Border Terrier’s are known for their jumping ability and agility. They are very intelligent with a level temperament. Many times you will see Border Terrier’s as therapy dogs due to their capacity for independent thinking.

Borders love to run so daily trips to the park or out for a long run is just what the Border Terrier needs to keep them active. Natural born foxhunters they were used back in the day to flush the foxes, otters and badgers out of their holds. It’s always amazing to see this quick dog in action and jumping despite their how short their legs are.

One thing you need to know is that due to their instinctive nature for hunting, the Border Terrier is know to chase small animals other cats, mice and the like. However, if they are raised from a puppy with a family cat, they will not chase the family pet. Best to watch your Border Terrier when out with your Border Terrier because they have been known to bolt after a squirrel, rabbit or other small animal!

You do have to watch the stuffed animals around the house. The Border Terrier has been know to destroy and consume these stuffed fury friends. If your dog becomes lethargic, unable to sleep, non-interested in affection, best to get him to the vet for an x-ray just to rule out illness.

While these dogs are typically very active, they do love to just lounge in the park and take in the sites. Watching all the goings-on is something they enjoy. They are known to be a bit stubborn once they get settled and often refuse to get up and along, especially when they are tired!

As with all breeds, these dogs tend to be prone to cataracts, retinal disease and hip Dysplasia. Seizures and juvenile diabetes are also an issues and it’s very important to know that they are very sensitive to anesthetics however they are slow to put under despite their small size. This little dynamo can also have a high threshold of pain so if injured you might not even know.

Border Terrier’s fall in the medium size category weighing in at between 11 and 15 pounds with the females usually weighing the least. Their coats are dirt and weather resistant that requires a weekly brushing. They do shed but the weekly brushing can help with this issue as well as hand stripping a couple of time a year.

Command training with these dogs from an early age on will allow you to have better control over your overly impulsive pup. Being consistent and providing them with adequate exercise can keep them in line. Their eagerness to please and love for people makes them a good dog for family pets.

They are known to get along well with other dogs but at times can be confrontational. While signs of aggression are not unusual, this behavior is not displayed very often. Knowing your dog’s limits and socialization can be contributing factors that lead to a happy Border Terrier.

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If you have a dog that is driving you crazy up all night chewing and itching, then he most likely is suffering from an allergy to fleas. Sounds ridiculous but it’s more common than you think. For some dogs, this can turn into a serious problem, especially if left untreated.

You can see something like this start in your puppy but it is also very common in much older dogs. The adult flea does the biting but they don’t live long unless they are on the host dog. Hmmm, is that supposed to make you feel better?

First the adult flea will bite then it falls off but doesn’t survive. Then the eggs they leave go ahead and follow their proper life cycle. This problem will continue to manifest itself until you take control of the problem and eliminate the source totally.

If you want to keep your dog flea free, then you need to continue treatment. The symptoms can be painful to the dog and an annoyance to the owners. This chronic condition left untreated can lead to behavioral problems in your pet as well.

To determine if your dog is infested with fleas that might be causing an allergic reaction, you can look for flea dirt or fleas. The vet may want to test for mites if no fleas are visible. A noticeable increase in chewing and itching is a sure symptom of a flea allergy but can also be an indication of mites.

Humans are not immune to the dreaded fleabite. As we have said the adult flea will fall off the dog after it bites and you could become fair game. One or two bites is all your dog needs to get to start the allergic reaction in motion. Treatment is needed to keep this nasty irritation at bay as well as treating the house and yard.

Help your dog get relief from this itchy allergy by taking immediate action. Treat them with a dip or flea shampoo and a continued application monthly of the topical applied to the back of the neck. You dog will surely thank you, if he could!

Quick diagnosis and treatment will help relive your dog from his suffering. Chewing and itching along with hair loss are sure signs of a flea allergy. Additionally you might see lesions in numerous places over the dog’s body.

Remember that continuous treatment is necessary to keep your dog flea free. Initially you might have to give your dog a couple of dip baths before you notice the fleas disappearing as well as treating the interior of you home. You owe it to your pet to be diligent in the battle to rid them of fleas, and they will appreciate you for it!

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Mange is an itchy, inflammatory disease caused by the mite Demodex. Making a determination of which mite your dog is infected with can determine the seriousness of mange. Typically mange in dogs is referred to as Demodicosis.

There are several side effects of mange again, depending on the type of mite inhibiting the hair follicles and skin. Mange can cause genetic disorders; immune system problems and lesions just to name a few. Mange is not only a condition known to affect dogs but cats as well.

There are two forms of Demodectic mange that can affect your pet. Localized will effect a specific area whereas generalized will be in many places over the entire body. Once the vet determines which type of demodectic mange your dog has, proper treatment will be determined.

While many vets will say they do not know what might cause mange, some believe that dogs can be predisposed to this disease due to an immune system problem. Generalized mange will appear as redness of the skin and patches of lesions over the entire body. Localized mange will be around the face, trunk or legs of the dog.

It is believed that one form of mite can be transferred from the mother to the baby via nursing. There are to other forms of mites and it is not yet known how those mites are transferred. Demodex canis gets into the hair follicle of the pet causing this transmission during nursing.

There are a couple of ways to diagnosis demodectic mange in your dog or cat. Either a sample of urine can be tested if that is available, but also by testing a piece of scraped skin. Another possibility could be that your dog may have a bacterial infection of the hair follicle instead of mange.

Localized mange can be cured easily by itself over a period of time. The generalized mange can be more difficult to cure. Lime-sulphur dips and constant medication can relieve some of the symptoms. There are some cases that are more severe and you will need to weigh your options with the vet for the best solution for the dog.

Skin scrapings are necessary to continue testing the dog during its treatment to determine that the mites have been eliminated. If your dog is diagnosed with mange, it is important that you are diligent with the prescribed treatment. This will enable you to keep the spread of the disease under control.

In order to help prevent this disease, you can be sure to maintain the good health of your dog or cat. Regular grooming of your pet can help ward off this nasty disease. All veterinarians will suggest that you not breed your pet if it has chronic mange.

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There are many different types of ailments that can affect our dogs. Many we don’t find out until later because dogs will not start showing symptoms until well into the disease. However, elbow Dysplasia is an abnormal growth of cells, bone or tissue and can be detected between 4 and 10 months.

The Dysplasia abnormality can lead to your dog becoming lame if not treated. There is a type of condition similar to this that affects males more than females. Typically this condition is found in the larger breeds like Labs, Rottweilers, Chows and other giant breeds.

Males and females as we said can both be afflicted with Dysplasia. More common though in males more then female is the condition where the bone fragment is found in the inner surface of the upper ulna. This condition will be found in the foreleg just below the elbow joint.

Dysplasia is not always something your dog will show signs of. Watch him after he has been exercising and see if he shows stiffness or lameness. He might also be favoring the limb by either flexing or extending their elbow away from his body. It’s also good to watch your dog, as they get older because not all dogs will display symptoms.

The cause of this condition is not only genetic but can be caused by nutritional or developmental issues. It is important for you to get your pup to the vet for a medical examination. The vet will be able to make a diagnosis after a series of tests to eliminate other causes for the symptoms.

The symptoms can mean a number of things like joint trauma, possible infection or even some sort of arthritis. The Doctor will take x-rays of the affected limb as well as the other and run more tests before coming to a conclusion. If it is determined to be Elbow Dysplasia, then surgery might be recommended.

It will be important to keep your dog from any strenuous activities for about 4 weeks after surgery. Keep the area iced down off and on during the day for about 5 days to minimize the swelling. You will want to encourage movement in the limb though until your dog is strong enough to get up and around.

For future reference, you can take preventative measures for this condition by not promoting rapid growth of your dog. Manage their weight gain as they grow and feed them accordingly. In addition, do not breed a dog that has been diagnosed with this condition since it is genetic.

This is a fairly common condition in large dogs so don’t worry. If you got your dog from a breeder, it’s important to notify them of the condition. Your dog can continue to live a happy life just remember to get him yearly checkups with the vet.

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