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THE YORKIPOO
The Yorkipoo is a fun-loving, energetic and loving small breed. They are are versatile dogs that can live in a large house or an apartment with equal satisfaction. They’re extremely easy-going and love lounge time just as much as a walk in the park. The Yorkipoo may be petite, but make no mistake, their little bodies pack a ton of energy and agility.
Brief History
The Yorkipoo is a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Toy Poodle and were first bred in the United States. Yorkipoos were bred to be hypoallergenic and make great companion dogs to people of all ages. Due to their mixed breeding, the Yorkipoo is not recognized by the American Kennel Club but is recognized by the American Hybrid Canine Club and the Designer Dog Kennel Club.
Physical Features
The Yorkipoo combines all the favorable physical characteristics of the Yorkshire Terrier and the Toy Poodle. They are small in stature and have a long, smooth and silky coat — either curly or straight. The Yorkipoo has black or brown eyes with an intelligent glint and their noses are typically brown or black.
The Yorkipoo’s coat can be of a wide range of colors such as apricot, brown, white, gray, or a combination of a few. The Yorkipoo’s ears can be straight and upright or floppy. Overall, they’re handsome dogs with a ton of personality.
Average Height:
7 – 12 inches
Average Weight:
3 to 14 lb
Life Expectancy:
10 to 15 years
Temperament
Yorkipoos are full of vitality and are always up to something interesting. Be prepared for their antics to make you laugh a lot! Yorkipoo are confident and comfortable while engaged in active play, but are also quite ready to relax on your lap. This little dog is quite intelligent and can make an ideal playmate for children. Their love and affection also come in handy for more senior owners.
The Yorkipoo is gentle and behaves well with strangers. Thanks to their cool disposition, the Yorkipoo can be socialized easily. Like many small dogs, the Yorkipoo has no idea of its small size and will play with much larger dogs. To avoid any accidents, Yorkipoos should be introduced to larger dogs under strict supervision until they can make friends.
Yorkipoos are extremely smart and always eager to please. This makes them easy to train. While teaching this dog, you should use positive reinforcement. They typically don’t respond well to harsh commands or threats. Instead, enthusiastic praise and treats after good performance will help the Yorkipoo learn quicker.This dog’s innate qualities give it great potential for obedience or therapy training.
Special Needs
Yorkipoos have a strong constituion and can stay healthy over a long period of time with proper care.
Possible Health Concerns
However, they are prone to conditions such as dry eye, retinal detachment, hypoglycemia and endocardiosis. Early diagnosis and treatment can ward off many of these diseases and help the Yorkipoo make a full recovery each time.
Exercise
The Yorkipoo requires regular training to keep their high energy levels in check. A brisk, short walk once a day is enough to keep them healthy and strong. The Yorkiepoo also loves running around with a ball or toy.
Nutrition
The Yorkipoo is known for being a picky eater. To solve this problem, you can experiment mixing wet and dry food together to see what works best.
Grooming
Yorkipoos have long, beautiful, hypoallergenic coats that require regular care. Owners must make sure to brush this pup regularly throughout the week to prevent matting and bathe them once a month. Consult your veterinarian for shampoo recommendations.
A Yorkipoo is a little dog with big energy and a big heart,. They make excellent companion dogs and love to bond with their humans.
THE SCOTTISH FOLD CAT
The Scottish Fold is a domestic cat that originated from Scotland. This cat breed has a natural gene mutation which causes its ears to fold back. The very first Scottish Fold cat was a barn cat named Susie and was born in Scotland, in 1961.
Brief History
The Scottish Fold domestic cat came about when Susie, a barn cat, had kittens and two of them had folded ears like Susie. William Ross, a farmer became a cat parent to one of them and registered the breed with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in 1966. Ross started a breeding program with the help of a geneticist, Pat Turner. This resulted in 76 kittens, 42 of which were born with folded ears. To this day, all Scottish Fold cats share a common ancestry with Susie.
Physical Features
The Scottish Fold kitten is born with straight ears which will fold at around 21 day. This gives them an “owl-like” look. Those that do not develop an ear fold are named “Straights.” Fun fact: the first Scottish Folds originally only had one ear fold! Today they have a double or triple crease due to selective breeding. This causes the ear to lie close to the head. This breed has a large round head, with large, round eyes. Their whisker pads are round, and their cheeks are full. This adds to the notorious facial roundness of the Scottish Fold. While their ears are folded, they’re still able to swivel, lie back, and perk up to listen.
The Fold’s nose is short, and has a slight curve. They typically have a medium-sized, round build body with medium-to-short sized legs. Their heads are dome-shaped and they typically have short necks. Folds’ eyes are broadly spaced which adds to their sweet expression. The Scottish Fold has many different short-haired and long-haired coloring options. Short-haired Folds have dense and fluffy fur, with long-haired Folds have thinner, more majestic fur. Long-haired Folds are also called the Highland Fold.
Average Height:
10 to 12 inches
Average Weight:
8 to 13 pounds
Life Expectancy:
10 to 15 years
Temperament
The Scottish Fold is a sweet and calm cat breed. This cat breed does well with people, gentle dogs, other cats, and animals. This cat breed enjoys standing on their hind legs to peer at the world. The Scottish Fold is a relaxed and gentle cat breed that enjoys human companionship. The Scottish Fold tends to prefer a quiet environment that is environmentally stimulating — so make sure you provide plenty of cat toys.
The Scottish Fold cat
Special Needs
Scottish Folds are a wonderfully easy cat breed to live with, but they do need mental stimulation and will get bored when alone for long periods of time. This cat breed gets bored when alone for long periods of time. Consider getting them a friend if you’re out at work all day! Exercising your Scottish Fold may be more challenging, yet cat parents can do so by purchasing certain cats toys to promote exercise.
Possible Health Concerns
The Scottish Fold is a healthy and moderately active cat breed that may be susceptible to the following health conditions:
Polycystic Kidney Disease. This occurs when the polycystic kidney has numerous cysts within the functioning part of the kidney resulting in enlarged kidneys. Consult with your veterinarian if your cat vomits frequently, has a decreased appetite, and increased thirst or urination.
Osteochondrodysplasia: (OCD) This is a developmental abnormality that affects bone and cartilage in the Scottish Fold cat breeds. All folded breeds are affected by OCD. OCD is the reason the ear folds in this cat breed. It can also affect the limbs, and cause distortion with extreme pain and arthritis. OCD has been seen as early as 8 weeks in kittens, and continues throughout a cat’s life. Symptoms are chronic pain and lameness. Consult with your veterinarian.
Exercise
The Scottish Fold cat breed needs daily exercise combined with plenty of mental stimulation through active play and interaction with people.
Nutrition
Wet food is often recommended by veterinarians because cats don’t drink a lot of water and tend to get dehydrated without realizing it. Consult with your veterinarian for the best dietary advice for your Scottish Fold!
Grooming
The Scottish Fold cat
The Scottish Fold needs daily grooming to remove shedding hair. This coat is easy to groom, because it is short and dense. Curry brushes help with grooming, and will remove dead hair and debris from your cat’s coat. Ears should be checked weekly for cleanliness and sensitivity. If there is a buildup of wax and dirt, bacteria can lead to an ear infection. Consult with your veterinarian about safe and gentle ear cleaning techniques. Nail trimming is necessary every few weeks. Eyes should also be cleaned gently every morning with cotton wool or a soft wipe. Each eye should be cleaned with different wipes or cotton balls to avoid eye infection contamination in both eyes.
Scottish Folds are affectionate cats and make wonderful, loving companions. These cats are docile, and adapt easily to new environments. It’s the Scottish Fold’s easygoing temperament that makes them so popular with cat owners.
NATIONAL VETERINARY TECHNICIAN WEEK
Sunday, October 12, 2014, marked the first day of National Veterinary Technician Week. Veterinary Technicians are dedicated animal hospital professionals, who provide the ultimate care for your four-legged friends, your pets. They perform a multitude of tasks around any animal hospital to enhance the health and welfare of your special family member.
THE BURMESE CAT
The Burmese originated from Thailand, near the Thai-Burma border. This cat breed was then developed in the U.K, and in the U.S. In 1871, Harrison Weir had a cat show at the Crystal Palace where two Siamese cats were shown. Both resembled the Burmese cat breed as it is today. It is almost similar to the Tonkinese cat breed. Dr. Cheeseman Thompson imported a cat called Wong Mau into San Francisco in 1930. This cat was a brown female cat that was different in build to the Siamese, and could be classified as a separate breed.
Brief History
The Burmese cat breed is believed to be related to a female Tonkinese cat called Wong Mau. This cat was imported in to the U.S in 1930, and in turn was bred with the American Siamese cat called Tai Mau, a sealpoint Siamese. The kittens were dark brown. U.S cat breeders then developed a breed standard that was different from the Burmese one. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) recognized this breed in 1936. The CFA then suspended breed recognition a decade later due to extensive Siamese outcrossing. By 1954, the CFA lifted the suspension, and by 1958, the United Burmese Cat Fanciers (UBCF) set forth an American judging standard which still stands today.
Today, most modern cat registries do not recognize the two cat breeds as different breeds. The British breed is known as the European Burmese. The first Burmese cats were dark brown. Today, the Burmese comes in numerous colors. The Burmese is well known for its playful and social temperament. They are also very vocal.
Physical Features
The Burmese has two breed standards in which both head and body shape differs. The British (traditional Burmese) cat breed has a body that is slender, long-bodied, with a wedge-shaped head. The ears are large and pointed. The muzzle is long and tapering. The eyes are moderately almond-shaped. The eye color is gold or yellow. The legs are long, and the paws are oval. With a tapering tail of medium length, the British Burmese cat breed is a small to medium cat breed that is muscular and heavy. They are also silky soft when touched.
The American Burmese cat breed has a stockier build, with a much larger head, round eyes, and a much shorter, and flatter muzzle. The ears are also set wider apart, with the legs and tail proportionate to the body. In both breed standards, the breed is a muscular breed that is thicker in build, and heavy when picked up. The coat is thick and shiny, and looks like satin. Blue Burmese will have a medium colored blue coat. The nose and paw pads will be slate grey. Champagne colored Burmese will yield a honey beige coat color. The nose is brown and the paw pads pinkish, brown color. Platinum Burmese will be a silvery grey color. The nose and paw pads will be pinkish, lavender in color.
Average Height:
10-12 inches
Average Weight:
6-10 pounds
Life Expectancy:
10-15 years
Temperament
The Burmese loves to gaze and admire the outdoors. This cat breed is laid back and fun. They adore affection, plenty of interactive cat toys, and cat trees with perches. These cats are great climbers that can be leash trained easily. This is an outgoing cat breed that delights in making new friends. They get on well with people, other animals that are not aggressive, and gentle children.
The Burmese loves to play, and will follow you for attention. An assortment of interactive cat toys is recommended for this cat breed. They enjoy being around family, and do not do well being alone all day. They are a one-person cat breed that bond closely with their pet parent. The Burmese is vocal, and are known to be persistent when trying to get your attention. This very intelligent and affectionate cat breed does well with apartment and indoor living. The Burmese may be prone to feline depression and anxiety if left alone for long periods of time. This cat breed does well with plenty of TLC! They do well with active families, and other pets.
Burmese cat
Possible Health Concerns
Gingivitis: With gingivitis, the gums will become inflamed because of plaque. By daily tooth brushing, dietary changes, using a plaque prevention gel, and oral rinses, you’ll be helping your cat.
Psychogenic Alopecia: This is when there is abnormal hair loss that is caused from excessive grooming. It may result from cat’s being stressed from other cats, dogs or people.
Cherry Eye (Eyelid Protrusion): This is a disorder of the third eyelid, resulting in swollen redness of the eye. It is more common in Persian- related cat breeds.
Cleft Palate: The Burmese may be prone to this birth defect. This is due to the palate bones not diffusing. Kittens will be unable to nurse if born with this defect.
Vestibular Disease: This is caused by a congenital abnormality. It may also result from trauma inside your cat’s ear. It may be caused by cancer or certain infections. It affects the nervous system in cats, and causes a lack of coordination.
Exercise
Your Burmese will scratch for numerous reasons, such as stretching and exercising their toes, shedding the dead outer layer of their claws, and to mark their territory. Free-standing scratchers are ideal for the Burmese, as well as cat condos that have designated scratching posts.
The Burmese cat breed needs daily exercise combined with plenty of mental stimulation through active play and interaction with people.
This cat breed is an intelligent and very affectionate cat breed that does well in most cat friendly environments. They still need to play and interact with people, and should not be left alone all day.
Grooming
The Burmese needs daily grooming to remove shedding or dead hair. Because this breed has a short and fine, soft coat, grooming is easy. Stainless steel combs help to remove dead hair. Care must be taken when grooming leg hair and body hair to avoid sensitive areas. Some cats have very sensitive areas along their backs, legs, and belly area. Curry brushes help with grooming, and will remove dead hair and debris from your cat’s coat.
With their intelligence and fun personalities, this vocal cat breed has plenty of attitude.
All About Horses
Loved by many, horses and humans have enjoyed a strong bond which dates back to ancient times. At first horses were hunted, but humans learned to tame and ride them. From there the horse helped transform how people got around and worked, being one of the primary forms of land transportation until the car came into popularity.
All About Avalanche Dogs
Dogs – they are man’s best friend for good reason. But more than just companionship, our canine friends can provide import functional roles in day-to-day life.
A Very Thankful November
This is the time of year when Americans pause to give thanks. We give thanks for living in the greatest country on Earth, and to the veterans who made it possible for us to remain free. We give thanks to our parents and other family members for coaching and mentoring us. Most importantly, we give thanks for the presence of our pets and the unconditional love and devotion they bring into our lives. A recent survey, conducted by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, found that 97% of 1,000 family doctors and general practitioners believe there are health benefits to having or interacting with a pet. 75% reported seeing a patient’s overall health or a specific medical condition get moderately to significantly better after the patient brought a pet into his or her family. 87% saw a patient’s outlook or mood improve.
THE AMERICAN CURL CAT
The American Curl is a sweet cat that has an interesting appearance and jovial attitude. This cat is active and will gladly participate in collective activities. Due to their dedication to their owners, the American Curl is a great therapy cat.
Brief History
The American Curl has a colorful history. Their origin is traced back to a single stray kitten that walked into the Lakewood California home of Joe and Grace Ruga in the early 1980s. She had long black fur and little ears that curled backwards. The Rugas noticed that the cat was very calm and timid.
She delivered 4 kittens soon afterwards from an unknown father. Two of the kittens had the same curled ears. Neighbors took note and the Rugas took their cat and her kittens to cat shows in the state. This led to widespread interest in the cat and the American Curl was born. A geneticist indicated that the curled ears were caused by a dominant gene.
In 1983, cat fanciers began to selectively breed the American Curl. In 1986, the new breed was registered by the Cat Fanciers Association. The International Cat Association recognized the breed in 1987. All American Curl cats in the world are descended from the first cat.
Physical Features
The most noticeable feature of the American Curl is their curled ears. While they are born with straight ears, they curl in the first 2 to 10 days after they are born. By the time a kitten is 4 months old, the ears will have permanently curled. They maintain this shape for the rest of their lives. Interestingly, American Curls can move their ears back and forth. When they are alert, the ears face forward. At other times, they face sideways.
The American Curl has a sweet appearance and a stocky, muscular body. Their coats are silky and long. They can have a variety of colors such as brown, white, black, grey and roan. They can also have patterns. Examples of these are tortoiseshell, tiger stripes, patches and smoky patterns.
Average Height:
8 to 12 inches
Average Weight:
5 to 10 pounds
Life Expectancy:
12 to 16 years
Temperament
The American Curl is a sweet cat. They readily greets you with a cheek rub and also takes well to guests and will extend a welcome to them too. They enjoy the company of children and is very sweet towards them. The American Curl is amicable and can live comfortably with dogs that are friendly towards cats. This cat is curious and intelligent and will follow you around the home so as to see what you are up to. The American Curl will also help out whenever required. They are known for being able to jump extremely long distances. As such, they are sometimes described to be flying. This causes the breed to be fondly known as Peter Pan.
Seeing as she is very intelligent, the American Curl can open doorknobs and drawers. After a day of high activity, the American Curl will relax into your lap for a nap.
Special Needs
The American Curl is an active cat that requires specialized training so as to harness its energy in the right way. The American Curl can be taught how to walk on a leash. They can also be taught how to fetch or play catch. Since they like spending time outdoors climbing around, extra care should be taken to ensure they do not get injured or lose their way.
Possible Health Concerns
If maintained properly, the American Curl is a healthy cat breed. They are stronger than most other cat breeds and are not susceptible to many illness or adverse conditions. The only real problem they are prone to is wax buildup in their narrow ear canals. Consult with your vet for treatment.
Exercise
The American Curls require ample exercise perhaps two sessions of exercise each lasting 30 minutes. The cat is also versatile and can handle exercise activities of various types. They enjoy playing with children and active session of exercise by play is ideal for the cat. They can also go on a jog around the block with you. You can train the American Curl to walk on a leash.
Nutrition
American Curls expend a lot of energy on a daily basis so their food should promote energy retention and growth. It should have equal portions of protein and carbohydrates. A bowl of cool, clean water is also an important part of their daily nutrition. American Curl cats are not fussy eaters and will consume wet or dry food with equal enthusiasm.
Grooming
A notable feature of the American Curl is their beautiful, long coats which should be brushed once every week. This is so as to eliminate any dead hair and prevent matting. Their teeth and nails should also be clipped regularly.
The American Curl can fit comfortably in apartments as well as larger houses. They are a loving, affectionate breed and will gladly rub against you or your guests. They are a
