Suzy Azalea explains the symptoms of Canine Megaesophagus

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Megaesophagus is a condition where the esophagus fails to propel food into the stomach. It is tricky to diagnose and more difficult to treat. Being a dog breeder, Suzy Azalea has had some experience in raising dogs with this condition, and warns other pet owners of its symptoms.


When the esophagus loses its ability to perform peristalsis, any food and liquid the dog ingests remains in the esophagus. This can accumulate for hours and sometimes even days. During this time, a dog will behave and play normally, but will seem to have an increasingly larger appetite.

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The main symptom of Megaesophagus is regurgitation. It is important to differentiate this from vomiting. When vomiting, a dog heaves as its body attempts to remove semi-digested contents from its stomach. Regurgitation, on the other hand, is more passive: food simply falls back out of the dog’s throat and appears tubular or undigested.


Suzy Azalea warns that Megaesophagus is difficult to detect because its main symptom is a sign of many other disorders. Although any dog can contract Megaesophagus, some breeds are known to be at higher risk, including the German Shepherd, Great Dane, Irish Setter, Labrador Retriever, Miniature Schnauzer, Newfoundland, and Shar Pei. Once the initial symptoms are noticed, it is important that the dog is taken to the veterinarian for a radiograph as soon as possible.

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For more information about breeding dogs, visit Suzy Azalea on Myspace.

Suzy Azalea: The five best breeds for small apartments

“Suzy Azalea, what are the best dog breeds for small apartments?” asked one of my friends. I say, match the breed’s traits to your house environment. While all dogs need daily exercise, some breeds require less space for activity than others. The Pug is a popular breed among apartment dwellers because of its ideal size and sleeping habits. A Pug will spend anywhere between 12 to 15 hours sleeping, making it less of a worry to leave them alone at home. Note that a Pug should be walked on a harness instead of a leash because pressure to its neck can cause its eyes to literally pop out!

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Another good breed is the Japanese Chin, a popular lapdog that comes highly recommended for city living because they very rarely bark and do not require a large space for exercise. In fact, Japanese Chins are happy to simply dance on their hind legs– a trick that is known among owners as the “chin spin.”

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I, Suzy Azalea, do not believe that a small space requires a small dog. The Shiba Inu, a highly-independent, medium-sized breed is a good choice for apartment living because of its catlike behavior. Shiba Inus are so intent on keeping clean that they can even be trained to use a litter box. A very similar breed is the slimmer Basenji, a dog which doesn't bark at all but instead, yodels. Although both breeds have a marked independence that is often misunderstood as being unfriendly, they are two of the most loyal breeds in the world.

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Another roomie-material mutt is the Bichon Frisé. This small and energetic breed is easily one of the smartest breeds overall. Owners will find them easy to train– verbal praise, not toys and treats, are enough reward for them. A descendant of the Poodle, the Bichon Frisé is also a hypoallergenic and odor-free dog– ideal for family members with allergies.

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Any dog can be a good pet if trained well and socialized early. For more information about dog breeds and training, follow Suzy Azalea on Twitter.

Suzy Azalea and reducing the carbon paw print

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I, Suzy Azalea, recently discovered there is such a thing as carbon paw print. If humans trace their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions by carbon footprint, the aforementioned concept places the onus on your pet dogs. Apparently, domesticating our canine friends has the tendency to be a pollutant.

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Granted, this is not as grave an accusation as what vegetarians levy against meat-eaters, although it’s gotten pretty close, since the number of pet owners the world over has been increasing exponentially. And since news organizations bought the story that dog domestication involves more greenhouse gas-chugging than driving an SUV for a year, green movements have been continuously increasing. As a dog breeder, I couldn’t help feeling responsible somehow, although I, Suzy Azalea, have always thought taking care of dogs is a step towards caring for the environment.

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Like other scientific findings, dog domestication is as contestable as the big bang. Pet food production also lends itself to toxic runoffs. Anything in excess of pampering, like dog clothes, equipment, playthings, and spas, has industrial cogs begging to be fed more coal. If this sounds exaggerated, consider the many pet owners who have built mansions for their dogs.

Perhaps the key here is not to be an overly doting dog lover. If we are to learn lessons from green movements, it’s that materialism kills off the human ability to appreciate nature. Our dogs do not need that much, just some solid parenting.

For more canine matters, consult Suzy Azalea on Facebook.

Suzy Azalea: Beyond training and breeding

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Owning a pet entails more than just finding the pup with the right breed, size, and color that suit your tastes. I am Suzy Azalea, and I have worked with dogs and their owners for many years now. I train dogs and have dedicated much of my time in learning how to care for them. I know that all dogs have common needs, but different breeds also have different needs.

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A pet owner needs to know these needs in order to take proper care of their animal companions. Getting a pet dog is something akin to adopting a child or becoming a guardian. There are responsibilities that, when properly fulfilled, make for healthier and happier pets, while shirking these responsibilities could lead to complicated relationships between pet and master.


While there is no Suzy Azalea handbook for taking care of pets, I know several important steps in keeping a healthy pet. It is important, for instance, to give your pet a bath regularly, especially those kept inside homes. In this regard, dogs should have a spot of their own, where they are not exposed to the merciless heat of direct sunlight or to the elements during the colder seasons.

 

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While they may be trained to do their business in only one place, pet owners still have the responsibility to pick up after their dogs, including cleaning fur off furniture and wiping paw prints off the floor. Taking them to the veterinarian for regular check-ups is also an important part of pet care.  


For more information and tips from Suzy Azalea, visit her Facebook page.

Pets and children: Suzy Azalea on the benefits of having a dog in the family

Hi there! I’m glad you stumbled upon my blog.

I am Suzy Azalea, and I have been breeding, training, and loving dogs for as long as I can remember. When people ask me about the benefits of having a dog in the family, I always tell them that dogs aren’t called “man’s best friend” for nothing.

From Suzy Azalea

For adults like me, dogs make great and very loyal companions. Arguably, dogs are easily trainable, and they seem to have a knack for understanding humans more than any other domestic pets. Our canine friends sit with us, eat with us, play with us, and listen to us as if they really understand every word we say.

From Suzy Azalea

Dogs are even more beneficial for kids. Whenever I say this, I get the usual “…and why is that, Suzy Azalea?” Well, aside from personal experience, numerous studies show that owning a pet dog can help develop children’s capacity for responsibility and their sense of caring and nurturing. Dogs will help kids realize the value of friendship, family communication, and harmony. Of course, some dogs will also offer security, since these animals have stronger senses than humans. Canines can easily detect intruders, and they can also save children in times of emergency.

From Suzy Azalea

If you’re still having doubts on whether having a dog in the house will work out, just remember that dogs are lovable creatures that are loyal and faithful to their masters. Nevertheless, remember also that a dog’s behavior towards you will greatly depend on how you treat it. Treat a dog right, and it will return the favor.

Want more information about dogs and their behavior? Follow Suzy Azalea on Twitter.

That’s one ‘hot’ dog: Suzy Azalea shares amazing facts about dachshunds

Hi there, dog lovers! Suzy Azalea here.

From Suzy Azalea

I’m sure you’ve all heard about Bomber, my handsome and affectionate dachshund. Well guess what? He’s just turned 2 years old! I can’t believe how fast he went from a puppy to a grown-up doxie. As my family and I celebrate Bomber’s birthday, I’d like to share some interesting information about his breed.

“Dachshund” is German for “badger hound.” In fact, dachshunds were first developed by German foresters in the 18th and 19th centuries from several existing breeds of taller hunting hounds (like the bloodhound and the Bibarhund). The Germans’ goal was to produce intrepid, elongated canines that could excavate badger burrows. In other words, dachshunds were originally bred to hunt and fight badgers. Remarkably, dachshunds were also used to hunt foxes and wild boars.

“Suzy Azalea, if dachshunds were originally bred as hunters, when did they become popular as pets?” asked one of my clients. Good question, dear.

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According to the Almost Home Dachshund Rescue Society, it was in the 1800s when dachshunds were bred more as pets than as hunters. This was particularly the trend in Great Britain, where the dachshund’s size was slowly reduced by 10 pounds. Consequently, the miniature dachshund (which weighs 11 pounds or less) was bred.

Here are other fun facts about dachshunds you may want to know:

• Dachshunds are also called “Teckels,” “Dachels,” or “Dachsels.” In the United States, they earned the monikers “hot dog,” “sausage dog,” and “wiener dog” due to their long, narrow build.

• Most dog trainers, including Suzy Azalea (ahem, yours truly), find it easier to train male dachshunds than females. This is only because female dachshunds tend to be more independent, whereas male doxies are more eager to please.

• Dachshunds are far-sighted. They can detect movement at a very far distance, but they cannot see as well up close.

• A dachshund named “Otto” was cast in the 1939 film “Wizard of Oz,” but was fired and replaced with “Toto” because of a strong anti-German sentiment during World War II.

• Dachshunds’ sense of smell is their best sensory organ. They can even track a scent that is weeks old.

• Dachshunds aren’t picky eaters. As they have fewer taste buds than people, they will try to eat most anything.

Suzy Azalea. Photo credit: almosthomerescue.org

Well, there you have it. There’s a lot more to say about dachshunds, but I’ll save it for another day. Right now, it’s time to open Bomber’s birthday presents, so…Suzy Azalea, signing off.

My name is Suzy Azalea, and I am a private dog breeder and trainer from LA, California. To learn more about me, catch up with me on Facebook.

Be in charge: Suzy Azalea on dog emergencies and first-aid remedies

Accidents happen, even to dogs. That’s why I, Suzy Azalea, suggest that dog owners equip themselves with proper knowledge on the various types of dog emergencies and their respective first-aid remedies.


As a dog breeder and trainer, I have experienced attending to different dog emergencies throughout the years. To help other dog owners out there, here’s a list of mishaps that their dogs might experience:

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- Consumed the wrong food. Dogs are like babies in such a way that they are fond of putting things into their mouth (for dogs, it’s more of licking or nibbling). This is why experts believe that most emergencies like acute abdominal pain, breathing difficulties, and even kidney failure, according to Readers Digest, are caused by the intake of wrong food.

Suzy Azalea helps dog owners to properly take care of their pets through her blogs.

- Get into accidents. Car accidents may cause broken bones and other internal injuries to dogs. In this case, it is better to rush the dog to the vet clinic. Other dog experts also suggest that owners wrap their dogs in a blanket to make them feel warm and to relieve them from the shock.

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- Choking. Petplace.com shares that most dog owners confuse choking with coughing or vomiting. Moreover, choking is crucial especially if the airway is obstructed completely. If faced with this problem, owners are advised to check the neck of their pets for any item that may be constricting it. Check the insides of the mouth and remove any foreign object. If the condition persists, rush the dog to a veterinarian.

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For more tips on how to care for your dog, visit Suzy Azalea’s Tumblr page.