The West Highland White Terrier has a unique appearance with beautiful whiskers and is loved by people. It is agile, brave, determined, and physically strong. It is good at tracking prey and is a new breed carefully bred from specialized hunting dogs. Bet
The West Highland White Terrier originated in 1850 and is a breed completely improved by humans. It was named West Highland because it was bred by Captain John Edward in West Highland, Wales. John Edward specifically bred it to have the excellent ability of bravery, endurance, and catching prey such as badgers, otters, foxes, etc., and it can go into caves to hunt its target. Because of this, it attracted the public's attention and gradually gained fame, replacing the role and status of other terrier breeds in the dog world. In 1903, it was exhibited at the first dog show of West Highland Terriers in Wales. In January 1908, the Haverfordwest West Highland Terrier Club was officially established, and the breed standard of West Highland Terrier was drafted at the first meeting. In October 1910, West Highland Terriers participated in the championship show for the first time at the British dog exhibition. On March 8, 1911, West Highland Terriers were recognized by the American and British Kennel Clubs.
The West Highland White Terrier is suitable for modern family breeding, but not suitable for busy office workers. Because of its beautiful appearance and lovely whiskers that need to be taken care of every day, combined with its energetic nature, it requires sufficient exercise every day. Therefore, it is not suitable for people with less leisure time. It is agile, brave, lively, physically strong, good at tracking prey, emotionally rich, and adorable. It regards itself as a member of the family and is an excellent family dog and companion dog.
1. Heart disease
Dogs with heart disease are often associated with obesity and old age. When a dog has heart disease, it will mainly show symptoms such as easy fatigue, difficulty breathing, and rapid breathing. Heart disease in dogs is difficult to detect, and often when the owner notices it, the dog is already very sick.
2. Infectious diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common and highly fatal infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in time are very susceptible to these two infectious diseases. Once infected, they may show symptoms such as listlessness, decreased appetite, high temperature, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease cannot be ignored. The terribleness of dog kidney disease lies in the fact that it often occurs unnoticed, and when the owner discovers it, the damage to the dog's kidney cells has often exceeded 75%. When a dog's kidneys have problems, the symptoms are usually blood in the urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Gastrointestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms, as well as heartworms, are common parasites that infect dogs. When a dog is infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms include emaciation, listlessness, diarrhea, worms in the stool, and pale gums. Heartworm, on the other hand, is a parasite that lives in the dog's heart. After a dog is infected, it may show symptoms such as decreased vitality, coughing, anemia, wheezing, and ascites.
5. Canine pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but it is mostly a complication of other diseases. It often occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory tract, bacterial infections, canine distemper infection, viral cold, impaired lung function, and heartworm infection. Coughing, nasal congestion, and fever are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
1.The West Highland White Terrier is a breed specifically bred for hunting, so it has a lively nature and loves exercise. Its exercise needs are greater than those of other breeds, so it should be taken out for exercise daily to meet its needs and preserve its natural instincts.
2.A large amount of exercise will also result in a greater consumption of food, so the West Highland White Terrier requires a larger food intake compared to other dogs. It can be given bones to eat or play with regularly, which helps exercise and develop its teeth.
3.When feeding, it is important to provide food at room temperature. The food should not be too hot or too cold, as it can cause gastrointestinal discomfort. The food should not be too salty, as excessive salt content can lead to hair loss and greatly increase the risk of skin problems in dogs.
4.Pay attention to the dog's hygiene and cleanliness. Regularly clean the surroundings and bathe the dog. Brush its fur every day, preferably with a hard-bristle brush.
1. Do not bathe frequently
Bathing the dog, of course, cannot be too frequent. The frequency of bathing depends on the dog's hygiene. In hot weather, you can bathe them one or two extra 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. Regularly brush their coat
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. To ensure good hair growth, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use pet-specific brushes to help the dog remove naturally shed hair and prevent matting. 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 dog's hair growth. In addition to making the fur shinier, sunbathing can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, owners can let the dog get some exercise, which can improve their physical fitness and promote blood circulation, helping to grow healthier hair.
4. Parasite control
Poor coat condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving them of the essential nutrients. Therefore, parasite control is essential. It is recommended to perform both internal and external parasite control. Also, parasite control medications can cause significant damage to the dog's digestive system, so it is advisable to supplement with probiotics to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
To ensure that the dog has a beautiful coat, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to their daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food that meets their needs. On the other hand, you can also provide the dog with a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil.