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By Gerry Ronson
 The Afghan hound is one of the most beautiful dogs with their long fur coat and aristocratic stance. You will find this dog breed is going to be very sweet, happy, loyal, and intelligent. The Afghan hound has been known for its courage as well as its sensitivity. Things you should know about their temperament include its ability to be around older children and other animals. As affectionate creatures they do well with older children who will exercise them as well as show them the attention they love. They are also good with other animals, especially after socialization. You will need to offer training as a puppy for obedience because they can be quite stubborn if you dont. They are also very dignified creatures so they are typically not going to jump in water or puddles and play certain games. They can be a little hesitant around strangers, but for family they are very affectionate.
As I mentioned above training is important at the puppy stage. When training an Afghan hound you need to
make sure you use a gentle, but firm hand. They are sensitive dogs and can be affected by rough behaviour or even harsh words. Consistency is also warranted when dealing with these dogs. You should allow proper socialization and obedience training before trying to teach them any tricks. For exercise you will find they need to have a fenced in yard and daily walks. While they are not active indoors they do need plenty of space. Their size is part of the reason they need space. When you exercise the dog you need to make sure you exercise them for a half hour each day, with running. They can overheat easily in warm climates or in the summer so you may have to take a break during the exercise to avoid any issues.
There are several wonderful dogs that you may wish to adopt, but how do you make that finally decision? Below you will find information regarding the Afghan hound dog breed in the hopes that you can make a sound decision as to whether their temperament, size, and of course grooming needs are what you are looking for.
The Afghan hound stands between 25 and 27 inches and weighs 50 to 60 pounds. They are usually any colour from cream to black. Typically the hound will have a long light coloured coat, with a dark patch on the back, ears, and around the muzzle. They are not bulky dogs, but rather thin from the face through to the rear. Their face is usually thing with a long narrow muzzle. You will find they have long floppy ears that can be hard to distinguish from their coat. For grooming you need to brush them daily to avoid matting and tangles. You also need to make sure they visit a groomer every six weeks or so to get a trim and their toenails clipped. You will want to make sure you give your Afghan hound a bath frequently to help avoid the matting and tangling of the hair. Often times when you live in a dry climate brushing can cause more of an issue than in a humid climate. It may be easier to seek a groomer who has the proper tools as their coat can be quite difficult to work with.
Afghan hounds make some of the best pets as they are loyal, elegant, and affectionate creatures. You will want to make sure to provide proper nutrition as well as time with your dog. Like most dogs you do not want to leave an Afghan hound alone for too many hours. They strive on attention and affection.
Gerry Ronson is a freelance writer for the websites dog beds and dog. Dealing With Glaucoma in Dogs
By Gerry Ronson
 There are many diseases that dogs can suffer from. In some instances they can be cleared up with little medication and treatment, such as eye infections. There are of course other diseases that take extensive treatment. Glaucoma is more than just an eye infection. In fact your dog doesnt have to suffer from eye infections to develop glaucoma. We will look at the different reasons for glaucoma to form, what it is, and of course what treatment may exist to make your dog more comfortable.
Glaucoma is a condition of the eye in dogs when there is a fluid build up in the eye. Every eye secrets a fluid that helps it stay moist as well as move in the eye socket. With glaucoma the build up of the fluid can actually cause under pressure in the eye in various spots. It can affect the retina, the lens, and the blood vessels attached to the lens. There are three types of glaucoma: open angle, narrow angle, and mesodermal dysgenesis. Depending on the dog breed you have you may experience one of these types of glaucoma. It has been shown that there are certain breeds that are more affected with glaucoma such as beagles, poodles, basset hounds, cocker spaniels, and Samoyed. This by no means is a full list of dogs that can develop glaucoma, but is a list with the most common breeds that contract the disease. We have discussed the reason for the disease to occur, but not really the cause. After all why do some dogs produce more fluid than others resulting in the disease? The actual cause like many diseases is unknown. It has been linked to a genetic disorder as well as eye infections. In some cases it could be a lack of proper formation of the eye, a mutation of cells, or just a decrease in proper nutrients for the diet.
It is important to understand the symptoms your dog will have if they have the disease so that you can get them treated as soon as possible. There are early signs of glaucoma that include inflammation, squinting with the dogs eyes, pain, tearing of the retina, and cloudy vision. They may even have a dilated fixed pupil. In other words the pupil will be large and the eye probably has lost motor function. It can be difficult to diagnose some of the symptoms like pain, but usually a sensitivity to light that they didnt have before is one indication that they have an eye problem. You will also find that the dog will have trouble walking. They may become clumsier, such as walking into things that have always been there, but they now cannot see. Glaucoma is a degenerative disease. This means that left untreated the dog can become blind. There are a few treatments that will help reduce the inflammation caused by the fluid increase.
The first treatment a vet will usually try is an injection of antibiotic into the eye. The medication is supposed to help reduce any inflammation that has occurred as well as take care of any infection. This is not always the best medication because it can be toxic to the retina causing blindness. There are also surgical procedures that you may wish to try. These procedures allow for a small tube to be inserted into the eye to help the flow of fluid drain away from the eye. This can be a costly procedures and often times owners elect not to have the surgery. There are other medications that are anti- inflammatory that can be used orally. These are not as effective. You also have a choice of eye drops to help reduce the inflammation in the eye.
Gerry Ronson - dog accessories and puppies for sale. All About Heart Disease in Dogs
By Gerry Ronson
 There are several reasons a dog may have heart disease. In some cases heart disease is actual genetic, meaning that a parent also had the issue and passed it on. In most cases heart disease actually forms later in the dogs life due to several causes. One of the leading causes of heart disease is improper nutrition. In other words the dog owners have not supplied a healthy diet, they gave the dog human fatty food, or the dog didnt get enough exercise to counter act the diet they were on. You will find that cancer is usually genetic or a result of a mutation in the dogs blood cells that form a mass on the heart. This is the worst type of heart disease in a dog and is often deadly. There are symptoms to help you diagnose the early stages of heart disease and we will be looking at the different heart diseases and their treatment below.
As mentioned heart cancer is one of the worst diseases a dog can contract. The cells in the heart mutate forming a tumor mass either inside the heart or around the heart. When this occurs there is a blockage of blood flow, usually resulting in dizziness, clumsiness, fainting, lameness, and seizures. You will find with heart cancer the best treatment is usually surgery. Some masses are too big for surgery and in this case radiation is used to kill the cells, reduce the mass, and prevent other mutations from occurring. If left untreated the dog can die from the cancer. The dog may also die from the blockage of the blood before the cancer cells spread. With heart cancer it can form directly in the heart or it can form elsewhere in the body first. In some cases liver cancer, stomach cancer or lymphoma forms in the body, the blood cells that are mutating flow into the heart and then attach themselves in a mass.
Another form of heart disease is of course the heart attack or stroke. Though they are two different diseases there are some of the same causes as well as treatments. A heart attack is usually a blockage in the heart due to fatty oils, over taxing the heart, and blockages in the aorta. A stroke goes a little further in that it is a nerve reaction that can affect the brain and muscles of the dog, ending in partial paralysis. The signs of heart disease are usually weakness, loss of appetite, coughing, fainting, breathing issues, bloating, pale gums, and an irregular heart beat. You will find that the treatment for heart disease can be medication or surgery. Surgery is usually an option when there is a blockage that must be removed. This surgery usually removes the fat that has formed from the aorta and opening up the bloodstream to flow properly. Medications are also meant to help reduce the blockage as well as lower cholesterol. The medication usually is given once a day and will help regulate the heart to beat correctly. If, left untreated these two heart diseases could cause death. It will depend on the size of the blockage and of course the patient. To prevent this heart disease you need to have your dog on a healthy diet, with plenty of enzymes and protein that will help breakdown the food. You also want to avoid any food that is fatty, filled with oil, or carbohydrates. You also need to make sure your dog is exercised properly each day. Any dog breed can be susceptible to heart disease, although there are certain breeds more inclined.
Gerry Ronson is an article writer from the UK. He writes for the websites dog supplies and dog beds. Share Your Opinion. (0 posts)
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