Staffordshire Bull Terrier, also known by many aliases, is a medium-sized breed originating from the United States. Its appearance is often compared to that of a Bulldog, which is why it is sometimes referred to as a Fighting Dog or a Bull Terrier.
Actually, Staffordshire Bull Terrier originated in Staffordshire, England in the 19th century, and it was bred by crossing English Bulldogs with certain English Terriers. However, after being introduced to the United States, this dog was improved by breeders and became a larger and heavier breed with a bigger head. It was officially named American Staffordshire Bull Terrier on January 1, 1972.
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Interdigital dermatitis
Symptoms: The dog licks the toes frequently, and the interdigital area becomes red and moist. Severe cases may result in lameness.
Preparation: Iodine, Bacitracin ointment, Elizabeth collar
Instructions: Wear an Elizabeth collar, remove the hair from the foot, wash with soapy water or wipe with iodine. After the inflamed area is dry, apply Bacitracin ointment to the toe cleft once a day, repeat for a week.
Ear mites
Symptoms: The dog scratches the ears, shakes its head, and the ears have a strong sour odor. Tears increase, there is hair loss in the ear, and there are dark brown secretions and earwax.
Preparation: Ear cleaner, ear wash
Instructions: Clean the hair inside the dog's ears, pour ear wash or V.I.C ear cleaner into the ear canal, gently massage the ear root for 30 seconds. Let the dog shake out the ear wash, use a cotton ball to wipe the secretions shaken out, and gently clean the ear auricle and ear canal.
Skin disease
Symptoms: The dog feels itchy, the skin becomes red and itchy, the dog scratches and the fur becomes dull and rough. There is more dandruff and even extensive hair loss.
Preparation: Saline solution, topical ointment or skin spray, vitamin B.
Instructions: Put an Elizabeth collar on the dog to prevent scratching and licking. Trim the problem skin and surrounding hair, then rinse with saline to sterilize. Apply ointment or use spray, supplemented with antibiotics and vitamin B.
Newborn period: The newborn period is when the dog is just born and relies mainly on mother's milk for survival. The body cannot regulate its temperature and needs the mother to provide warmth. In the first day, it has no auditory or visual senses and can only find the nipple by weak touch. Around day 13, its eyes open, and after day 15, it develops auditory senses. After day 20, it starts teething. From day 21 to day 28, the mother's milk is not enough, and the transition from liquid to semi-solid food is needed. During this time, diarrhea and constipation can easily occur, so it is important to feed lactase, probiotics, or give it goat milk powder/pet milk powder. If constipation occurs when consuming milk powder, a small amount of vegetable oil can be given and massaging the belly can help with defecation. Deworming should start around 14-28 days old.
Puppyhood: From 1 month to 2 months old, the puppy's digestive system is not fully developed yet, so it needs careful care from the owner. Usually, it should be fed at least 3 times a day, with small meals according to the puppy's condition. Soak the dog food in warm water or goat milk powder and feed it little by little. Do not feed too much, otherwise the puppy may have poor digestion. Make sure to provide the puppy with drinking water and never feed it milk, as milk can cause diarrhea. You can give it a small amount of probiotics every day to maintain its gastrointestinal health. At this stage, the puppy has a weak resistance to viruses and bacteria, so it should not be taken outside or in contact with people with colds to prevent the puppy from getting sick. Immunization should start at 6-7 weeks old, and it should be completed by 3 months old. It is best to bathe the puppy after immunization, and dry cleaning powder can be used for earlier baths. From 19 to 28 days old, the puppy starts teething, and all deciduous teeth will grow out by 2 months old. It has certain learning ability and can start toilet training.
Adolescence: From 3 months to 6 months old. At this time, the puppy can gradually transition to eating dry dog food, and the feeding schedule should be adjusted slowly to make it more regular. The puppy still eats dog food and drinks water. However, during this time, the puppy's bones and muscles grow rapidly and require a large amount of protein and calcium. Its fur is gradually changing to adult fur, which is a critical period for coat quality and may result in an awkward appearance. The puppy also starts to develop dominance and tries to establish its own territory, dominating the owner. Destructive behavior increases. At this time, the puppy's body length and height develop rapidly, losing baby fat, so it needs a moderate amount of exercise every day to maintain its growth.
Sexual maturity: From 8 months to 14 months old, the dog enters sexual maturity and has its first heat cycle. The first heat cycle may cause hormonal imbalance and disorder. Continuous heat, no heat, or false pregnancy can result in low mating success rate and high rate of difficult delivery. It needs to be supplemented with reproductive nutrients such as vitamin E, organic chromium, and folic acid. It is important to note that it should not be bred during the first heat cycle. Attention should be paid to hygiene during the heat cycle to prevent infection. If it is not intended for breeding, spaying can be done after the heat cycle.
Adulthood: From 1 year to 6 years old. The dog is considered an adult at 1 year old, and its body shape and size will not change much after that. At this stage, it can eat normal dog food without many dietary restrictions. However, it is still important to supplement it with proper nutrients, avoid feeding chicken or duck bones, and avoid salty or spicy foods. Cooked food should be given instead of raw food, and animal fat should be avoided. If it catches a cold or gets sick, it should be taken to a pet hospital in a timely manner and avoid self-medication unless you are a veterinarian. Take responsibility for your beloved pet.
Senior age: From 8 years to 18 years old. Dogs over 8 years old can be considered as being in the "senior years" of their lives, similar to humans being in their 50s or older. At this stage, the dog's organ functions decline, and elderly diseases such as diabetes, diminished liver and kidney function, bone and joint diseases are more likely to occur. Calcium supplementation should be paid special attention to. The owner can choose to feed more soy products and cartilage, or use calcium supplements available on the market. It is important to let the dog get sunlight and exercise regularly. Pay attention to hygiene and believe that you will enjoy more time with your beloved dog.
1, Do not bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, it should not be done too frequently. The frequency of bathing depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, bathing can be increased by one or two times, while in winter, it can be reduced by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed five times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2, Brush regularly
Dogs almost shed hair every day, especially in spring and autumn. If you want the hair to grow well, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use special brushes for pets to help dogs clean naturally shed hair and avoid tangling. Brushing once in the morning and evening for about five minutes is enough.
3, Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. In addition to making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. During sunbathing, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can help improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4, Deworming
Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from a dog's body and compete for these nutrients. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to deworm internally and externally at the same time. Moreover, deworming medicine can cause significant harm to a dog's stomach, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
5, Pay attention to diet
In order 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 the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that is suitable for the dog and provides adequate nutrition to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, the dog can be appropriately fed with lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.
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