The Black and Tan Coonhound, as its name suggests, was originally a working dog. It has black and brown fur and originates from the United States. Due to their ability to often chase raccoons up trees, they are also known as "treeing" hounds.
The essence of the Black and Tan Coonhound is a working dog, a type of hunting dog that tracks and drives prey up trees. It needs to be able to withstand the cold winters and hot summers and adapt to complex terrain conditions. Its main purpose is to track raccoons and drive them up trees. The Black and Tan Coonhound relies solely on its sense of smell to perform tasks. Its characteristic as a coonhound and its courage also allow it to track larger prey such as deer, bears, and mountain lions. When evaluating its strengths and weaknesses, these factors above are issues that judges pay close attention to. The general impression it gives is one of strength, agility, and alertness. One of the direct impressions it gives is a very powerful and rhythmic stride, giving it enough speed.
Most coonhounds come from a common ancestor, the English Foxhound. In 1905, the English Coonhound was recognized by the United Kennel Club under the name "Fox and Coonhound".
1. Heart disease
Dogs are prone to heart disease due to obesity and old age. When dogs have heart disease, they mainly show symptoms such as easy fatigue and shortness of breath. It is difficult to detect heart disease in dogs, often when the owner realizes it, the dog is already critically 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 a timely manner are prone to these two infectious diseases. Once infected, they may show symptoms such as lethargy, decreased appetite, high body temperature, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease must be mentioned. The terrifying thing about dog kidney disease is that the onset process is often unnoticed, and when the owner discovers it, the dog's renal cells have been damaged by more than 75%. When dogs have problems with their kidneys, the symptoms are usually 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 emaciation, lethargy, diarrhea, passage of worms in stools, and pale gums. Heartworms are parasites that live in the dog's heart. After dogs are infected, they may experience decreased vitality, coughing, anemia, wheezing, and ascites.
5. Canine pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but it is often a complication of other diseases. It commonly occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory tract, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral infections, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Coughing, nasal congestion, and increased body temperature are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
Newborn Period: The newborn period is when the puppy is just born and relies mainly on mother's milk for survival. Their body cannot regulate temperature and they need the mother to provide warmth. For the first day or so, they have no hearing or vision and can only find the milk with their weak sense of touch. Around day 13, their eyes open and they develop hearing around day 15. Teeth start to come in around day 20. Between days 21-28, the mother's milk is not enough and the transition from liquid to semi-solid food begins. This can cause diarrhea and constipation, so it is important to provide lactase, probiotics, or feed them goat milk powder/pet milk. If constipation occurs when feeding milk powder, you can feed a small amount of vegetable oil and massage the abdomen to help with bowel movements. First deworming typically starts between day 14-28.
Puppyhood: 1 month - 2 months. The puppy's digestive system is not fully developed yet, so they require careful attention from the owner. They should be fed at least 3 meals a day, with smaller portions based on the puppy's condition. Soak the dog food in warm water or goat milk powder and feed it gradually. Do not overfeed, as it can lead to digestion problems. Make sure to provide clean drinking water for the puppy and avoid feeding cow's milk, which can cause diarrhea. Giving probiotics daily can help regulate the intestinal system. During this time, puppies have weak resistance to viruses and bacteria and should not be taken outside or exposed to cold patients to prevent illness. Immunization starts around 6-7 weeks old and is usually completed by 3 months old. It is advisable to bathe the puppy after immunization, and dry cleaning powder can be used initially. Teeth start to come in between 19-28 days old and all deciduous teeth should be present by 2 months old. They have some learning abilities and can begin toilet training.
Adolescence: 3 months - 6 months. During this period, the puppies can gradually transition to eating dry dog food and can be fed some cooked meat such as beef or chicken to enrich their nutrition. However, avoid giving them chicken or duck bones, as it can hinder bone development. If necessary (due to poor nutrition, weak health, picky eating, etc.), you can supplement their diet with some nutritional products. Depending on the puppy's condition, choose to supplement vitamins, calcium, protein, or hair care nutrition products. Do not overdo it and avoid giving a large amount of supplements all at once. Take care of their nutrition gradually. During this time, puppies grow rapidly in bone and muscle development and require a lot of protein and calcium. They become curious, have strong cognitive abilities, and have a good memory. It is the best time for learning.
Adult: Dogs aged 1-6 years old. Dogs are considered adults when they reach 1 year old and their body size and structure will not change significantly after that. At this stage, they can eat regular dog food without many restrictions. However, it is still important to supplement their diet with appropriate nutrients, avoid feeding chicken or duck bones, and prevent them from consuming salty and spicy foods, raw food, or animal fat. If they catch a cold or become ill, it is important to take them to a veterinarian for proper treatment. Do not judge and medicate by yourself unless you are a veterinarian. Be responsible for your beloved pet.
Elderly: 8-18 years old. Dogs aged 8 years and above can be considered as being in their senior years, equivalent to humans being in their 50s. At this stage, their organs start to decline in function and various age-related diseases can occur, such as diabetes, liver and kidney function decline, bone and joint diseases, etc. They are prone to diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, hypertension, fractures, arthritis, and other diseases. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to calcium supplementation. You can choose to eat more soy products and cartilage or use supplements available on the market to provide calcium for your dog. Give them more sunlight and exercise regularly, pay attention to hygiene, and believe that you and your dog will spend a longer time together.
1. Can't bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, it is not recommended to do it too frequently. The frequency of bathing depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, you can 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 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage their fur and skin!
2. Regular grooming
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. Regular grooming is an important step to maintain healthy hair growth. Pet owners can use a pet-specific comb to help the dog remove naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Grooming once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathing
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. Besides making the fur more shiny, letting dogs sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, owners can let their dogs have some exercise, which can improve their physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier hair.
4. Parasite control
Poor hair condition is often related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, leading to a lack of nutrition. Therefore, regular parasite control is essential. It is recommended to treat both internal and external parasites. Additionally, parasite medications can cause significant damage to a dog's digestive system, so it is advisable to feed them probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order to have beautiful fur, it is necessary to establish a solid foundation of nutrition and pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that suits their needs and provides sufficient nutrition. On the other hand, you can also give the dog a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil.