Dalmatians, recognized as one of the most elegant breeds. They are one of the few breeds originating from Yugoslavia and share a striking resemblance with the Bengal Pointer Hound in terms of appearance and facial expressions. They were featured in Dod
Dalmatians have a symmetrical and robust profile, calm and vigilant, and lively. They are not shy, smart in expression, easy to train, sensitive in feeling, strong in vigilance, and easy to get along with children. They have great endurance, strong hindquarters, and can run quite fast, so Dalmatians are often used as racing dogs.
Dalmatian's origin is still uncertain. Based on illustrations found in ancient Egyptian tombs and similar paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries, it is speculated that Dalmatians have a history of thousands of years. Especially from the 14th century and 1719 onwards, church records clearly show that the breed originated in the Mediterranean region, most likely near the Dalmatian coast.
However, some believe that it originated in Egypt and India. It became popular among the Gypsies and spread throughout Europe. In the 19th century, the nobles of England and France used it as a guard dog for carriages, running in front and behind the carriage. Some people called it the carriage dog.
A work published in 1792 by Thomas Bewick contains a description and illustrations of the Dalmatian, referred to as "Dalmatian or Coast Dog". The first standard for Dalmatians was written by the Englishman Vero Shaw in 1882; this standard was officially recognized as the breed standard in 1890.
Dalmatians are compact and sturdy in physique, with a comical behavior. They are known as the clowns of the world and enjoy pouncing on people, often accidentally knocking over children. They require a large amount of exercise daily and have a lot of strength, so they are not suitable for households with small children, elderly people, or those with limited time.
This breed has a relatively high shedding rate, so they are not suited for indoor living.
1. Heart Disease
Dog heart disease is often associated with obesity and old age. When dogs have heart disease, they mainly show symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath. It is difficult to detect heart disease in dogs, and when owners notice it, the dog is already seriously ill.
2. Infectious Diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common fatal infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in time are prone to these two infectious diseases. Once they are sick, they will show symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney Disease
Speaking of common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease cannot be ignored. The scary thing about dog kidney disease is the unconscious process of the disease. After the owner discovers it, the damage to the dog's kidney cells often exceeds 75%. When dogs have problems, the symptoms are usually blood in urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms are common parasites in dogs. When dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms are weight loss, lethargy, diarrhea, presence of worms in the feces, and pale gums. Heartworm is a parasite that lives in the dog's heart. After dogs are infected, they will show symptoms of poor vitality, coughing, anemia, wheezing, and ascites.
5. Canine Pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but canine pneumonia is a complication of other diseases. It often occurs in dogs with abnormal upper respiratory tract, bacterial infection, canine distemper infection, viral cold, impaired lung function, and heartworm infection. Coughing, nasal congestion, and fever are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
Dalmatians are energetic and have a high exercise requirement. They prefer regular exercise and should be taken for a walk or allowed to run in the yard every day.
Dalmatians are large in size and have high activity levels, so their food consumption is also relatively large. Therefore, their food supply should be slightly larger than that of other breeds to ensure balanced nutrition. It is also important to develop a good habit of feeding them at regular times and in fixed quantities. After 15-25 minutes, any leftover food and utensils should be taken away to encourage them to develop a good habit of eating on a regular schedule. Clean water should be provided 2-3 times a day.
Dalmatians have allergic reactions to general anesthesia. If a Dalmatian needs to undergo surgery, it is important to discuss this with a veterinarian. Dalmatians have their own threshold for pain tolerance, and if it is exceeded, it can lead to a significant decrease in heart rate. As a symptomatic treatment, Atropine can be administered as an initial medication.
1. Do not bathe too frequently.
Bathing for dogs should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, dogs can be bathed one or two more times, while in winter, the frequency can be reduced by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Brush regularly.
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. If you want their fur to grow well, brushing regularly is an important step. Pet owners can use pet-specific brushes to help remove natural shedding hair 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. In addition to making the fur more shiny, letting dogs sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dogs exercise a bit, which can help improve their 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 the dog of nutrition, so parasite control is essential. It is recommended to do internal and external parasite control together. Also, deworming medications can cause significant damage to the dog's gastrointestinal system, so it is advisable to feed probiotics on a regular basis to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet.
In order for dogs to have a shiny coat, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed dogs with nutritious and healthy dog food that meets the dog's needs. On the other hand, dogs can be given a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil, etc.
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