The Boston Terrier is a loving companion dog well suited to apartment and small house living. She only requires walks for exercise. She can become overheated in hot and humid climates. She is highly intelligent and easy to train. She is good with children, other animals and the elderly. Just as a reminder, never leave young children with a dog or puppy unsupervised.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Boston Terrier is 15 to 17 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and from 10 to 25 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Boston Terrier is no exception. Look for juvenile cataracts, whelping problems, skin conditions, Cushings disease, skin tumors and breathing difficulties. They can overheat easily in heat and humidity. Keep an eye on her ears. She may experience eye injuries due to their prominence. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.
*Grooming. The Boston Terrier has a smooth, short and shiny coat. She is a medium shedder and should be brushed weekly. She should be bathed infrequently as this strips her coat of its protective oils. Keep her ears clean.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.
*Life Span. The Boston Terrier can live between 10 and 12 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
*History. The Boston Terrier originated in Boston around 1870 with a cross between a English White Terrier and a English Bulldog. She was then bred for a smaller size. By 1889, the breed starting becoming popular. She was first recognized by the American Kennel Association in 1893.
Some Registries:
*Boston Terrier Club of America
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry
Litter Size: 3 to 4 Boston Terrier puppies
Category: Non sporting. Mastiff.
Terms To Describe: Gentle, alert, intelligent, expressive, well mannered, cuddly, well balanced,
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Good watch dog.
Relatively quiet.
Intelligent.
Very affectionate.
Great with children if socialized.
Does not need much exercise.
Easily trained.
They enjoy people.
Incomparable companion.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
Not a guard dog.
She snores.
Can be stubborn.
Can suffer in hot climates and high humidity.
May be difficult to housebreak.
*Other Names Known By: Round Heads, Yankee Terrier
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.
About the Author
Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.
www.petpages.com is a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds, and puppy for sale info Petpages.com also offers information on cats, fish, reptiles, birds, ferrets, rabbits, mice and even pet bugs.
Dog Bladder Infection – A Sign of Underlying Health Problems?
The bladder is an organ in the body that stores urine. Bladder infection in dogs is commonly caused by bacteria. However, a recurrent or persistent infection may indicate other conditions such as bladder stones, bladder cancer, Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism), diabetes mellitus and anatomical defects.
Bacteria infection
The urinary bladder and urine are normally sterile. Infection occurs when bacteria enters the bladder via the urethra from outside the body. This type of infection can simply be treated with a course of antibiotics.
There are various types of bladder stones. Oxalate stones are the type that cause dog bladder infection.
The substance that inhibits the formation of calcium oxalate stones is nephrocalcin. Due to some genetic disorder, this substance is defective in dogs that develop this type of bladder stones.
Calcium oxalate stones cannot be dissolved by special diets. In most cases, surgical removal is necessary. Nevertheless, dietary changes can prevent formation of new stones.
Bladder cancer
This type of cancer is rare in dogs. More than 50% of bladder tumors are malignant. The tumor usually grows in the neck of the bladder. As it becomes larger, it can block the flow of urine to and from the bladder.
Surgical removal is only possible if the tumor is located away from the neck of the bladder or it has not spread to other parts of the body. Other treatment options include chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Cushing’s disease
In dogs with Cushing’s disease, the body over produces cortisol. Excessive levels of this hormone increase calcium in urine that leads to formation of calcium oxalate stones. As mentioned above, this type of stones cause bladder infection in dogs.
For Cushing’s disease caused by adrenal tumor, treatment is by surgical removal and supplementing with cortisol until adrenal glands are functioning normally again.
Pituitary dependent Cushing’s disease is treated with drug medications to restore cortisol production to normal level.
Diabetes mellitus
Dogs with diabetes mellitus have insufficient insulin to absorb and utilise glucose. Excess glucose promotes bacteria growth and bladder infection. Diabetes mellitus is treated with insulin injections.
Anatomical defects
Diverticuli in the bladder can harbour bacteria and is a hard to reach area for antibiotics. Surgical removal may be required if prolong treatment with antibiotics does not get rid of the infection.
Neurological problems
Older dogs may have difficulty emptying the bladder due to disc problem, spine tumor, liver disease and cauda equina syndrome.
Diagnosing illness in your dog is not very easy, but there are certain things that owners can look out for to make sure to take the best care of their dog that they can. Regular vet visits and good home care and training are essential components to a healthy, thriving pet. The following are some indications of illness or problems that you might want to bring up with your veterinarian, if necessary.
Strange Waste
Of course, the waste material of your dog is never going to smell like roses; some smells less than others but feces smell nonetheless. If you happen to notice that your dog’s waste is stronger than it usually is, this is an indication of some digestive problems; in the same sense, any blood in the waste may also be an indicator of a greater problem and it is something you should bring up with your vet.
Mucus, blood, foreign objects, or indication of constipation or diarrhea on an ongoing basis are also cause for concern in your pet, and may be the signal of a greater problem.
Things like parasites, allergic reactions, food poisoning, or purposeful poisoning are all signified through these ways, so they are cause for concern in your pet.
Strange Urine
You can also diagnose dog illness by examining their urine; although it seems a bit gross, you can tell a lot about the health of your dog by examining their urine. If you notice that your dog’s urine has blood in it that may be a sign that something bigger is going on in their system, that some type of infection is present. If it looks like your dog is having a hard time urinating that may be a sign of a bigger problem as well. Even if it seems like your dog is urinating too much, that may also be a sign of health problems and diabetes is one of them, as well as Cushing’s syndrome and canine hepatic diseases. Check an online resource like http://www.aboutdoghealth.org for more information about these type of diseases.
Your Dog’s Coat
While it may not seem strange to you that your dog smells badly, it is not normal for the skin of your pet to secret strange odors. This can be due to certain problems, like hormonal issues and dermatitis. These are all issues that can turn into major health problems if they are not addressed early on.
Your Dog’s Actions
If you are noticing that your dog is responding less and less to your calls, or that their balance and orientation seems to be a bit off, you should have them checked for possible problems with the inner ear. As far as your dog’s behavior goes, excessive lethargy or apathy, or other apparent disturbances in your dog’s environment can also be indicative of more problems with your dog’s health. Rabies, meningitis and other serious health problems can be indicated by strange changes in your pet’s behavior.
If any of the above seem to be things that you are noticing in your pet and they are occurring on an ongoing basis, be sure to consult your vet for good advice on the right way to handle the situation and whether or not veterinary care should be sought after.
