HEALTH AND CARE
1)YOUR SHIBAS VACCINATIONS DESERVE SPECIAL ATTENTION. ANY BREED CAN
HAVE AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO VARIOUS ANESTHETICS AND MEDICATIONS. IT IS ADVISED THAT YOU STAY AT YOUR VET'S
OFFICE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER SHOTS ARE GIVEN TO BE CERTAIN THERE ARE NO ADVERSE REACTIONS. THIS IS SIMPLY A PRECAUTIONARY
MEASURE. ONE INGREDIENT TO MAKE CERTAIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR SHIBA'S VACCINATIONS IS LEPTOSPRIOSIS
(LEPTO). THIS IS USED PRIMARILY IN AREAS THAT HAVE A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF RATS. MANY VETS HAVE DISCONTINUED
USING IT BECAUSE OF THE STRONG POSSIBILITY OF A SEVERE REACTION. MAKE SURE YOUR VET IS AWARE OF THE FACT THAT SHIBAS HAVE
A TENDENCY TO BE HIGHLY ALLERGIC TO THIS INGREDIENT. MAKE IT KNOWN "PRIOR" TO GOING IN FOR VACCINATIONS THAT YOU
DO NOT WANT IT IN YOUR PUPPY'S VACCINE ! MANY TIMES A VET WILL USE WHAT IS ALREADY IN SUPPLY AND READILY
ON HAND. IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO PREPARE A VACCINE FREE OF LEPTO. PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN THAT LEPTO IS NOT USED UNTIL YOUR PUPPY IS AT LEAST 4 MONTHS OF AGE. I PERSONALLY RECOMMEND IT NEVER BEING
USED AT ALL.
2)BRUSHING IS AN ESSENTIAL PART
IN THE CARE OF YOUR SHIBA. THE SHIBA COAT CONSISTS OF TWO LAYERS. THE UNDER LAYER IS SHED IN THE SPRING AND USUALLY ANOTHER
TIME DURING THE YEAR. DURING THIS "BLOWING OF THE COAT", YOU SHOULD BRUSH YOUR SHIBA ONCE OR TWICE A DAY TO REMOVE
THE EXCESS HAIR AND MAKE SHEDDING A MORE MANAGEABLE PROCESS. THE SHEDDING WILL PERSIST ABOUT THREE WEEKS. SHIBAS
ARE EXTREMELY CLEAN AND TYPICALLY DO NOT NEED BATHS, HOWEVER, DURING SHEDDING A BATH CAN HELP REMOVE EXCESS HAIR.
3)SHIBAS ARE VERY MUSCULAR DOGS AND EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT TO THEIR
OVERALL HEALTH. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY BRED AS A HUNTING DOG AND THEY STILL MAINTAIN THESE INSTINCTS. A NICE FENCED YARD
IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED WHERE THEY CAN RUN AND EXPLORE. LEASH TRAINING YOUR SHIBA IS ALSO RECOMMENDED AND MAKES WALKING YOUR
SHIBA MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE. THIS IS ONE WAY OF SHOWING THEM THAT YOU ARE IN CONTROL. SHIBAS LOOK FORWARD TO DAILY WALKS AND
THEY THOROUGHLY ENJOY THIS SPECIAL TIME WITH THEIR OWNER.
