Otter Hound

Otter Hound, also known as OtterHound, is a large and tall breed of hunting dog. Its coat is messy and difficult to groom. Its head displays immense power and dignity. Its body is strong and powerful with a wide stride, enabling it to move agilely and

Otter Hound can capture prey both on land and in the water, thanks to its special physical features - rough and abundant double-layer coat, as well as strong, webbed feet.

The dog has a calm expression, a gentle temperament, and a good temperament, but its personality is lively and lively.

The breed originated in England in the 11th century and has a long history. It has the bloodline of many excellent breeds, including Bloodhound, Rough Collie, Griffon, and Greyhound. In the past, its main job was to hunt otters to control their population and prevent them from competing with fishermen for wild salmon in the river. It was named after its ability to hunt otters. In the late 19th century, Britain often mobilized more than a dozen or even more packs of Otter Hounds during the hunting season. Their sense of smell is extremely sensitive, and they can still identify the scent of otters the next morning.

It is said that the first record of Otter Hound appeared between 1199 and 1216 during the reign of King John in England. During the reign of Edward II (1307-1327), this breed received high attention, but gradually fell out of favor. Later, William Tait noticed the records about Otter Hounds and started to pay attention to this large breed that resembles a cross between a hound and a terrier.

Their coat and long ears are similar to those of water spaniels, but their endurance and stamina are similar to those of bulldogs. Of course, many people think that in terms of body shape, structure, length, and ears, they have many similarities with Bloodhounds. In the work of Tobias Grimaldi in 1575, there was no clear distinction between Bloodhounds and Otter Hounds. Therefore, the claim that Otter Hounds originated from France seems to have some truth to it. It is almost like a replica of the French Vendée Hound. The resemblance between the two breeds is very high in terms of body shape and coat.

In the 20th century, due to certain reasons, the number of otters drastically decreased, resulting in a decrease in the number of Otter Hounds. After otters were listed as a protected species in 1978, the survival of Otter Hounds was greatly affected. However, thanks to the unremitting efforts of enthusiasts who were passionate about protecting this breed, they were eventually able to enter the show dog category.

The first appearance of Otter Hounds in the United States was probably around 1900. Seven years later, in 1907, it was exhibited in Oklahoma and registered in the same year.

The Otter Hound, also known as OtterHound, is a large and tall breed of hunting dog. Its coat is messy and difficult to groom. Its head displays immense power and dignity. Its body is strong and powerful with a wide stride, enabling it to move agilely and.

Toes Inflammation

Symptoms: The dog licks its toes frequently, and the toes become red and wet. In severe cases, lameness may occur.

Preparation: Povidone-iodine, erythromycin ointment, Elizabethan collar

Instructions: Put on the Elizabethan collar, remove the hair on the foot clean, wash with soapy water or wipe with povidone-iodine, wait for the inflammation to dry, and apply erythromycin ointment in the toe fissures once a day, repeat for a week.

Ear mites

Symptoms: The dog scratching its ears, shaking its head and ears. The dog's ears will have a strong sour smell, accompanied by increased tear stains, hair loss in the ears, dark brown secretions, and earwax.

Preparation: Ear flush, ear cleaning solution

Instructions: Clean the hair inside the dog's ears, pour ear flush or Vicks ear flush into the ear canal, gently rub the base of the ear for 30 seconds, wait for the dog to shake out the ear flush, use a cotton ball to wipe off the secretions and gently clean the earlobe and ear canal.

Skin disease

Symptoms: The dog will feel itchy, the skin becomes red and itchy, the dog will scratch randomly, the fur becomes dull and rough, and there are more dandruff, even patches of hair loss.

Preparation: Saline solution, topical ointment or skin spray, vitamin B

Instructions: Put an Elizabethan collar on the dog to avoid scratching and licking. Trim the problem areas of the dog's skin and the surrounding hair, then rinse with saline water for sterilization, and then apply ointment or use spray, along with antibiotics and vitamin B.

1. Feeding:

Feeding otter hound puppies should be divided into different stages according to their age. During the puppy stage, it is important to ensure a balanced nutritional diet and to supplement their calcium intake, which is beneficial for bone development. They should also be exposed to sunlight to promote calcium absorption. As the puppies grow, their food intake should be increased in order to meet their developmental needs and promote healthier growth.

As for adult otter hounds, it is necessary to cultivate good eating habits as early as possible in order to facilitate their daily lives. The feeding principle should follow a schedule, a specific quantity, and a designated location. Unlike puppies, adult dogs should only eat half the number of meals per day.

2. Grooming:

Otter hounds have messy fur, somewhat similar to natural curls in humans. There is no need to be overly concerned, just regular cleaning and grooming is sufficient. As a long-haired breed, their fur should be brushed every day. Additionally, their teeth, ears, and the dirt between their toes should be cleaned on a weekly basis. Use warm water for bathing and consider using a conditioner to prevent fur from tangling. Due to their large size, it's important to use a leash when taking them for a walk to prevent them from uncontrollably bumping into others. The hair around their eyes and mouth should be trimmed appropriately to prevent hindrances during eating and daily activities.

1. Do not bathe frequently

To bathe a dog, of course, should not be too frequent. Bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene. In hot weather in summer, bathe it one or two more times, and in winter, bathe it one or two less times. But generally, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!

2. Regular grooming

Dogs shed almost every day, especially during spring and autumn. To ensure good hair growth, regular grooming is important. Pet owners can use pet-specific brushes to help dogs remove naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brush once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time.

3. Sunbathe

Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. Besides making the coat more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help with sterilization. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can improve its physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier hair.

4. Deworming

Poor hair condition is also closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrition from the dog's body, depriving it of nutrients. So deworming is essential. It is recommended to do internal and external deworming at the same time. Deworming medication can cause significant damage to the dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.

5. Pay attention to diet

In order for a dog to have beautiful fur, it must have a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a suitable and nutrient-rich dog food that meets the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can also feed the dog a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.