machines might be helpful.
• Checking of Ears: Their ears should be checked weekly for redness or for any bad odour which indicates an infection. Need to wipe the discharges out gently with cotton. Use pH-balanced ear cleaner to help prevent infections. Don’t insert anything into the ear canal.
• Checking of Eyes: Eyes should be clear, with no redness or discharge and need to be checked weekly once.
• Feeding: Diet is most important for a rapidly growing puppies. Should not feed them with regular puppy foods. Need to feed them with puppy food designed for large breeds. It is better to avoid any other food supplements such as calcium. Mastiffs are sloppy drinkers and leave plenty of backwash–drool–in their bowls. Rinse bowls daily or more often as needed. The generally recommended daily amount for an adult Mastiff is 6 to 8 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. Consult Vet for recommendations and suggestions on diet.
  • Till 6 months: 4 cups for female and 6 cups for male puppies
  • Till 1 year: 6 cups for female and 8 cups for male puppies
  • Adolescents: 8 cups for females, 12 cups for males
  • Adults: 7 cups for females, 9 cups for males
• Until the age of four to five months, a English Mastiff puppy should have three meals per day. After that, give them two meals per day for life. They should never have only one meal per day.
• Grooming: English mastiff shed more.  Regular brushing with bristle brush is good enough to keep your dog’s coat healthy and clean. Good bruising might reduce bathing frequency. Do grooming with praise and rewards to make your dog friendly. The Mastiff has a short, straight coat comes in fawn, apricot, or brindle. Sometimes, have small patch of white on the chest. deodorants might be helpful to avoid bad smell.
• Watch for symptoms of illness and consider Vet examinations: Keep checking your dog’s behaviour for any symptoms and illness. Must be taken to vet and examined.
• Sleeping needs: Huge and heavy bodied dogs need comfortable beds to sleep. This comfort zone must be provided to avoid the joint and back problems. Mostly orthopaedic beds are much useful in this scenarios. consult your vet before buying any bed. Usually, fi the dog is getting older, it need some comfort in sleeping stage because of tired bones and back. obviously, the consideration of orthopaedic, high levelled, wider, smoother, soft beds are suggestible.
• Travelling: Dogs like to travel with owners. this is known fact. before travel, owners must be aware of the travel policies, rules, requirements, needs such as net pet barriers, seat covers ,dog mats while travelling in car etc.
• Dog tracing and training: Stubborn dogs need some training tools such as fences, re-usable fences, tracing tools such as transmitters are required.
• Pet insurance: Pet insurance is a good option to avoid the financial problems to save your dog’s life.

Feeding Guidance for your English Mastiff:

Diet parameters:

A puppy need a good amount of food to support all the growth phase. Muscle and bone metabolism takes place in this phase of birth to 6 months of age. Provide two to four meals in a day. Puppy must get double weight in a week from birth. Growth should be at least 1 to 2 grams in a day per pound of Adult dog. If your adult dog is around 60 pounds, then puppy growth per day must be around 2 to 4 ounces (1 ounce is approximately 28 grams). This symbolizes a good growth.

Weight at birth depends on breed size and characters. Food with higher in protein content, vitamins, minerals, and essential fats is required for puppy to grow healthy. Get well designed puppy food as per your breed, activeness and vet consultation which provides good amount of required nutrients for complete growth of puppy.

Puppies need to have good amount of food but, care must be taken to avoid over feeding. This makes your puppy obese. Waist must be always low and inwards which symbolizes that the dog is not obese. This is true for puppies of any breed irrespective of size and other parameters. It is always recommended that, feed the puppy 3 to 4 times in a day with quantity as required. Once your dog reached the age of 6 months, then limit the frequency to twice per day.

Follow the instructions from vet and food manufacturers.

A food should have more meat protein than grain protein. There are many better ways to feed dogs. Food is available freshly in market in packed cans. It not affordable, cook the required items as per vet suggestions and provide. Dog with bright eyes, healthy coat, energy levels, growth and activeness are the measuring parameters to confirm that food is good for dog.

Commercial dry food which is with long shelf-life is convenient way. Raw–food diets are healthy but expensive.

chewing bones such as femur, shin, yak milk bones, chicken bones, giant bones for large breeds are good enough for dog to have a nice chewing time and make the dogs dentals much stronger. Dental treats also a good option.

Vegetarian diet: If you are vegetarian, then go for vegetarian diet for your dog. It is not required to feed meat at any cost. Vegetarian diet also fine. Excellent sources of proteins from vegetarian sources such as lentils, cheese, boiled eggs, baked beans, little cheese, slices of potatoes, brown rice, grains, wheat etc Pine apple diet, strawberry diet, Banana diet are alternative options.

Reproduction cycle of your English Mastiff:

A female dog comes to heat cycle around 6 to 9 months of age.  By the second cycle, dog becomes completely mature to be bred. It is highly recommend that, should not to breed any dog breed until the 2nd heat cycle. The smaller dog breeds goes into cycle about 4 months of age itself. The larger breeds can reach by 2 years. Heat cycle is also known as oestrus. The heat cycle is repeated every 4 to 6 months but there is no hard-and-fast rule to it.

Pyometra is a deadly infection of the uterus. Requires an emergency surgery. It can be diagnosed by foul-smelling discharge from the vaginal area. Please consult vet if any of those symptoms arises. Usually, dogs come into heat twice a year. Let us talk about the four stages of heat cycle.

• proestrus
• estrus
• diestrus
• anestrus

Proestrus: This stage can be identified when dog’s temperature raises. Stage exists for 9 days. The hormone (Estrogen) levels will be at the peak level. The vulva usually tends to be swollen with a blood tinged discharge. All these changes leads to release of some sort of smell from vagina. The male dogs will be attracted to the female for this smell in this stage.

Estrus: This is second stage of heat cycle. This stage is considered as fertile period. Vulva enlarges and becomes soften. The blood discharge from vulva might decreases. Some changes in hormone levels such as decline in the oestrogen levels and increase in the progesterone levels. Stage exists for 9 days in which the female is receptive to the male. This is the stage female is ready for breeding.

The dog’s reproductive organs tie at this time and separating them at this time may be dangerous to both dogs. The semen is delivered in the first few strokes. Dogs should not be left alone in this process. Because, sometimes the female might try to separate. Both dogs need to be calmed down to become normal.

Dietrus: This stage exits about 2 months and the female is no longer receptive to the male. Progesterone levels comes to peak levels and falls down. If dog is pregnant, the diestrus stage will last until the babies are delivered. During this period, the placenta of the embryo is attached to the uterus which nourishes the baby.

Anestrus: This is stage between the diestrus and proestrus. It’s the time between two consecutive heat cycles. The stage lasts four months. The vulva is no longer swollen and no sign of virginal discharge. The uterus tends to use this time to prepare for the next pregnancy.

Signs that your dog is in heat period:

• Swollen vulva
• Bleeding
• She might allow other dogs to mount her
• They lick their genital area
• They appear anxious while in heat
• Frequent urinating

Train your English Mastiff:

Training must be done in a repeated manner with rewards, treats (beef, turkey) and appreciations to dog whenever it obeys your command. This makes your dog to understand quickly and follow. Training collars are good tools for usage.

• Name Recognition: Train your dog in such a way that it needs to respond for its name whenever it is called with name. This is basic and first command in training. Collars for training might be grate tools.
• Leave it Or No: This is command for your dog what to touch, pick up or grab and what not.
• Come: Train your dog in a way that it comes to you with this command.
• Listen: Train your dog to listen to you.
• Watch Me Or Look: This command guarantees your dog that it keep focus on you.
• Down Or Lie Down: This command gives your dog training on posture. Offer something to dog and allow the dog to lies down. Then give them down command and treat.
• Take It: This is command to train your dog to pick up the object what you said.
• Drop It: This is command to train your dog to drop the object they have taken.
• Sit-Stay: This command is required to make your dog calm down and keep them self-controlled.
• Stand: This command makes your dog easily positioned whenever standing is required.
• Bite: Train the dog to stop biting.
• Bark: Train your dog to stop the unwanted barking.
• Calming: Train your dog to be calm and avoid unnecessary agitations
• Behaviour: Train your do to out of bad behaviour and improve intelligence.

Advanced trainings such as

Training equipment such as training collars, leashes might be useful. Barking control collars, collar with fence are advanced options.

Common health problems in Dogs:

Osteoarthritis: Canine arthritis is the inflammation of the joints which is a very common health issue in older dogs. The condition can cause pain and stiffness. It can be treated with medication, physical therapy, and homeopathic remedies.

Obesity: Dogs become either overweight sometimes because of some habitats and food. Obesity increases the dog’s risk of certain types of cancer, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. The finest way to avoid and treat the overweight is to provide your dog a healthy diet and give them regular exercise. Avoid the overfeeding. It’s best to consult your veterinarian before changing your dog’s food or exercise routine.

Rabies: Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that impacts the central nervous system. This disease causes headache, drowsiness, anxiety, excessive drooling, fear of water, paralysis, joint week ness and sometimes leads to death. It is most often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Treatment must be started within hours of infection saves life.  If untreated might leads to death.

Skin Infections and Hot Spots: Maintenance of skin for dog is an important task for dog owners. Skin infections usually occur when a dog suffers from wound. Bacteria enters into body via wound may be the main cause of infection. This can cause redness, inflammation, itching, and irritation, resulting in fur loss and formation of a hot spot. The better way to avoid skin infections is feed omega rich foods and to bathe them regularly with calming shampoos or vet recommended shampoo. Deodorants might be useful to take away the foul smell if any. Take them to vet if infection seems spreading or worsening.

Benign Tumours: Benign tumours are forms of harmless fatty deposits or skin lumps. Biopsy of lumps must be checked by a vet to determine whether benign or malignant.

Lyme Disease: Lyme disease (or borreliosis) is a bacterial infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete which leads to swelling of lymph nodes, increased temperature and loss of hunger. If untreated, might leads to neurological disorders and impact other vital organs. Course of antibiotics treatment is recommendable at early stage.

Allergies: Skin allergies in dogs must be addressed regularly. Atopic dermatitis is the common skin allergy which shows red, itchy, scaly skin that causes your dog to scratch extremely. Dogs show clinical signs of skin allergies during the spring and summer. Allergies can’t be cured, but they are easily manageable. Skin allergies can be treated with immune booster medicine and immune boosters foods.

Parasites and infections: Some of the most common types of parasites in dogs are

• Ringworms – intestinal parasites
• Heartworms – internal parasites
• Coccidia – internal parasites
• Hookworms– intestinal parasites
• Fleas and ticks – external parasites

Contamination via sources such as food or water may leads to parasite entry into body.

Salmonellosis: Salmonella bacteria can cause this disease in dogs. This might leads to signs as fever, diarrhoea, and vomiting. Spreading of infection to your dog can be from you if you have salmonellosis. In this case, touching your dog’s mouth or face may pass the bacteria to them.

Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis is a respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is with symptoms of coughing, fever, and shortness of breath, weight loss, and vomiting.

Campylobacteriosis: This is caused by bacteria Campylobacter jejuni. This infection shows signs as watery diarrhoea, decreased appetite, and fever.

Ringworm: Ringworm is a fungal infection that affects the skin, hair, or nails. It spreads through contact with the fungus. Ringworm infected dogs can have scaly patches that often appear on their ears, face, or tail.

Bronchitis: Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes. This can occur from the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica. Dogs can spread the infection through direct contact.

Ear Infections: Ear infections can be caused by several factors like allergies, autoimmune disorders, wax build-up in the ear. Dogs show signs of ear infection by scratch or shake their heads excessively. Odour, dark discharges, and redness or swelling in the ear canal can also be signs of an ear infection.

Need of a vet’s diagnosis is considered as must to treat the ear infections. Medications such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs may give break from the infections. According to the American Kennel Club, most ear infections in dogs are resolved within one to two weeks.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTI): The most common signs of urinary tract infections in a dog are the frequent urination, painful urination, discomfort while urinating, and blood or other discharge in the dog’s urine. If your dog shows any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult a veterinarian immediately, as they could also be signs of a more serious issue like bladder stones or urinary blockage.

Dental Diseases: Dental disease in dogs is mainly due to an unclean mouth. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is the most common form and it’s caused by bacteria. In this condition, dog’s teeth may be rottened by bacteria that they require surgical treatment to prevent the infection spreading. Regular dental and oral care must be considered to prevent the dental problems.

Soft Tissue Injuries: A soft tissue injury occurs when a dog pulls a muscle, sprains a joint. Some of accidental injuries include bites, broken bones.

Most common health issues in large dog breeds:

Aortic Stenosis: Aortic stenosis is a heart disease that can be described as narrowing of the aortic valve of the heart. The most common form of aortic stenosis in dogs is sub aortic stenosis caused by fibrous nodules.

Congenital aortic stenosis usually affects the sub valvular region, and occurs mainly in Newfoundland, Golden Retriever, German shepherd, and Boxer dogs. This results in weakness, breathing difficulty, fainting, and sudden death in extreme cases. Vet examinations are required for tracing the disease.

Bloat: Bloat is a condition in which when a dog’s stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid, making it expand. It is also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) or Gastric Torsion. The stomach puts pressure on other organs. It can cause dangerous problems like decline in blood flow to their heart, tearing of stomach walls, harder in breathing. It is a life-threatening disorder.

The dogs which are normally much taller than their width, creating a high height to width ratio. This occurs in large dog breeds. According to the American Kennel Club, Bordeauxes are 5 to 8 times more likely to bloat than a dog with a low height to width ratio.

Preventative measures can be taken to reduce the risk of bloat. Some strategies that are currently recommended are

• Feed smaller meals more frequently with time of 2 to 3 hours in between
• Do not use a raised food bowls. better to use slow feeding bowls.
• Never let the dog drink a large amount of water all at once
• Avoid strenuous exercise on a full stomach

None of these measures will guarantee that the dog won’t bloat, but they may help reduce the severity of the problem if it arises. Regular vet examinations are required.

Canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM): It is a condition in which decreased ability of the heart to generate pressure to pump blood through the vascular system. Genetic factors seem to play a large role in the inheritance and development of DCM in the dog. It might be due to factors like

• poorly contracting heart muscle,
• amino acid deficiencies (taurine, carnitine),
• low thyroid level,
• inflammation of the heart muscle

Elbow and Hip Dysplasia: It is a developmental disorder caused by dysmorphic and lax joint formation. During growth, both the ball (the head of the femur, or thighbone) and the socket in the pelvis (acetabulum) must grow at equal rates. In hip dysplasia, this uniform growth does not occur. There are two primary causes of hip dysplasia, genetics and diet. This depends upon the pet’s clinical signs and amount of discomfort.

There are very effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that have minimal side effects. Excessive growth rate, types of exercises and improper weight and nutrition are also causes of this problem. According to a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Medicine, hip dysplasia is prevalent in 15.56% of dogs in North America, regardless of breed.

Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disease of dogs. It occurs when the thyroid glands fail to produce adequate amounts of the hormones. This results in hair loss, dull and thin coat, and black patches on skin, weight gain, decline in appetite, muscle loss, declined heart rate, ear infections, seizures, heart and blood vessel problems, and infertility.

Wobbler Syndrome: Wobbler syndrome is a disease of the neck (the cervical spine) that is seen in large and giant breeds of dog. This is a common term to describe a gait in dogs. Diets high in protein, calcium, and phosphorous accelerate growth, which may contribute to skeletal changes seen in wobbler dogs. Vet examinations are required to have control on this syndrome.

Most common health issues in small dog breeds:

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome: This is condition refers to particular set of upper airway abnormalities. These abnormalities include stenotic nares, extended nasopharyngeal turbinates, an elongated soft palate, laryngeal collapse, a hypoplastic trachea, and everted laryngeal saccules. Since obesity is the main culprit for this syndrome, reduction in weight must be done as treatment. The treatment for brachycephalic airway syndrome is surgical. Widening of the stenotic nares is thought to be the most important therapy.

Ectropion: This is an abnormality of the eyelids in which the lower eyelid rolls outward or is everted. This is common in breeds like Bloodhounds, Saint Bernards, and Mastiffs and Cocker spaniels. The rubbing of hairs on the eye can be itchy or painful. It also causes irritation that can lead to corneal ulceration. Topical antibiotic ointment may be recommended to prevent infections. If the entropion is severe and has caused corneal damage, then surgery may be necessary.

Intervertebral Disk Disease: This condition occurs when the disc that sits between two vertebrae to cushion or absorb movement in the spine deteriorates. Surgical treatment is usually recommended.

Mitral Valve Disease: The valve between the left atrium and left ventricle is called the mitral valve. Because of the high pressure created when the left ventricle contracts and pumps blood out to the body, the mitral valve may begin to wear out and leak over time. This is known as mitral valve insufficiency. Vet examinations need to be done to treat this condition.

Patellar Luxation: Patella is knee cap. Normally, patella sits on the groove of the femur (thighbone). If this alignment shifts a little out, that condition is called as luxating patella. Surgery improves kneecap stability.

Tracheal Collapse: Tracheal collapse is a progressive respiratory condition that occurs when these tracheal rings of cartilage collapse. It might be a congenital disorder. A dog with tracheal collapse leads to respiratory distress. Once the vet makes the diagnosis, they may prescribe medication to manage.

Health Concerns for Dogs by Age:

A dog’s age can play a significant role in the dog’s overall health. Generally, older dogs are more susceptible to illnesses just like human beings. The common health problems in senior dogs as

Hearing and Vision Loss: With increase in age, tissue degeneration and deterioration happens in the eyes and ears which might cause problems like deafness and blindness. Cataract is one of the problem can cause blindness. A number of chronic ear infections can cause hearing loss and deafness. Still, they will be able to feel vibrations on the floor when you approach.

Joint Problems: Osteoarthritis is the most common, progressive and degenerative disease that causes joint pain and stiffness of joints in dogs. This leads to loss of lubrication and loosing away of cartilage in the joints. There is no cure but a number of treatments help in reducing the pain. The Nutrition factor especially omega-3 fatty acids play a strong role in supporting dogs with joint issues. Seek the veterinarian about foods available to support joint health.

Dementia/Cognitive Dysfunction: Like people, dogs can lose cognitive function as they age. Confusion, disorientation, barking for no reason. There is no cure for dementia, but it can be helped with certain medications and antioxidants.

Cancer: Older dogs are prone to getting lumps and bumps, and luckily, not all of them are cancerous. Benign tumours are forms of harmless fatty deposits or skin lumps. Biopsy of lumps must be checked by a vet to determine whether benign or malignant. Regular check-ups and cancer screenings can help catch tumours. Food with strawberry is good to stop the growth of cancerous cells. Strawberries might be helpful to control the cancer cells.

Heart Problems: One heart condition in dogs is congestive heart failure in which the heart could not pump blood efficiently and fluid backs up in the heart, lungs and chest cavity. It can be exhibited with symptoms of coughing, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, vomiting. Food might be useful for healthy hearts.

Obesity: Older dogs carrying excess weight are more prone to illnesses. In addition to providing exercise to your dog, it is important to feed the dog good balanced food.

Gastrointestinal Issues and Incontinence: A number of problems can cause gastrointestinal (GI) issues with aging of dog.  Vomiting or diarrhoea are common symptoms for the gastrointestinal issues. Provide good for aged dogs.

Kidney Issues: Aging tend to lose the functioning of kidneys. Some chronic kidney disease can’t be cured but can be managed with proper treatment. Proper nutrition is also extremely important for maintaining kidney functioning.

Common health illnesses in Puppies:

Many of the diseases that were common in puppies, such as Distemper and Adenovirus (Canine Hepatitis). Vaccination can prevent these illness in puppies. Here are a few of the most common health concerns for puppies.

Canine Parvovirus: Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that can affect all dogs. Vaccination prevents the dogs and puppies from this virus. Vaccination must be done against parvo at approximately 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age. Maintenance of good hygiene is also a critical component for prevention. Young puppies are very susceptible to infection. Paw cleaners might be helpful to stop the spreading.

Your puppy is exposed to the parvovirus every time he sniffs, licks the infected faeces. Virus infects the gastrointestinal tracts and is spread by direct contact either dog to dog or dog to human or dog to utensils. The virus is readily transmitted from place to place on the hair or feet of dogs or via contaminated cages, shoes, or other objects. Bathing, paw cleaning, trimming of hair are most important aspects here.

The virus can also contaminate kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of dogs, clothing of people who handle infected dogs. This virus is resistant to heat, cold, humidity and can survive in the environment for long periods of time.

Clinical signs of parvoviral enteritis generally develop within 5–7 days of infection. This is with symptoms of lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and bloating, high or low body temperature, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea. Most of deaths from parvovirus occur within 48 to 72 hours following the onset of clinical signs. If your puppy or dog shows any of these signs, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

Laboratory tests of faecal samples can confirm the diagnosis. Early recognition and aggressive treatment are very important in successful outcomes. Puppies with parvo continue to shed the virus for up to 10 days after a clinical recovery.

Distemper: Canine distemper virus is a highly contagious caused by paramyxovirus. Often fatal. This infects the respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), and nervous system of dogs. Distemper is transmitted mainly by respiratory actions such as coughing and sneezing. A dog’s sneeze can spread respiratory particulates up to 25 feet, making the risk of exposure high.

Puppies or older dogs that haven’t been vaccinated are most vulnerable. Proper vaccination is the only way to prevent this disease. A series of vaccinations is administered to puppies to increase the likelihood of building immunity. Vet examinations and laboratory testing of nasal samples is necessary to find out. Symptoms can be as Nasal discharge, coughing, depression, vomiting, and seizures. Recovered dogs can still continue to shed the virus for up to six months.

Adenovirus: Adenoviruses are a large group of structurally similar viruses. It causes hepatitis (infectious liver disease) in dogs. It spreads via faeces and contaminated fluids from infected dogs. There are two types of Adeno viruses. Adenovirus 1 – causes infectious liver disease. Adenovirus 2 – causes respiratory infection (Infectious Tracheobronchitis) and is commonly also used in vaccines against both diseases.

The infected dog shows symptoms as fever, depression, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, oedema of the head and neck, and possibly jaundice. Vaccination is the successful way to reducing the prevalence of this disease. There is no cure for adenovirus. But treatment can decrease the severity of the symptoms. Yearly booster shots need to be scheduled.

Severely ill dogs will be kept for treatment and monitoring until their system has returned to normal. The recovered dog shed the viral load for at least six months.

Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is a bacterial infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Leptospira. These bacteria can be found worldwide in soil and water.

After infection, bacteria multiply rapidly in the bloodstream. It is able to penetrate the soft lining of the organs such as nose, mouth, eyelid, and any open pores and scratches of the skin and then finally moves into the tissues. They accumulate in the liver and kidney and cause severe damage to the vital organs like kidney and liver which leads to death in severe cases.

About 8 to 10 days after infection, the dog’s immune system produces an antibody response that quickly clears most of the bacteria from the body. However, the damage caused by the bacteria often leads to liver failure or kidney failure, and sometimes both. The infected dogs show symptoms as lethargy, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and increased thirst and urination.

Dogs might develop jaundice which impacts the eyes turn yellow. In some cases there may be bleeding. Urine and blood cultures need to be done for examining the prevalence of the bacteria. Antibiotics are usually very effective in treating leptospirosis. In general, most of dogs respond quickly once antibiotics are started. Vaccinated dogs may potentially be susceptible to the infection.

Vaccinations for dogs:

Regarding vaccinations for your dog, you need to have basic knowledge to know what is what and decide as per your Vet suggestions.

• Core vaccinations
  • Canine Parvovirus
  • Canine Distemper
  • Hepatitis
  • Rabies
  • Leptospirosis

• Non core – vaccinations
  • Bordetella
  • Canine Influenza (dog flu)
  • Lyme vaccine

• Vaccine efficiency period:
  • Bordetella – 1 year
  • Canine Influenza – 1 year
  • DHPP – 3 years
  • Rabies – 3 years
  • Lyme Disease – 1 year
  • Leptospirosis – 1 year

Puppy’s Age	Recommended	Optional
6 — 8 weeks	Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus	Bordetella
10 — 12 weeks	DAP or DHPP vaccines as distemper, adenovirus [hepatitis], parainfluenza, parvovirus	Influenza, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease vaccine
16 — 18 weeks	DHPP, Rabies	Influenza, Lyme disease vaccine, Leptospirosis, Bordetella
12 — 16 months	DHPP, Rabies	Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease vaccine
Every 1 — 2 years	DHPP	Influenza, Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease vaccine
Every 1 — 3 years	Rabies (as required)

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