Cancer canine testicular

1. How many breeds of dogs are there?

There are more than 400 dog breeds, but the American Kennel Club (AKC) officially recognizes only 150. The American Rare Breed Association recognizes 178. The United Kennel Club recognizes 308.

2. What are the most popular breeds in the United States?

According to the AKC, the most popular breeds in the United States in 2002 were:

1. Labrador retrievers ... 6.Yorkshire terriers

2. Golden retrievers ..... 7. Boxers

3. German shepherds ...... 8. Poodles

4. Beagles ............... 9. Chihuahuas

5. Dachshunds ............ 10. Shih Tzus

3. What are the largest and smallest breeds?

- The mastiff (28 inches to 30 inches, 175 to 190 pounds) and Saint Bernard (24 inches to 28 inches, 110 to 200 pounds) are the heaviest.

- The Chihuahua, right, (6 inches to 9 inches, 6 pounds) is the smallest.

4. Does a dog need to have its teeth brushed?

Periodontal disease is one of the most common health problems in dogs. More than 75 percent of domestic dogs 3 years and older are affected by gum infections. Once or twice a week an owner should use a canine toothbrush, a soft child's toothbrush or a gauze pad wrapped around a finger to brush the dog's teeth. The AKC recommends toothpaste formulated for dogs (human toothpaste can upset the pet's stomach and ingestion of too much fluoride can be fatal) or a paste made from water and baking soda. Scrub the teeth completely, especially the insides and back upper molars.

In between cleanings, dental chew toys help fight plaque and tartar.

5. How often should a dog have a bath?

A dog should be given a bath whenever it is dirty enough to need one. Indoor dogs require fewer baths than outdoor dogs. Breeds prone to skin conditions benefit from monthly baths. Breeds with thick coats might only get bathed three or four times a year. Shampoo formulated for dogs is best. The pH balance of human shampoo is incorrect for dogs and can damage their coat and skin. If your dog acquires a little dirt and is brushed and groomed on a regular basis, a quick rinse with lukewarm water will clean up the pet nicely.

6. What is a healthy weight for a dog?

Breed guidebooks list ideal height-to-weight proportions. A list of average weights for 100 popular breeds is available at www.petfit.com/dog/ideal.asp.

In an animal of any breed, indications of healthy weight include:

- Abdomen should be tucked up higher than the dog's chest.

- Owner should be able to feel the ribs with a slight bit of fat between the bone and skin.

- The dog should be able to trot effortlessly without the skin and fat rolling from side to side.

- When viewed from above, there should be a distinct curve inward at the waist and the last few ribs should be pronounced.

7. Is chocolate really deadly for dogs to eat?

Eating too much chocolate can be harmful to a dog. The darker the chocolate, the more of the toxin theobromine is present. Baking chocolate is the deadliest, white chocolate the least.

Signs of toxicity occur within hours after a dog eats a sufficient amount of chocolate. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle tremors, seizures and coma. If a high enough quantity of theobromine is eaten, the dog could die from cardiac arrest.

The approximate toxic dose of four types of chocolate for a 20- pound dog:

- White chocolate has very little theobromine, and the dog would have to eat more than two and half times its body weight to reach toxic levels.

- A little less than one pound of milk chocolate.

- As little as six ounces of instant cocoa or

semi-sweet chocolate.

- Two one-ounce squares of baking chocolate.

If you know your dog has eaten a questionable quantity of chocolate, take it to a vet immediately.

8. What are the major body parts of the

dog? (See graphic right.)

9. What are the "dog days of summer"?

"Dog days" is the name for what is usually the hottest and most uncomfortable period of summer, from about July 3 to Aug. 11. The time was traditionally calculated as 20 days before through 20 days after the conjunction of Sirius ("the dog star") and the sun. The Egyptians and Romans believed that Sirius, rising in the morning sky at about the same time as the sun, added to the heat of the sun.

10. Do dogs sweat to cool off?

Dogs give off some perspiration through the sweat glands in the pads of their feet, but panting is the main method of ridding themselves of heat.

Body heat is dispersed by evaporation from the surface of the tongue.

On warm, sunny days, dogs in parked cars are especially prone to heatstroke. Even in the shade with the windows partially rolled down, there is not enough ventilation to allow the animal to regulate its body temperature.

11. Do dogs really age one year to seven human years?

By year one, most dogs are as mentally, physically and sexually mature as a 16-year-old human. Depending on size, each year after that is equal to five to seven years of a human life. Toy and small dogs (Pomeranians) age roughly five human years to every canine one and can live 15 years and longer. Medium and large dogs (beagles, boxers) age around six to one and live 12 to 15 years. Giant breeds (mastiffs) age roughly seven to one and live 10 to 11 years.

12. Are dogs colorblind?

Dogs are not completely colorblind, but they do see only certain colors. While humans have three receptors in the eye's retina, dogs have only two and have difficulty distinguishing among green, yellow, orange and red. Dogs interpret bluegreen colors as white and those toward the red end of the color spectrum as more and more yellowish. Dogs can differentiate colors in the blue to violet range of the color spectrum and recognize the difference between black, white and some shades of gray.

13. Can dogs watch television?

Veterinarian Bruce Vogel writes in "Caring for Your Dog" that all dogs are able to watch television, but whether the dog can see specific images depends on the quality of the transmission. Transmission speeds in the United Kingdom and Europe are easier for dogs to translate into images than those used in North America and elsewhere.

14. Who are the top dogs on television?

Animal Planet broadcast "The 50 Greatest TV Animals" in July 2003, and 14 canines made the list. The list was determined by popularity, name recognition and how long the show lasted. The most popular TV dogs, listed by their rank in the top 50:

1. Lassie

5. Eddie, from "Frasier"

6. Snoopy

13. Scooby-Doo

14. Rin-Tin-Tin, from "The Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin"

20. Max, from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

22. Duke, from "The Beverly Hillbillies"

24. Triumph the Insult Dog, from "Late Night with Conan O'Brien"

27. Santa's Little Helper, from "The Simpsons"

28. The Chihuahua, from the Taco Bell commercials

29. Buck, from "Married with Children"

36. Higgins (who starred in the first "Benji" movies), from "Petticoat Junction"

44. Chipper, from "Land of the Giants"

50. Tiger, from "The Brady Bunch"

15. Should a puppy sleep with its owner?

Puppies sleep with the litter and consider siblings as peers. They do not sleep with their mother, the family leader.

If you want to reinforce your role as the dominant partner in the relationship, let the puppy sleep in your bedroom, but on a bed of its own.

16. What percentage of American households own a dog?

According to the U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, about 36 percent of U.S. households included a dog in 2001.

17. Are there benefits from spaying or neutering a dog?

There are several benefits other than responsible ownership and stopping unwanted pregnancies.

For males:

- Decreased sexual behavior, including leglifting, marking, roaming, aggressive behavior and fighting.

- Decreased desire to escape from the yard.

- Protection from testicular cancer.

For females:

- Decreased incidence of breast cancer.

- Protection against cancers of the reproductive system.

- Decreased female aggression.

18. Will I ever find a dog that doesn't shed?

Except for a few "hairless" breeds, all dogs shed. Hairless breeds include the Chinese crested, Mexican hairless, Inca hairless, Peruvian Inca orchid and the American hairless terrier. Some "non- shedding" breeds keep the shed hair in their coat until it is brushed out. Breeds that shed very little, and can have their hair cut to reduce shedding include the Irish water spaniel, Portuguese water dog, poodle, Kerry blue, softcoated wheaten, and Bedington terriers, briard, bouvier and bichon frise.

19. What are the most popular dog names?

After comparing lists from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the New York City Department of Health and elsewhere, these names appear most often:

Males ..... Females

Max ....... Lady

Sam ....... Molly

Jake ...... Maggie

Rocky ..... Daisy

Buddy ..... Princess

20. Are there barkless dogs?