XTREME KING PIT BULLS Breeder of XXL ''Purple Ribbon'' Pit Bulls
''Producing Beauty, Great Temperament, and Impressive Size''
Health and Care Health: Diet: People often ask me what I feed my dogs to get them to be so big? My answer is always the same; ''Your dog's bloodline will determine how he will look at maturity''. If your dog came from a small sire & dam then your pup will turn out with the traits of both parents. Feeding your dog weight gainer or increasing the amount of food or times you feed your dog will just make them fat. And can be unhealthy as well... But as a rule I use for feeding my dogs, if it's good enough for me, they can eat it too (except for chocolate and nuts). A all natrual diet with very little veggies is the way to go to keep your dog looking their best and healthy. Coat: Pit Bulls have very short coats that are easy to maintain with baths when needed, but care should be taken to avoid scratches or scars. Hair may not grow back in the area where the scar is located. Pit Bulls are rugged canines that can thrive in most any climate but due to their short coats, shelter from the elements should be provided if kepted outside. (more to come soon) Demodectic Mange This is sometimes just called ''demodex''. and is the most common form of mange in all dogs. Most dogs have a microscopic mite population hitching a ride on their body but the dog's immune system handles it all very nicely. When the immune system is no longer able to control the mites, they begin multiplying, then attacking. It is thought that dogs infected with demodectic mange are immunodeficient, in other words, they are not able to fight off the mites like a healthy dog would. Heredity is believe to play a part in dogs that show signs of demodectic mange so it is strongly recommended that infected dogs be spayed or neutered. Signs of the disease appear only when mites reproduce unchecked and occur in un-naturally high numbers. Outbreaks are seen around the eyes, lips, and lower limbs when the numbers of these mites increase. Because the immune system does not mature until 12-15 months of age, a dog with demodectic mange may have relapses until that age. It is important for treatment to begin promptly to minimze the possibility of developing uncontrollable problems. Demodectic mange in dogs over 2 years of age is classified as ''Adult-Onset'', and usually occurs secondary to an underlying cause. Successful treatment of adult-onset mange relies upon identifying and correcting the underlying cause. Dogs with immune suppression due to illness like Hypothyroid disease and Cushing's disease are candidates for demodectic mange. Demodectic mange may also occur in very old dogs because function of the immune system often declines with age. Demodectic mange is not generally contagious to people, other animals, or even other dogs (except from mother to pup); these mites thrive only on very specific hosts (Dogs) and transmission usually occurs only from the mother to nursing puppies during the first few days after birth. The transmission of these mites from mother to pup is NORMAL which is why the mites are normal inhabitants of the dog's skin but some individuals are sensitive to the mites, which can lead to the development of demodectic mange. Some breeds appear to have an increased risk of mild cases as young dogs, including the American Pit Bull Terrier, Afghan Hound, German Shephard, great Dane, English Bull Terrier, Old English Sheepdog, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Chihuahua, Collie, Bulldog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Shar Pei, Dalmation, Doberman Pinscher, Miniature Bull Terrier, West Highland Terrier, Rat Terrier, and Pug. TREATMENT: Conventional treatment depends upon the severity of the disease. Generally, veterinarians recommend treatment with a dip containing Amitraz, the dip is repeated every 7-10 days. Although the dog may respond well to the dip and look normal, dipping must be continued until negative skin scrapings are found consistently for a few weeks. The dipping may have side effects, sleepiness and itching are common for 24 hours after the dip. Some dogs may experience decreased body temperture, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, excitability, staggering, or other personality changes. If any of these side effects occur you should contact your veterinarian immediately. |
