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40-503: The Chow Chow is a spitz -type of dog breed originally from Northern China . The Chow Chow is a sturdily built dog, square in profile, with a broad skull and small, triangular, erect ears with rounded tips. The breed is known for a very dense double coat that is either smooth or rough. The fur is particularly thick in the neck area, giving it a distinctive ruff or mane appearance. The coat may be shaded/self-red, black, blue, cinnamon/fawn, or cream. The Chow Chow has been identified as

80-544: A basal breed that predates the emergence of the modern breeds in the 19th century. A research study has concluded that the Chow Chow dog breed originated from other indigenous dogs in central China about 8,300 years ago. The ancient breed evolved and manifests both morphological and physiological features, including its dark tongue, coat of fur, and stronger build. One Chinese legend mentions large war dogs from Central Asia that resembled black-tongued lions. One Chinese ruler

120-467: A Chow Chow retain that tongue color. However, the blue-black/purple tongue can also be found on the Shar Pei . This is not to say that every mixed breed dog with spots of purple on the tongue is descended from Chow Chow, as purple spots on the tongue can be found on other purebred dogs . Owning a Chow Chow can raise the cost of homeowners' insurance because some companies consider them high-risk dogs. In

160-432: A combination of cinchophen and prednisolone ) are sometimes prescribed. Incorporating omega-3 fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) into the diet can result in improved symptoms of the disease. Omega-3 fatty acids can help decrease inflammation that occurs from osteoarthritis, as well as improve the locomotion of dogs who have the disease. EPA and DHA can be supplemented into

200-482: A dog with arthritis," and "reducing the dog's weight is enough to control all of the symptoms of arthritis in many dogs." With weight control, the goal is to prevent the dog from becoming overweight to reduce mechanical stresses applied to the hip joints. In general terms, the ribs should be easily palpated and there should be an indentation in front of the hip bones. Reasonable exercise stimulates cartilage growth and reduces degeneration, and also regular walks taken in

240-465: A dog, especially before the dog has reached an age of full developmental maturity, has been shown to almost double the chance he or she will develop hip dysplasia versus intact dogs or dogs that were neutered after reaching adulthood. Other environmental influences include overweight condition, injury at a young age, overexertion on the hip joint at a young age, ligament tear at a young age, or repetitive motion on forming joint (e.g. jogging with puppy under

280-529: A patient's mental state. U.S. Navy admiral George Dewey acquired a Chow Chow in Hong Kong in 1898 and named it Bob. Bob rarely left the admiral's side and had the run of the cruiser USS  Olympia . Bob died in 1899 from eating chocolates given to Dewey by well-wishers upon Olympia ' s arrival in New York City. Walt Disney and his wife, Lillian Disney , had a Chow Chow named Sunnee. It

320-572: A piebald pattern skin in their mouths). Another distinctive feature is the curly tail. It has thick hair and lies curled on its back. The nose should be black, but blue-coated Chow Chow can have a solid blue or slate-colored nose. According to the American Kennel Club breed standards, any other tone is not acceptable for contests. FCI countries, however, do allow a self-colored nose in the cream. The blue-black/purple tongue gene appears to be dominant, as most mixed breed dogs that come from

360-400: A smooth fit and a wide range of motion. Normal hip function can be affected by congenital conditions such as dysplasia, trauma, and by acquired diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis . The hip could have major contractions from dysplasias. The caput is not deeply and tightly held by the acetabulum. Instead of being a snug fit, it is a loose fit, or a partial fit. Secondly,

400-759: A study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association , Chow Chow were responsible for 8 out of 238 fatalities related to dog bites from 1979 to 1998. Chow Chows can come in a variety of coat colors. The American Kennel Club (AKC) has classified Chow Chow colors as either standard or non-standard (rare colors). The standard colors for Chow Chows are black, blue, red, cream, and cinnamon. However, colors such as fawn, white, and merle are not considered standard for this breed. Different canine clubs worldwide may acknowledge different coat colors or even use alternative names for

440-660: A very useful means of maintaining muscle tone and range of motion without placing concussive forces on the joint, though swimming is primarily a front-legged exercise. Medication can reduce pain and discomfort, and also reduce damaging inflammation. Most often, medication consists of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which doubles as an anti-inflammatory and painkiller. Typical NSAIDs used for hip dysplasia include carprofen and meloxicam (often sold as Rimadyl and Metacam respectively). Both are used to treat arthritis resulting from dysplasia, although other NSAIDs such as tepoxalin (Zubrin) and prednoleucotropin ("PLT",

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480-601: Is most evident in the tiny Pomeranian , which was originally a much larger dog closer to the size of a Keeshond before being bred down to make an acceptable court animal. The Keeshond, the Wolfspitz variety of the German Spitz , is an affectionate, loyal, and very energetic pet that was bred as a watchdog for barges (hence the name Dutch Barge Dog). Often, these breeds are recognized for their "smiling" mouths. Other spitzes that have been bred away from working uses are

520-490: The American Eskimo Dog , Alaskan Klee Kai , German Spitz , Volpino Italiano and Japanese Spitz . Canine hip dysplasia In dogs, hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause lameness and arthritis of the joints. It is a genetic (polygenic) trait that is affected by environmental factors. It is common in many dog breeds, particularly

560-681: The Pomeranian , have manes . Several spitz breeds (such as huskies ) are bred for one purpose only. However it is common for many spitz breeds (such as the Russian laikas ) to be general purpose dogs in their native lands, used for hunting, hauling, herding, and guarding. Smaller breeds have faces that resemble fox faces, while larger breeds have faces that resemble wolf faces. Spitzes, with their thick fur, fluffy ruffs, curled tails and small muzzles and ears, have been bred into non-working dogs designed to be companions or lap dogs . This trend

600-399: The body mass index (BMI) of the individual animal), though many other breeds can suffer from it. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals maintains a list of top 100 breeds affected. To reduce pain, the animal will typically reduce its movement of that hip. This may be visible as "bunny hopping", where both legs move together, or less dynamic movement (running, jumping), or stiffness. Since

640-453: The forelimbs , notably osteoarthritis , osteochondritis (OCD) or shoulder or elbow dysplasia , as well as pain in the hocks and stifles or spinal issues. It is important to rule out other joint and bodily issues before concluding that only hip dysplasia is present. Even if some hip dysplasia is present, it is possible for other conditions to co-exist or be masked by it. There is no complete cure, although there are many options to alleviate

680-508: The Chow Chow to be predisposed to alopecia X . A review of studies in Australia found the Chow Chow to be prediposed to atopic dermatitis with a 7.1 odds ratio. A US case study found a predisposition to pemphigus foliaceus with an odds ratio of 12.3. A breed specific mutation causing tyrosinase deficiency which results in leukotrichia exists in the Chow Chow. A UK study looking at exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in breeds found

720-422: The Chow Chow to be predisposed to the condition. An Austrian case series found an odds ratio of 23.53 for contracting stomach cancer . A US study looking at cases of oral melanoma found the breed to be over-represented with an odds ratio of 7.89. In a Belgian study Chow Chow bitches made up 6.4% of cases of pyometra despite the breed making up 1.6% of the population. Pyometra was found to be more extreme in

760-468: The Chow Chow to have the highest prevalence of elbow dysplasia , with 48.6% of dogs over the age of 2 having elbow dysplasia. A North American study looking at glaucoma in dog breeds found the Chow Chow to have the third highest prevalence with 4.7% of Chow Chow dogs having glaucoma compared to 0.89% overall. A study looking at records from a small animal clinic at the University of Montreal found

800-454: The age of 1 year). As current studies progress, greater information may help provide procedures to effectively reduce the occurrence of this condition. It is most common in medium-large pure bred dogs, such as Newfoundlands , German Shepherd Dogs , retrievers (such as Labradors , Tollers , or Goldens ), Rottweilers and Mastiffs , but also occurs in some smaller breeds such as spaniels and pugs . Dogs with hip dysplasia may exhibit

840-447: The body weight as intended. The joint becomes inflamed and a cycle of cartilage damage, inflammation and pain commences. This is a self-fueling process, in that the more the joint becomes damaged, the more damage it will cause to the surrounding tissues and bones. The inflammation also causes further damage. The bones of the joint may also develop osteoarthritis , visible on a radiograph as small outcrops of bone, which further degrade

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880-409: The breed standard. Chow Chow eyes are typically deep set and almond shaped. The breed is unique by their purple/blue-black tongue which no other breed has except Shar Pei , and has very straight hind legs, resulting in a rather stilted gait. The bluish color extends to the Chow Chow's lips; this is the only dog breed with this distinctive bluish color in its lips and oral cavity (other dogs have black or

920-441: The breed with anaemia and endotoxaemia reported. The Chow Chow can suffer from diabetes mellitus , and gastric cancer . Chow Chows are a high risk breed for autoimmune disease . Sigmund Freud had a Chow Chow named Jo-Fi Ling who attended all of his therapy sessions because he felt that dogs had a special sense that allows them to judge a person's character accurately, and admitted he depended on Jo-Fi for an assessment of

960-687: The breed, and hence of uncertain origin - possible and folk etymologies refer to Pidgin English . The Chow Chow is a sturdily built dog, square in profile, with a broad skull and small, triangular, erect ears with rounded tips. The breed is known for a very dense double coat that is either smooth or rough. The fur is particularly thick in the neck area, giving it a distinctive ruff or mane appearance. The coat may be shaded/self-red, black, blue, cinnamon/fawn, or cream. Not all these color varieties are recognized as valid in all countries. Individuals with patchy or multicolored coats are considered to be outside

1000-441: The caput or acetabulum are not smooth and round, but are misshapen, causing abnormal wear and tear or friction within the joint as it moves. The body reacts to this in several ways. First, the joint is continually repairing itself and laying down new cartilage . However, cartilage repair is a relatively slow process, the tissue being avascular , so the joint may suffer degradation due to the abnormal wear and tear, or may not support

1040-402: The clinical signs. The aim of treatment is to enhance quality of life. Most dogs with hip dysplasia do not need surgery as they do very well with a home physical therapy program, keeping trim and strong, and using pain medication as needed. If the problem cannot be controlled with medications, then often surgery is considered. There are traditionally two types of surgery - those which reshape

1080-560: The colors mentioned above. A UK study found the life expectancy of the Chow Chow to be 12.1 years, just higher than the 12 year average for crossbreeds and lower than the 12.7 years average for purebreeds. A North American study looking at more than a million records of dogs found 6.44% of Chow Chow dogs to have hip dysplasia compared with 3.52% overall. The study also found 4.3% of Chow Chow dogs to have cranial cruciate ligament deficiency compared to 2.52% overall. Another North American study looking at more than 250,000 elbow scans found

1120-449: The diet through fish oils. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are nutraceuticals that can also be added into the diet to help treat osteoarthritis caused by hip dysplasia. Both nutraceuticals help with improvement of cartilage, joint health and repairing of tissues. A glucosamine-based nutritional supplement may give the body additional raw materials used in joint repair. Glucosamine can take 3–4 weeks to start showing its effects, so

1160-426: The early stages of dysplasia can help prevent loss of muscle mass to the hips. Exercise should fit an individual dog's maximum intensity level with the goal to maintain muscle tone and cardiovascular function without causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation to the joint. Exercise also improves joint range of motion which in turn keeps the dog more comfortable. Swimming, because it is a non-weight bearing exercise, can be

1200-481: The extent to which dysplasia is causing pain or affecting the quality of life. In mild to moderate dysplasia it is often the secondary effects of abnormal wear and tear or arthritis, rather than dysplasia itself, which is the direct causes of visible problems. Hip dysplasia may be caused by a femur that does not fit correctly into the pelvic socket, or poorly developed muscles in the pelvic area. Large and giant breeds are most susceptible to hip dysplasia (possibly due to

1240-533: The following signs and symptoms: Affected dogs can show clinical signs as early as seven months of age, but most do not until one to two years of age. In part this is because the underlying hip problem may be mild or severe, worsening or stable, and the body may be more or less able to keep the joint in repair well enough to cope. Hip dysplasia is diagnosed with radiographs of the pelvis. There are several standardized systems for categorising dysplasia, set out by reputable bodies. The most widely used systems include

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1280-467: The following: It is also common to X-ray the spine and legs, as well as the hips, since soft tissues can be affected by the extra strain of a dysplastic hip, or there may be other undetected factors such as neurological issues (e.g. nerve damage) involved. The following conditions can give symptoms very similar to hip dysplasia, and should be ruled out during diagnosis: A dog may misuse its rear legs, or adapt its gait, to compensate for pain in

1320-415: The hip cannot move fully, the body compensates by adapting its use of the spine , often causing spinal, stifle (a dog's knee joint), or soft tissue problems to arise. The causes of hip dysplasia are considered heritable, but new research conclusively suggests that environment also plays a role. To what degree the causality is genetic and what portion environmental is a topic of current debate. Neutering

1360-457: The joint to reduce pain or help movement, and hip replacement which completely replaces the damaged hip with an artificial joint, similar to human hip replacements . Non surgical intervention is dependent on many factors including age, weight, degree of hip laxity, lifestyle of the owner and their tolerance for the cost incurred for medication and physical therapy. Weight control is often "the single most important thing that we can do to help

1400-405: The joint. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease marked by the breakdown of cartilage between joints resulting in painful bone-to-bone contact. The underlying deformity of the joint may get worse over time, or may remain static. A dog may have good radiographs and yet be in pain, or may have very poor radiographs and have no apparent pain issues. The hip condition is only one factor to determine

1440-448: The larger breeds, and is the most common single cause of arthritis of the hips. In the normal anatomy of the hip joint, the almost spherical end of the femur head (the caput, or caput ossis femoris) fits into the acetabulum (a concave socket located in the pelvis ). The bony surfaces of the femur head and of the acetabulum are covered by cartilage. While bones provide the strength necessary to support body weight, cartilage ensures

1480-597: The paws protects the dogs from sharp ice. Many spitz breeds, like the Japanese Akita and Chow Chow , retain wolf-like characteristics such as independence, suspiciousness, and aggression towards unfamiliar humans and other dogs, and they require much training and socialization when they are puppies before they become manageable in an urban environment. Some, such as the Karelian Bear Dog , are more difficult to train as companion dogs . Some breeds, such as

1520-515: The tombs of the IVth dynasty of Egypt. Toy dogs of spitz type have been depicted since 500 B.C. in Ancient Greek pottery . Spitzes are well suited to living in harsh northern climates. They often have an insulating , waterproof undercoat that is denser than the topcoat to trap warmth. Small, upright ears help to reduce the risk of frostbite , square proportions and thick fur that grows on

1560-487: Was said to own 5,000 Chows. The Chinese also used Chows to pull dog sleds through swampy terrain, and this was remarked upon by Marco Polo . Today, the American Kennel Club registers approximately 10,000 Chow Chows a year. The Canadian Kennel Club registers approximately 350. The English name Chow Chow is unlinked to any Chinese name such as the modern 鬆獅狗 ( song shi gou , lit. "loose lion dog") for

1600-644: Was the couple's first dog. Allegedly, Walt gifted Lilly the Chow Chow inside a hat box, which inspired the scene in Lady and the Tramp where Lady is gifted in the same way. Spitz The exact origins of spitz dogs remain unknown, though most of the spitzes seen today originate from the Arctic region or from Siberia . Johann Friedrich Gmelin described the type as Canis pomeranus in his 1788 revision of Systema Naturae . Dogs of spitz type have been depicted on

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