| It is our job as dog owners to make sure that our | | | | healthy offspring. In addition, avoid acquiring such |
| pets are happy and healthy. However, it is not | | | | pets unless you are willing to give them the special |
| always an easy job given that our dogs are curious | | | | care they require. |
| and intelligent creatures with a tendency to get | | | | 2. Avoid breeding or selecting dogs with family health |
| themselves into all kinds of trouble. And when they | | | | disorders. Do not breed dogs if their close relatives |
| do get in sick or hurt, it is up to us to examine them | | | | have congenital defects, physical problems, or |
| and find out exactly what the problem is. | | | | inheritable behavior and temperament. Try to find out |
| Prevention is the main key in order to avoid diseases | | | | the medical histories of both parents and what |
| and illness from attacking your dog. In fact, the best | | | | percentage of related puppies has had birth defects. |
| prevention begins even before you start breeding | | | | If the percentage of birth defects is less than 5 |
| the dog. But what do you do if your pet was born | | | | percent, chances are they have a very low risk of |
| with a health problem? There are a few options for | | | | producing unhealthy offspring. |
| you to choose from when helping your dog that is | | | | 3. Avoid breeding close relatives. Breeding two dogs |
| born with a congenital defect. Often times, surgery | | | | within the same family such as siblings, parents, |
| can correct a structural defect. Other aspects such | | | | grandparents, aunts and uncles has a tendency to |
| as good feeding, good amount of exercise, proper | | | | "fix" latent defects into their offspring. |
| grooming and veterinary care all help in controlling | | | | 4. Do not select or breed inbred dogs. Be extra |
| certain disorder and symptoms from occurring. But | | | | careful with dogs that are currently popular in your |
| the most effective treatment for congenital defects | | | | area because it is likely that they have been |
| is in preventing them from happening in the first | | | | weakened by intensive inbreeding. |
| place. | | | | 5. Choose breeds that best resemble their canine |
| Here are five ways on how you can prevent | | | | ancestors. Features to look for are face shape, size, |
| congenital problems in your dog: | | | | color, ear shape, coat texture and length, tail shape, |
| 1. Never breed unhealthy dogs. Get together two | | | | and limb proportion that most closely resemble that |
| unhealthy dogs and you have the perfect recipe for | | | | of wolves. See if you can match at least four or five |
| unhealthy offspring. Even if one dog is in good health, | | | | of these traits. Examples of such breeds include most |
| mating that healthy dog with one that is in poor | | | | of the retrievers, basenjis, shepherds, sled dogs, |
| condition still produces a very high risk of congenital | | | | spitzs, and pointers. |
| problems to develop in their offspring. You must | | | | Always research your breeds thoroughly. In todays |
| avoid breeding pets that have obvious birth defects | | | | internet world this is quite a simple task. Just type a |
| or behavior problems. Although the dog may not | | | | breed name into tyour browser, click and the |
| have a specific genetic problem, its overall support | | | | information is at your fingertips. |
| system is not a good candidate for developing | | | | |