Susan M. Ewing

Article / Updated 04-26-2016

You and your veterinarian work together to keep your pet healthy, and you want to have a good working relationship. Choosing a reputable veterinarian requires your time and attention. Depending on the area where you live, however, your pool of veterinarians may be limited. Assuming that you have choices, consider the following list when choosing a veterinarian: Who do you know who owns a pet or breed like yours? If your breeder lives in your area, ask her which veterinarian she uses and why. Breed-specific clubs and other pet owners are reliable resources, as well. Do you want to take your pet to a multidoctor or a single-doctor facility? Taking your pet to a small practice may mean that the veterinarian knows your pet better, but if an emergency arises and your vet isn't available, the interim doctor won't know your pet. In a multidoctor practice, you may not always see the same veterinarian, but if an emergency occurs, the on-call veterinarian has access to all your pet's health records. Can you find a veterinarian who understands the potential problems that are specific to your breed? These veterinarians are more aware of what to look for when they're examining your pet. For example, bulldogs have an elongated soft palate and small trachea that can hamper its breathing. How far are you willing to drive? A highly recommended veterinarian may practice 50 miles away, and you may not mind the drive for scheduled visits, but if your pet has a serious problem, will that drive mean the difference between life and death? Considering drive time doesn't mean that you should go to the veterinarian right next door if you don't like or trust him or her. Try a veterinarian somewhere in between the two extremes. Alternatively, you can choose to have a backup veterinarian (one you've seen once or twice and can use in emergencies). What kind of emergency coverage is offered? In a multiple-veterinarian practice, doctors likely have staggered hours. If only one veterinarian practices, how are vacations and off hours handled? Is the staff friendly? Is the waiting room clean? If possible, visit different veterinarians' offices. Ask how they handle emergencies, and find out what their hours are. You want to know that the staff believes you if you have a pet emergency and won't try to give you an appointment in three days. Are you willing to go through trial and error? It may not be possible to find the perfect veterinarian (if the perfect vet exists) without some trial and error. Friends may recommend a particular practice, but you just don't feel comfortable there. No matter how highly recommended a practice is, if you don't feel comfortable, don't stay. What complaints have you heard? If someone complains about a veterinarian, consider the complaint. Was it a one-time incident or something chronic, like a dirty exam room?

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-27-2016

As a Bulldog person, you want to get your pet from a reputable breeder, and knowing the right questions to ask gets you on your way. Once you have a Bulldog, you want to start a good relationship with your vet. Then, to keep your pet the picture of health, you need to know which plants, foods, and household items can cause problems, and how to tell when a trip to the vet or emergency clinic is warranted.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-27-2016

Poodles are known for their keen intelligence and excellent trainability, and, most notably, those signature curly locks. But there's more to the Poodle than meets the eye. Learn some of the Poodle breed's history and the personalities of the three different varieties of Poodle. And remember that just like most dogs, Poodles will eat anything and everything — it's up to you to know what treats are both healthy and tasty to feed your Poodle.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

No matter where your Poodle comes from, she should be healthy. You may feel sorry for the sick puppy in the corner, but don't take her home. Start with a healthy Poodle, and look for the following: The coat should be clean and shiny. The dog should move freely, with no limping or wobbling. Puppies aren't always graceful, but a puppy shouldn't be falling down or staggering when it moves. A Poodle shouldn't have open sores, and she should look well fed. The eyes should be clear and bright, with no discharge or swelling. Lift up the ear flaps (properly called leathers). The interior of the ear should be pink, not red, and you shouldn't see swelling or discharge. Sniff gently to make sure you don't detect an odor. If you're buying a puppy from a breeder, ask to see the mother (and the father, if possible). The mother dog should be healthy as well. She may look a bit thin; having a litter takes a lot out of a dog, but she should otherwise look healthy. You may not be able to examine her as closely as a puppy, but the same criteria apply. Make sure the dogs are housed in a clean, well-lit, well-ventilated area. The bedding and surrounding area should be clean. The area doesn't have to be sterile, but it shouldn't smell or have an accumulation of dirt, feces, or urine. Go elsewhere for your puppy if the environment is dirty and the dogs aren't healthy. Don't feel so sorry for the puppies that you "rescue" one. This just encourages the breeder to produce more puppies, and you may not be able to save the sick one. If she doesn't die, she may never be a completely healthy adult. And you'll expose any dog you already have at home to disease.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

The Poodle is considered one breed, with three "varieties" within the breed. Except for the size difference, each variety is identical to the rest. No matter what the size, a Poodle is an intelligent, friendly companion. Poodle sizes, from largest to smallest, are Standard. Poodle is over 15 inches at the shoulders' highest point. Miniature. Poodle is 15 inches or less at the shoulders' highest point but measures at least 10 inches. Toy. Poodle stands 10 inches or less at the shoulders' highest point. The three types of Poodle also have general differences in temperament: A Standard tends to be more aloof and self-contained. A Miniature picks her person and wants to always be with that person. A Mini never lets up; she always wants to do something — anything — with her person. A Toy is happy to curl up on your lap and cuddle. It's not that a Toy can't excel in agility or doesn't enjoy obedience training or that a Standard isn't a loving companion, but, in general, the three types of Poodles do exhibit different personalities. No matter what size you prefer, you're going to get a dog willing to participate in family activities. Poodles also are intelligent, which means that if you don't give them something to do, they'll invent something, which may not meet with your approval. Their intelligence means they're the perfect partners for performance event competition, but you don't have to compete. Teach your Poodle tricks. Have her pick up dirty laundry and put in it a basket. She can do the same with her toys when company's coming. All three sizes are friendly and greet invited guests with a wagging tail. That doesn't mean that they won't sound the alarm if a stranger's at the door, and Standards can be effective guard dogs. Poodles shouldn't be shy or fearful of new people or events.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Your Poodle needs to be clipped on a regular schedule — whether you do the clipping yourself or pay a professional. Any clips other than the required show-ring clips are pet clips. Most pet Poodles are kept in fairly simple, easily maintained clips. When deciding on a clip for your Poodle, go with your preferences, but remember that the longer the coat is, the more brushing and combing you'll need to do. Consider following types of pet clips that may fit your vision for your Poodle's coat. The kennel clip. The kennel clip is the shortest clip and the easiest to do and maintain. It's ideal for Poodles who hike in the woods, play on the beach, or go swimming. The Poodle's face, feet, and tail are shaved; she also has a scissored topknot and a tail pompon. The body and legs are the same length and quite short, usually under 1/2 inch long. The ears may be full, shortened, or completely clipped. The sporting clip. The sporting clip is similar to the kennel clip, but the legs are longer than the body and scissored to blend into the body. The body is often as much as one inch long, with the leg length in proportion to the body length. The lamb trim. The lamb trim is a longer version of the sporting clip, with the body and legs as long as you wish, often as long as two or three inches. The puppy clip. In the puppy clip, the Poodle's face, feet, and tail are shaved, with a pompon left on the tail and the rest of the coat left long. The hindquarters, chest, and legs are shaped with scissors to blend in with the longer hair on the rest of the body. These areas should blend smoothly into the body and show no abrupt change in length. If the body hair is shortened, it isn't a true puppy clip. Show Poodles may be, and usually are, kept in a puppy clip until they are a year old. Pet Poodles are usually clipped into a shorter pet clip when the long hair becomes more work to keep brushed. The modified puppy clip. The modified puppy clip is similar to the true puppy clip, but the topknot is shaped and the entire body is shortened with scissors. The teddy bear clip. Strictly speaking, the teddy bear clip isn't a clip because clippers aren't used; the entire body is shortened and shaped with scissors. The body, legs, and tail are usually a couple of inches long, with no changes in lengths on different parts of the body. The topknot is shortened and rounded, but not in a cap as in other clips. The face, feet, and tail are scissored to blend with the body, not shaved. This trim can be very cute, especially on smaller Poodles, but it's high maintenance and needs frequent brushing. You'll need to check your Poodle twice a day to be sure that the rear is clean and to wipe her face with a damp cloth and dry it to keep it clear of food and dampness.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

A Bulldog isn't high maintenance, but she does need more care than you may think. The Bully doesn't have a lot of thick, fluffy undercoat to worry about, but Bulldogs do need care. Pay attention to particular parts of your Bully's body: Hair: Those tiny, short hairs shed, but the coat isn't the biggest concern with Bulldogs. Wrinkles: Wrinkles are the biggest issue concerning the Bulldog. Make sure your daily routine includes cleaning the wrinkles and drying them thoroughly to prevent rash, infection, or other skin problems. Skin: Bulldogs are prone to skin ailments and allergies. Check for hot spots and bald patches. Feet: Trim your Bully's foot fur, and check between those toes for any sign of interdigital cysts. Interdigital cysts are pus-filled growths between the toes and are frequently caused by ingrown hairs. Ears: Keep the ears clean and dry. Tail: The base of some Bulldog tails fits into a sort of pocket of flesh, and that needs to be kept as clean and dry as the wrinkles. A dab of petroleum jelly in the pocket helps prevent irritation. Bulldog care includes other functions, besides keeping the body groomed, that you need to perform to ensure a healthy pet: Regularly visit your veterinarian. Keep your vaccinations up to date, and consult your veterinarian if your dog is sick. Even if the sickness turns out to be something minor, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Make sure that your dog has identification. Attach her license and rabies tags to a buckle collar. You may also want to include a tag with your name and phone number. Consider getting your Bully microchipped as another form of ID. Watch what you feed your Bulldog. Control her weight, and don't let her get too heavy. An overweight dog has even more trouble breathing and may develop hip problems and arthritis. Extra weight puts extra stress on her heart and lungs, too. Extra pounds can aggravate any existing problems and may cause others. No matter what you feed your Bulldog, keep her fit and trim and healthy. Keeping a Bulldog healthy can cost more than other dogs' health care. Surgery can be expensive because of certain procedures that are protocol for the Bulldog. Bullies may have small tracheas and elongated palates. When your dog has any kind of surgery, she may be in danger during the recovery period. At that time, she isn't fully awake, and the soft palate can fall over the opening of the trachea, cutting off the air supply. You pay extra for someone to sit with your dog, making sure that she can breathe. Figure out your budget. Make sure that you can afford a Bulldog. The purchase price of the dog is just the beginning. Even if you don't include crates, beds, toys, baby gates, and fencing for the yard, you still have to buy food and pay for regular trips to the veterinarian, corrective surgeries, and emergencies. Know that your Bulldog comes with a price tag. Don't be scared off by the costs; one dog costs a family roughly $6,000 over the lifetime of the dog.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

The best way to find the right kennel for your dog is to visit the boarding kennels in your area before you need one. The day you drop off your dog is not the time to discover dirty conditions or broken fences. A reputable kennel operator will welcome your visit. If you aren't allowed to inspect the kennel, don't board there. All the fences and gates should be in good repair, with no jagged bits of wire or metal sticking out and no holes. The pens also should be clean. You may smell a doggy odor in the kennel, but it shouldn't smell like urine or feces. Each dog should have fresh water in clean buckets or bowls, and you should see no dirty food dishes. If you live in a large urban area, your city may have kennels with individual rooms for the dogs, innerspring mattresses, and piped-in music. These amenities, of course, cost much more than the traditional kennel with cement-floored dog runs, but your dog will love them! Here are a few important considerations as you select a kennel: Many kennels have large play areas for groups of dogs. Ask prospective kennels how they determine if the dogs are friendly and how they supervise the areas. If you don't want your dog to play with others, tell the operator before you leave your dog. If your dog is on medication, ask if the kennels are willing to treat your pet. Some kennels charge extra for this service. Find out what shots the kennels require. Most kennels require proof of rabies vaccination, as well as distemper, parvovirus, and bordetella (or "kennel cough" — an airborne virus that can travel rapidly through a kennel). If you don't vaccinate yearly but use a titer test (a blood test that shows the level of protection against a specific disease), ask if this report is acceptable. Most kennel operators ask for the name and number of your veterinarian. If they don't ask, make sure you give it to them. Find out how they treat medical emergencies and if they have veterinarians they use, should yours be unavailable. If the veterinarian of the kennel you choose is closer than yours, you may want to give permission to use its veterinarian if time is a factor. Find out if the kennel has some kind of grooming facility. The kennel may be able to give your dog a bath before you pick her up. It's also convenient to have the kennel take care of small tasks like nail clipping if you feel comfortable with this. After you select a kennel, it's time to reserve a spot for your dog. The best time to make kennel reservations depends on the time of year you plan to board. Many kennels are booked for Christmas by mid-November. Summer is always busy, and reservations will require a call three to four weeks ahead. But if you're boarding your dog in February, the day before is probably time enough.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Bulldogs possess behavioral quirks specific to their breed that you should seriously consider before you invest in one of the breed. If any of the traits mentioned in this article doesn't fit your lifestyle or with what you expect from your dog, consider getting a different breed. A Bulldog may be perfect for you if the following list represents your behaviors and the kind of dog you want: Couch Potato is your middle name. Grooming isn't on your list of fun things to do. You leave home for much of the day. You want a companion to hang out with after a hard day's work. Bulldogs love to be with their families, but they also like to snooze the day away. You can go off to work and know that your Bully isn't desperate for an afternoon game of fetch. And when you return home, your pal will be waiting for a snuggle on the couch. When you come home and plop down on the couch, you may notice that your Bully has left behind a present for you. You have dog hair all over your black pants! A Bulldog's short and smooth coat sheds much more hair than you may imagine, and your Bulldog sheds year round, but you won't have the hours of combing, brushing, and trimming maintenance that you would with many longer-coated breeds. Do pay attention to his wrinkles, though; you can easily manage a little touch up during your evening TV time on the couch. You must realize that your Bulldog is your companion; she isn't an athlete. In fact, Bulldogs are predisposed for lounging around. If you want a dog to keep you company in your active lifestyle, consider a different breed. The Bulldog isn't built for speed, and even if she wanted to run, jump, and play for extended periods of time, she just can't. Her short, pushed-in nose doesn't allow airflow like active dogs, and an elongated soft palate and small trachea further hamper a Bully's breathing. High heat and humidity also make Bulldogs unhappy, and hot conditions can affect their health. Overheating poses a real danger for a Bulldog. If you expect to spend a day paddling around the lake with your Bully, you may need to reconsider. Drowning is a major cause of death in Bulldogs. As one breeder says, "They swim like a rock." A Bulldog's temperament slows her down, too. Bulldogs want to please themselves. They aren't driven to work, and they don't act on command to please their owners. You can't force a Bulldog to do anything. He's bred to be single-minded and unyielding to rough handling.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

A good veterinarian discusses standard issues with you when you take your Bulldog for his first checkup, but knowing what to discuss beforehandhelps you cover everything you need to know about your Bulldog and also makes you look like a responsible pet owner. Bring along this list of items to discuss with your veterinarian: Ask how familiar they are with Bulldogs. Veterinarians are supposed to be comfortable with all dog breeds, but be sure that your vet is particularly knowledgeable about the special needs of Bulldogs. Ask about what vaccinations you need. Your vet should know how certain vaccinations affect Bulldogs. Ask about your state’s regulations regarding a rabies shot. Different states have different rules about rabies shots and how often shots are given. Veterinarians send out reminders about shots, but you should know whether your dog will need a rabies shot yearly or every three years. It’s your responsibility to keep your dog up-to-date with vaccinations. Ask about after hours and emergency care. If your Bulldog has a veterinary emergency after your vet’s office hours, you need to know where to take him for help! Ask your veterinarian if he is aware that many Bulldogs have small tracheas. The restricted airway is a big deal with Bulldogs because it tends to cause breathing problems. Ask about surgery for elongated palate and stenotic nares. Again, your vet should be knowledgeable about these issues due to potential breathing problems with Bulldogs. Ask about getting your Bulldog spayed or neutered. Your vet should volunteer this information, but make sure to bring it up just in case. Bulldog breeding is not for the faint of heart, as they have special needs that other breeds don’t.