The American Pit Bull Terrier is characterized by its strong physique, athletic body, and courageous nature, which has won the hearts of those who want to have this companion dog. Because of its natural aggressiveness, in order to reduce its ferocious temperament and allow it to adapt to human society and learn to get along harmoniously, owners should start basic socialization training when they are puppies. After all, some characteristics and habits have already been formed when they grow up and are difficult to change.
The head of the American Pit Bull Terrier is square-shaped, with large and expressive eyes, ears of moderate size and high set, broad shoulders and well-developed muscles, especially in males. The muscular lines are clear and smooth, giving a strong sense of power. It has sturdy and powerful limbs and dense, glossy short fur in different colors, all of which leave a deep impression on people. The tail is thick and short, gradually becoming thinner towards the tip.
In the 19th century, many residents in Europe and America liked to emigrate. When European residents emigrated to America, they would bring their beloved dogs with them. The American Pit Bull Terrier we see today is actually the descendant of European dogs that moved with their owners. The dogs that immigrated to the Americas were mainly used to guard ranches and graze cattle and sheep, or hunt wild boars or bears in groups of dogs, so herding dogs were the main breed.
Although the American Pit Bull Terrier has been bred very well with the development of history and continuous improvement by experts, for some reason, they still have not been recognized by any large breed registration organization in the Americas, and have been refused to participate in any dog shows. The fundamental reason may be that the American Pit Bull Terrier essentially belongs to a fighting dog. They are brave, fearless, aggressive, and move swiftly. For most people, its danger factor is still too high, so it is rejected.
From the past to the present, the American Pit Bull Terrier has undergone significant changes in body size and coat color. It now looks very similar to the English Bull Terrier used in bullfighting in the 18th century.
Its combat power is amazing, and its ferocity is unstoppable by humans. Most people find it difficult to accept them, and they are not suitable for raising in crowded cities, as they are prone to injuring humans or animals. If you want to raise them, it is best to keep them in spacious places such as farms, warehouses, or rural outskirts, and pay attention to providing relevant training and putting on leashes from an early age.
1. Heart Disease
Dogs with heart disease are often associated with obesity and old age. When dogs have heart disease, they mainly show symptoms such as easy fatigue, difficulty and rapid breathing. Heart disease in dogs is difficult to detect and often goes unnoticed until the dog is seriously ill.
2. Infectious Diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common and highly lethal infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in time are prone to these two infectious diseases, and once they are infected, they may exhibit symptoms such as lethargy, decreased appetite, increased body temperature, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney Disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease cannot be ignored. The terrifying thing about kidney disease in dogs is that it often develops unnoticed, and by the time the owner realizes it, the dog's kidney cells have already been damaged by more than 75%. When a dog's kidneys have problems, the usual symptoms include bloody urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms, as well as heartworms, are common parasites that infect dogs. When dogs are infected with intestinal parasites, the main symptoms include weight loss, lethargy, diarrhea, worm-infested stool, and pale gums and mucous membranes. Heartworms are parasites that live in a dog's heart, and after infection, dogs may exhibit symptoms such as decreased vitality, coughing, anemia, wheezing, and ascites.
5. Canine Pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but it is usually a complication of other diseases. It often occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory system, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral colds, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Coughing, nasal congestion, and increased body temperature are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
Prevent colds: In cold weather, in order to prevent the American Pit Bull Terrier from catching a cold, outdoor activities at night should be reduced appropriately. Keep the kennel dry, well-ventilated, and clean to reduce pest infestation. Bathing should be done at a suitable temperature around noon. If the American Pit Bull Terrier shows symptoms of a cold, it should be taken to the hospital for treatment in a timely manner. If the temperature drops suddenly, the dog will not adapt so quickly. It is necessary to timely add some cotton mats or blankets to the doghouse to help the American Pit Bull Terrier keep warm.
Strengthen physique: In the cool autumn, it is best to ensure that the American Pit Bull Terrier has about 2 hours of outdoor exercise every day, which helps to strengthen its physique and improve resistance. If it is a puppy or an old and weak dog, consider giving them additional immunostimulants to improve their ability to resist diseases.
Enhance nutrition: The daily feeding amount can be appropriately increased, and the quality of dog food must be guaranteed to meet the nutritional needs of the American Pit Bull Terrier and help it safely pass the winter with a healthy body.
Prevent skin diseases: Adhere to regular cleaning of the dog's fur, help it to shed smoothly, and help prevent skin diseases. In order to survive the winter, Pit Bulls generally start shedding in autumn. In early autumn, the activities of external parasites such as mussels and lice are very frequent. In order to prevent the American Pit Bull Terrier from contracting skin diseases and external parasite diseases at this time, it is necessary to regularly groom and bathe them to clean the dirt and shed hair on the surface of their bodies in a timely manner. The frequency of bathing should be controlled at once every 10-15 days. In addition, when bathing the American Pit Bull Terrier, attention should be paid to keeping it warm and prevent it from catching a cold. In addition, the kennel of the American Pit Bull Terrier and the places where they often move should be treated with insecticides to eliminate external parasites as much as possible.
Maintain kennel and dog body hygiene: The kennel and the places where the dog often exercises should be regularly disinfected, with disinfection being done once every 10-15 days. Before disinfection, it must be thoroughly cleaned and scrubbed. Disinfectants such as 2% formalin, 3% caustic soda solution, or 3%-5% lysol solution can be used.
1. Do not bathe frequently
Bathing dogs should not be too frequent. It depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, you can bathe the dog once or twice more, and in winter you can reduce it by one or two times. But overall, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Brush regularly
Dogs shed their fur almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. To promote good fur growth, regular brushing is important. Pet owners can use dedicated pet brushes to help remove naturally shed fur and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. Besides making the fur more lustrous, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites consume a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving it of nutrition. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to do both internal and external deworming. Deworming medication can cause significant damage to the dog's digestive system, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order for the dog to have a beautiful coat, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog nutritious and healthy dog food that meets its needs. On the other hand, you can also give the dog a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil.
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