Breed of the week - Lhasa Apso Country of origin: Tibet Height: 25-28cm / 10-11 inches Weight: 6-7kg / 13-15lbs Life expectancy: 15-16 years The Lhasa Apso is closely related to the larger Tibetan Terrier, probably descending from long haired herding dogs of Asia. It is an ancient breed, bred as long ago as 800 BC, and recent DNA evidence has shown the Lhasa to be one of the breeds most closely related to the ancestral wolf. They were used as watchdogs in monasteries and temples, regarded as the sacred protector of Buddha and believed to act as a receptacle for their master’s soul at the time of death – also known as the ‘Tibetan Temple Dog’. Lhasas were unknown outside Tibet for thousands of years but were believed to bestow good fortune upon their owner, so the Dalai Lama occasionally presented them to foreign dignitaries as gifts, leading the breed to become known to the rest of the world. They were first introduced to Britain in the 1920s. The Lhasa is a happy, caring and entertaining little companion dog. They can be aloof with strangers, make great watchdogs and don’t always tolerate rough children. They are fearless, assertive and love to please their owner. They often show happiness by rubbing their head on their owner and sitting on their feet! A lot of grooming is needed for this breed as the coat grows to the floor and becomes matted easily is not taken care of. Most owners choose to have the coat clipped short so it is easier to care for, and those who don’t tend to tie up the hair in front of the eyes into a top-knot so the dog can see clearly. Minimal exercise is needed for this breed and they are fairly easy to train. They are very good at learning tricks and can keep a party entertained with their comical ways! Ailments they tend to suffer with include: • Eyes problems – These include: - Progressive Retinal Atrophy – bilateral degeneration of the retina, which causes loss of vision and eventually blindness. - Cherry eye – this is when the third eyelid prolapses and becomes visible as a fleshy lump over the eyeball. It becomes dry and can get caught on things causing a lot of damage. It can be fixed with ophthalmic surgery. - Keratoconjunctivitis - also known as ‘dry eye’ and reduces the production of tears. This can be treated with eye drops to reduce the symptoms. - Corneal ulcers - can be treated with eye drops and in bad cases, surgery. If the ulcer keeps reoccurring, removal of the eye may be necessary to make the sufferer more comfortable. - Entropion - this is when the bottom eyelid folds into the eye, causing a lot of discomfort as the lower eyelashes rub against the cornea. It can be corrected with surgery. • Patella Luxation - This is a dislocation of the kneecaps and can be mild or severe in one leg or two with the worse cases meaning the dog cannot bear weight on the leg at all. It is usually characterised by the dog hopping on the affected hind leg when moving faster than a walk. It can be fixed with orthopaedic surgery. • Allergies - These affect the skin, caused by things such as food intolerances and reactions to pollen, grass and dust mites. They can be treated – depending on severity – by cutting out certain foods, veterinary skin diets and in bad cases a monthly allergy injection. • Invertebral Disk Disease - The Intervertebral Disk is a shock-absorbing and stabilising structure that is situated between the vertebrae in the spine. In most dogs these discs will deteriorate over time and into old age, known as Spondylosis, but it rarely causes pain or weakness. But there are some breeds such as the Shih Tzu, Beagle and Daschund that are known as chondrodystrophoid – which means they have been selected for a genetic form of Dwarfism. They are not only prone to normal wear and tear but the discs can also calcify and become hard. A lot of dogs do not suffer in any way even in this advanced stage of degeneration but there are some that will suffer with pain, weakness and even paralysis. X Rays can help a Vet determine whether or not your dog is suffering with this condition, treatment is usually anti-inflammatories, steroids, painkillers and rest, but in severe cases specialist surgery may be needed. Due to their past as a guard dog placed high in towers at the monasteries, Lhasas appreciate a vantage point from where they can sit and observe the world around them, alerting their family to anything suspicious. These dogs may be small but they should be treated like dogs, not like babies or else they will take advantage and you could end up with a whole host of behavioural problems. The Lhasa is long living and it is not uncommon to see them at 18 years old, usually blind but still going strong! They make great companions for older people who cannot manage to walk too far, as they can manage on one walk a day as long as they get some playtime inside with toys.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Jul 2013 11:30:54 +0000
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