Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic issue that starts to appear from the ages of 4 to 12 months. Not all puppies in a litter will develop it, though if your dog has canine hip dysplasia, she should not be bred.

Larger breed dogs have a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia, due to the greater weight these joints will have to bear. But it’s important to realize that small dogs can be affected also. Large breed dogs at risk include rottweilers, german shephards, golden retrievers, dalmations, and blood hounds.

Canine hip dysplasia affects the ball and socket joint of the hip. The head of the large bone in the dog’s leg doesn’t fit snugly into the hip socket. The problem is that the socket itself is not well developed, and it creates a lot of stress on the joint. The muscles don’t develop as quickly as the bone grows, and a situation is created where the weight the joint has to bear is greater than the capacity of the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around the joint. Thus joint instability develops. This in turn leads to a greater wear and tear than the joint would normally experience.

Canine hip dysplasia ranges from mild to moderate. In mild cases, the space between the joints is greater than normal and the ball at the top of the hip bone is part way out of its socket. Fortunately, in mild cases, there are no associated arthritic changes in the joint.

In moderate canine hip dysplasia, the top part of the normally rounded hip bone begins to flatten, and it sits only loosely in the joint. Bone spurs begin to develop, and arthritic changes start to happen.

Unfortunately, in severe hip dysplasia, there is definite arthritis present. And once arthritis appears in the joint, the condition is irreversible. In the severe cases such as this, the hip bone is completely out of the joint. The silver lining is, however, that not all dogs with hip dysplasia and arthritis will become lame. Some may become lame as puppies, some may not ever become lame.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia include:

* walking with a limp
* a swaying gait
* bunny hopping when running
* difficulty in the back legs when getting up
* pain in the hip
* when the puppy is lying on its back, its back legs may not extend towards the front legs without pain

The only way to find out if your dog definitely has hip dysplasia is if he has an x-ray by a vet. This normally means the dog will have to be heavily sedated, or go under anaesthetic.

Tips To Prevent Canine Hip Dysplasia

* Don’t feed a growing dog a diet too high in calories. It’s important that the growing dog’s nutritional needs are met, but excessive weight, and rapid weight gain, create more of a load for the joints to bear. If a dog is genetically predisposed to hip dysplasia, this can delay the beginning of symptoms, or reduce the chance of it developing into a more severe form.

* Be careful about the type of exercise growing dogs get. Jumping up and down from heights, and standing on their back legs, such as when they stand against a fence or window to look over it, can aggravate the joints whilst they are growing quickly.

* Buy dogs from a reputable breeder. If one parent dog has hip dysplasia, the risk of it occurring in the litter is doubled. Good breeders take care to prevent this situation from occurring. The pedigrees of dogs can be checked to see whether they have been certified as normal by the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (OFA) in the US. Their website is www.offa.org

Other organizations that check for markers of hip normalcy in dogs are PennHip and the GDC (Genetic Disease Control in Animals). Large breed dogs have a greater chance of developing hip dysplasia, and prospective owners would be wise to take this precaution.

References: J Griffin and L Carlson, Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook

Whilst large breed dogs are more susceptible to canine hip dysplasia, buying from a reputable breeder can prevent this developing. Find out more about some of these loveable breeds here at The Dogs Bone: thedogsbone.com/ thedogsbone.com/ Large breed dog articles, with photos, include these on thedogsbone.com/articles/17/1/On-The-Scent-Of-The-Bloodhound-Dog” target=”_new the bloodhound dog, and the thedogsbone.com/articles/16/1/Dalmation-Breed-Information—For-An-Active-Lifestyle” target=”_new dalamation breed.

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Tags: rottweiler

No day is ordinary when you work with animals. Routines contort around emergencies and nature’s whims decide the schedules. The story is no different at Care for Dogs in Chiangmai, Thailand. Even the most casual project can change lives. Still when staff member Karin Hawelka sat down at her email one morning she had no idea what she’d find in her inbox.

Among the usual business letters, reports and million dollar stock tips, cleverly disguised as spam, a ray of sunshine was hidden. Karin received an email from a man who said he’d seen an underweight Golden Retriever on Doi Suthep. Martin, the alert animal lover who reported the dog, also noted the retriever appeared to have a leg injury. The computer could wait. Karin and Care for Dog’s team member Ally Taylor set off at once.

Atop Doi Suthep Mountain lies Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The temple is a major pilgrimage destination for the Buddhist holidays of Makha Buja and Visak. Setting high above the bustling city of Chiang Mai this 600 year old sanctuary can be seen glowing in the sunshine across the region. The breathtaking views from the drive up the mountain would have been reason enough to escape the city. Still, Karin and Ally had a mission.

Among the shining golden Buddhas, sidewalk shops and camera-heavy tourists, saffron draped monks strolled the temple grounds. Zigzagging among the monks was the Care for Dogs team. It didn’t take long for the gals to find their hidden temple treasure.

As reported a beautiful Golden Retriever was indeed on the grounds. Sadly, the rest of the report was also true. The once magnificent animal was flea-infested, vastly underweight and limping along the walkway. At rest, his back left leg swung loose as if it were shorter than the rest.

As the duo made inquiries about the friendly canine, his story began to unfold. The retriever’s irresponsible owner had just dumped him at the temple several weeks earlier, leaving the injured animal to fend for himself. The story was seemingly more tragic in that no one cared if the team took the dog away. Even a monk, often the last hope for dumped temple dogs, seemed surprised to notice the wounded animal. In the end, this was the best thing that could have happened.

As Ally grabbed up their golden-fleeced find, Karin commandeered the temple’s cable-car. This spared their new charge the 309 stairs steps that is the temples more notorious claim to fame. Within minutes, the trio was off to the vetrinarians. Instantly the canine found his new name – sunshine.

X-rays reveled that Sunshine’s left leg was indeed shorter than his other legs and contained a medal pin from a previous surgery. The pin had somehow migrated, causing a painful point to stick out beyond the bone. It had been this way for some time as calcium now enveloped the steel. All the vets could do was cut off the extended end. Still, what a miracle this was for Sunshine after what must have been many months of suffering.

When the Care for Dogs team transferred Sunshine from the veterinary hospital to their sanctuary his true personality began to shine through. There is nothing like the confident dominance projected by a mentally well-balanced golden retriever. Despite his long hard spell, Sunshine proved worthy of his breed.

Dominant, yet not overly aggressive, he quickly established himself as top-dog in his area of the facility. Even against the resident Rottweiler mix Noy, Sunshine drew a firm line. In no time he stole the hearts of the Care for Dogs crew. It was not surprising that in a matter of days new volunteers Teresa and Nok informed Karin of their decision to give Sunshine a forever-home.

Karin smiled as she went off to check her email, yet again.

Learn more about Care for Dogs in Chiang Mai, Thailand at carefordogs.org/index2.php carefordogs.org/index2.php Nola L. Kelsey is the author of Bitch Unleashed: The Harsh Realities of Goin’ Country and coauthor of the scathing political satire Keeping the Masses Down. She is currently wandering the globe while volunteering with animals along the way. Read more of Kelsey’s work, visit her rarely up-to-date website at: nolakelsey.com nolakelsey.com

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Tags: rottweiler

The Doberman pinscher is an extremely popular dog today as it is an affectionate, intelligent and loyal pet. This sleek, intense breed gets its name from the German tax collector who originated the breed - Louis Dobermann. Developed in the 1860s, the Doberman is a mix of German pinchers, Greyhounds, English Greyhounds, Rottweilers and the Beauceron. This beautiful intelligent dog has been a popular breed ever since its first dog show presentation in 1876.

Part of the American Kennel Club working group, the Doberman pinscher was recognized by the AKC in 1908 and has its own special club - the Doberman pinscher club of America which was founded in 1921. this sleek shorthair dog weighs in at between 66 and 88 pounds and grows to between 24 and 28 inches in height.

Well known for its muscular physique, the Doberman pinscher is an elegant looking dog - thin but powerful with a well proportioned chest and muscular neck. His dark eyes are lively and intelligent and easy as stickup straight from his head and are usually cropped. Along with the is being cropped, and detail is usually docked as well but these practices of come out in favor in England. he has a short code that is tight to his body and comes in fawn, white, red, blue-gray, black & tan and plain black.

Many people think the Doberman pinscher is vicious and aggressive but he really is not. This is a very intense dog that has a lot of energy along with tremendous stamina and strength. They are highly intelligent and easy to train, although the females can be more stubborn and maybe a bit difficult to train. They are fearless and determined and loyal and affectionate towards their owners. These dogs are naturally protective and make good guard dogs. This breed can actually have large variations in temperament with some being very submissive and others taking only to one person while still others are great with the whole family.

Doberman pinschers usually enjoy good health but they can suffer from an inherited blood disorder called Von Willebrands disease as well as cervical sodalities. Other problems that may crop up include hip dysplasia or, congenital heart disorders and bloating. These dogs can also get rather obese in their later years.

Dobermans do need sufficient exercise but they can live In apartments as long as they are exercised frequently. Although they are very energetic, it is not a good idea to keep them outdoors because they can be sensitive to the cold. As far as grooming goes, this dog is very easy to care for is they really don’t need any grooming and they shed very little hair.

Lee Dobbins is an avid dog lover and pet owner who writes on many topics including dogbreeds123.com different breeds of dogs. Visit her at Dogbreeds123.com and find out more about dogs such as the loveable dogbreeds123.com/dobermanpinscher.html Doberman Pinscher.

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Tags: groom, rottweiler

Dogs are a man’s best friend. That has always been the belief ever since. Why not? Because of their care, loyalty and sweetness to their owners, people will have a hard time not loving them.

Unfortunately for some dog owners and some people, the dog becomes their worst enemy. Just imagine the life of the mail man. The mail man has been always portrayed in movies or cartoons as a biting post of dogs. This is not a stupid joke. I have a n uncle who worked as a mail man and got bitten by a dog.

In fact, there are more people aside from mailmen that get victimized by dog bites. Every year there are 4.7 million people that get bitten by dogs. Among the 4.7 million people that get bitten, 17% needs medical attention. Also, 10-20% of tragic bite victims are killed by dog bites.

Since this has been a growing problem, certain breeds have been banned in some U.S. states. Here are the top 10 breeds that cause dog bites in no particular order. Rottweilers, pit bulls, huskies, German shepherds, Dobermans, malamutes, St. Bernards, chow chows, Akitas and Great Danes.

The dog’s behavior of being aggressive or non-aggressive greatly depends on the owner’s responsibility and training of the dog. Here are several steps that the owners can take to make their dog safe around other people.

• Make your puppy have social interaction with other dogs and people after it gets vaccinated. This will help the puppy feel that other dogs and humans are not threatening. The puppy will then learn to be friendlier. Bring the puppy to the park, pet store or even puppy classes.

• Spraying or neutering the dog will greatly help reduce the risk. When the dog is neutered some of its territorial instincts like territorial aggression are reduced. Most fatal dog bites (80%) are caused by non-neutered male dogs. So trying to neuter your aggressive male dog will help keep it safe around other people.

• Always remember to restrain your dog when interacting with strangers or in a public place. You can’t predict your dog’s behavior even though you may say that it’s really friendly. Try to restrain him with a leash when in a public place. Also prevent strangers from interacting with the dog because the stranger might startle him or her. When leaving the dog alone in your yard, remember to enclose him on a fence that will be suitable for its size.

• It is the dog’s nature to bite anything, so training it to not bite anything will greatly help. Distraction will work on a dog when it is biting anyone. Try to make a quick sound such as a clap or saying “ow”. After, make the dog chew the chew toy. It will greatly help in training if the dog is rewarded when biting the right stuff.

• Always watch your dog’s behavior. When the dog is really aggressive and can’t be trained, get help from the vet.

Being able to follow these things can help prevent the risk of your dog to society. Instead of becoming public enemy number 1 it could be America’s sweetheart. So be a responsible owner.

Michael Colucci is a technical writer for free-dog-training.org Free Dog Training and edogstoday.com Dog Care

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Tags: dog training, pit bull, rottweiler

Herr Louis Doberman of Thuringen, Germany, was the man who crossed the Rottweiler, the Pinscher and the Black and Tan Terrier to attempt to produce the “ideal” guarding dog. The original purposes of guarding and attacking the stranger who invaded the property was the premise on which the Doberman was developed. Those that chose to have a guard dog expected them to attack strangers. Fenced yards were respected and the Doberman or other protective dog was a part of a family in early Germany. In fact, guard dogs were highly prized and were expected to be intelligent, obedient and courageous.

The Schutzhund Trials, also formalized and standardized in Germany, was a way to test these characteristics. An important ingredient of the Schutzhund trials, however, is the Obedience component which requires a reliable response at all times to the commands of the dogs’ master.

The Doberman Pinscher was never intended to be ONLY a dog that would be a fierce guard dog, it was intended to be the “ideal” guard dog, a dog that is obedient, faithful and protective when necessary. A “Schutzhund” dog should not only be a fierce protector but should also be a responsible member of society, controllable and mannerly in social situations. With some breeds earning a successful Schutzhund title is the pre-requisite to using the dog in a breeding program in Germany. The Doberman’s development in Germany has been tempered with responsibility on the part of the owner being a main ingredient in his training and upbringing.

The Doberman requires a strong and sensible owner who has knowledge of dogs and canine behavior. The Doberman must first of all be responsibly bred and then socialized early and faithfully trained in obedience and it can be a great family companion and still maintain a naturally protective instinct. In the United States the Doberman Club has from the beginning provided a responsible approach to educating the public about the breeding, socialization and training of their protégé. To a large degree this has protected the Doberman Dog from becoming a status symbol for violent members of society, as has been the sad fate of the Pitbull.

In today’s society the Doberman is often a champion in the obedience trials. As an example in 1992, The A.K.C. recorded in their records 2, 175 CDX titles earned by Dobermans. The Doberman Club has for years put strong emphasis on providing education for the public about the potential working abilities of their breed and many are trained in tracking, search and rescue and police dogs.

The Doberman Pinscher for many years suffered from Von Willebrands Disease but now that there is a DNA test for this problem it can be avoided through responsible breeding. Wobbler’s syndrome, bone cancer and heart problems are also prevalent in the Doberman breed and responsible breeders usually test for these conditions.

The Doberman Pinscher is described in the A.K.C. standard as “Elegant in appearance, of proud carriage, reflecting great nobility and temperament,” and the temperament is further described as “Energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient.” Owners of Dobermans should have a sense of responsibility and determination also and if they follow through on good socialization and training for their dog they will have a dog that exemplifies every aspect of a great companion and watch dog for their family.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to

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Tags: rottweiler