Chinese Silky Dog

The Chinese Silky Dog (abbreviated as Silky Dog) is an ancient hunting dog breed in China. It is divided into two major categories: Shandong Silky Dog and Shaanxi Silky Dog. The Shandong Silky Dog is further divided into long-haired and short-haired varieties, with the long-haired variety also known as "Fanzi" and mainly distributed in Liaocheng, Shandong and Liangshan County, Jining. The short-haired variety, also known as "Huatiao," is mainly found in Jining, Shandong. Over time, the hunting function of these dogs gradually became less prominent, resulting in fewer purebred Silky Dogs and many of them becoming extinct.

The origin of the Silky Dog has two theories. One theory is that the Silky Dog is originally from ancient Egypt, based on the depiction of a Silky Dog-like hunting dog in the wall paintings of the pyramids.

Based on this, some believe that the Silky Dog originated in ancient Egypt and was introduced to China around the Western Han Dynasty, as there are records about the Silky Dog from that period. However, this theory lacks scientific evidence, as the hunting dogs depicted in the wall paintings could also be Salukis or Greyhounds.

Another theory suggests that the Silky Dog is a native breed of China, originating from the Shandong and Hebei regions. Currently, neither of these theories has been confirmed. Regardless of where the Silky Dog originally came from, we cannot deny that the Silky Dog has a long history in China.

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1. Canine Infectious Diseases

Common canine infectious diseases include canine distemper and canine coronavirus, which are often manifested as fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, difficulty breathing, bloody stools, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, cracked paws, etc.

These types of infectious and life-threatening diseases often occur during the weaning period or around 1 year of age. Puppies are more susceptible with a lower cure rate and are more likely to develop sequelae.

Prevention measures:

When bringing a dog home, it is recommended for the owner to choose a dog through a regular channel, vaccinate the dog on time, and regularly disinfect the home. It is also important to avoid taking the dog out for walks before completing the vaccination, avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs, and prevent others from touching the dog's mouth and nose.

2. Canine Skin Diseases

Due to frequent outdoor activities, dogs may accidentally become infected with various skin diseases. If the dog is infected with mites, bacteria, or fungi, it may be difficult to cure for a long time. Therefore, pet owners need to pay attention. Clinical manifestations of canine skin diseases include greasy skin, peeling, rashes, itching, papules, ulcers, pus discharge, hair loss, crusting, etc.

Prevention measures:

In daily care, it is necessary to keep the dog's living environment clean and tidy, avoid dark and humid places, regularly disinfect the dog's living environment, perform internal and external parasite control, use dog-specific bath products, regularly groom the dog, and supplement vitamins and fish oil.

3. Canine Parasites

Common canine parasites include roundworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas, etc., which can often cause skin diseases and intestinal diseases in dogs. They may cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, affecting their quality of life and physical development. Dogs infested with parasites are often thin and lethargic.

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Prevention measures:

When feeding dogs, pet owners should be mindful and avoid giving dogs non-sterilized raw meat or unknown sources of meat. Internal parasite control should be carried out once every 3 months, and external parasite control should be carried out once every month. When going out, it is important to prevent dogs from eating or licking indiscriminately and going into grassy areas. After returning home, a careful inspection is necessary.

Newborn period: The newborn period is when the dog is just born, mainly relying on breast milk for survival. Its body cannot regulate body temperature and needs the mother to provide warmth. In the first day, it has no hearing or vision and can only use weak touch to find the nipple. At around day 13, its eyes open, and at day 15, it develops hearing. It begins teething at day 20. From day 21 to 28, the amount of breast milk is not enough, and it needs to transition from liquid food to semi-solid food. At this time, it is prone to diarrhea and constipation, so be sure to feed lactase, probiotics, or give it goat milk powder/pet milk powder. If constipation occurs when feeding milk powder, you can feed a small amount of vegetable oil and massage the abdomen to help with bowel movements. Deworming starts at 14-28 days old.

Young age: 1 month - 2 months old. The digestive system of the puppy is not fully developed at this time and needs careful care from the owner. Generally, it should be fed at least 3 times a day, with less food but more meals according to the condition of the dog. Soak the dog food in warm water or goat milk powder and feed it gradually. Do not overfeed, otherwise the dog may have poor digestion. Make sure to give the dog plain water and never feed it milk, as milk can cause diarrhea. You can give it some probiotics every day to regulate its stomach. At this stage, the puppy has a weak resistance to viruses and bacteria, so it should not be taken out or come into contact with people with colds to avoid getting sick. Immunization starts at 6-7 weeks old and ends at 3 months old. It is recommended to bathe the dog after the immunization is completed. In the early stage, dry powder can be used for bathing. It starts teething at 19-28 days old, and all deciduous teeth are grown at 2 months old. It has some learning ability and can start training to use a designated toilet.

Adolescent period: 3 months - 6 months. At this time, the puppy can gradually transition from eating soaked dog food to dry dog food. Adjust the dog's eating time slowly and try to make it regular. During this time, the dog still eats dog food and drinks plain water. However, the puppy's bones and muscles grow rapidly at this time, requiring a large amount of protein and calcium. Its fur is gradually replaced by adult fur, and it may go through an awkward stage. The puppy also starts to develop dominance, trying to have its own territory and dominate the owner. Its destructive ability increases. During this period, the dog's body length and height develop rapidly, losing baby fat, so it needs daily exercise to maintain its body growth.

Sexual maturity: 8 months - 14 months. The dog enters sexual maturity at this time and undergoes its first heat cycle. The first heat cycle may cause hormone imbalance and menstrual disorder. It may have continuous heat, no heat, or false pregnancy, with low mating and high difficulty of childbirth. It needs to be supplemented with nutrients that promote reproduction, such as vitamin E, organic chromium, and folic acid. Be sure not to mate during the first heat cycle and pay attention to hygiene during the heat cycle to prevent infections. If not breeding, spaying can be done after the heat cycle ends.

Teenage period: 6 months - 10 months, 6 months - 18 months. The dog can now eat dry dog food completely and can occasionally be fed with some meat to enrich its nutrition, such as cooked beef and chicken. However, pay attention not to feed chicken or duck bones to the dog, as it may cause skeletal malformation. If necessary (such as when the dog is malnourished, weak, or picky), some nutritional supplements can be appropriately given. According to the dog's actual situation, choose to supplement vitamins, calcium, protein, or nutrition products for hair maintenance. Do not be excessive and do not supplement a large amount of nutrients at one time because of feeling sorry for the dog. It needs gradual and consistent care. At this time, the dog's bones and muscles grow rapidly, requiring a large amount of protein and calcium. It has a strong curiosity and cognitive ability and has a deep memory. This is the best period for learning.

Adult: 1 year - 6 years old. The dog becomes an adult at 1 year old and is almost fully grown. Its body size will not change much in the future. At this stage, it still eats regular dog food, and there are no specific dietary restrictions. However, it is still necessary to supplement nutrients moderately, avoid feeding chicken or duck bones, avoid salty and spicy foods, feed cooked food instead of raw food, and avoid eating animal fat. If it has a cold or gets sick, it should be taken to a pet hospital for treatment in a timely manner. Do not make blind judgments and self-medicate unless you are a veterinarian. Take responsibility for your beloved pet.

Old age: 8 years - 18 years. Dogs over 8 years old are already in their "senior years" according to human age. At this time, various organ functions decline, and age-related diseases such as diabetes, weakened liver and kidney functions, and skeletal and joint diseases are more likely to occur. It is especially important to supplement calcium. You can choose to eat more soy products and cartilage, or use nutritional supplements available in the market to supplement calcium for the dog. Get more sunlight and take more walks. Pay attention to hygiene in daily life. Believe that the time spent with your dog will be longer.

1. Do not bathe frequently

When bathing a dog, of course, it should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, bathe the dog one or two more times, and in winter, reduce it by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!

2. Brush the coat regularly

Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. To promote good hair growth, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use a pet-specific brush to help the dog clean naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and evening for about five minutes each time is enough.

3. Sunbathe

Sunbathing is beneficial for the dog's hair growth. In addition to making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. At the same time, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit during sunbathing, which can improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier hair.

4. Parasite control

Poor fur quality 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 internal and external parasite control together. Additionally, parasite control drugs can cause significant damage to the dog's gastrointestinal system, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.

5. Pay attention to diet

In order to have a shiny coat, dogs must have a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to their daily diet. On one hand, feeding the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food is important. Choose a dog food that is suitable for the dog and provides sufficient nutrition to meet its needs. On the other hand, the dog can also be fed with a suitable amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil.