1. Eye Care

Eye problems in Ancient Sheepdogs such as common cataracts and retinal atrophy are becoming increasingly frequent. Therefore, regular inspection and care of the Ancient Sheepdog’s eyes are necessary. Excessive eye discharge, very red eyeballs, or the appearance of "third eyelid folds" (indicating eyelid swelling) are signs of illness. If you notice that it often uses its paws to scratch its eyes or blinks repeatedly, it is very likely that the eyes have problems caused by pain. Eye diseases often cause eyelid redness and swelling, with large amounts of mucus accumulating in the inner canthus. It is recommended to gently wipe from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye with a 2% boric acid cotton ball (or cooled boiled water). Do not wipe back and forth on the eyeball. Never use a dry cotton ball, as cotton fibers easily stick to the eye, and do not use fingers or cotton swabs or other hard objects that may injure the eye. After wiping, apply eye drops or eye ointment to reduce inflammation. When administering eye drops, keep your hand over its head to prevent shaking and apply the medication to the upper rear part of the eye.

If the eye problem is caused by foreign objects, use eye wash to remove them—hold the eye open, soak a cotton bandage with eye wash, then clean the eye. Symptoms of eye trauma include sudden severe pain in one eye or constant inability to open the eye. Carefully search for visible foreign objects and gently remove them. You can also clean the eye with clean warm water to flush out the foreign body. Avoid placing it in overly bright environments. Take it to the vet as soon as possible, and stop it from rubbing the injured eye with its paws or objects. Abnormal eye secretions are the most common; eye discharge or tearing is the common symptom of eye diseases. Use 2% boric acid water to wash the eyes.

Regular nail trimming for British Ancient Sheepdogs is necessary for those with low activity levels and kept indoors, with checks every one to two weeks on average. Overgrown nails are likely to grow into the paw pads. The dog will feel pain when walking or moving, show a hunched back when walking, or even refuse to walk, which may cause paw pad inflammation in severe cases.

2. Nail Trimming

The nails of the British Ancient Sheepdog are semi-transparent, showing red blood vessels when held to the light. When trimming nails, be very careful not to cut into the blood vessel.

How to Use Nail Clippers

Ancient Sheepdog

Hold the British Ancient Sheepdog’s foot with one hand and carefully identify where to clip the nail, then quickly trim it; afterward, use a file to round off the nail edge. If unfamiliar, you can trim gradually, bit by bit, which is safer. If you accidentally cut the blood vessel, apply a styptic agent immediately to stop the bleeding.

3. Paw Hair Trimming

The British Ancient Sheepdog has downy hair on the paw pads, and since the paws sweat easily, long hair without trimming will tangle easily. These excess paw hairs also easily pick up dirt during walks. It is essential to regularly trim the paw hair of the Ancient Sheepdog. Tools: scissors or a portable electric clipper.

Method: Use one hand to carefully spread the British Ancient Sheepdog’s toes to expose the paw hair, then carefully use small scissors or a household portable electric clipper to remove excess hair, taking care not to let the tip pierce into the toe pad. If the dog resists, stop trimming, because struggling may cause injury.