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HELP WITH RAISING
General recommendations for raising a small chihuahua at home
The little chihuahua in our home brings real joy to young and old. However, it is important to have information about its proper raising.
At home, the most important condition is that the puppy is not exposed to drafts - its place is warm and calm. We keep the small puppies at a temperature between 25-30°C. Observe whether the puppy trembles or curls up in a ball when it sleeps. If so it may be cold /this can sometimes be a fear reaction and you should try to distinguish between them/. If the puppy sleeps stretched out or with its belly up, then it feels good.
Chihuahuas are prone to hypoglycemia. This is a drop in blood sugar. They become depressed, sleepy, vomit, have an acetone breath, and have seizures. In case you suspect that something is wrong with the behavior of the puppy, it is good to give honey in the mouth as much as a bean or ½ - 1 teaspoon. Immediately call the vet and the breeder - me, but first give honey! The honey can get a little runny after a while, but that's not a problem and they get better quickly. A hypoglycemic seizure, or just faintness, can occur after overexcitement, insufficient or missed meals, or bad food. Therefore, try to ensure that the puppy always has sufficient and peaceful sleep, is fed and has a fresh appearance.
DO NOT PUT the puppy on chairs and couches! They can't get off and if they get the need to pee they will do it on the sofa or jump and possibly hurt themselves badly.
IMPORTANT! Never, absolutely never let the dog just jump out of your arms! If it wants to get down, you must put it on the ground, either with its hind legs first, or with all fours on the ground, and then you can let it go! They are small and do not know that falling from any height is dangerous. If it squirms in your arms, you mustn’t let it go, but hold and calm it, or crouch down and gently put it on the ground.
Feeding:
Food is always abundant and "never ending". Never put a small dog "on rations" in the first month after adoption! In our care, they are used to food and do not overeat. Make sure that the bowl is always full, but don't leave a huge bowl full of food that will sit in the elements for a long time and, consequently, spoil its quality. If possible, do not leave the food in the sun.
When the puppy is small in age or mini, it must be fed with baby kibble until it reaches a minimum of 5 months, rather than with one for older puppies such as Junior. However, each puppy is completely individual in growth and its nutrition is therefore different.
The types of kibble you can feed with are:
Royal Canin Mini STARTER – of the Royal Canin foods - Starter mini is very preferred and liked. Royal Canin is not very good in quality, but as an initial preferred food it is suitable because it is eaten willingly by the puppies. As for the Royal Canin specialty foods for chihuahuas, I don't think they have much difference with the Starter Mini.
GOSBI EXCLUSIVE PUPPY MINI – produced with natural ingredients of great quality, guaranteeing superior digestibility and optimal nutritional values that strengthen the health and well-being of the dog.
So far I am most satisfied with this Gosbi kibble. Small and without flavorings and colorings.
Initially, it is best to feed the puppy with baby kibble, and at a later stage, when it adapts to the new environment and is of the right age, it can switch to a kibble for older dogs.
In addition to granulated food, there are many nice canned foods and pastes that puppies willingly accept.
I recommend, especially in picky eaters, troublesome or refusing to eat puppies, to give cooked chicken or other meat, but without skin, fat and bones (unless they are so soft as to be pate). You can use ready-made puppy pate without hearts and liver in the can.
Giving meat can be 1 or 2 times a day and given after a meal or in place of a meal.
Vitamins and minerals can be added to the meat. You will get advice from your vet or me about the appropriate vitamins.
Diversification with fish, yolk, liver, cottage cheese ... is very useful, but keep in mind that these foods can loosen the stool and do not give too much at one meal.
Foods that are not good to give:
Too salty, greasy or spicy
Foods cooked with a lot of hot spices (can irritate the stomach)
Bones (especially chicken)
Milk
Onion
Smoked foods
Citrus fruits (bananas can)
Dangerous plants:
IMPORTANT
Different flowers are often grown in the home, which can sometimes be dangerous for your dog. Check out the list of dangerous plants in the link and if you have any, put them in a place inaccessible to the dog.
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/health-and-injuries/plants-poisonous-to-dogs
Bones and joints:
The most active period of puppy growth is between 4 - 8 months. In this period, the puppies enter their puberty, they grow actively. With small breeds, it is important that they do not gain too much weight during this period, as this damages the joints. In addition, it is good to give supplements that support the development of joints, which very often develop slower than bones. Therefore, we recommend giving joint supplements - chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate. They can be purchased from a veterinary office
Chihuahuas are one of the breeds prone to joint problems and displacement of the kneecap. Giving joint supplements will not protect the puppy 100% from problems, but they will strengthen them and reduce the risk.
Chondroprotectors Opti Joint, Apto-Flex is a very nice syrup and is easy to give.
The supplements don't have to be the same, I'm just giving an example. If the vet suggests better ones, they can be used.
Slippery surfaces (wet floors) are also dangerous to the joints of growing puppies, so when cleaning the floor, it is best to separate the puppy while it is still wet.
Hygiene:
Puppies pee on dog toilets - trays or on a diaper. Initially, the diaper and food should not be placed far from the dogs crib. Best 1-2 m from the crib, and over time you will move them wherever you like.
Deworming:
Deworming is desirable every month or according to the instructions of the product.
Internal deworming can be done with a pill of Cestal, Drontal Caniverm, Procox, Fenpradin every month.
For external deworming, I recommend that in the months when mosquitoes are active, you treat with a product that is also anti-mosquito.
Advocate - is a combined broad-spectrum product that can be successfully used for external and internal deworming. It should be borne in mind that it does not protect against ticks and in the summer period it is good to add an anti-tick product or an anti-parasitic strap.
If the treatment is with a pill that is combined for internal and external deworming, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Nails:
Nails are cut or shaped every 2-3 weeks. They are cut with a nail clipper. Nail care is a must! Even if you feel sorry for the puppy, know that long nails are harmful to it! They expand the paw, distort the fingers, distort even the entire leg, especially in the process of growth. Long nails interfere with walking, the dog slips, and often trips and "flips" the long nail and it falls out, and this is quite painful and sometimes accompanied by bleeding. Nails should always be short!
Scissors
Nails
https://advancedpetvet.com/2021/02/02/why-is-it-important-to-trim-your-pets-nails/
Borrowed from the German Spitz site
„ Why is it Important to Trim Your Pet’s Nails?
A solid pet-grooming schedule includes more than just bathing and brushing your pet. To protect both the owner and animal, nails/claws should be clipped regularly. Trimmed nails are a clear sign of your pet’s health and hygiene. For squeamish owners, vet offices and professional groomers will perform the task, but nail trimming is a simple procedure if done correctly.
Since nail trimming can cause anxiety for many pets, it is advised that owners handle their pet’s feet and trim their nails from an early age so that they become accustomed to the process.
Unlike their outdoor counterparts, indoor pets’ claws need more frequent attention. Animal claws naturally wear down through activity, but when kept indoors, animals need their nails trimmed more frequently since they are less active and generally walk on softer surfaces.
Cats may try to relieve this problem by sharpening their claws — on your sofa, carpet, or curtains. A sign that your dog’s nails are too long is they can be heard, making a clicking sound, when your pet walks on hard surfaces.
Dogs need their nails clipped on a regular basis, approximately every 3-4 weeks; however, it is common for owners to wait too long in between trimmings which can lead to a number of health issues for the animal. For cats, a routine claw trimming every 10-14 days will keep your pet healthy. Birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, and other exotic small pets need their nails trimmed regularly as well, something that most people don’t realize.
Consistent nail maintenance isn’t simply cosmetic. In some cases, nails can cause pain and trigger irreversible damage to the animal.
When people think of the damage a pet’s nails can cause, most consider scratches on hardwood floors, carpet snags, and claw marks on furniture. However, long nails create potential issues for animals — a splayed foot, reduced traction, deformed feet, and even injured tendons over time. As long nails hit the ground, it puts force on the foot and leg structure. This force can potentially lead to arthritis and ongoing pain.
The growth pattern of a dog’s nails forms a curved shape. If left untrimmed, the claws will eventually curve under the dog’s paws and dig into the skin, creating pain when they walk. Anyone who has ever experienced an ingrown toenail can attest to the amount of pain this will cause. To compensate for this discomfort, dogs will put more weight on their back paws than their front. This can lead to sore muscles and joints, backaches, and eventually arthritis.
Longer nails can also snag carpets and get caught on fabrics. The outer enamel of the nail can wear away when trying to pry the foot when snagged. This can lead to exposure of the inside of the nail known as the quick. Once exposed, potential injuries and infections are likely.
Even though their veterinarian recommends trimming cat’s claws, many pet owners do not adhere to this. To be fair, it can be a difficult experience for both owner and animal. In some instances, cats can be so destructive that owners choose to declaw them, leaving the cat defenseless if caught outside or in an altercation with another animal. The solution is to reduce the cat’s ability to damage by scratching with a regular nail-trimming routine. Keeping a cat’s nails trimmed will potentially prevent nail damage to home furnishings by reducing their urge to claw.“
Fur:
Bathe the dog when you think it's dirty, but don't overdo it. Use nice cosmetics. Very often I hear recommendations for human baby shampoos, but I do not approve of most of them because the fur becomes very tangled or unpleasant to the touch.
A good cosmetic is the Special One products, which are preservative-free.
Teeth:
The change of teeth starts individually for each puppy, but the earliest it starts after 4 months. The change of baby teeth is a very important period for the health of the puppy. Often retained baby teeth cause discomfort and the puppy becomes weak and eats very limited. If the mouth starts to smell bad, it means that either a tooth has loosened and is forming an abscess or there is tartar that needs to be cleaned.
In the process of changing teeth, the dog's bite is also formed. If you're careless, a nice bite can be ruined. Sometimes in dogs that change teeth quickly - literally in 7-10 days, one bite can spoil due to carelessness.
It is best when the teeth change starts to let me know and send me photos if possible from the front and both profiles with the incisors and molars visible.
Walks:
It is good for the walks to start no earlier than 20 days after the 3rd vaccination. Walking outside at an earlier stage carries a very high risk of infecting the puppy with dangerous diseases. Chihuahuas like to run fast, but at the same time they get tired quickly. Walking is important for proper muscle development, but too much exercise, especially during the growing periods, can be harmful. Therefore, it is best that the walks are regular, at a moderate pace and without high load. Do not allow the dog to eat feces of other dogs or cats, as well as other dangerous things from the street.
IMPORTANT - Keep your puppy away from other dogs!! There are many cases of Chihuahuas being killed by other larger dog breeds.
NEVER let the dog off leash unless it is in safe territory. Sometimes even another dog's barking can prompt it to run in a dangerous direction and get run over by a car.
Dangers at home:
Look around your home for dangerous places where the puppy could get hurt! Sometimes the little ones play very actively, run fast and can bump into sharp objects. When they are very young, they can be easily stepped on if they are not paying attention, so try to confine the little Chihuahua to a certain quiet part of your home at first.
Do not leave the puppy alone on a sofa or on higher furniture, as it may jump and injure itself. Very often this is how the bones of the front paws are broken. The general rule is that the puppy is only ready to jump off sofas when it can climb on them.
Be careful when opening and closing doors - often the puppy may be lying down to sleep right on the threshold of the door we want to open - sudden opening can hurt his paws. The same applies to closing – sometimes they sneak in quickly without us noticing them, just as we close the door. In the summer we often open several doors and a draft occurs. Don't let the draft slam the doors - that's where the little puppy might be standing.
Non-grouted tiles or cracks in the floor – sometimes the gap between the tiles can get a puppy's nail caught and if it runs at this point, it can seriously injure his leg.
Cleaning agents - keep them out of reach.
Terraces – check the terraces for gaps where the little chihuahua could slip through and fall.
Stairs and staircases - the railing should be thick in its low part, because the puppy can get through and jump from the highest step or landing.
For any questions, please call your puppy's breeder.