Finnish Bolognese Silk Dog

The Finnish Bolognese Silk Dog looks very similar to a fox. This breed has been used for a long time to hunt small prey and birds. The pointed snout, erect ears, thick coat, and curly tail all indicate that it is a breed from the north. The Finnish Bolognese Silk Dog looks lively as a whole, especially in the eyes, ears, and tail. The males are clearly muscular but not rough; the females are clearly graceful without being overly slender.

The Finnish Bolognese Silk Dog, originally known as "Suomenpystykorva," is a Finnish bird-catching dog with fox-like characteristics. It was previously referred to as the Finnish Bird Dog or Finnish Pointed Snout Dog, but is now called the Finnish Bolognese Silk Dog and is the national dog of Finland. It resembles a fox and is the result of a breeding program in the late 18th century, which involved mixing several hunting dog breeds including English, German, Swiss, and Scandinavian hunting dogs. It is the most common native working dog breed in Finland and Sweden, but is rarely seen in other parts of the world.

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1. Canine Infectious Diseases

Dogs are prone to infectious diseases, common ones include canine distemper and canine coronavirus. Typical clinical symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty breathing, bloody stools, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, cracked paws, etc.

In general, this type of infectious and fatal disease is most prevalent during the post-weaning period or around 1 year of age. Puppies are more susceptible and have a lower cure rate, and are prone to sequelae.

How to prevent:

When bringing a dog home, it is recommended that the owner choose a reputable source to select the dog, vaccinate the dog on time, regularly disinfect the house, do not take the dog out for a walk until it has completed vaccination, avoid contact with unknown dogs, and do not allow others to touch the dog's mouth and nose at will.

2. Canine Skin Diseases

Because dogs often go for walks outside, they can easily contract various skin diseases. If a dog is accidentally infected with mites, bacteria, or fungi, there is a risk of long-term difficult treatment. Therefore, all dog owners must pay attention. Clinical manifestations of canine skin diseases include greasy skin, peeling, redness, itching, papules, ulcers, pus secretion, 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 damp conditions. In addition, regular disinfection of the dog's living environment is required, and internal and external parasites should be controlled. Use special dog shampoo, regularly groom the dog's fur, can supplement vitamins and fish oil.

3. Canine Parasites

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

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How to prevent:

In daily feeding, owners need to be cautious and avoid giving dogs non-sterilized raw meat and unknown sources of meat. Internal deworming of dogs should be done once every 3 months, and external deworming should be done once a month. When going out, prevent dogs from eating and licking indiscriminately, and avoid grassy areas. After returning home, be sure to carefully examine the dog.

Newborn period: The newborn period, which refers to the time when the dog is just born, relies mainly on breast milk for survival. Their bodies cannot regulate body temperature and rely on the mother for warmth. During the first 1-2 days, they have no hearing or vision and can only find the nipples through a weak sense of touch. Their eyes open around day 13, they develop hearing by day 15, and they start teething by day 20. From day 21-28, the amount of breast milk is not enough, and they need to transition from liquid food to semi-solid food. At this time, it is easy to have diarrhea and constipation, so lactase, probiotics, or powdered sheep's milk/pet milk should be fed. If constipation occurs when consuming powdered milk, a small amount of vegetable oil can be fed and abdominal massage can be done to help with bowel movements. Deworming should begin at 14-28 days.

Early age: 1 month - 2 months. The digestive system of puppies is not fully developed yet, so they need careful care from their owners. Generally, they should be fed at least 3 times a day, with small meals according to the dog's condition. Soak the dog food in warm water or powdered sheep's milk and feed it gradually. Don't feed too much, as it may cause poor digestion. It's important to give the puppy drinking water, but remember not to feed milk as it can cause diarrhea. Probiotics can be given daily to regulate the intestines. Puppies have low resistance to viruses and bacteria and should not be taken outside or exposed to cold patients to prevent them from getting sick. Immunization should start at 6-7 weeks, with completion by 3 months. It is best to bathe them after immunization. Dry shampoo can be used for early baths. Teething begins at 19-28 days old, with all the deciduous teeth growing out by 2 months. They have some learning ability and can start potty training.

Puppyhood: 3 months - 6 months. At this stage, puppies can gradually transition from soaked to dry dog food. Their eating schedule should be adjusted slowly, and it is best to establish a regular mealtime for them. They should still eat dog food and drink water. However, during this time, their bones and muscles grow rapidly, requiring a large amount of protein and calcium. Their fur starts changing to adult fur, which is a critical period for coat quality, and it may appear awkward. Puppies also enter a period of dominance and start trying to establish their territory and dominate their owners. They have increased destructive ability. During this time, their body length and height develop rapidly, so they need daily exercise to maintain their body growth.

Sexual maturity: 8 months - 14 months. At this time, dogs enter sexual maturity and experience their first estrus. The first estrus can easily cause hormone imbalances and estrus disorders. Continuous estrus, no estrus, or false pregnancy can all lead to low mating rates and high difficulty rates in delivery. Nutrients that promote reproduction should be supplemented: vitamin E, organic chromium, folic acid, etc. It is important to note that during the first estrus, mating should not occur. Attention should be paid to hygiene during estrus to prevent infection. If the dog is not intended for breeding, spaying can be performed after estrus.

Adolescence: 6 months - 10 months, 6 months - 18 months. At this stage, dogs can eat dry dog food completely, and some meat can be added to enrich their nutrition, such as cooked beef and chicken. However, it is important not to feed them chicken or duck bones, as it can lead to poor bone development. If necessary (such as malnutrition, weakness, picky eating, etc.), supplements can be given. Depending on the dog's condition, choose supplements such as vitamins, calcium, protein, or hair care products. Do not overfeed or give a large amount of supplements at once out of sympathy. Slow and steady adjustment is necessary. At this time, dogs' bones and muscles grow rapidly, requiring a large amount of protein and calcium. They are curious, have strong cognitive abilities, and have a good memory. This is the best period for learning.

Adult: Dogs aged 1 year - 6 years old. Dogs are considered adults at 1 year old, and they have almost reached their full size by this time. There are no specific dietary restrictions at this stage, but it is still important to supplement nutrients and avoid feeding them chicken or duck bones, salty and spicy foods, raw food, or animal fats. If they have a cold or illness, they should be promptly taken to a pet hospital instead of self-medicating. Unless you are a veterinarian, it's important to be responsible for your beloved pet.

Old age: 8 years - 18 years. Dogs over 8 years old are equivalent to humans in their 50s and should enter the "senior years" of their lives. At this time, the various organ functions of dogs decline, and they may develop age-related diseases such as diabetes, reduced liver and kidney function, bone and joint diseases, etc. It is especially important to supplement calcium. You can choose to eat more soy products and cartilage, or use commercially available calcium supplements for dogs. Expose them to sunlight and take them for walks. Pay attention to hygiene and believe that you can spend more time with your dog.

1. Do not bathe frequently

When bathing your dog, of course, you should not do it too often. The frequency of bathing depends on the dog's hygiene situation. You can bathe your dog more often in hot weather, and reduce it in winter, but in general, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!

2. Brush regularly

Dogs shed hair almost every day, especially in spring and autumn, when seasonal shedding is more severe. To ensure good hair growth, regular brushing is important. Pet owners can use pet-specific brushes to help the dog remove naturally shed hair and avoid matting. Brushing once in the morning and evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.

3. Sunbathe

Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's coat. In addition to making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, owners can let their dogs exercise a bit, which can improve their 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 dogs and compete for nutrients. Therefore, deworming is indispensable. It is recommended to do internal and external deworming together. Also, deworming medication can cause great damage to a dog's gastrointestinal system, so it is recommended to feed probiotics regularly to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.

5. Pay attention to diet

In order to have a beautiful coat, dogs must have a solid nutritional foundation and pay attention to their daily diet. On one hand, feed your dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that is suitable for your dog and provides sufficient nutrition to meet their needs. On the other hand, you can also give your dog lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil in appropriate amounts.