Are you a breeder? If not why didn't you spay your dogs? Did you know that;
~For every baby born 45 dogs and cats are born.
~1 out of every 10 dogs born finds a permanant home and 1 out 0f every 12 cats.
~450 dogs are destroyed every HOUR in the U.S. because there are simply not enough homes.
Why create more?
I'm really not trying to be rude but those facts sort of put things in perspective for me. Breeding when done at all should be left up to people skilled in and commited to the betterment of the breed.
As for food Petigree is bad stuff, any food that you can buy in the grocery store is no good. These are foods that are mass produced using the inedible leftovers from human foods. Here are some links to learn about what is really in Pet food and one on Jack Russells.
www.cyberark.com/animal/Commercial_Dog_and_Cat_Food.htm
www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/jesse.htm
www.cfgdr.org/breederquestions.htm
www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/jackrussells.html
This is an exceprt taken from the last link on health and genetic issues. I will assumethat your 2 females are over 2 years of age so that they are properly OFA certified. But these pups need to be screened for all JRT health risks.
Despite the fact that the JRTCA will not register any dogs until they are one year old and have passed a structured veterinary examination, hereditary defects do occur in the breed. Some occur because they are late onset, others because the genetic nature is recessive or polygenic which means the parents may be perfectly normal upon examination and yet produce affected litters.
--- Now as a breeder you need to have a a health garantee and a contract that states you will take back any dog that doesn't wotrk out or needs a new home for any reason, if these pups have gentic disorders you could end up owning all of these dogs.--
According to the Canine Eye Registration Foundation, JRTs are afflicted with lens luxation. This is a displacement of the lens from its normal site behind the pupil and may result in elevated intraocular pressure (glaucoma) causing vision impairment or blindness. Lens luxation not associated with trauma or inflammation is presumed to be inherited.
--I would take the pup without its eyes open to the vet immediatly.--
Legg-Perthes Disease also affects this breed, as it does many small breeds. It is very similar to hip dysplasia, however, instead of the acetabulum being shallow, necrosis is of the femoral head. This disease may be a simple autosomal recessive or polygenic (more than one gene involved) and results in painful hips.
While those are the two most common diseases, the breed can also be afflicted with epilepsy, skin conditions (including allergies), and genetic deafness. The latter is associated with white coats: Dalmatians and some other white dogs have the same problem. A BAER test is necessary to rule out the condition. One may know that a dog can hear, but only the BAER test can prove whether the hearing is in both or only one ear.
--these tests along with their first round of shots and deworming need to be done before they are considered for prospective homes--
The JRTCA recently sent out a Genetics Disorder Survey (January 1997) to all members who have a registered kennel prefix. Its purpose is to help determine genetic problems and frequency of occurrence in the breed. The results will be published in True Grit, the club newsletter.
As in all breeds, there are good and poor breeders. Purchase a pup from someone who has completed BAER tests, eye examinations and hip evaluations on their breeding stock. This will improve your chances of a healthy pup.
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Alicia, who is so glad to have a husband Chris, Avari (my Shiba Inu), Muzie gato (big kitty), Mr Grobbles (ferral kitty) 2 firebelly frogs and a newt
