Health Issues in Tibetan SpanielsWorms and Diseases Shelter Genetic Health Anal Glands
Worms and Diseases
The owner of a Tibbie is responsible for keeping the Tibbie free from internal parasites (whipworms, hookworms, tapeworms, heartworms) and external parasites (fleas, ticks). Many products are available for heartworm prevention and should be given year round in climates with mosquitoes to prevent this dreaded disease. Tapeworms are caused by fleas so watch carefully for them if your Tibbie has recently had fleas. Shelter
Leaving pools of water for them to swim in like many owners do for Labrador Retrievers during hot summer months is not a good plan for Tibbies either. This breed does not have a water resistant coat and their skin can become irritated by daily swimming. The dampness can result in “hot spots” or other irritations that may need to be treated by a veterinarian. Of course, like all dogs Tibbies should NEVER be left in parked vehicles in warm weather. Genetic issues in Tibbies Two big areas of concern are PRA (an eye disorder causing premature blindness) and liver shunt (a birth defect which drastically cuts short the life of the puppy and requires major veterinary intervention to correct or improve the life expectancy of the affected pup). Championship titles do not address the overall health and well-being of a dog. They only confirm that the dog has eye appeal and meets the standards of conformation. Titles also confirm that the dog’s temperament is solid enough to withstand handling by strangers, traveling for long distances and noises common to large groups of people. The ancestry (pedigree) of each parent needs to be considered carefully before a mating is attempted so that all puppies produced are sound in both body and mind.
Also quite common in Tibetan Spaniels are umbilical hernias. Unless these are open, it is strongly recommended that the risk of surgical correction far outweighs any risks the hernias themselves may cause. If the animal needs such a correction, it should probably done along with other necessary surgery (i.e. spay/neuter, teeth cleaning etc.). Occasional Ailments in Tibbies
These are non-life threatening ailments that may occur at any time in the life of your Tibetan Spaniel (or any other dog). Impacted anal glands are suspected if you notice that your Tibbie is dragging their rear on the ground after a bowel movement or if they are trying to chew on their lower back. Tapeworms (segments look like rice in the stool) may also cause these symptoms. Droncit (a dewormer) is available in USA from your veterinarian to eliminate tapeworms. |
All About Tibbies!
Proud New Tibbie Owners !
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Congratulations Nadda!Nadda won best Puppy at the 2004 Tibetan Spaniel National Specialty. 
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All in all Tibetan Spaniels are healthy, athletic and hearty little critters that do not require a great deal of medication, special care, handling or grooming. They are very social and prefer to be with their owners as much as possible. It is quite unusual for a Tibbie to willingly remain in one room while his beloved ones are busy in another part of the house.
The ideal shelter for a Tibbie is your own loving home and cozy sofa. Shelter needs to be provided to the extent that your Tibbie does not become heat stressed or excessively chilled when allowed outdoors. Generally Tibbies can endure cold better than heat. It is important that after running in the snow or slush that the Tibbie be able to find a DRY warm place to rest. Being wet lowers their body temperature in extreme weather.
In warmer climates, Tibbies need plenty of shade and water outdoors in summer months. Aamilet Tibetan Spaniels is located in Central Texas. From June to September, we do not allow our Tibbies outside during the hottest part of the day except for short potty breaks. Early in the morning and late in the evening they are able to run and play without becoming stressed by the high temperatures. 
Puppy with cherry eye...the blue eye has nothing to do with the cherry eye but does seem to make it show up better for the photo. Puppies with partial or complete blue eyes are automatic pets. Dark eyes are preferred in the breed standard.
Anal glands need to be expressed BEFORE they become infected. This is often done before a bath when dogs are groomed professionally. Impacted anal glands can become infected and cause your Tibbie to become very ill. These infections are sometimes accompanied by a sore throat and stomach upset. The infection will need to be treated with antibiotics as soon as possible. In severe cases, the glands may even rupture if they have abscessed and remain untreated.
Increasing the amount of fiber in the Tibbie diet may help decrease the occurrence of impacted anal glands. If this does not alleviate the problem, the glands should be expressed by your veterinarian or groomer on a regular basis to prevent infection and irritation. 
Aamilet Tibetan Spaniels