We are most familiar with the rough or longer coat. This is a straight, off-standing coat, which gives chow chow puppies a fuzzy, teddy bear appearance. The smooth coat is a shorter variation. Both coat types have a dense undercoat. The fur is particularly thick in the neck area, giving it a distinctive ruff or mane appearance. The coat of chow chows plays a very crucial role in their life span and longevity. This is due to the fact they need to be constantly exposed to weather conditions that are favorable to them.
Due to nature of their coat, they do better in cold weather conditions compared to hot ones. Chow chows tolerate cold weather well but they do not do well in hot weather. Hot weather can cause heat stress and stroke in chow chows. Heat stress can be fatal to chow chows. Days with high humidity will make your chow pant, if heavy panting should last for an hour their throat will become swollen and his air intake will be restricted.
If he gets to the point where your chow is making peculiar noises in their throat: tongue off-colour; convulsions; refuses to drink water or lick ice, the dog is in trouble and needs your immediate attention. Prolonged panting will produce thick froth or foam. In this, the chow chow does not have the ability to vomit thus clearing their throat for better air intake. Heat stroke can cause organ failure, seizures, brain damage, hemorrhages, blindness, convulsions, and even death.
Signs of heat stroke include: Rapid panting, Red or pale gums, Thick sticky saliva, Depression, Weakness and dizziness, Vomiting — sometimes with blood, Diarrhea, Shock, Coma. Also, the effect of unfavorable hot weather conditions in your chow chow can result in immunosuppression making him easily susceptible to some infections.
Being armed with a good knowledge and understanding of their needs and tendencies, and how to work on it is all it takes. The larger dogs can carry more weight than their bones are designed for. In chow chows, hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. Hip dysplasia may be caused by a femur that does not fit correctly into the pelvic socket, or poorly developed muscles in the pelvic area.
Large and giant breeds are most susceptible to hip dysplasia possibly due to the body mass index BMI of the individual animal. To reduce pain, the animal will typically reduce its movement of that hip. The causes of hip dysplasia are considered heritable, but new research conclusively suggests that environment also plays a role.
To what degree the causality is genetic and what portion environmental is a topic of current debate. Neutering a dog, especially before the dog has reached an age of full developmental maturity, has been proven to almost double the chance he or she will develop hip dysplasia versus intact dogs or dogs that were neutered after reaching adulthood. Other environmental influences include overweight condition, nutritional factors, pelvic muscle mass, injury at a young age, overexertion on the hip joint at a young age, ligament tear at a young age, repetitive motion on forming joint i.
As current studies progress, greater information may help provide procedures to effectively reduce the occurrence of this condition. The problem almost always appears by the time the dog is 18 months old. The defect can be anywhere from mild to severely crippling, and can eventually cause severe osteoarthritis.
Elbow Dysplasia occurs in the joints of the front legs the condition is characterized by a series of four abnormalities develop in the joint leading to a malformation and deterioration of the elbow joint, it is caused by the abnormal growth of cells, tissue, or bone. Elbow dysplasia can cause lameness in your dog. Elbow dysplasia is a general term meaning arthritis of the elbow, that encompasses several conditions of the elbow joint, including:.
If your Chow Chow Dog or any other pet has gone missing and it does not have an identification tag with a phone number, you can: 1. Register your missing pet details at Pet Reunite website here. Phone the local vets to see if someone has handed in your lost pet. If you find a Chow Chow Dog or any other pet and it does not have an identification tag with a phone number, you can: 1.
Register the found pet details at Pet Reunite website here. Call the Local Authority to collect the lost animal. And as this Reddit owner thread explains, once a double-layer coat is shaved it will not grow back with the same protective properties, which can have a lifetime health impact on a Chow Chow. The Chow Chow has a very memorable appearance. The face of this dog is heavily wrinkled, as is much of the torso. These specialized skin folds need specialized maintenance care.
And neglect is easier than it might sound, because you may not be able to see into the deep folds to notice if there is infection brewing or your dog has a cut or scratch. So you need to take the time to clean and wipe the skin folds while you are cleaning the ears and teeth and paw pads during your regular grooming sessions. Just as not all people get the same diseases, so too is it true that different dogs may get different health issues. While these are not the only health issues known to affect Chow Chows, these are the ones that can be knowingly minimized due to careful dog breeding.
Reputable, responsible breeders will perform pre-screening genetic health tests on parent dogs before breeding them together. However, not all dog breeders get involved in dog breeding for the love of the breed. Some just want to make some extra money. Puppy mills and backyard breeders may not keep their parent dogs and puppies in good condition.
A Chow Chow puppy that is bred in sub-standard conditions may have existing behavior or health concerns that are ultimately life-limiting. Regularly veterinary check-ups are essential for keeping your Chow in good health. Remember to take your pooch for their annual vaccination booster shots, as well as deworming treatments, to prevent the proliferation of intestinal worms, and antiparasitic treatments against parasites like fleas and ticks.
This is very important because parasites can be vectors of serious diseases, such as leishmaniasis. When your dog enters the senior dog age range, don't hesitate to ask your vet for an annual health screening to keep everything in check. This is because a well-behaved dog will come back when you call, which helps to prevent accidents.
Prioritise teaching your dog to respond to you and to walk to heel. Don't neglect socialising your pooch either. Additionally, since this is a dog breed that reaches an impressive size in adulthood , training your Chow Chow allows them to grow up comfortably and safely in their environment and helps you to keep them in control at all times.
All dogs need to be able to exercise regularly. This also helps prevent weight gain, which is especially vital as the Chow Chow is prone to obesity. Be sure to play with your pooch regularly to make exercising fun! Although the Chow Chow is less affected than other breeds by disease, it is still subject to certain pathologies:.
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