Kai Ken, English name: Cain Terrier, originated from England in the 16th century. This dog has a lively personality and is very popular. Although it is small in size, it is an outstanding working terrier and the smallest among all working terriers. The word "Cain" refers to a pile of stones, many of which are ancient Roman burial monuments in the Scottish Highlands. In the past, Kai Ken was good at tracking rats, foxes, and sometimes even fierce European cats living in stone piles.
Nature is active, likes to play, intelligent and loyal, gentle temperament, friendly to people, strong physique, active and brave.
The history of the Kai Ken has been 500 years, it is one of the oldest terriers, its ancestors and other highland breeds, including Scottish Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, etc. are the same. The Kai Ken originated from the northwest of Scotland and was mainly used to catch mice and other pests. It was called the short-haired Skye Terrier in the past and was not renamed the Kai Ken until 1909.
The Kai Ken was officially recognized by the Kennel Club of England in 1912 and was introduced to the United States in 1913. At that time, many breeders crossed it with the West Highland White Terrier and then improved a dark-colored variety with a West Highland White Terrier lineage, which was also registered as the Kai Ken. Therefore, in 1924, the Kennel Club of England started to refuse registration for descendants of crossbred individuals in order to distinguish between the two breeds. The Kai Ken is not only good at hunting, but also an excellent swimmer.
In 1923, England recognized white as the color standard for the Kai Ken. Hybrid varieties of Kai Ken and West Highland White Terriers also appeared in the United States. However, as early as 1917, the AKC prohibited the registration of any hybrid Kai Ken.
Nowadays, it is difficult for the current Kai Ken to meet its early standards, mainly because the purpose of the Kai Ken Club is to preserve its early working breed characteristics and image, while breeders and sellers aim for practicality.
This dog is intelligent, lively, alert, and brave. It is loyal to its owner and friendly to people around. Coupled with its small and charming appearance, it is deeply loved by people and is very suitable as a companion dog for families. Moreover, it is relatively easy to raise and does not require much space, making it suitable for both urban and rural environments.
1. Canine Infectious Diseases
Dogs are prone to infectious diseases, including canine distemper and canine coronavirus. Common clinical symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty breathing, bloody stools, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, and cracked paws.
Generally, these types of infectious and fatal diseases are more common in dogs during the weaning period or around 1 year old. Puppies are more susceptible and have a lower cure rate, and they are more likely to have sequelae.
How to prevent:
When bringing a dog home, it is recommended for the owner to choose a dog through regular channels, vaccinate the dog on time, regularly disinfect the house, and not take the dog out for a walk until it has completed its vaccination. Avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and do not allow others to touch the dog's mouth or nose.
2. Canine Skin Disease
Because dogs often walk outside, they can easily get various skin diseases. If a dog is accidentally infected with mites, bacteria, or fungi, it can be difficult to cure for a long time, so all owners must pay attention. Clinical manifestations of canine skin diseases include greasy skin, peeling, redness, itching, papules, ulcers, suppurative discharge, hair loss, and scabs.
How to prevent:
In daily care, it is necessary to keep the dog's living environment clean and tidy, avoiding dark and humid areas. In addition, regular disinfection of the dog's living environment, internal and external deworming, using special dog shampoo, regular grooming, and supplementing vitamins and fish oil can help prevent skin diseases.
3. Canine Parasites
Common parasites in dogs include roundworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas, etc., which can cause skin diseases and intestinal diseases, and may cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, affecting their quality of life and physical development. Dogs with parasites are often weak and listless.
For more pet care problems, click to join the mini-program and consult with a pet doctor online.
How to prevent:
When feeding, owners need to be cautious and try not to feed dogs with non-sterilized raw meat or unknown meat sources. Internal deworming of dogs should be done once every 3 months, and external deworming should be done once a month. When going out, prevent dogs from eating or licking randomly, and check them carefully when returning home.
1. The keeping of Kai Ken should be carried out in combination with the specific situation of the dog at each stage and conducted according to scientific methods. In the puppy stage, the growth of various parts of the puppy's body is not consistent. From birth to 3 months old, the puppy mainly grows in body size and weight. From 4-5 months old, it mainly grows in body length, and after 7 months old, it mainly grows in height. Different parts of the body that grow mainly require different nutrients.
2. During the growth and development stage, the diet should ensure a balanced nutrition to ensure that the dog receives sufficient nutrition. However, attention should be paid to the control of the feeding amount. If the puppy eats too much, it is prone to stomach injury and affects gastrointestinal function. If it does not eat enough, it cannot ensure sufficient nutrition intake to meet the growth requirements of the body, which may lead to thin body shape, weak resistance, and easy illness. It is recommended to feed specialized puppy-designed dog food, which is rich and balanced in nutrition. Owners can selectively purchase according to their own dog's growth needs.
3. The coat of Kai Ken is very thick, so regular trimming is required, including the delicate undercoat, which also needs special grooming.
1. Do not bathe frequently
Giving dogs a bath, of course, should not be too frequent. Giving dogs a bath depends on the dog's hygiene. In hot weather, bathe them one or two more times, and in winter, you can reduce it by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed five times. Otherwise, it will damage their fur and skin!
2. Brush their fur frequently
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn when the shedding is more severe. To make their fur grow well, brushing their fur frequently is an important step. Pet owners can use pet-specific brushes to help dogs clean their naturally shed fur and prevent tangling. Brushing them once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Get some sun
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. Besides making their fur more shiny, letting dogs bask in the sun can also help eliminate bacteria. While they are sunbathing, pet owners can let them exercise, which can help improve their physical fitness and promote blood circulation, leading to healthier fur growth.
4. Parasite prevention
Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from dogs' bodies, depriving them of nutrition. Therefore, parasite prevention is essential. It is recommended to do both internal and external parasite prevention. Also, anti-parasitic drugs can cause significant damage to a dog's gastrointestinal system, so it is advisable to feed them with probiotics regularly to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
To ensure that dogs have beautiful fur, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to their daily diet. On one hand, feed them with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a suitable and nutritionally sufficient one to meet their needs. On the other hand, you can also give them a moderate amount of lean meat, boiled egg yolks, and vegetable oil.
Pet Encyclopedia
