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How to care for my dog's joints during winter? Winter can be especially difficult for dogs, especially for those with joint problems or breeds prone to conditions such as arthritis or hip dysplasia. Cold and damp can intensify stiffness, pain and inflammation in the joints, reducing your pet's mobility and well-being. For help your dog spend a comfortable winter and without joint discomfort, it is essential to take preventive measures and adapt your care routine to low temperatures. Below, we'll explore the warning signs, the importance of taking care of your joints, and the best tips for maintaining your joint health in winter. The importance of taking care of dogs' joints in winter Cold and humidity can negatively affect the joints of dogs, especially those who suffer from joint diseases such as arthritis, osteoarthritis or hip dysplasia. During winter, low temperatures can cause: ●      Greater joint stiffness: The cold can cause muscles and ligaments to contract, reducing flexibility and increasing the risk of injury. ●      Pain and inflammation: Swollen joints can become more sensitive to weather changes, intensifying discomfort in dogs with previous joint problems. ●      Decreased physical activity: Cold weather reduces dogs' motivation to move, which can lead to loss of muscle mass and weakened joints. Therefore, it is essential to take preventive measures and adapt your lifestyle to maintain your mobility and well-being during the cold months.   Signs of joint problems in your dog that you should watch for Detecting joint problems in your dog in time is key to providing adequate treatment and preventing his quality of life from deteriorating. During winter, these symptoms can worsen, so it is important to pay attention to signs such as: ●      Stiffness when moving: If you notice that your dog takes longer to get up from lying down or seems more clumsy when walking, he could be suffering from joint discomfort. ●      Limping or difficulty walking: A dog with joint pain may avoid putting one foot down or walking with difficulty. If you notice that he is limping frequently, consult a veterinarian. ●      Less desire to play or move: If your dog avoids running, jumping, or moving like before, the pain may prevent him from doing so normally. ●      Licking or biting your joints: Many dogs with joint discomfort try to relieve the pain by licking or nibbling on affected areas, such as elbows, knees or hips. ●      Behavior change: Chronic pain can cause a dog to become more irritable, grumpy, or less sociable. It may also prevent you from being touched in certain areas. If you observe one or more of these symptoms, it is advisable to go to the veterinarian for an evaluation and thus implement an appropriate care plan. Tips to protect your dog's joints in winter During the cold months, it is essential to take additional measures to care for your dog's joint health. Here we leave you some key recommendations: Keep your dog warm: recommended clothing and accessories The cold can cause muscles and joints to contract, causing discomfort in dogs with joint problems. To avoid it: ●      Wear thermal coats or sweaters, especially in short-haired, elderly dogs or breeds prone to joint problems like the Labrador or the German Shepherd. ●      An orthopedic bed with good cushioning helps relieve pressure on the joints and prevents direct contact with the cold floor. ●      Avoid drafts and cold floors. Keep their resting area in a warm place protected from the wind. Proper exercise on cold days: avoid joint injuries Lack of movement can cause joints to become stiffer. However, it is important to avoid high-impact exercises: ●      Before a walk, let your dog walk inside the house for a few minutes to warm up your muscles and joints. ●      opt for short but frequent walks instead of a long walk to avoid prolonged exposure to the cold. ●      Avoid slippery surfaces, since snow or wet ground can increase the risk of falls and joint injuries. Specific care for breeds prone to joint problems Some breeds are more predisposed to joint diseases, such as: ●      Labradors, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds, which are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. ●      Bulldogs and Pugs, which can develop early arthritis due to their bone structure. ●      Older dogs, since over time, the cartilage wears away, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis. For these cases, in addition to the care mentioned, it is advisable to visit the veterinarian regularly for preventive checkups. Supplements and food to strengthen joints Adequate nutrition is key to maintaining your dog's joint health, especially in winter, when the cold can accentuate discomfort and stiffness. There are certain nutrients and supplements that can help strengthen joints and prevent long-term problems. Foods beneficial for the joints Some ingredients can help maintain flexibility and reduce inflammation in dogs' joints. Among them stand out: ●      Omega-3 fatty acids: Present in salmon, fish oil and chia seeds, they help reduce inflammation and improve joint mobility. ●      High quality proteins: A diet rich in proteins from lean meats and fish promotes the regeneration of joint tissue. ●      Fruits and vegetables with antioxidants: Foods like blueberries, carrots, and spinach help combat oxidative stress in the joints. ●      Natural collagen: It can be found in bone broth, which provides essential nutrients to keep cartilage in good condition. Chondroprotectors for dogs: essential joint support The chondroprotectors for dogs They are supplements designed to maintain joint health and prevent cartilage wear. They are especially recommended for older dogs, large breeds or those predisposed to joint problems. Among the most used chondroprotectors are: ●      Glucosamine: Promotes cartilage regeneration and helps reduce inflammation. ●      Chondroitin: Contributes to maintaining the elasticity and resistance of the joints. ●      Hyaluronic acid: Helps lubricate joints, reducing friction and wear. ●      MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane): A natural compound with anti-inflammatory properties that can relieve joint pain. The use of chondroprotectors for dogs It can be an effective strategy to maintain your pet's mobility and prevent long-term joint problems. Before administering them, it is advisable to consult with a veterinarian to determine the most appropriate dose and type based on your dog's specific needs.

The American Staffordshire terrier is a breed that leaves no one indifferent. Those who live with one of them adore these dogs, while others cross the sidewalk when they see him passing by. Weight: 25 to 30 kilos hair type: very short and smooth Character: balanced and sociable Health: good, with a tendency to several genetic diseases Life expectancy: between 12 and 14 years Origins Although the American Staffordshire terrier is a breed that was created in the United States, the truth is that Its origin is very far away, specifically in England. In this country, “sports” that consisted of harassing bulls and bears were very popular. In 1835 they were prohibited, but dog fighting was still allowed, so the type of dog must change. Larger animals are sought, so crossing the english bulldog old (which has nothing to do with the current one) and the old English Terrier, the Bull and Terrier emerged. This breed is extinct and should not be confused with the bull terrier that we have now. This Bull and Terrier arrived in the United States in that same 19th century and continued its selection there. This was intended to make the specimens larger and the result was the birth of the American Pit Bull Terrier.. The breed was already recognized in 1898 by the United Kennel Club, gaining great popularity in a very short time. Although he was selected for fights, the truth is that he soon dedicated himself to guarding houses, livestock, etc., and the American Kennel Club came up with the idea of ​​naming some strains of the breed Staffordshire Terrier. It seems that the idea was to pay honor to the province where this dog originated, selecting specimens from the Colby and Corvino bloodlines, which were among the best in the American Pitbull Terrier. In this way the American Staffordshire terrier emerged, selecting the most representative Pitbull specimens. From there, the race takes a huge journey that ends in 1972, when the International Cynological Federation admitted it. Main characteristics of the American Staffordshire terrier The American Staffordshire terrier is immediately recognizable, even if we don't know about dogs, since it has a plump and very muscular body. That does not take away his agility, since he can run and move like an athlete. The head is very wide and denotes strength. The same thing happens to the jaw, something to which his cheeks contribute, since they are bulging and appear muscular. To complete his very particular expression, his eyes are low and very far apart, which makes his face unrepeatable and expresses kindness, even though we see that he is a very strong dog. The ears are set high and are usually rose-shaped. Years ago they were cut, which gave the dog a more aggressive appearance when he picked them up. Today that is prohibited. The muscles stand out on the body, with a very short back. The chest is wide, with muscles that are usually quite marked. Its tail is thick at the base and becomes thinner. As with the ears, it is no longer cut under any circumstances. If we look at the hair we will see that it is lustrous, that it shines. It is very short and rigid, allowing any color or combination of them. They weigh between 25 and 30 kilos, and their height at the withers is between 43 and 48 cm, with males and females very similar in this aspect. Character of the American Staffordshire This is where the controversy comes in, since there are many opinions. Despite this, the truth is that the American Staffordshire terrier is a curious, friendly and happy dog, trusting with everyone. He is outgoing and sociable, which can bring us more than one problem if we are the owners of one. Due to the bad press it has, most people are afraid of it and that will make them alert if they see our dog approaching. Inside the house he is very calm and creates a strong bond with his family members, especially with the young children whom he idolizes. Outside he is more active, which is often not interpreted well. He only seeks to have fun, but only people who have been able to enjoy the breed know that. Educating him well is essential A dog behaves as he has been taught since he was little. Hence the importance of educating the American Staffordshire terrier, since we are dealing with a very strong animal with a powerful jaw. Aggression must be put aside, because it doesn't work with this dog.. For this reason, we are going to use positive reinforcement when educating him, starting when he has the vaccines and can go outside. Must socialize with other dogs and people. With the first ones he has to learn to play, understanding that he can't bite whenever he wants and that when he plays he shouldn't hurt. Then we will have basic obedience, which will help us keep him safe at all times. This type of obedience must be repeated until it is assimilated, reviewing the orders weekly. Because of his predisposition to learn, it won't take him long to do what we ask of him. In fact, we'll even be able to teach you some tricks.  Care Starting with the hair, in this aspect the American Staffordshire terrier is going to give us little work. Being smooth and very short, the only thing you have to do is brush him once or twice a week. For this task we will choose a brush with soft tips., that they have some protection. Otherwise, we will end up causing wounds on the skin, so combing it with a rubber mitt may be the best idea. It does not accumulate much dirt, so we can space out the baths, although it will not make it difficult for us in this regard, since it dries quickly even in winter. His character makes him quite bored, so if he is alone for too long it is not unusual for the well-known separation anxiety to appear. We can avoid this by leaving him a few varied toys. Among them, one of the best is the KONG. It won't break it and if we fill it with food it will have a good time trying to get it out. Yes, it is more demanding with exercise. He needs it both to maintain his physique and to have good mental health, although he is not a dog that should spend all day running.  He will settle for three walks of half an hour each, better if there are dogs on the route that he can play with. Thus, although due to its size it is not a good candidate to live in a small apartment, it will be able to do so without problems. Feeding the American Staffordshire terrier Food is very important in all breeds, but it is even more so in the American Staffordshire terrier, since if we want it to maintain such spectacular muscles it will need “fuel” to feed it. As happens with people who do bodybuilding, Protein is required for muscles to grow and be maintained.. This is not cheap if it is quality. What does that mean? That he needs the best feed we can buy, since with the supermarket feed he will gain weight and lose muscle mass. The ingredients are what determine the quality of a feed If we buy a bag of feed from a supermarket, the typical one we find on sale when we go shopping for the week, and we read the label, we will realize why it is so cheap. Among its first ingredients we find wheat or corn, and then chicken meat in the form of by-products. That means that they put their beaks, legs and feathers there, something that is not good at eating time. On the contrary, in a quality dog food, the first thing we are going to see is chicken, beef, lamb, etc., for human consumption and high availability. In other words, the American Staffordshire terrier will be able to obtain the quality proteins it needs. There are quite a few brands on the market, but you always have to keep that in mind so as not to make a mistake when choosing, limiting your purchase to quality food. Within this we can try different compositions or brands. In the end, the one who chooses the feed is the dog himself, since that bag from such a great brand, which makes the neighbor's dog have spectacular hair, can make our dog vomit. Health This breed has very strong health, but there are some diseases that can occur with some frequency. Therefore, it is recommended to make a visit to the veterinarian every six months. Demodicosis Under this strange name hides a skin disease that usually affects the breed, and that in fact is quite common.  It is characterized by skin problems such as scales, itching, bald patches or pustules, all of which are caused by parasites, which is why we are talking about an infectious disease. Treatment may combine baths, injections and other medications. It's a little heavy, but quite effective. hip dysplasia Due to its size, the American Staffordshire terrier is at risk for dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a disease that affects the hind legs and hips., when their bones do not “seat” well in the accommodation they have in both hips. It's genetic, so The best way to prevent it is to buy a dog from a responsible breeder., which can demonstrate with x-rays that its animals are free of dysplasia. If the dog develops it, it can suffer in different degrees, from mild to more serious, in which case the only solution is for it to undergo surgery. Eye conditions You also have to be careful with your eyes. The first problem is cataracts, which will appear as the dog gets older and are noticeable because the eye is covered, gray. Another is progressive retinal atrophy and it is more serious because it has no cure.. For this reason, check-ups are very important, because thanks to them this disease is detected and the evolution is delayed as much as possible. By ingesting antioxidants and vitamins, its progress is somewhat slowed, but we have to get used to the idea that blindness cannot be avoided. In addition, it sometimes causes problems such as lens dislocation or glaucoma, so the dog must undergo surgery. Disorders of sexual development Sometimes, the breed suffers from this type of problems that usually manifest themselves with excessive sexual attitudes, which is not pleasant with an animal of this strength and size. Here the treatment is simple and economical, since it will be enough to sterilize the dog as soon as the veterinarian gives us the go-ahead. Other medium dog breeds that you should know: French Bulldog bull terrier American Bully Belgian Shepherd golden retriever border collie American Bulldog Harrier Boxer English Cocker Spaniel Schnauzer Beagle

The Tibetan Terrier has nothing to do with the rest of the terriers, and Today he has become a perfect companion dog.. It's in thousands of homes around the world, which means it has some much-appreciated qualities.  Weight: 8 to 12 kilos Hair type: long and straight  Character: calm, faithful and shy  Health: very good  Life expectancy: from 12 to 14 years  Origins of the Tibetan Terrier Their name leaves no room for doubt and these Tibetan terriers come from Tibet, which today belongs to China.  The monks had them in the monasteries to do all kinds of tasks. There they acted as guard dogs, but they also guided the flocks or kept the monks company, who kept the lineage unchanged for a long time.  In fact, The Tibetan Terrier is one of the best preserved breeds, one of those that has suffered the least changes over the centuries.  It is not known exactly when it originated, but it is believed that it was more than 2,000 years ago, when the Tibetans began a somewhat primitive kind of breed selection, separating large animals from small ones.  This is how the Tibetan Terrier and some other breeds such as the Tibetan Spaniel emerged, remaining with the monks without the general public knowing anything about them.  This Tibet Apso, the name by which the breed is also known, did not arrive in Europe until 1920, when a doctor named Agnes Gray received a puppy as a gift. She worked in Tibet and a couple she cared for gave her a puppy.  This dog went to England with her owner and breeding began with her, with the breed being recognized in 1930 by the English Kennel Club. From the old continent it moved to the United States and in 1956 the breed was recognized in that country.  The name terrier comes from the fact that foreigners saw it as similar to this type of European dog., which is why the breed is called Tibetan Terrier, although it has nothing to do with them.  Main features We are looking at a medium-sized dog, with a weight ranging from 8 to 12 kilos, and a height of between 35 and 45 cm.  It has a solid body and square shapes, as does its head. The eyes are round and are used as a measurement, since the breed standard calls for something a little peculiar.  This means that the distance from the nose (nose) to the eyes must be the same as the distance from the eyes to the base of the head.  Their ears hang from the skull, on the sides, and are V-shaped. As for their hair, they have a double layer to insulate themselves from inclement weather, something that can be a problem in hot places.  Regarding the tones of your coat, anything is allowed except chocolate and liver., so we can see specimens with very varied colors.  Character As is evident, the character of the Tibetan Terrier has nothing to do with that of terriers, since He is very sweet and docile. He loves spending time with his loved ones and is always wary of strangers.  When it comes to living with children, he is not one of those dogs that can tolerate anything, like a Labrador. If these are very small, it is better to wait or opt for a different breed.  It is possible to educate the Tibetan Terrier, socialize it, but in the end there will be problems with the children, because they will not respect it and we do not know how it may react.  His character is tenacious and brave. With this we must be very careful, because he does not hesitate to play the hero, getting into very dangerous situations.  Well socialized, and always with the help of a professional, many animals of this breed have become therapy dogs, since they are sociable and love receiving attention from everyone. Given its character, they don't feel good when they are alone. If they are going to have company for a good part of the day, they will have no problems living in a small apartment, but you should always ensure that they take long walks where they can play.  Tibetan Terrier Care Like any long-haired dog, care begins with its grooming. Thus, we will have to brush it as often as possible, as this will prevent its coat from getting tangled or knotted.  Baths should also be frequent, especially if he lives with us inside the house. You will have to put him in the bathtub at least once every two months. Because this period of time is very short, it is best to purchase a quality shampoo for long-coat dogs. The ears are going to give us some work. Their hair also grows inside, so it is best to cut it often. This prevents dirt, humidity, or foreign objects from accumulating there.  It is very important that you exercise and you will need at least an hour a day. Walking with him is fun, because since he likes to play so much we will have a good time. Here we can teach him some tricks, because at that moment he will pay more attention to us.  Finally, we must insist on early socialization. He is an excellent dog, but as long as he has been socialized since he was a puppy. His character is somewhat distrustful by nature, something that we must overcome little by little.  Food When we are going to choose the diet of the Tibet Apso, we must take into account that it is a small breed, with a high metabolism and that is why it tends to eat a lot. Therefore, in order to avoid problems, the first thing we will do is divide the daily intake, choosing for this a special feed intended for these breeds, with small croquettes, not too hard and with a good flavor.  We will leave the food for larger dogs, since this type of breed has a hard time chewing hard balls, something that can cause vomiting and stomach problems.  There are many brands that we can choose from, so we will go to our veterinarian or trusted pet store to ask, knowing that we must purchase premium feed, the ones that have a higher price.  With this, we ensure that in its composition there are only good ingredients, such as meats for human consumption, and we can even purchase a grain-free feed, which will help you maintain your weight and have better digestion.  At first, It is likely that we will have to try several feeds until we find the right one.. This will be the one that manages to please the animal, while producing small and compact feces, with the absence of bad odor.  Tibetan Terrier Health The Tibetan Terrier he has very good health, a result of the isolation to which it has been subjected, which avoided intensive breeding programs and capricious modifications of its phenotype.  You may suffer from hip dysplasia  Even though the Hip dysplasia is a pathology that is associated with large dogs, the little ones also suffer from it.  This is the case of the Tibet Apso, in which this disease can occur, although it is true that since their weight is less than that of a large breed dog, it affects them in a different way.  In fact, if it appears, it is usually treated with chondroprotectors, which help the joints to be in good condition, acting as a natural “lubricant.”  As always when we talk about dysplasia, We can improve our health by purchasing the dog from a reputable kennel., who has no problem certifying us that the ancestors of the puppy we are taking are free of dysplasia.  No responsible breeder breeds dogs with dysplasia, but you should still ask for tests, such as x-rays of the parents.  In turn, and if the veterinarian considers it appropriate when seeing the dog walking, a special x-ray can be done to see if there is dysplasia and its degree. They also suffer from vision problems  There are hardly any breeds that are free from eye diseases. In this case, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, or eye dislocation may occur.  Little can be done here, especially against ocular dislocation, so it is best to go to the vet for check-ups when he tells us, thus being able to detect these pathologies as soon as possible. Other dog breeds that may interest you: German Spitz French Bulldog Andalusian winemaker Pomeranian yorkshire dachshund American Bully Belgian Shepherd golden retriever border collie english bulldog