Category: FAQ’s

Frequently asked questions about the Xoloitzcuintle breed. Email patty@xolo.com and I will respond with a post on the blog.

XOLO FAQ. Xolo with skin issues…

…this is an old post but a topic that keeps coming back. This lady had rescued a xolo and here is our exchange.

In a message dated 4/12/04 3:27:06 PM,
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A bath once a week should be adequate. Put neosporin on the infected areas.
If she has breaks in the skin, vinegar would sting. If not, then follow the bath with a vinegar rinse. (cup of warm water with a splash of white vinegar) Maybe just sponge it on carefully with a cotton pad. Do not rinse. You should use a gentle shampoo at first, like Allerseb. It will help cleanse the pores but it will not harm sensitive skin. Vets carry it. Bathing too often can cause dryness and itching and that is another source of misery that you don’t want to get into. Use a lotion after her bath. Some people use things like almond oil. You can accomplish the same thing with lotion from the dollar store. I get all of mine there. I like the one that has cocoa butter in it.
Give her skin time to heal and normalize. When the infections are gone, you
can begin using St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It is available in most every market.
Use it only on the areas with blackheads. Be patient.
You can also give her a ‘xolo spa.’
This is especially good for the blackheads…………
Put her in the tub and place a towel over her back, from the base of her neck
and covering her tail. Using the hand-held shower attachment, or a pitcher,
pour/spray very warm water up and down her back onto the towel for about ten
or fifteen minutes. Leave the towel in place until it cools.
This will open her pores and help clean them. When you are doing a spa, put the plug in the tub and let it fill up–give her a good foot soak.
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In addition, good skin really comes from within and is the result of good nutrition. Feed a good quality dogfood, not especially the most advertised one.
Xolos survive best on very basic kibble. Usually a bit of added vegetable oil will make the skin more beautiful. There are some very high quality kibbles sold in the grocery markets in the US. Avoid the cheapest.

XOLO FAQ:

A young family, just getting to know their xolo, sent this message: “He settled in nicely and we introduced him to the kids this morning. He did a little bark/growl at our daughter, but we believe (it was) because he and I bonded last night and today. He is off with (my husband) today and will spend the day with him. He is just so wonderful and we adore him!”

Response: Thank you for your message,
When he makes a growly sound, I want you to be a strong alpha.
Say NO as if it were coming all the way from your gut and get a really angry look on your face.
If he does it again, repeat the NO and grab his muzzle in your hand and give it a firm shake, look into his rotten little
eyes with the fiercest look you can muster and growl like a momma dog that is giving a strong correction.
You might want to warn the fam. so that they don’t call 911 on you, but you must treat this with a very firm correction.
He must not ever growl at the members of his pack and he must learn GOOD manners.
It would be good to have the daughter do his feeding and she should run her hands through the kibble before she
gives it to him so that he will associate her smell with food.
Keep me in the loop.
Patty

What a clever idea…

“Jimi” injured the tip of his ear. His owners called me asking what to do. I explained to them how to stop the bleeding and put a ‘bandage’ on it and they devised this clever idea to hold the ears. Here is their message: ” Here is a picture of Jimi with the tube sock on his head to protect his ears. It has been working great! He doesn’t mind it, and it protects the ears and head when he shakes. It is just and old tube sock with toe cut out and we double it over his head. It is cold here so I think he thinks it’s one more thing to keep him warm. He LOVES to get dressed up. He thinks everything is his! We just make sure his ears are laying flat on his head when we put the sock on. He has had it on for about 6 hours and has not tried to get it off.”
This idea could be used to protect the ears on very cold days, as well.

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If your xolo is going out on very cold days it is wise to put a little vaseline on the tips of its ears to protect from the cold. Freezing cold air can cause the tiny veins in the ears to rupture and bleed.