Chihuahua Care, Caring For The Tiny Love Of Your Life

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There are several things that are important to know when you own a tiny Chihuahua.

First and foremost, they are NOT outside dogs. They love to play and relax in the sun, but they will not survive extreme heat or cold if left unattended!

Your Chihuahua should always be trained to lead with a halter, they have small, fragile throats that can easily be damaged when they bounce and pull on a regular collar.

The complaint I hear most from a buyer is their disappointment in the adult size their pet matured to. Many sellers fail to mention that the tiny 2lb puppy they purchased will most likely mature to the standard 5 to 6lb adult Chihuahua. Most breeders can give a very accurate adult weigh estimate, but we do make mistakes.

Chihuahua are often plagued with bouts of Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, they use more energy than their tiny body can store. This can be deadly to any small breed. Common symptoms include weak, sleepy, disoriented, shivering or wobbly puppies. It is most often observed in puppies between the age of 6 and 12 weeks of age, but can occur at any age. Stress is a factor that often contributes to hypoglycemia. If your pet can swallow you will need to give them honey, sugar or Karo syrup with a needle-less syringe. If your pet is unconscious, do not put liquid in their mouth, they could choke, rub the gums and under the tongue. You will need to make sure your pet stays warm if it is suffering from hypoglycemia. Oral glucose paste such as Nutra-Cal or Nutri-Stat can be purchased at vet supply outlets. If you know your dog is subject to hypoglycemic attacks, keep this product on hand. If your pet does not show improvement within 15 to 20 minutes after your home treatment, go to your veterinarian immediately.

Water is VITAL, be sure you pet always has fresh water available. Puppies need to be allowed free access to food and water at all times, remember they cannot store enough energy and will need to eat tiny meals several times daily and will often wake during the night to nibble while they are young. It is important to feed a high-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diet. It is essential that the diet be high quality.

Another note of interest, most puppies will go through the "uglies". This is a period that often occurs between 6 and 11 weeks of age. This is when new growth hair is replacing much of the baby hair, they will look PITIFUL - there is nothing that can be done to prevent it! The good news, the new hair will grow back in about 3 to 5 weeks.


About the Author:
Why not visit the chihuahua magic and chihuahua information website. Also the petsdirect.co.uk website for red dog collars amongst other quality products.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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