Nevertheless before going shopping it is better to be armed with Shih Tzu information and also what to expect from the proper breeder. Before selecting the puppy it is good to know about the famous Shih Tzu.

Lately the Shih Tzu has become tremendously popular and as such unethical business has also started to thrive. Top class breeders will be concentrating on type, health as well as temperament. They must be able to answer questions thrown to them about the breed and should be a member of one or more breed organizations. There are certain rules they have to follow. The breeder should be able to introduce the mother to the buyers. The litter as well as the mother should be in a clean condition. The father may not be available because stud dogs come from outside.

Shih Tzu puppies are not ready to leave their mother until 9 weeks old. The breeder should provide, apart from the pedigree certificate, details of diet, de-worming records and contact information. A responsible reliable and caring breeder will always lend a helping hand even after the puppy has changed addresses for a reasonable length of time.

On the negative side it is best to avoid looking for a Shih Tzu in a puppy farm or puppy mill. Usually the pet shops get their supply from these joints or a casual dealer. The purchaser might be tempted by the relatively lower price. The man down the street might have had a wonderful experience with one such puppy but actually buying from these places is like purchasing a lottery ticket.

No thought is usually given to genetic factors and dangers of inbreeding. The puppies may be physically and socially stunted considering the environment in which they are packed. These breeders are never willing to take the puppy back if gross discrepancies arise. So keep asking probing questions and evaluate.

Breed clubs can guide the purchaser and they even have Shih Tzu puppy coordinators. The vet in the locality should be a good guide in this matter. The wise course would be to nose around and get enlisted on the waiting list. Shih Tzu puppies are not usually always sitting on the shelves waiting to be tossed into the basket. Reputable Shih Tzu breeders are not easy to find.

It has a long hair on top requiring special attention. The colour varies from one to another. The dog hardly sheds its hair and is termed hypoallergenic. Considering all this it is little wonder then that the hair cut for Shih Tsu needs special discussion.

Haircuts for Shih Tzu are important because it needs intensive grooming. A daily brushing is a must to avoid knots and tangles. They need to be bathed once a month with special attention being given to the eyes and ears. Before going in for haircuts for Shih Tzu some areas have to be shaved.

The first step is to shave the stomach) skirting carefully the genital area. Start shaving the muzzle beginning from the nose moving up to the eyes. Go behind the eyebrows and down till the neck is reached. Cut the hair on the neck and trunk and stop at the beginning of the tail, the legs and bottom. Shave off the lower part of the legs. Pull out hair from the inside of the ears. Use a teasel brush to get rid of the knots and then brush the shaved parts. Use the electric trimmer once more to get an even finish. Catch the extended legs and start combing to the sides and make all the odd ends smooth. With curved scissors comb the lower part of the tail.

The hair on top of the paw must not be cut – the paws must be covered with hair. The hair on the cheeks has to be combed forward and made to arch from where the ears start. Stop when the nose is reached. The ears have to be lifted and the outside brushed and hair cut to give a round effect. The head should look like a kind of ball.

Shih Tzu hair cuts and shampoos go hand in hand. It is easier to do the job in the kitchen sink. Shampoo the head at the end of the operation. Keep a towel ready, then use a hair dryer. This will make the pet feel pampered. The heat must be low however.

A toothbrush will suffice to clean the ears and whiskers. The inside of the ear can be cleaned with a swab dipped in mineral oil. The key to how to cut a Shih Tzu hair is to train the dog to lie still and cooperate.

If the state is named after an Indian word ‘mishigami’ meaning large lake, the name of the dog breed has a Tibeto- Chinese flavour. Michigan’s fresh water shoreline is the longest in the world and it was no mean job, hunting for signs advertising sale of Shih Tzu puppies.

The shihtzu are a rare breed of lap dogs who are faithful companions. The Michigan Shih-Tzu breeder has to be someone special – not only an ordinary breeder but also someone who loves the shih-tzu breed. They are sharp witted, loving but rather low in activity and rarely bark.

The search for elusive Shih Tzu breeders in Michigan snaked through pages of directories until finally the Internet gave the right information – perhaps. One has to be cautious and make distinctions between the dog lover who happens to be a breeder and the professional breeder who takes the dog to be nothing more than a moneymaking tool.

With the latter type there are no compunctions about inbreeding and this in turn leads to long-term genetic disorders. Unfortunately by the time these deformities are detected the puppy is an adult and the bond of affection formed cannot be broken.

Tracing the breeder after this lapse of time is like looking for a drop of black ink in the blue waters of Lake Michigan. The racket in Shih Tzu breeds is all the more rampant because it is a rare kind and prices too reach rare heights. So the warning is not to get taken in by any sign shouting that there are Shih Tzu puppies for sale in Michigan

The Shih Tzu is a toy breed. Its weight hovers around 9 to 16 lbs and its height is never more than 8 to 11 inches. The Shih Tzu has a long thick double wavy coat, which trails, majestically on the ground. It is wooly and soft. The hair on the crown is so abundant that a topknot has to be tied like a diadem. The Shih Tzu originated in Tibet but then went on a long journey to cross into China and enter the royal household to become a prized pet. It is often called ‘small lion’.

The Shih Tzu loves nothing better than to be petted, cuddled and romped around with children. It is a companion par excellence. Find the genuine Michigan Shih Tzu breeder and lap up a cuddly.

Plaque is formed due to deposition of food and bacteria. Regular canine dental care and brushing at home can clear up this unhealthy mess.

If the plaque is neglected, minerals present in the saliva combines with the plaque and forms tartar – also known as calculus. It gets strongly fixed to the teeth. Within 3 to 5 days of the formation of the plaque it begins to mineralize. The gums become inflamed and gingivitis sets in resulting in bad breath.

Removal of the tartar is essential in dog dental care. If this is not done then it builds up below the gums causing loose teeth. A pocket is formed encouraging further growth of bacteria. This condition is irreversible and is known as periodontal disease. It causes pain and formation of abscesses.

Pet dental health is the first step to its general health. It is not far to see how starting from the mouth the tentacles of ill health reach out to touch all other parts of the pet. There is bone loss and bacterium enters the blood stream. This in turn affects the heart, liver as well as kidneys. However even at this advanced stage with proper care from the vet periodontal disease can be slowed down and checked.

Proper dental care will involve regular visits to the vet. The vet will professionally clean the mouth and note any swelling, plaque or tartar deposits. The professional eye will not miss out on any swellings and thoroughly examine the tongue, palates, mucus, tonsils and tongue region. The saliva glands and lymph nodes will be palpated to check on the size and consistency.

At home the plaque can be removed but not the tartar. This will require regular brushing. The removal of the tartar is done by prophylaxis.

The pet will have to be anesthetized and radiographs taken. The mouth will be flushed with a canine dental product to kill the bacteria. The scalers are held by the hand. There are also ultrasonic scalers. All the deposition below and above the gum line is removed.
Another solution will show up any sections that have escaped notice. The teeth are polished to remove scratches. There is a dental product the use of which will retard build up of plaque.

Prevention being better than cure, there are special toys for chewing, which will prevent dental problems. The diet is another factor. Dog dental care begins at home with regular brushing and the owner probing the inside of the mouth for yellow deposits and swelling signs.

Take a look at Rottweiler puppy pictures and be bowled over by their loving nature full of bounce and fun. The immense power latent in the breed can of course spell trouble.

The Rottweiler puppy must be trained to be obedient and to socialize. It has a reputation of being vicious and mean but if trained properly during the puppy stage it will soon learn to interact with the family. The extremely intelligent Rottweilers pups quickly respond to training. There is however a harsh stubborn streak in them. The breed requires plenty of exercise.

The puppies look like little black, cuddly, fuzzy bears! Till 16 weeks the puppies have very little bowel movement control. This means that the puppy will have to be taken outside at least once in the night around 2 am! It is definitely not everybody’s cup of tea! Even then accidents frequently occur.

These puppies love to howl and continue to do so for as long as 2 hours. So before rushing to the first shop with a sign screaming ‘Rottweiler puppies for sale’ think and pause.

Rottweiler pups bite, growl and snap. With some toys like rawhide or pig’s ears they become extremely aggressive. The intelligent pup often responds to a loud scolding or a firm smack.

Rottweiler pups sometimes chase children and bite off their limbs. They grab cats to kill and bite off the face of an old dog. The difficulty is to know whether the training progresses or not because the puppies might be fine till sunset but then on they behave like strange monsters.

Usually a spin around the garden and some exercise works wonders and they calm down. Within 6 months the symptoms die down. Their next stage is playful jumping on people and chewing the furniture. This is the time for plenty of patience and perseverance.

Rottweiler puppies mature extremely slowly. By the time it is a year old it is house broken and stops chewing but basically it remains a pup until 2 years. Training sessions have to continue. The exceptionally wild and naughty Rottweiler will need extra exercises.

Rottweiler pups not only mentally mature late but they physically grow more slowly than other pups. So they should be kept slim and lean. There is no point in overfeeding them to give the full look. It will only lead to hip problems.

Puppies always test you. If one growl makes you retreat then they gain the upper hand. It is the same with the puppy who shoves the owner and gets first into the car. The Rottweiler puppy is not for the soft natured persons.

Arthritis in dogs are mostly noticed when they are old because that is the time when they become weak and are more susceptible to injury. Older dogs too are more prone to this disease and have to undergo arthritis pet treatment because they live longer and consequently suffer more.

Dogs in general are more susceptible to arthritis because of the weight related connection with the disease. Arthritis puts stress on the joints.

The most common causes for arthritis are hip and elbow dislocation. These are problems related to big dogs. Nevertheless small dogs and cats too suffer from it. The joints are made up of soft connective tissues that act as shock absorbers between the bones. When this cartilage wastes away then arthritis canine symptoms can be noticed. The animals show obvious signs of pain, start limping and try to lift the limb while walking so as not to put pressure on it.

Today canine arthritis medication assures a pain-free life for the beloved pet. Canine arthritis treatment should be done in consultation with the vet. Short-term treatment consists in the administering of anti-inflammatory drugs like buffered aspirin.

With the withdrawal of the pain, long-term arthritis medicine for pet can be started. The pet will require reasonable exercise to control the weight for mobility of joints and putting of less pressure on the joints. The owner must see that this routine is regularly maintained.

Side effects might surface but it must immediately be reported to the doctor. Medicines suitable for humans are not the best for animals because of metabolic differences. The vet is the best judge in such matters. In fact it can be positively dangerous for the pet.

Sometimes the arthritis is so acute that surgical back up is required. Arthrotomy removes fragments of bone and cartilage. Arthrodesis fuses the joints and sometimes the doctor might opt for total hip replacement.

Early detection of the onset of pet arthritis is essential and for this the best person to notice is the loving owner who will see to it that the animal does not become a cripple.

The usual signs are that the pet will take a lot of time to get up and be unable to jump and climb. If these signs suddenly appear then obviously the animal has ruptured its disc and needs immediate attention. Even appetite loss may be connected with the disease. Arthritis pet treatment today is greatly advanced.

Do remember that potty puppy training won’t be effective till he is about six months old, because as a young puppy he won’t have sufficient bladder and bowel control.

You have to be available to supervise potty training for puppies, but there can be times when it is not possible for you to be around. In such a situation, put your puppy in a puppy-proof room, with the floor entirely covered with newspaper or disposable, absorbent material.

In the beginning, the puppy will go all over the room, but he will start favoring one area, as he gets older. Reduce the area gradually, until the puppy learns to go on the toilet papers only.

The floor of this puppy-proof room should be different from the floor area of the rest of the house, and should not have any carpeting. When the puppy has become conditioned to eliminating on a particular type of surface, he will automatically want to eliminate only on a similar surface.

If you have set yourself the task of teaching your puppy to eliminate only on paper, then you have accomplished your task. But most dog owners also like their dogs to eliminate outside the house; so use the puppy-proof room only when you are not around to supervise him.

If you are putting your puppy in a crate for some time, put papers in a corner of the crate, which he will use. Dogs are very clean by nature, and he will try his best not to dirty his bed area. This will also teach him to develop self control.

If you trying for potty training dog outdoors, then take him out to the appointed area every forty five minutes. When your puppy does his job in the proper area, praise him extravagantly, for he is learning the most critical lesson in his house training. It is one puppy potty training tip which most puppy owners tend to overlook.

Your puppy’s feeding schedule should be consistent, so that you will know when to anticipate his needs. Let him have fresh, clean drinking water at all times, but restrict his access to food.

Similarly, don’t give him free run of the house till he is fully trained. You can put a collar and a long lead on him and tie one end of the lead around your waist, so that he is near you all the time, and you can check him if he makes any mistakes.

You will need a good sense of humor and patience while you are training your dog, and if you are consistent and relaxed while you are teaching him, he will. Gradually he will become well adjusted and house trained and your dog potty training will be a success.

Just like in case of humans, hair loss could be marking the onset of a grave disease, or probably nothing more them just a bit of weakness. Therefore, instead of delaying or trying to answer canine health questions by yourself, take your dog to a vet immediately.

However it is important to bear in mind the fact that a bit of hair loss in dog need not be considered a severe problem. Now you may ask “How can I decide if the amount of dog hair loss in my pet is normal or not?” Well, most of it depends on the dog in question. There are some dogs, for instance, that hardly tend to shed hair. In such cases, if the dog starts shedding hair at the same rate that would be considered normal for other dogs, the problem should be taken up seriously.

Sometimes hair loss in canines can be extremely severe and noticeable. For example, in extreme cases, doges end up shedding so much hair that it results in alopecia, that is lack or absence of hair on certain body parts of the dog, where it normally had been having hair.

Alopecia has been known to be one of the basic symptoms to a number of canine health problems caused due to allergies, stress or parasites. However, sometimes they could also mark the onset of certain internal dog diseases including diabetes, thyroid disorder problems, or even cancer. General weakness and ill health could also result in canine hair loss.

If you see your dog losing a lot of hair, it is suggested that you start observing your dog more closely for some time. A number of other factors, such as change in diet, or heavy scratching etc, could go a long way in helping the vet decide which test to opt for, and in understanding the dog’s problem. For instance, if the doctor suspects a mite infection to be the cause behind the dog’s problem, a test with the dog’s skin scrapings might require to be carried out.

Sometimes, hair loss in dogs, as you might notice could be a result of nothing but heavy chewing or scratching of itself. An itchy dog might need to be bathed with particular shampoos, and treated with allergy shots, in case they are found to be having allergy problems.

So, if you love and care for your pet, do keep a watch out for such problems as dog hair loss. Remember, the old well known rule “prevention is better than cure”, hold good for your beloved creature when you talk about canine hair loss.

This is simply owing to the fact that though a bit of skin problem such as hair loss in dogs or severe canine dermatitis may not be looking too troublesome to you; it sure could be a symptom to an ugly disease. Therefore, it is always best to consult a vet in case the canine dry skin problem tends to look suspicious to you in any possible way.

Thankfully, owing to the fast developing technology these days doctors can easily understand your dog’s problem with a few simple tests. These tests could include anything starting form testing of the dog’s skin scrapings to testing the dog’s blood, etc.

The treatment for dog skin care varies greatly, depending not only on the skin problem, but also depending on the breed of your dog, its overall habits, the climatic conditions the dog has been exposed to, etc. For example canine skin problems such as canine dry skin, have been found to be closely related to cold and dry whether conditions.

If due to lack of moisture in the air, your dog starts troubling you with dry skin problems, then you need not worry much. These days there are a number of bathing lotions, shampoos and after bathing treatments available to help your dog.

However, there are other skin problems in dogs that could be more severe than dry skin problems. For example dog skin allergy caused due to bacterial infection or dermatitis is a problem that can affect the entire body of the dog, and cause inflammation and red-skin. The dog might also get extremely itchy and chewy of itself.

Another very troublesome aspect of some of these canine dry skin problems is that they could be infections to you and your family too. Therefore, till you get your pet checked by a doctor to understand your dog’s disease, it is suggested you avoid too much contact with it.

Though problems such as canine acne, (that occurs on the face of the dogs and is quite similar to the acne problems faced by humans) are quite noticeable, sometimes, surprisingly enough it is not very easy to detect even a severe case of some particular infections in dogs. It might take you days in fact to realize that something is wrong with your pet, if it is suffering form a problem like canine nail fungus.

Therefore the bottom-line is you need to keep a close watch on your dog all the time. Bathe it well, and keep checking its skin regularly, by checking its hair. Take it to a vet for regular check ups so that any skin problem may be easily detected.

You never know how your dog may be suffering inside because of problems like canine dry skin that otherwise tend to look so normal to us.

Diabetes insipidus results from a lack of vasopressin. This is the antidiuretic hormone that controls the water works of the kidney. Diabetes mellitus is caused by lack of insulin or sugar metabolism. The latter is the most common of the two.

Diabetes mellitus can be further subdivided into the congenital and acquired types. Most of the diabetes noticed in dogs are insulin dependent Type 2 otherwise termed IDDM.

Food is taken for energy and maintenance of the body. Enzymes convert the nutrients from food into chemicals for specific body functions. This is delivered through the blood stream to the cells as fuel.

The main fuel is glucose but its mere presence will be of no use unless it is transported. Here insulin plays a key role. It opens the highways for allowing the glucose to travel from the blood to the cells. It also stops the liver from producing excess glucose and has a hand in storing the sugar for future use.

The disease strikes when the endocrine system stumbles in producing insulin sufficient enough to do all the three functions of production, distribution and storage. When the balance is disturbed there is too much glucose in the blood and scant in the cells.

Diabetes in dogs is fairly common. Dog canine diabetes symptom shows up any time between seven and nine years of age. Unspayed female dogs are more prone to the disease. Some breeds like Keeshonds, Miniature Pinschers and Cairn Terriers are genetically predisposed to it.

Poodles, Beagles and Miniature Schauzers have a strong possibility of developing it. Symptom of diabetes in dogs may show up after a viral attack or pancreatic infections and or Cushing’s disease.

The first dog diabetes symptom that will be noticed is lack of appetite. This will be followed up excessive thirst and frequent urination. Unless treated, the dog will lose weight, become lethargic and depressed. Vomiting will ensue. This is the ideal time for secondary bacterial and fungal infection to set in. Liver and bladder problems will surface and the worst of all cataracts will begin to form.

Diagnosis consists of examination of the dog and lab tests. Insulin injections allow the dog to lead a normal life. In most cases a single injection per day will suffice. Following a low calorie diet often the insulin is discontinued. In some cases oral pills also work. Dogs are given pork- based insulin. It is better to be constantly alert about dog diabetes symptoms.