French bulldogs are wee yet robust pooches that are beloved not only for their humorous and pleasant dispositions, but also for their lovable, slightly wrinkled visages. As all dogs, certain medical issues affect French bulldogs — or “Frenchies” — more commonly than others.

Basics

French bulldogs appear in colors including white, pale yellowish-brown and brindle, the latter of which involves a blend of colors such as brownish-orange and gray. As adults, these dense, sturdy pooches typically reach between 11 and 13 inches tall. They usually weigh no more than 28 pounds. One of the most prominent physical characteristics of French bulldogs involves their ears, which point straight up and are similar to those of bats. This smart, amiable and funny dog keeps a close vigil on his home.

Brachycephalic Syndrome

As with pugs and a handful of other doggie breeds, French bulldogs are brachycephalic, with skulls that are markedly wide and short. Their faces have a conspicuously flattened appearance to them. Although the look undeniably is cute, it also can trigger health issues that revolve around breathing, problems that can become life threatening. Some common indications of brachycephalic syndrome are excessively loud breathing, coughing, hacking and snoring. All of these signs are usually particularly noticeable during times of excessive heat. Inordinate discomfort in heat is typical of dogs with brachycephalic syndrome. Take your sweet Frenchie to the veterinarian immediately if he shows any signs of this condition.

Intervertebral Disk Disease

Intervertebral disk disease is relatively prevalent in the French bulldog breed. This orthopedic condition results from the deterioration of the spinal column’s dense intervertebral disks. Some of the signs that are typical of this disorder are backache, rigidness of the body, scooting of the hind limbs during walking, difficulty standing up, general feebleness, crouching over, shivering and soreness of the stomach. Paralysis is a possibility for some dogs with the condition. If you have any reason to think that your precious pet might be dealing with intervertebral disk disease, schedule a veterinarian appointment as soon as possible.

Canine Hip Dysplasia

Canine hip dysplasia is another problem for many French bulldogs. The skeletal condition involves the atypical growth and progress of the hip joints. Signs of the condition pop up early in dogs, starting as early as at 4 months. Lack of body coordination is a common sign of the disorder. Other symptoms of canine hip dysplasia are rigidness, avoidance of physical activity and hobbling. Note, however, that many dogs with the condition barely display any hints at all. Regardless, veterinary attention is a must for any pooches with hip dysplasia.

Other Conditions

Other medical issues that also sometimes affect French bulldogs are luxating patellas, cataracts and entropion. The latter entails the eyelids turning in an “inside” direction. If your dog shows any sign of abnormalities or malaise, a vet appointment should be your next step. Dogs don’t always display obvious signs of illness, though, which is why it’s so crucial to routinely bring your pet in for regular veterinary checkups. With the right love and care, French bulldogs can often survive healthily and contentedly for anywhere between 10 and 14 years, or perhaps longer.

Shih tzu dogs are of Chinese origin and said to be a combination of Lhasa Apso and Pekinese breeding stock. These affectionate, friendly dogs are small and easily kept as house pets, but have long, silky hair that requires regular grooming. If you intend to keep your shih tzu’s hair long and groom him yourself, be ready to follow some specific guidelines.

1Wash your shih tzu 7 to 12 days to keep his coat clean. Use either dog shampoo or human shampoo, and lather the dog up in the sink or bathtub using warm water. Rinse the dog thoroughly, and consider using a conditioning rinse to smooth out tangles in the dog’s long hair. Pay particular attention to the hair under your dog’s belly and along his legs, as this is where he’ll be dirtiest.

2Towel the dog dry and keep him in an enclosed area, like the kitchen, while he dries completely. Use a dog brush or comb to begin working any knots out of his hair while he’s still wet, as long hair is more easily detangled when it’s wet and freshly conditioned. Be very gentle when you’re brushing the shih tzu’s hair, as his skin will be sensitive if his hair is pulled.

3Brush your shih tzu’s hair once a day to keep it tangle free and clean. Schedule a time for this, and follow the schedule consistently so that the dog knows when to expect grooming.

4Trim your shih tzu’s nails once a month to keep them from snagging on carpeting or breaking off. Use dog nail trimmers, available at pet stores, to cut only the tips of the nails off. Cutting off too much nail will cause pain and could lead to infection.

5Clean your dog’s eyes and ears every time you wash him. Use a Q-tip to clean any wax and debris out of his ears, but only clean the section that you can see, as pushing a Q-tip too deep into his ear can cause damage. Use eye drops, available at pet stores, and clean cloths to clean his eyes and keep them bright and free of buildup.

6Pull the hair from the top of your dog’s head up into a “top knot,” or ponytail at the top of his head. Secure the pony tail loosely with a rubber band. This will keep it out of his face and allow him to see clearly.

Domesticated dogs don’t really need them, but they have anal glands, or anal sacs, located between the internal and external sphincter muscles. The anal glands secrete oily fluid onto the feces when they pass a bowel movement, a function of predatory animal communication. Some dogs are prone to oily, thick fluid with a distinct unpleasant odor. Anal gland problems occur in male and female dogs of any age; they can affect any breed, but small dogs and certain breeds have a higher occurrence.

Breed Predisposition

Anal gland problems seldom occur in large-breed dogs. Dr. T.J. Dunn Jr. writes on PetMD that infections and impactions are more common in smaller breeds, such as basset hounds, beagles, cocker spaniels, Chihuahuas, miniature poodles and toy poodles, and Lhasa apsos. While the condition is common in these smaller and medium-size pooches, don’t rule it out as a cause for discomfort in a dog of any size or breed.

Symptoms and Treatments

Signs your dog may have anal gland problems include scooting his butt on the floor and excessive licking of the anal area. In cases of infection of abscess, swelling or a fever may occur. If you believe your dog has anal gland problems, consult your veterinarian. Treatment includes manual expression of the anal glands. Many groomers routinely express the anal glands during routine grooming.

The mistake many owners make when purchasing a Yorkshire terrier is thinking they are purchasing a low-energy lapdog. Telling your friends that you’re adopting a “Yorkie,” as they’re often called, negates the most important part of their name: terrier. Like most other terriers, Yorkies need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation and can often be stubborn and mischievious. Thus, even though Yorkies are small dogs, they still require plenty of training.

Features

Yorkshire terriers are a mix of several different terriers bred in Yorkshire to catch rats in clothing mills in the 19th century. Thus, they were owned largely by working-class individuals who needed a high-energy dog with an excellent prey drive. Though they rarely grow to larger than 7 lbs., they still have the energy of a rodent catcher and may use excess energy to remodel your house or yard (by chewing and digging, of course) if bored.

Considerations

Before adopting a Yorkie, recognize that you aren’t getting just a lap dog that will sleep all day. Yorkies need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. A training program can help provide mental stimulation so begin to teach your dog boundaries, recall (come when called) and other tricks as soon as you bring it home. Yorkies also require a lot of grooming, including daily brushing if you are going to keep the long hair, so begin to teach it to tolerate grooming immediately. This can be done easily by brushing only a little and giving rewards. Keep the sessions short and build up to brushing the whole coat. Don’t let the coat get matted, or grooming will become very difficult on you and your dog.

Socialization

One major problem most Yorkie owners face is excessive barking. Yorkies are excellent guard dogs despite their small size, but an underexercised, undersocialized Yorkie can drive owners crazy barking at every noise. To avoid this, begins socializing your puppy as soon as you get it to everything you don’t want it to fear: men, women, children, walkers and crutches, hats, beards, skateboards, bicycles and so on. Make this a positive experience with lots of treats. When your dog barks, say “quiet” and reward it when it listens. If not, put your dog in a quiet room for timeout and ignore it until it’s quiet.

Potty Training

The other major problem facing Yorkie owners is potty training. Because Yorkies are small, they can hold their bladder for only an hour or less when they are puppies. Use a strict potty training regime by keeping a journal of when and how often your Yorkie relieves itself. When it is time, lead it outside (no carrying) through the door you want it to use. If your dog goes, give it a treat and let it back in the house for free time. If not, put your Yorkie in its crate until its next bathroom break. If your dog can hold it for an hour, repeat in an hour. Continue this until there are no accidents.

Training with Children

Many Yorkie breeders caution that Yorkies should not be placed in a house with small children, because they are so fragile and easy to injure. If you adopt a Yorkie and have children, don’t allow any roughhousing. Teach your children how to politely interact with the dog and always supervise any interactions. Teach your Yorkie to be calm around your children as well by keeping it on a leash and using timeouts if its behavior gets too excitable. Remember to give lots of additional exercise if using timeouts frequently.

Basic obedience training benefits both you and your dog. It lets him know what the rules are and gives him an understanding of some simple commands that make life more pleasant for both of you. When you need to keep your pet safe and out of trouble, a dog gate can help you train him by limiting his access to restricted areas and items in your home. A gate is especially beneficial in stopping him from chewing your good shoes, electrical cords and other items in your home. Method

Use a dog gate to confine your dog to a single area of your home where he can stay when you can’t be there to supervise him. Make the area as safe as possible by removing potential hazards such as electrical cords and fragile items. Give him plenty of toys to keep him busy while he’s confined; a solid rubber toy stuffed with food is a good way to keep him occupied. Confining him with a dog gate takes away the opportunity for your dog to be destructive and helps to teach him what you want by providing him with nothing but acceptable alternatives.

When your dog licks you to show affection and playfulness, it can be a pleasurable experience that makes you feel loved. But if your dog repeatedly licks his paw, lips, backside or even the floor or some other object, it may be a sign of a compulsive behavior. Address this annoying and sometimes destructive behavior with the right intervention and training.

What To Look For

Repetitive licking behavior, known as acral lick dermatitis (ALD), can be painful for your dog and difficult to diagnose and treat. Certain large breeds such as Labradors, German shepherds, Doberman pinschers and Great Danes are more prone to obsessive licking. They will most often lick their paws, although other parts of the body, such as the flank or tail, can also be affected. In the worst cases, constant licking will cause hair loss and create open wounds that will expose the dog to infection.

Causes of Licking

Obsessive licking can be caused by neurological or physical problems, but most often the source of the obsession is anxiety or fear. Dogs who are left alone or crated much of the day are the most likely to be bored and nervous and resort to self-licking or other repetitive behaviors. Consult your vet to make sure the behavior is not caused by a medical problem. A burr that is embedded in a paw, mites, allergies and other physical problems may also cause a dog to obsessively lick.

Possible Treatments

Some dogs may need a behavior modification program to break them of the licking habit. First make sure your dog gets enough exercise and plenty of love to help relieve his stress. Distract him if he begins to lick himself, but don’t yell or punish him, as this creates more anxiety. Spray a taste deterrent on his favorite licking spots throughout your home. Hide treats in toys around the house as a way to keep him busy when you are away. Use a cone collar to prevent licking and further injury. An overly anxious dog may benefit from medication along with behavior modification, so talk to your vet if your dog’s licking won’t stop.

Where To Get Help

If your dog needs additional help, consult an experienced trainer or animal behaviorist. Some clinics, such as the Purdue University Animal Behavior Clinic, will consult with owners to determine the cause of behavior problems and help find solutions. To help diagnose your dog’s issue, experts may take an extensive look at the dog’s background and consider his breeding, personality, exercise routine, diet, humans in the household, medications and how you obtained him.

Your best friend’s reached his golden years. He’s not as spry as he was. Maybe he doesn’t see or hear as well. Older dogs require special care, but they also bring special gifts. You want the best for your old pal, giving him the highest quality of life you can.

Feeding

You might want to switch your dog to a special diet formulated for senior canines. It’s important to prevent Fido from becoming fat. Obesity isn’t healthy at any age, but it’s a condition that less-active senior dogs consuming the same amount of food they did in their prime can easily develop. Talk to your vet about your dog’s diet and any special nutritional requirements he might have.

Preventive Care

If you’re lucky, your senior dog is healthy and you want to keep him that way. That might mean taking him to the vet more often than his once-a-year checkup. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, older dogs “in the last 25 percent of the predicted life span for their breed” should optimally have an examination about every six months. Your vet monitors your dog’s weight, inspects him for any arthritic changes and examines his skin for any lumps or bumps. Regular blood, thyroid, fecal and urine tests alert your vet to any changes requiring further investigation. Tell your vet about any changes you’ve noticed in your dog’s behavior, even if it seems minor to you.

Supplements

While your vet prescribes any necessary medication for your old dog, some over-the-counter supplements may improve his quality of life if he shows certain arthritic changes. Supplements for dogs containing glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and methyl-sufonyl-methane may slow down the cartilage breakdown that is the essence of arthritis. While these supplements might help put a spring back in his step, always check with your vet before giving your dog any over-the-counter treatment.

Exercise

Even if your dog develops a little hitch in his get-along, he still needs exercise. Regular exercise keeps joints mobile, but his activity level probably isn’t what it once was. Instead of going for runs, take him for walks. Maybe he isn’t up for a half-hour spin around the neighborhood every day, but 15 minutes or so might suit him just fine.

Making Adjustments

Maybe Fido can’t get up and down the stairs as easily as he once did. If you allow him on the furniture, it might be tough for him to climb onto a chair, sofa or bed. You can purchase or build ramps to help him get where he wants to go more easily. If he can’t navigate the stairs to the places he once slept, provide a convenient new sleeping area for him.