This is a huge issue when it comes to Chihuahuas and therefore we believe there is much to be said on this subject in particular. Size is very important after all isn't it one of the main reasons you want a chihuahua? Size should also be even more important to a good breeder if they care at all about the breed standard, producing quality pups and The safety of chihuahua Moms. The word "teacup" or "Micro teacup" "Pocket pup" or "Purse puppy" gets tossed around a lot. It's really just semantics. Some breeders feel they are more ethical for not using the term. Even though most of us will have that size range in our puppies. While others not only use the term, solely to promote the sale of their pups for higher prices. Still others set out to purposely produce puppies that small by using mothers that are far too small for breeding and even die in the process. We do not promote our puppies as such. Frankly size is only a part of what we care most about. A sound healthy Puppy (that fits the breed standard) with an excellent background of a good hardy line going back much farther than just the parents. Hey! Lets not forget temperament! Temperament is crucial even the ring. Dog that show aggression or too timid, Siddish are immediately dismissed from the ring. We don't care if you want to call it "teacup" we know what you mean. We do give our buyers some credit when these terms are used to simply describe the size and style of the puppy they are looking for. Simply put, some self righteous people out there need to lighten up. True, technically, there is no such thing as the as the Teacup as an official term but there is such a thing as a happy completely healthy 31/2 lbs Chihuahua. Or even a 2lb Chihuahua. That can live to be 15 or more years old Being small is part of the Chihuahua's genetic make up it is not unhealthy phenomenon. If being very tiny was a health deficit than Hamsters shouldn't have babies either. Chihuahuas are the worlds smallest dog so they sometimes come extremely tiny. Just be sure they come from verify ably healthy parents, Grandparents, and great grandparents. Also While they are just as healthy as their larger counter parts. They do require much more care and watchfulness during there first 10 months I will explain this further in "Care Of Chihuahuas" For the sake of argument the breed standard AKC, CKC, UKC, and Westminster (The number 1 Kennel club in the world) is 2 to 6 LBS With 4 lbs being preferred by almost all judges. If 2 similar Chihuahuas in the ring Score a tie for example, a 4 1/2 Lb and a 3Lb than the smaller of the 2 will win best in breed. What is meant by teacup is a dog weighing between 31/2 to 5 LBS at maturity a micro is a dog weighing 2 to 3 1/2 lbs at maturity. However their papers will only say (Chihuahua Long Coat) or (Chihuahua Short Coat). We Target our pups to reach somewhere between 31/2 lbs to 5 lbs. We do for the safety of our females try to use tiny males with a healthy Genetic family ancestry of being fairly small. We Take that a step further When we have a female on her First and sometimes even her second if I am still concerned. We have her X-rayed within 2-3 days of her due date. Our Doctor measures they're puppies sculls with a micrometre and then measures the pelvis and birth canal. This helps relieve our minds that the puppies are not to big for Mom and enables us take any preemptive measures if needed. We believe in being proactive rather than reactive. However even a huge female with plenty of room for birth can have a non progressive labour (cervix does not fully dilate) In this Case an emergency Cesarean must be done. I am happy to say all our girls to date have free whelped, None have required a C section. If a C Section is ever required the Mom will be spayed at the same time. We consider it cruel to put a female though repeated cesarean sections. |
Shasta Valley Chihuahuas
| Chihuahua Facts Of Life |
Chihuahuas are one the most emotional breeds going. They require a lot of ATTENTION. They are very dependent and demanding especially tiny ones and little puppies. They will not do well when left for long hours regularly if you have a demanding job, Must travel a lot without your pooch, Have a busy social life or do a lot of entertaining at home, A dog may not be right for you at this time. This is true with most breeds Dogs are not cats They need to be around their owners as much as possible. Having said that, not everyone who has a loving heart to share with a little dog should be deprived of that special relationship simply because most Families have to leave their dog for work or school. There are a few options to look at; #1 Having a dog-sitter/walker come to your home when the dog will be left for more 4 or 5 hour per day and spend some time (15 min or more) Freshen water, change pee pad, and have a cuddle. This helps break up the day and the dog will look forward to it. #2 Brining your dog to Doggy daycare ( a bit of cost and perhaps inconvenient) But the benefits are fantastic! It limits or eliminates the chances of your dog being "dog aggressive", Keeps them well socialized with other animals and humans, and of course The dog is not lonely. You get the peace of mind knowing you dog is safe and well cared for. Please do your homework and thoroughly check out the place you may send your dog. Check references, vaccine policy, and accreditations of the daycare service I will discuss this further under the section below Under Doggy Day-Care. #3 Consider having a pair of Chihuahuas. Chihuahuas are perhaps the most community oriented breeds I have ever seen! Chihuahuas really, really, need to be with other Chihuahuas! Even if you don't have to leave your dog regularly I strongly recommend it. The effect is so positive all around. It is excellent for their development and social behaviour They tend to calmer less timid, It practically eliminates aggression toward other animals. They keep each other warm. Chihuahuas Long or Short coat don't keep their heat as well as other breeds. There is just so many benefits I can't name them all. Most of all They are never lonely When they have a companion Chihuahua in their life. Chihuahuas are not a fashion statement. They are a living, breathing, being, that need to be fully engaged with owners on a frequent basis. One life's greatest pleasures for the chi, is to cuddle up on your lap or in your arms for hours if you will let them. When I sit or stretch out on my couch they all pile on. Even as I work on my site or answer email, I have one or 2 in my other arm. (I have gotten quite good at typing with one hand) These little dogs are such a joy and I have fully devoted myself to them. I expect my potential buyers to understand that dog/Chihuahua is A LIFE TIME COMMITMENT. Which could be 15 to 18 years or even longer. These little dog become very attached to their owners. It really breaks their huge hearts. It breaks my heart to see countless Chihuahua resold because the owner underestimated level of commitment they require. Let me stop here and say it is a written clause in our sales contract that for any reason you can no longer keep you puppy we want to be given first refusal. We do not want our puppies ending up with just anybody. We screen our buyers for suitability. Therefore if one of our pups has to be resold we would like to scrutinize the new potential owner or we may keep the pup ourselves. If you are planning a family ie Children in the next few years. Please do not get a chihuahua. They are too small and fragile to tolerate the poking and prodding young children tend to do. A young child can seriously injure or even kill a Chihuahua. Larger Chihuahuas over 6lb tend to be more sturdy and may be okay for some older children. |
| This page will cover many topics. Please be patient, we are still working on it. I will be adding to it from time to time. As much as I know (and I have done a lot of research and have over 20 years of breading experience.) I am still humble enough to say I still have much to learn too. When I discover nice chunk of wisdom I will share it on this page. Whether or not you buy your chihuahua from us, or are already the proud owner of Chi we would be happy to answer your questions or advise you any way we can. Your questions help us understand what new owners or potential owners are concerned about. We may add it as a topic here. Our philosophy is the only silly questions are the ones you don't ask. If we can help you and your Chi enjoy a better relationship That's just super! It Is our sincere hope this page will help you discover whether or not the chihuahuas is right for you. Perhaps more importantly Are you right for the chihuahua |
There is a lot of misconception about short or long coat chihuahuas. One is, the short coat is a little more timid than the long coat. Perhaps a little more testy in temperament. My personal opinion is, this is not so much a myth, but it is overstated I do find the short coat a little more cautious. But it really boils down family history If the parents have a good temperament that goes a long way. But it is crucial That the adoptive family maintain excellent socialization to continue that good temperament. This is soooo soooo True especially with the chihuahua! I see many very friendly, Very outgoing, happy, pappy, Short coats. I have also seen a few nasty long coats another difference also over exaggerated is long coat require so much grooming They really don't need That much grooming. They may have a long coat but it is not dense like the Pomeranian. The long coats need a bath once a month in the warmer months and every other month in the winter. I use I nice therapeutic Oatmeal dog bath shampoo and oatmeal Conditioner so soothing comforting and moisturizing for their skin. It has the same properties as the Alveeno Natural oatmeal bath for humans. It does a great job! If they are keep clean they only need to be brushed once per week (long coats) now if you go for the Double long as a few of mine are it is a good idea to brush them every day ( I enjoy brushing mine ) Another myth is the long coat Does not get cold like the short coat. Chihuahuas in general, be they short coat or long coat, do not do a good job of maintaining the body heat. Remember their native climate is Mexico's extremely hot/dry climate. So There bodies are conditioned from ancient times to be more efficient at cooling the body. An interesting fact is why they have such large ears in proportion to their tiny little bodies. The blood circulates to the tiny little veins in their ears. The ears being on their outermost extremities the blood is cooled somewhat as it returns to the rest of the body. So their ears are air conditioners as well as highly sensitive to sound to hear possible approaching danger. Another difference is shedding but its not what you think. LONG COATS: Males shed once per year for 2 to 3 weeks and that's it your done for another year While Male SHORT COATS are always shedding a least a little. Then they have a heavier shedding period in the warm months LONG COAT: Females shed according To their estrus Cycle When a female has a litter about 10 to 12 weeks later they will have a heavy Shedding that again only lasts for 2 to 3 weeks. If they do not have a litter The shed approximately 5 months after estrus. SHORT COAT Females also are always shedding at least a little But their heavy shedding is also linked exactly the same way to their estrus cycle If the are not spayed the will usually have 2 Cycles per year. Spayed Females have a heavier coat (in the long coat ) But shedding periods are like that of the Male once per year Neutered Males have a much heavier coat in the long coat also In the animal Kingdom the males always have the prettier, nicer, fuller, coat than the female and dogs are no exception. |
| Obesity or over Weight is a major problem with the Chihuahua. It is bad for any dog, but is particularly hard on such a tiny breed. First of all the most common cause of obesity in Chihuahuas is Table food and so called treats. We are all so tempted to give are babies everything their little hearts desire we don't want to hold nothing back. But please do not love your dog to death. Puppies naturally beg. If you reward this behavior they never out grow it. This part of their mind will remain like a puppy. If you wish to give treats or Table food make sure it is severely limited and healthy. Carrots, Apple Slices or a small amount of Banana is good. Stay away from high fat or foods, red meat, or foods too high in sugar or salt. Chihuahuas have very little room in their tummies for food so when they eat, you want it to have the most nutritional impact. Filling their tummies with junk food, leaves very little room for what their little bodies really need. Mine are fed Royal Canin Chihuahua #28 specially formulated to meet the specific needs of the Chihuahua with a special attention paid towards safe guarding them against certain weakness or tendency Chihuahuas tend to be prone to such as early tooth decay, bone/ joint health, and heart defects (as they age) If you Chihuahua is spayed or neutered keep in mind it does slow their metabolism by as much as 20% A good rule of thumb is feed small frequent meals at 2 to 4 intervals per day at the same time every day. Place the food down for 20 minuted what ever they do not eat after 20 minutes remove it. If despite doing all these things your dog becomes overweight have their thyroid Checked by the vet. Definitely seek the help of your Veterinarian if you dog becomes overweight. Even a few months of being overweight can have dire consequences. * Heart disease and heart failure e.g. respiratory difficulties * Musculoskeletal problems e.g. osteoarthritis, lameness, Luxated Patellas, cruciate ligament ruptures * Skin disease/cancer * Reproductive problems e.g. prolonged or difficult labor * Hypertension * Diabetes * Poor immunity, susceptibility to other diseases * Heat and exercise intolerance * Reduce life expectancy * Reduce liver function * Poor digestion e.g. flatulence * Anesthetic and surgical complications It will almost always lead to Patella Luxation in a very short time as little as a few months! Prolonged obesity or even a few short months. Can lead to a ruptured Cruciate ligament Requiring major surgery to repair followed by months of rehab. |
| Puppy mills and Back yard breeder's as well as these so called "designer Breeds" such as Morkies or Pomchis are my absolute pet peeve when I think of how hard I work and the money I have invested (The amount would make your hair stand on end) trying to breed the perfect pure bred Chihuahua champion and there are people out there actually mixing the breeds on purpose just to make pets for profit. There are too many unwanted animals out there as it is. But to do it deliberately!!! Makes me furious!! also, the so called Merle Chihuahuas (Not recognized as a pure bred by the CKC or the AKC) The merle is a mutated gene and can cause very serous birth defects So we DO NOT BREED MERLES period. Please Take the time to click on this Link Puppy Mills info To read my Full page on Puppy mills/Backyard Breeders and how to spot them. |
| WHEN IT COMES TO SIZE |
| Choosing a good breeder |
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| Are You right for the chihuahua |
Like The term "teacup Chihuahua" Or "Micro Chihuahua" The term "double Long coat" or Double short Coat is NOT AN OFFICIAL TERM. Again it is only a descriptive term commonly use to describe the style. Some may use the term loosely so you will have to be the judge of that If you are after a really thick luxurious long coat than you are after the double Long Coat the female version like my Lucy (on our girls page) The male Version Ch Foxy Who is the father Of Lucy's Boy Yoshi He is also a Double long coat. The Double long coat has an undercoat in some cases not quite as dense as the Pomeranian. Unlike the Pomeranian however the coat lyes down rather than stands out. The typical Long coat Female Coco Chanel have a thinner silkier coat and maybe not quite as long sometimes like humans it is really just different textured hair some long coats have wavy hair (not tightly curled like a poodle or beshon) A fact few people know with long coats it Can take as long as 24 to 28 months For the long coat to develop it's full potential. Basically what happens is around 14 weeks The puppy will start loose their fuzzy puppy coat (this is part of transitional faze is also known as the "uglies" Around 16 to 18 weeks they almost look moth eaten patchy losses of fur and still some fuzzy puppy fur. Some people even think their long coat is turning into a short coat. That never ever happens it is impossible. They do not start out long coats and turn into shorts or vis versa. Now around 22 to 24 weeks the new adult coat begins to come in. It will be softer than their wholly puppy coat by the time they reach 12 months Their first adult coat is in. Then Around 15 months or roughly 5 month after the females first estrus. They start to Shed This time is very critical if you want to bring out the best in the next coat. When they are Shedding every few days you need to gentiley brush them out being careful not to pull on the hair too much (you will loose fur that was not going to fall out that way) Then take a Nit or flea comb and finely comb out the Rough, ear feathering, leg feathers and tail plume. By the time all their fur is shed in about 2 to 3 weeks you will be left with thin long hairs in the locations I just mentioned. What happens as the 2nd adult coat comes in by 18 to 20 months, you will keep those layers and the same applies to the next shedding cycle. Over the course of the shedding cycles you develop more and more layers if you take excellent care during the shedding process. Now if Your female is spayed or male neutered they have a cheating edge on their intact counter parts with the absence of fluctuating hormones, They develop and even fuller coat. One of the reasons they cannot be shown if they are altered The Double short coat is really a short coat with very thick smooth coat They are somewhat harder to come by, but not rare. The double short Coat has a more plush appearance like velvet it shows up more in the blues, lilac and chocolates for some reason. |
Choosing a good and reputable breeder is as important as the puppy you choose. After all, You want a puppy that has been raised in a clean, safe, healthy, well socialized environment. You want to know Your puppy had the best possible start in life and that means while they were still in their mummy's tummy. Make sure the parents received good medical care, preventative care and nutritional needs were well met. The puppies and parents Should be premium high performance dog and puppy food not found in a regular grocery store. Our dogs are fed breed specific "Royal Canin Chihuahua #28" Royal Canin Pro for Pregnant or nursing moms and "Royal Canin Small breed puppy #33 Find a breeder that knows their lines well. Not everybody has 20 or 30 years experience producing their lines (although it is good to find someone like that) Most people are under the false perception That if the parents clear all genetic testing with flying colours, That is their guarantee their puppy will have no genetic health issues. It helps but not that much. The grandparents and even the great grandparents(to a lesser extent) play a HUGE roll in the appearance, size, and over all health and genetic issues. Every good breeder even if they are breeding new stock from a new line should have taken care to thoroughly check out the lines they are acquiring. They should be able to tell you about the family history as far back as possible and even have pictures of grandparents, great grandparents, and other relatives if possible. A good breeder Should not seem over zealous about getting paid. They should come across as having the best interests of the puppy at heart. If they care and respect you as a potential buyer of their puppies. They may redirect you to a more suitable puppy they have for your family and your situation. Sometimes I refer people to another breeder That I feel may be closer to them, and have what they may be looking for.I love the breed. I love to see a job well done, whether I have anything to do with it or not. So I do know some really good breeders in Canada and the United States in most cases I have bought from them myself. A good breeder will not tell you everything you want to here just to make a sale. They should try to be painfully honest. They will want to know as much about your situation as possible so you and your pup will be happy ever after. Wouldn't rather know now than have yours and the pups heart broken later not to mention the money you would lose. You will never get back what you paid, plus subsequent Vet visits and more vaccines. This happens more often than I care to even think about. If you feel rushed or pressured, DON'T! This not something to rush into. You will regret it later. There are millions of chihuahuas out there you will find the right one when the time is right. Sometimes I do advise another breed, or even suggest a buyer wait a few years based on their situation. A Good breeder will welcome you to their home to see the parents and where the puppies are raised. If they offer to meet you somewhere DON'T! They are most likely a puppy mill when they offer to do that! Pay attention when you go is the home clean? Does it smell clean? Is there little green or yellow crusties on their water server/food dish? Where do they sleep? Are they pee pad trained. How do the parents and puppies behave (it is normal for the parents/adults to bark when a stranger comes after all they are dogs) but do they never stop? Are they shaking and hiding That is poor socialization. A good breeder should have some kennel club membership(s) in good standing ie: CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) AKC (American Kennel Club) and Westminster The top Kennel Club in the world (APRI and another one Called CKC meaning Continental Kennel Clubs are not truly accredited kennel clubs) You should only buy a registered pure bred puppy. Many people pass off so called "designer dogs" ( mixed breeds) as pure breds Like a Jack Russell and chihuahua sometimes that is hard to tell when they are so young If the pups aren't registered You should ask why? Usually it is either because one or both parents were registered on a non breeding contract. Reason being the breeder who sold them the parents felt they were not suitable for breeding. The other reason is one or both parents are not registered again why? The breeder should offer you their full support and make themselves available to help with advice and answer any questions you may have. |
| Beware of online Fraud |
| Long Coat Or Short Coat |
| Double Long Coat _____________ Double Short coat |
| Puppy Mills |
| Doggy Day Care centres |
| Protect yourself from on line fraudProtect yourself from online fraud!! These crooks are getting better and better at what they do. They are even duplicating Websites. Make sure you are dealing with the real thing! How? Ask for additional pictures. Ask them to take a picture of the pup/dog next a familiar object you choose. Also Check references, ask for the name and Number of the vet They deal with. Pay attention to the number of the vet, Is it the right exchange for they locality they say they are in? or at least an adjacent locality? Look for uniformity in their site all the pup's pictures should have a similar backgrounds and, or objects in their pictures. I have visited Scam sites with pictures of 5, 6, or even 10 puppies all but 2 puppies were pictured with completely different backgrounds/lighting/picture quality etc.... I recently have begun to put the "Shasta Valley" logo on my pictures to discourage people from coping and trying to use them to scam people out of their money Check for excessive spelling errors. Everyone has some errors or mistakes on their site. But some things should not be misspelled. Paying with paypal covers your purchase and you can usually get your money back through a charge back if something goes wrong But most breeders including me must charge an additional 3% to your purchase to cover Paypal fees. In Canada the new email bank transfers are I think, going to replace paypal because of the much lower fees Email bank transfers are very secure, private an instant. Costing only 1 dollar and 50 cents per transaction. You can use escrow. They hold the money until your puppy arrives safe, Healthy and in acceptable condition Then payment is released to the breeder/seller. The only draw back is the small fees. Buying from a local breeder virtually closes the door on Fraud Scams as long as the breeder allows you to see the pups in person. Have at least one phone conversation with them, but make sure you call them. If the puppy is registered ask for a copy of the litter Registration, or to be shown a copy of the parents registration/and pedigree if available. I guarantee if you are dealing with a scammer they will not even respond to you again once you ask for these things or they will have a million excuses why they can't provide you with these things. Don't fall for the most popular scam that you only have to pay airfare to get the puppy. Or they say they are a Missionary, Priest, Man or woman of God and they can't take the puppy with them. |
| Breeding and exhibiting pure bred dogs is an extremely expensive hobby, if you do it ethically and responsibly. At most when we sell a few pups, it helps us recover some the costs and medical expenses associated with this very unpredictable profession Good quality pure bred Chihuahuas are expensive if the price sounds too good it probably is! |
| Obesity (Over weight) |
| In this Section I will discuss some health issues that Chihuahuas can be prone to. As well as Common mistakes new owners Can make that Can lead to serious Consequences for the Chihuahua However not all these should considered normal. A good breeder will not breed dogs they know to have genetic defects that could be past on |
| The days Chihuahuas have fewer genetic defects than many breeds (maybe because so many breeders try hard to eliminate problems), Having said that However that's not say there many bad breeders out there who breed solely for profit and could care less about what they are breeding. No breed is perfect. The following sections show you some issues a few serious but most not — that are sometimes seen in Chihuahuas and other Toy breeds. Subluxation of the patella subluxation of the patella is called slipped stifles or loose kneecaps. When it occurs, the kneecap slips out of its groove — sometimes often and sometimes rarely — depending on the severity of the problem. If your dog is one of the unlucky few whose kneecaps slip often, surgery may be the solution. A dog with a mild case can live a normal life, kind of like a person with a trick knee. Subluxation of the patella is a relatively common problem in small breeds and some large ones as well. There are variety of different Causes for this They are; 1 Obesity, 2 improper Veterinary examination of the patellas, Age, (some dogs are still too over active at age when they should taking things a little easier. This was the case with My Pomeranian. At 12 yrs she ran and jumped and played as hard as a 2 yr old eventually she ruptured her Cruciate ligament. Even after her surgery and subsequent rehabilitation She was racing around again and a year later ruptured the other one she is currently 18yrs old and going strong lol. It Can also occur in a very young dog that is too over active and daring, Jumping from too far a height than his little legs can handle. Finally it can be genetic especially if the problem occurs in a dog that is less than a year old. There are other Causes but these are the main causes. Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar and is a common problem in young Toy breed puppies, although most of them grow out of it before they are old enough to leave the breeder. But for a few, it's a danger throughout their lives. Symptoms of low blood sugar are a staggering gait, glassy eyes, and sometimes either limpness or rigidity. If the dog doesn't receive immediate help, he can suffer seizures, unconsciousness, and finally, death. Treatment involves putting some sugar in your dog's mouth, calling your veterinarian, and heading for the clinic. Once you know your dog has a tendency toward hypoglycemia, you can prevent further attacks by changing his feeding schedule to small amounts several times a day and avoiding sugary treats (check the ingredients before buying dog treats). Too much sugar in his food can put your dog on a roller coaster ride of sugar highs and lows rather than keeping his blood sugar nice and level. It's a good idea to get your chihuahua used to licking a drop or 2 of honey off your finger. If you spot your chihuahua having these symptoms he will readily accept the honey if it is ever needed. I will tell you when you are picking up your puppy if I feel He or She needs to be watched for this 99% of the time I never have this concern. Collapsing trachea Collapsing trachea is a problem for Toy dogs of many breeds. The symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, and exhaustion. Although it appears more often in dogs older than 5 years. To understand the condition, think of the trachea as a straw made of cartilage that carries air from the neck to the chest. When the cartilage collapses, breathing becomes difficult, kind of like sipping soda through a flattened straw. Your vet can treat the condition with medication, but if you smoke, your Chi's prognosis may be poor. Secondhand smoke is a proven contributing factor to the problem. Smoke tends to settle low, where a little dog's nose is. I do not recommend the use of collars for walking your chi and definitely do not think a dog she be waring a collar constantly. The use of collars tend to weaken the Trachea over time. Instead, use a harness I prefer the ones shaped like a pair of glasses the dog just simply steps into it almost like a bra it sits very low on the chest instead of the throat. Heart murmur Heart murmurs are relatively uncommon in Chihuahuas and even those that have one usually have the functional type. As in people, that means they can be as active and athletic as they want and live long, normal lives. Molera The Chihuahua's molera(a.k.a. fontanel) is considered a breed characteristic and not a defect. Most Chihuahuas (80 percent to 90 percent) have a molera — a soft spot on the top of their head similar to a human baby's soft spot. But unlike babies, most Chihuahuas don't outgrow it. Although it usually shrinks as the dog matures and ends up between nickel- and dime-sized. In rare cases, the molera remains quite large and can be a sign of a serious problem called hydrocephalus (see the next section). But don't borrow trouble. Hydrocephalus has several other signs besides a larger-than-usual molera. Hydrocephalus A dog with hydrocephalus (a.k.a. water on the brain) may have an unusually large head for his size caused by swelling. Other signs of this fatal condition are frequent falling, seizures, a lot of white showing in the eyes, an unsteady gait, and east-west eyes (the opposite of crossed eyes). A dog with hydrocephalus is in pain and won't live long, so euthanasia is the humane solution. Most cases of Hydrocephalus appear at birth or soon after and the puppy does not survive. Going under anesthesia The possibility that your dog may someday need anesthesia is one main reason why you need to choose a veterinarian who is accomplished in treating Toy dogs. Although anesthesia-related deaths are rare, and usually the result of an allergic reaction, its use is potentially dangerous. Your vet uses anesthesia only when necessary (before surgery, for example). Be sure you know how to clean your dog's teeth properly so that cleaning them under anesthesia isn't necessary. When your dog has to go under anesthesia (during spaying or neutering, for example), ask your veterinarian if any necessary dental work (such as pulling impacted baby teeth) can be done at the same time. Be sure your vet uses one of the modern gas anesthetics. They are much safer than the old fashioned intravenous products. I take that a Step further with mine. When surgery is necessary, my dogs go to a specialist Meaning they have a Doctor performing the surgery and a Second Doctor, an Anesthesiologist specializing Anesthesia in small toy dogs who's sole focus is monitoring the safe use of Anesthesia on the dog. Just like they do with humans. Watch those eyes It's certainly not a condition, but because Chihuahuas have big eyes and live close to the floor, they are more prone to eye injuries than a lot of other breeds. Put several drops of saline solution in your dog's eye if the injury seems minor. That's often all it takes to flush out a foreign object that was accidentally kicked up by someone's shoe. If that doesn't relieve the problem, or if the injury appears more serious, take your dog to the vet. Read more Link to chihuahuas for dummies |
| Health issues |