Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound, originally from Ireland, dates back to 100 BC. It is a true giant dog and is the tallest dog in the world.

Its appearance is very similar to that of a Greyhound, with well-developed muscles and a graceful demeanor.

It has a lively and gentle temperament, is quiet, patient, and courageous, and does not tend to be suspicious or inclined to compete or cause trouble.

The Irish Wolfhound is the national dog of Ireland, and references to this breed can often be found in ancient legends, stories, and numerous literary works. Due to its large size and coarse coat, it was not only used for hunting animals, but also highly favored among nobility as a gift exchange. This tradition eventually led to Oliver Cromwell issuing an export ban in England at that time.

However, its ancestors can actually be traced back many centuries ago, originating from ancient royal dogs. Initially, they were used by the Celts to hunt wolves and were later brought to Ireland by the Celts.

In the 18th century, the wolves in Scotland and Ireland were almost completely eradicated, resulting in a sharp decline in the number of Irish Wolfhounds known for hunting wild wolves, almost to the point of extinction. In the 19th century, an army officer named George Graham made great efforts to help the breeding of this breed and used modern dogs with a bloodline related to ancient wolfhounds: Scottish Deerhounds. By mixing the two breeds, he successfully improved the breed, leading to a new development that regained human attention.

Gentle, kind, very intelligent, and easily loyal. Due to its good nature, it can be considered an excellent companion dog. It has a larger size and requires a larger space to raise, so this dog is not very suitable for city life. Therefore, as its owner, you should be capable of providing stable and comfortable living conditions.

Sensitive temperament, very much in need of human care. Once it doesn't receive psychological consolation and satisfaction, it will become impatient. Therefore, it needs a patient and time-oriented owner.

1, Canine Infectious Diseases

Dogs are susceptible to infectious diseases, commonly including canine distemper, canine coronavirus, etc. Common clinical manifestations include: fever, anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea, sleepiness, difficulty breathing, bloody stools, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, cracked paws, etc.

Generally, this type of infectious and deadly disease often occurs during the weaning period of dogs or around 1 year old. Puppies are more susceptible, with a low cure rate and a high chance of leaving sequelae.

How to prevent:

When bringing a dog home, it is recommended that the owner choose a dog through formal channels, vaccinate the dog on time, do regular disinfection at home, do not take the dog out for a walk before completing the vaccination, do not contact with unfamiliar dogs, and do not allow others to touch the dog's mouth and nose casually.

2, Canine Skin Diseases

Because dogs often go out for walks, they may accidentally contract various skin diseases. If dogs are infected with mites, bacteria, or fungi in the outdoors, there is a risk of long-term difficult treatment, so all owners must pay attention. Clinical symptoms of canine skin diseases include greasy skin, peeling, erythema, itching, papules, ulcers, suppuration, hair loss, scabs, etc.

How to prevent:

In daily care, it is necessary to keep the dog's living environment clean and tidy, avoid dark and humid places. In addition, regular disinfection of the dog's living environment, internal and external deworming, using dog-specific shower gel, regular grooming, and supplementation of vitamins and fish oil can help prevent skin diseases in dogs.

3, Canine Parasites

Common parasites in dogs include roundworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas, etc., often causing skin diseases and gastrointestinal diseases in dogs. They may cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, affecting the quality of life and physical development. Dogs with parasites are generally weak and lack vitality.

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How to prevent:

When feeding, owners need to pay attention and try not to feed dogs unsterilized raw meat or unknown sources of meat. Deworming should be done once every 3 months, external deworming once a month. When going out, prevent dogs from eating and licking randomly, and prevent them from going into the grass. After returning home, be sure to check carefully.

To make the Irish Wolfhound's coat have beauty and luster, it needs to be fed with feed that contains more vitamin E, D, and protein. It is recommended to feed the dog as little as possible with high sugar, salt, and starch foods. It is suggested to feed the dog with roasted pork liver once a week, which is also very beneficial for the growth of its coat.

Let the dog sunbathe more and ensure that its coat is groomed every day to stimulate the blood circulation of the dog's skin and promote hair growth.

1. Do not bathe frequently

Bathing your dog should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, you can bathe your dog once or twice more, and in winter, you can reduce it by one or two times. However, the total number of baths should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!

2. Regular grooming

Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. If you want their fur to grow well, regular grooming is an important step. You can use a pet-specific comb to help remove natural shedding hair and prevent knots. 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 shinier, letting the dog bask in the sun can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, you can let your dog exercise a bit, which can improve its physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.

4. Parasite control

Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving them of nutrition. Therefore, parasite control is essential. It is recommended to do both internal and external parasite control. Also, deworming drugs 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 a dog to have a shiny coat, a good nutritional foundation must be established and attention should be paid to daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that is suitable for the dog and has sufficient nutrition to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can also feed the dog with a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.