Lovingly referred to as the Beardie, the Bearded Collie is an intelligent, curious-looking dog breed that loves to play with children. Thought to be originally from Britain, it later spent some time in Scotland as a sheep and cattle herder before coming to America. The Bearded Collie is now mostly bred for dog shows, though it makes an excellent family companion. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS The Bearded Collie has a sturdy medium-sized body. Its long, lean body provides it both power and agility, essential qualities in a sheep herding dog. Besides its ability to make smooth, quick movements, the Bearded Collie possesses a double coat, which is soft and furry underneath with a straight, flat, and coarse outer coat. This outer coat comes in either black, blue, brown, or fawn, with or without white markings. Its facial expression is both bright and keen. PERSONALITY AND TEMPERAMENT The Bearded Collie is extremely smart, cheerful, playful, and always active. Full of enthusiasm and energy, the dog is obedient in nature and prefers to spend time with people. It can have an independent attitude at times, but loves playing with children; and although it can become too boisterous with children, it is never intentionally aggressive. Otherwise, the Bearded Collie is pleasant to live with. CARE Although the Bearded Collie can live outside in cool climates, it prefers to remain indoors with its master and family. Walking and playing sessions are recommended for keeping the dog in optimum form, and herding is its favorite activity. The Bearded Collie should be combed and brushed regularly to keep its coat lustrous and tangle free. HEALTH With a lifespan of about 12 to 14 years, the Bearded Collie is susceptible to some minor health problems, including colonic disease, canine hip dysplasia (CHD), hypoadrenocorticism, pemphigus, and epilepsy. Other diseases that can be occasionally seen in the breed are cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), von Willebrand's disease (vWD), and persistent pupillary membrane. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may run thyroid, hip, and eye exams on the dog. HISTORY AND BACKGROUND Occasionally referred to as the Highland Collie, the Mountain Collie, or simply Beardie, the Bearded Collie is one of Britain's oldest breeds. Its origins are thought to date back to the early 1600s, with a relation to the Polish Lowland Sheepdog breed. The earliest known picture of the Bearded Collie, however, was not until 1771, when a dog of similar appearance was placed in a portrait with the Duke of Buccleuch. A description of the breed was later published in an 1818 edition of Livestock Journal. The dog proved to be an excellent sheep and cattle herder, both in the rough terrain of England and in Scotland. It was only afterwards, during the Victorian era, that the Bearded Collie came to be regarded as a popular show dog. This occurred when the two breeds of the Highland strain with gray and white coats, and the brown and white way coat Border strains were crossbred to form a single breed. The Bearded Collie was introduced to the United States in the late 1950s, and by July 1969, the Bearded Collie Club of America was founded. The breed became eligible to be shown in the American Kennel Club's (AKC) Miscellaneous Class in 1977 and was given full status as part of the AKC's Herding Group in 1983.
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Ear Infections are one of the most common canine and feline health problems, but that doesn’t mean that veterinarians and owners are all that good at treating them. We all have to share the blame in this regard.
Owners often want a quick (and inexpensive) fix, and doctors can be unwilling to put in the time necessary to thoroughly explain the complexities behind many ear infections. To help remedy this situation, here are a few tips for treating ear infections in dogs and cats. 1. Ear infections typically develop as a result of another problem. In most cases, a pet’s ear infection should be viewed as a symptom of another, underlying condition. Allergies to ingredients in the pet’s food and/or environmental triggers like pollen, molds, and dust mites are most common, but anatomical abnormalities, masses, or foreign material within the ear, chronically damp ears, and hormonal disorders are also possible. 2. Ear mites are rarely to blame, except in kittens. Almost every case of ear mites that I’ve diagnosed has been in a kitten. Puppies can also get ear mites, but if you have an adult dog or cat that has not been in contact with kittens or puppies with ear mites, the chances that he or she has mites is very small. Bacterial and/or yeast infections are much more likely. 3. Clean the ears properly. Getting the “gunk” out of a pet’s ears is an essential part of treatment. In severe cases, a veterinarian may need to sedate the dog or cat to thoroughly flush out the ears down to the level of the ear drum. Examining the ear drum after cleaning is important because infections that involve structures behind the ear drum require more aggressive treatment and certain topical medications can cause deafness when used on pets with ruptured ear drums. At home, owners should completely fill the ear canal until it overflows with the cleaner prescribed by a veterinarian, fold the pinna (ear flap) over the canal, gently massage until a “squishy” noise is heard, and then stand back and let the dog or cat shake his or her head vigorously. The centrifugal forces generated by head shaking will bring deeper material to the surface where it can be wiped away. Do not dig down into the pet’s ear canal with cotton swabs or other objects as this will simply push the material deeper and possibly lead to a rupture of the ear drum. 4. The longer an ear infection goes without treatment, the harder it is to get rid of. Chronic ear infections can lead to permanent alterations in the anatomy of a dog or cat’s ears, making future infections more likely and more difficult to treat. Consult with a veterinarian quickly when a pet develops the typical signs of an ear infection: head shaking, scratching at the ears, and/or discharge and a foul odor from the ears. 5. Ear infections will keep coming back unless the underlying problem is dealt with. Healthy adult pets with “normal” ear anatomy almost never get ear infections. It is reasonable to treat the first infection that a dog or cat gets as a random event, but if the infection returns or fails to promptly resolve with appropriate therapy, a search for the underlying cause should commence. |
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