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THIS INFORMATION IS TO BE RETAINED BY ALL NEW PARENTS
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
(Reprinted Article)
Url: http://www.chihuahuapalace.com/files/NEW_PARENTS__2_.doc
You've just adopted a chihuahua puppy. Congratulations!
Even before your puppy comes home, it would be important to read all the information contained in this document which will surely help new parents to better understand this breed and prepare their home in order that it be puppy proofed and enjoyable for all.
The space that you will provide for your puppy should of course be secure. This means no hanging wires, no holes for the puppies head to get caught in, no sharp edges anywhere, no wicker baskets (chihuahua puppies love to chew wicker and can choke on tiny pieces). Be careful with spaces that he can walk into but not out of.
Large spaces for a very young puppy is NOT a good idea.
He must be in an environment that will stimulate him to continue toilet training without problems and still be part of the family, which means he can see you most of the time. NO ROAMING around the house freely for a few months would be the ideal situation.
An area designed for him during the continuation of his training will certainly prove beneficial to the puppy and the new parents.
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The information in this document is to help new parents continue where the breeder has left off in order to make the transition to their new home as easy as possible.
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As this method is followed by most of the breeders on our website, it will also make it easy for you to know exactly how most of our babies are trained and allow you to continue the practice once you get your puppy home.
It is quite possible and probable that your baby will cry the first few nights home unless of course you have decided that baby sleeps in your bed with you. Then no doubt he will not cry at all but may wake up during the night as he needs to go on the newspaper or puppy pad possibly a few times. Puppies have to relieve themselves about every 2 to 3 hours, but as they mature they will be able to hold their needs for much longer periods of time. Also, drinking and eating will provoke to urge to eliminate very quickly after ingesting water or food.
DO NOT LEAVE your baby in a different room the first nights or weeks so you can console him if he does wake up and cries. That dosenÂ't mean you have to pick him up, NO, it means console him by voice and touch and be firm about the puppy having to sleep through the night after the first few days with you. Do not give in to urges of letting him in your bed just for a while. A while may become forever and after such an initiation, the puppy will get the idea, I CRY, PARENTS COME RESCUE ME and take me to bed. If this is NOT what you want be firm and let the puppy cry for a minimum of 15 minutes, talking to him all the while, letting him know you are there and he is not alone. Eventually the puppy will stop and rest and may sleep for many hours knowing someone is in the room. You may want to put a tiny clock with a TICK TOCK noise. This tiny clock could be put under the blanket where puppy sleeps. The sound of the tick tock is for the puppy like mammaÂ's heartbeat and will make him feel safe. A stuffed teddy bear or other similar toy can be put for the puppy to feel just like a sibling is still there with him. He would normally cuddle that toy and fall asleep thinking heÂ's not alone.
Since a very young puppy usually has to go on his paper often while toilet training, we would advise everyone to purchase a plastic pan, or rubber boot tray, keeping clean newspaper on it at a close distance to the puppyÂ's bed or your own bed should you choose to have the puppy sleep with you.
This is where the new moms will spend most of their time with their newborns. For the first 3 to 4 weeks the babies will be cuddled with mom and siblings in the maternity ward cages. These cages are in fact the largest rabbit cages we could find, about 4 feet by 20 inches by 20 inches highÂ… both momÂ's and babies feel safe, secure, away from the others. These cages provide ample space should mom need to relieve herself as newspaper is layed out in half of the cage. Also food and water dishes are readily available should mom or youngsters who have started weining, wish to have a bite to eat. All in all these cages are very practical, clean , easy care and secure for all puppies.
Around the3rd or 4th week of birth the babies already are showing signs of wanting to be clean and will try their luck at toilet training by going to the newspaper right beside the bed within this maternity ward accommodation.
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The next stage is usually the following one in the communicating cages.
These are made up of one very large cage and one smaller one. Both cages have had a panel removed between them to let the babies use the toilet facility which has newspaper layed out on the base of the pan which is placed on top the grill.
We never use a grilled area in order to protect our chihuahuasÂ' footing, as this may hurt their delicate feet. So if you use this method, make sure the pans are placed inside the cages a top the mesh wiring to protect your baby from possible injuries.
One compartment is for the puppy to play, eat, sleep and there is an opening on the toilet compartment side with newspaper. Puppies learn very quickly to use the toilet facilities. This is one ideal condo type arrangement should you want to go out and leave your puppy home. He will always be safe in these accommodations and can relieve himself at will should he need to. This condo type arrangement is also ideal to spend the night in.
Another idea is the following. Using book wall racks from your local hardware store you would make your own enclosure. Make sure the height is at least 18 inches as some puppies can climb and jump out if adventurous and strong enough.
You would use tie-wraps on the bottoms and tops to secure the
shelving together in order to make a secure pen for your puppy.
Lay down a vinyl flooring that would be the same size as the pen itself and a few inches more for good measure. Lay down newspaper, a bed, food and water dishes and there you have a very safe area for your new puppy.
In this fashion he can see you, and the whole family can interact with the puppy. Children or adults would be able to go sit inside the pen and play with their puppy in their play area. Make sure the pen size is large enough to permit your puppy plenty of space to move and enjoy his toys and be able to exercise . We would suggest a size of about 4 by 6 feet as a minimum.
This is the last stage in toilet training for puppies and adults.
A very large plastic pan normally found in the large cages for dogs which measure approximately 3 x 2 feet.
We purchase these individually. The dogs that have learned basic training within the two compartment cages or other training areas will also learn within a few months time to use the pans and will rarely soil elsewhere.
We also use a very thick vinyl or rubber flooring to assure extra protection for floors.
Some individuals have told us that they train their new puppies in litter boxes. Others will use special puppy pads which are readily available from any pet shop.
Puppy pads can be carried in a bag and used on trips which is very interesting for new puppy owners. Playpens are also used, the kind with mesh. You could use puppy pads or layer the whole bottom with newspaper. You would bring your playpen with you should you travel and your puppy would then always have the same environment in which to pass the night and keep him safe. No worries for moms and dads and puppy is perfectly happy when his parents carry his own personal safe area along on trips.
We are constantly searching for new ways to improve our toilet training facilities and will share any new information with all of you concerning toilet training as soon as new methods are found to be effective in our breeding programs.
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The first baby shots will have been given before leaving for new homes but some of us do OMIT the LEPTO virus vaccine as we find this vaccine not necessary for this breed and also to avoid complications due to allergic reactions often seen after this vaccine is administered.
This will be your personal choice to have it given or not. Discuss the matter with your own veterinarian.
We will have given to new parents their babyÂ's health certificate in which the vaccines that were given will be inscribed and all worming products administered while in the breederÂ's care will be marked. We would normally have wormed your puppy a minimum of 2 times and some up to 3 times to assure that when you puppy leaves with you he does not suffer from worm infestation. In our individual breeding program we are very careful with both adult and puppies concerning worms and regularly give worming products to assure no infestation is present.
Before leaving for new homes, some of the breeders may use products such as REVOLUTION , ADVANTAGE or OVITROL.
This is left to the discretion of each breeder, so donÂ't assume your baby received any kind of protection. If he did, it should be inscribed in his health certificate. If not inscribe, ask the breeder if any of these products were used on your baby.
These products are put directly on the puppyÂ's back or whole body in the case of OVITROL spray.
REVOLUTION and ADVANTAGE are put on the skin, below the head and between the shoulder area.
REVOLUTION will prevent infestation of TICKS, FLEAS, MITES, heart worms and more for at least one month. [Special Note by J&E`s: Be cautious of this product on a tiny breed. My mothers`s young
yorkie went into anaphylactic shock & had seizures from it. It was even administered by a vet. So be careful!! The yorkie was ok after emergency treatment.]
ADVANTAGE protects against fleas only and spraying with OVITROL will protect against fleas only also.
These products protect your puppy for up 1 month and must be administered monthly during the parasite infestation period which normally would be between April to the end of October.
In most instances, your baby will have had his first bath before leaving us, so it is NOT recommended to give him another. Should the puppy soil himself in any way, a nice soft wet cloth can do a great job to clean your puppy. You would make sure to dry your puppy thoroughly and keep him out of drafts and colds at all times.
You may give baths at intervals of about 3 months in the winter or summer, no more. You do not want to dry out your babies delicate skin.
Carry WET TOILETS with you, either individually or large containers.
You can use wet baby wipes all over his body as these wipes are harmless to your baby. Use the non scented preferably or with ALOE VERRA.
SQUATTING means the puppy is ready to urinate, turning and turning many times means puppy will have a bowel movement very soon.
If you see your puppy sniffing the ground and heÂ's not near the newspaper, grab him quickly and place him on the newspaper staying very close and putting him on the newspaper constantly till he urinates or defecates.
As soon as heÂ's done that, praise him in a gentle manner. Should your puppy have done his business without you noticing, it will be of NO USE AT ALL to scold, shout and threaten the puppy, HE WON'T UNDERSTAND WHY
If he's done it, it's already too late, so continue training normally after this incident.
A puppy does not have a notion to understand he's done something wrong unless you catch him in the act so it's pointless to yell or scold our puppy, it will only scare him and matters can eventually get worse using this method.
So if you see him sniffing or turning, grab puppy and put puppy on newspaper and keep him there till he does his business. It takes patience, but usually it is rewarded with puppy doing his thing where he is suppose to.
Chihuahua puppies and older dogs love to eat on a soft surface. They are just funny that way.
You will then not be surprised when you see puppy take a kibble, bring it to his favorite blanket or bed and munch.
A few seconds later, puppy will get another kibble and do the same thing. They are not that fussy eaters, they just love soft surfaces when they are eating.
Sometimes puppy may keep the food in his bed for later as a reserve and sometimes even hiding foods under his blanket. Puppy may eat tiny amounts at a time, so leave the kibble out all day for young puppies and especially very tiny ones.
The long coats do not need any more care than the short coats. A brushing once a week is quite sufficient. You will have purchased some products for your new baby such as EAR and EYE cleaning products.
They should be used once a month for the EARS. Using a **Q-tip, you would put a bit of the product on the tip and clean as far as you can see inside the ear. Check the ear for fowl smells or dirt. If puppy keeps scratching constantly around the ear area, he may have gotten some ears mites which look like little black deposits. Usually a bad smell is associated with mites, so keep a watch on the ears every once in a while to make sure, they are clean and parasite free.
[**Special Note from J&E`s: PLEASE DO NOT USE A Q-TIP IN PUPPY`s EARS!! YOU CAN PERMANENTLY DAMAGE THEM. USE ONLY SOME COTTON BALLS & SPECIAL EAR CLEANING SOLUTION FOUND AT VET OR PET SUPPLY STORES. I HAVE WORKED FOR A GROOMER & HAVE SEEN BAD RESULTS FROM USING Q-TIPS IN DOG`S EARS]
The EYES should be kept clean also, maybe wiping them with a small damp cloth and drying afterwards. Make sure the puppy does not get dust in the eyes. He is very close to the ground donÂ't forget and can get dust in the eyes very easily.
The long coats may need a bit more eye cleaning than the short coats as they have a bit more hair around the eye area. All in all however, both coats are fairly easy care. The long coats shed less than the short coats generally and when they do shed the hairs tend to be easier to remove from clothing or furniture.
Watch the condition of their eyes regularly and wipe them with a damp cloth should you notice little particles of dust or hairs in or around the eye area. The chihuahua is not known to have eyes that water and drip, so if any such condition should arise, check things out with your veterinarian just in case. Normal cleaning around the eyes is usually sufficient for this breed.
DO NOT let their claws get too long. Once a month clipping is a must. Always removed the tips to make sure the puppy does not get caught in any blanket. They can often get hurt especially if the dew claws are still there. Dew claws that have not been removed may sometimes cause problems. Some breeders will prefer to have dew claws removed which is usually safer for the puppies. It also makes the foot and leg look nicer. ItÂ's a mater of taste also.
You may notice a bit of tears during the teething period. This is normal and should not alarm you. The pressure associated with teething can sometimes have side effects that usually do not last past the teething.
We have had individuals who were concerned about the ear issue of
their chihuahua puppy.
Many individuals have contacted us saying when will the ears come up?---if not already up of course.
To clear up this particular concern, we have decided to include this paragraph in order to explain the process involved in the ears going up and staying up for this breed.
Concerning the ears of the Chihuahua:
It is possible that your puppy may have ears going up and down at different stages during his growth period.
Some days ears are up, other days ears go down.
Some days both are down, next day both are up.
This is a normal process for this breed and can last between the age of 6 weeks to 6 months depending on the size of the ears. Some breeders may tape the ears to help the standing up process. It depends on each breeder's way of doing things. Some breeders will NOT use the taping under any circumstances as other puppies or litter mates may grab and tug and the tape and therefore make the ears worse or swallow the tape. So many situations can occur and a breeder who does not separate the puppy with floppy ears who does use the taping procedure may do more harm than good. Each breeder must decide what is best for their puppies and if they wish to use the taping method on their puppies that have larger of floppier ears.
Some puppies have ears up from the 6th week or earlier and the ears never come down.
Chihuahuas with larger ears may take more time, and the long coats may also take a bit more time with the ears coming up, but eventually the ears will come up, so don't be concerned with this while your baby is growing.
It is extremely rare that we do have ear problems but of course anything
Is possible so some chihuahuas sometimes keep a tip curled or the ears just don't stand up for some reason. This is of course not detrimental to their health, it's really a matter of the look.
Often during the teething period the puppies ears could be up and down on any given day.
In most instances the ears do come up and stay up. Some babies may have had damage done to their cartilage during playtime and therefore some injuries sustained may cause one or both damaged ears to never come up. This case is extremely rare however. We cannot guarantee that both ears will go up an stay up, this is quite impossible to speculate but in our experience, 99.9% of the time the ears go up and stay up.
The breeder of course would advise you should ears be damaged in some way. Some individuals have told us that they like the ears on their dogs to be sort of half way down, just like most puppies have them for a while. However, in most instances we do think that this distinction for this breed is quite lovely and enjoy the ears up on our chihuahuas.
So give your puppy time and eventually those gorgeous ears will look fabulous.
MY CHIHUAHUA BABY OR ADULT SNORES, TREMBLES, MAKES FUNNY NOISES WHILE HE SLEEPS OR SEEMS TO CHOKE SOMETIMES. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
It is normal during sleep time for your puppy to shake, make funny noises like a little chirping bird and sometimes even seem like heÂ's having little convulsions. Nothing to worry about, your puppy is dreaming and this is normal behavior. Some adult chihuahuas may also, from time to time, have the same type of sleep pattern.
ALL THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR
Your puppy or adult chihuahua may also seem like heÂ's chocking sometimes during waking hours. Check if at the time this is happening he was not drinking water very quickly, getting over excited during play times etc. If this is the case, he will have that seemingly chocking sound for a few seconds and things should go back to normal rather quickly.
It can also occur when your Chihuahua plays too rough or if he has been running around for a few minutes.
Also, the short nosed chihuahuas may have more of these episodes than the longer nosed ones.
This is often noticed on short nosed chihuahuas.
HOWEVER, if the condition continues beyond 10 or 15 seconds, and happens many times during any given day, then it would be preferable to at least check things out with your veterinarian to make sure there is no obstruction in the throat that is causing the problem.
Most of the time, things get back to normal and the puppy or dog will continue on his merry way.
MY BABYÂ'S MOUTH SMELLS BAD, WHAT SHOULD I DO.
Often times, in young puppies, you may have an occasional bad breath problem. This is often due to some baby teeth being stuck and that have not fallen normally. Often times, while visiting your veterinarian these baby teeth can be removed manually without anesthesia and within a few daysÂ' time after the gums heal from the tiny extraction, your puppyÂ's breath should go back to normal. You might want to brush your puppyÂ's teeth daily to assure better gum and teeth maintenance and help with plaque which is often the cause of bad breath.
You would use a doggy toothpaste, NOT human toothpaste
There are many flavors to choose from that your puppy may love. You would use a small human baby toothbrush for this purpose. You would start at the back teeth towards the front. Some puppies do struggle when you start this practice but eventually will see it as fun time if you are persistent. If he stuggles too much, then start with your finger, putting some paste on your finger and just rubbing the gums eventually graduating to the brush very slowly. Chihuahuas do have teeth problems sometimes, having such a small mouth, and teeth can get crowded so that plaque accumulates. If this happens then every 2 or 3 years have your puppyÂ's teeth cleaned by your veterinarian. Bad teeth and bad breath can cause other conditions which could be detrimental to your puppyÂ's health, so good hygiene for the bums and teeth would be beneficial. If you do not have the patience for this daily practice, do check to have your puppyÂ's teeth cleaned regularly as per your veterinarians advice.
Bad breath can also indicate digestive problems and can be looked after by your veterinarian. So make sure his teeth are clean, no baby teeth are stuck and your babyÂ's breath should be fine. Dry kibble is best also with this breed as it tends to scrape the teeth more, leaving less plaque deposits.
A COLAR OR A HARNESS??
We always recommend a cat harness and leash for your puppy
A puppy can easily get out of a color and escape. so be careful and choose a tiny cat harness when they are puppies and graduate to a larger harness should it ever be needed. Often a cat harness can be used for life as your puppy should not get any bigger than 8 pounds at most. Most of our puppies go to 6 pounds maximum in most cases. You would always use the harness even if you are holding your puppy outdoors. This way if ever your puppy got scared for some reason and jump out of yours arms you would have something to hold him to prevent a fatal fall. You may start by just putting the harness on your puppy getting him used to this for a while. He will probably scratch and not want it on him but eventually the harness will become like a second skin. It will then be easier to bring him outdoors with the leash.
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For continued good health, you must have your baby vaccinated with a SECOND set of shots and possibly a THIRD set of shots depending at what age he has left the breederÂ's care and check with your veterinarian for further worming should it prove necessary. Regular stool sample examination (about every 6 months or so) is a good practice to assure your baby is not infested with any kind of worm.
For tape worms, ask you veterinarian to prescribe some DRONCIT.
( 1/4 of a tablet) is usually sufficient for chihuahua babies.
You would give 2 dosages of DRONCIT after the age of 2 or 3 months as insurance against tape worms.
These dosages would be given at 10 or 14 day intervals.
Most of the breeders of our website will have used the worming product named STRONGID-T or PANACURE. Your puppy will have most likely received worming medication 2 or 3 times before leaving the breederÂ's home.
This is a very mild worming product and you should follow your veterinarianÂ's advice concerning future wormings should it prove necessary. Worms can weaking your puppyÂ's immune system so do take care not to expose your puppy to other dogÂ's feces where worms can be transmitted by a puppy licking such feces. If a puppy licks a dog or licks the genital areas of another dog that could haven worms, your puppy could easily get worms in this fashion, so do be careful.
Be careful if taking your puppy to a local park or letting him socialize with other puppies or dogs who may be infected with parasites. Caution is the key to keeping your puppy in the best of health and well protected.
If you puppy is being registered with the Canadian Kennel Club, he will firstly be microchipped. If your puppy is being registered with Universal Kennel Club International or AmericaÂ's Pet Registry Inc. he will not be microchipped. Each club has itÂ's own rules. Universal and America do not oblige microchipping in order to register with them, whereas the Canadian Kennel Club does. Therefore all puppies registered with the Canadian Kennel Club will probably cost a bit more than those registered with other clubs.
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RABIES
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Your baby will most likely NOT have been given the RABIES VACCINE.
Normally, this vaccine is not given before the age of 3 months to chihuahua puppies.
If your puppy is over the 4 or 5 month mark, he may have received the Rabbies Vaccine.
So check with your breeder concerning this point but it should be inscribed in the puppyÂ's health certificate if it has been administered.
Usually this vaccine should be administered around 4 to 5 months for Chihuahua puppies. This vaccine would be administered the 1st and 2nd year and then would be administered only every 3 years. It is no longer necessary to vaccinate against Rabies yearly and especially not for this breed as they are house pets most of the times and very rarely are they exposed to the great outdoors such as bigger dogs would be. Usually staying at home or on personal property, they very rarely if ever would be infested by such a problem as rabbies which is in fact extremely rare.
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NUTRITION
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Most of the breeders on our website would include a puppy pack when puppies leave for their new homes.
WHAT IS A PUPPY PACK?
Normally, this pack would include one of the following products:
ROYAL CANIN (MINI) DRY PUPPY FOOD or PUPPY DOG dry
OR
EUKANUBA DRY PUPPY FOOD, (SMALL BREEDS)
OR
MÉDICAL DÉVELOPMENT FOR PUPPY DRY
Some would also include some HUMAN baby meats/broth andor some sort of puppy canned foods, dog cookies, raw non-colored beef bones, toys made from puppy safe products without removable parts, chew ropes etc.
KEEP in mind that the products that the breeder does furnish for your puppy is what the breeder gives himself to the puppies during their stay with in the breederÂ's home . All products use have proven to be very important factors in regards to the health of our puppies and also our adult dogs.
We only use the very best products on the market to ensure continued good health for all our adults in order to produce strong and healthy puppies.
If you wish to make changes to the puppyÂ's diet, make them only after discussing these possible changes with your breeder or your own veterinarian.
DO NOT OFFER new products to the puppy as he may easily suffer from stomach cramps, very loose bowels or other ailments.
Treat your new puppy just as you would a new born baby.
Any changes in diet could be detrimental to his health at this early age.
Your puppy does not need anything else as all foods provided are extremely rich and hearty and good for your puppyÂ's continued health.
SO THAT MEANS NO TABLE SCRAPS AND NO SPECIAL TREATS.
All the foods in your puppy pack are quite sufficient to satisfy your new baby.
Wait till the puppy is well over the 4 month mark to introduce new products into his diet if that is your choice.
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When administrating any medication or worming pill to your puppy, use some canned food (1 teaspoon) and put the crushed pill mixed in.
The puppy will normally eat it not realizing the product is in the food and it makes it easier for you.
Ask your vet for some NUTRI-PET for your puppy if it has not been provided by the breeder with the Puppy Pack. You will give your puppy 1 inch in length of this product once a day. This can be continued for 2 to 3 weeks during the first weeks at home with you. When the puppy is eating right and sufficiently, the Nutri-Pet need not be continued but kept just in case of illness or sugar lows. It is a vitamin/mineral supplement and an extra booster for your baby. This product is used more with tinies than the puppies that would be from 4 to 7 or 8 pounds as adults.
Always keep NUTRI-PET in your doggy pharmacy just in case.
Canned foods, may be given to the very tiny chihuahuas or those more likely to suffer from sugar lows. You would serve 2 teaspoons at the morning meal and 2 teaspoons at the nighttime meal. Some tinies never require this so go by what your breeder has recommended.
In between these servings of canned, you always leave the dry kibble at the puppyÂ's disposal with fresh water and watch that he eats well daily.
Since SUGAR LOWS or HYPOGLYCEMIA can show up in the very small puppies it is VERY IMPORTANT to make sure your baby has eaten enough on a daily basis. For all other chihuahua babies of larger sizes, usually it is NOT a problem.
Normally, a chihuahua puppy will eat anywhere from ½ to 1/3 cup of food daily and more later on up to ¾ cup when grown. Always follow directions on the packages for the correct amount of dry to serve your puppy.
IF A PUPPY DOES NOT EAT ON ANY GIVEN DAY, THIS IS A SIGN THAT SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG.
DONÂ'T LET THE PUPPY GO THE SLEEP IF HE HAS NOT EATEN FOR A WHOLE DAY. HAVE HIM CHECKED BY YOUR VET AS THIS IS NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR.
A PUPPY IS ALWAYS HUNGRY AND CURIOUS TO EAT AND IF HE DOES NOT, AND NOTHING IN HIS BOWL HAS BEEN TOUCHED ALL DAY, THERE MUST BE SOMETHING NOT GOING RIGHT.
Sometimes, just chewing up the litter newspaper can cause stomach upsets so be careful about what your puppy chews. Always purchase puppy safe toys, which means, no detachable parts and check any toys which comprise a squeaker of any kind to make sure the puppy will not choke from squeakers that are only glued and not integrated into or inside a squeak toy.
Latex toys are better than rubber toys, as rubber can be chewed during the teething period and pieces could be swallowed by your puppy. Those tiny baby teeth are very sharp and can easily detach pieces of rubber.
REMOVE any produding eyes from toys as these can be chewed and removed by the puppy and swallowed.
The key is, ALWAYS play it safe.
If your puppy has not eaten for 24 hours he could easily develop HYPOGLYCEMIC SYMPTOMS and could go into shock, so be very cautious.
Too much running around, exhaustion and not eating enough can all lead to HYPOGLYCEMIC SYMPTOMS. Good eating habits and lots of rest is the key to a healthy and happy puppy.
DO NOT LET visitors or young children run around with a chihuahua puppy and avoid letting your baby play with larger pets at first that could exhaust him.
These factors are all very important.
It is not rare for this breed to become tired very easily, so do be careful.
HERE ARE SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR WHICH MEANS YOUR BABY IS IN SUGAR SHOCK OR IS HAVING A HYPOGLYCEMIA ATTACK:
The puppy does not easily lift his head, his temperature drops, puppy does not move much, his head stays back and his body is rather stiff or just limp, his jaws may become stiff to the point of not opening the mouth and his gums are of a pale color not pink as it should be.
If any of these symptoms occur, your puppy is probably having a hypoglycemia episode.
GET the NUTRI-PET or some corn sirup, honey or mix 1 large teaspoon of sugar in ½ cup of water. Get your puppy to take 1 or 2 inches of the NUTRI-PET by forcing it into his mouth slowly and letting him swallow. Do the same if using corn sirup or honey. If using the sugar/water, use an eye dropper and put a bit in his mouth drop by drop and let him swallow or use a seringe with the needle removed which is always practical to keep in your puppy pharmacy. If the symptoms do not go away within ½ hour and your puppy does not seem to respond within that time, GO TO THE VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY as this may be a high risk factor situation and will need the vetÂ's help in order to snap out of it using other products to get the puppy back to a normal state.
If your baby is already in a coma because of HYPOGLYCEMIA DO NOT WASTE ONE MINUTE AND GET TO THE VETÂ'S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
We do advise all new parents to be patient and use good judgment the first few months at home with this breed. They are smaller than other breeds and do require special care till the age of 6 months at least especially the tinier ones that would be 2 to 4 pounds grown.
They are otherwise normally very strong individuals and will do quite well if all the care is given to assure good health.
We do not give any guarantees in case of HYPOGLYCEMIA symptoms as we advise all new owners that this is possible if proper care is not taken with this breed and it is NOT a health issue, rather using common sense and making sure your puppy does get plenty of rest, never gets overexcited or exhausted from play and always eats properly.
Visitors are great but too much handling at an early age will exhaust a tiny puppy. Keep him safe, put him in his bed when you see he is getting tired and let no one disturb him during his rest periods. Waking him up to show off your baby is not a good idea. Everybody will have plenty of time during waking hours to enjoy the new arrival.
You should have your pet spayed or neutered around the age of 4 to 5 months for the males and around 6 to 8 months for the females.
Keep your chihuahua away from cold and drafty floors. He is rather sensitive to cold or too much heat .
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THE MOLERA
The MOLERA is usually found on the top of t
he head of the chihuahua. Some have a molera and some donÂ't.
This is NOT a fault but rather a known trait attached to the chihuahua breed.
Most of the time the molera will close once the puppy is full grown, but do take note that in some individuals the molera NEVER CLOSES.
This is not a health issue, it is as mentioned, a trait that is common to this breed.
Since some chihuahuas will always retain an open MOLERA, caution should always be taken if this is the case not to drop the puppy.
Falls can be fatal for this breed, so do use caution.
Some veterinarians are not familiar with the open molera in this breed and may get quite alarmed to find a little hole on top of puppyÂ's head. Many vets may even tell you there is something wrong with your puppy and to advise the breeder. We say this because it has happened on more than one occasion that a new parent calls to say that his puppy was found by his veterinarian to have a fault. PLEASE do not panic. This as mentioned above is NORMAL in this breed and kindly inform your veterinarian should he be concerned that this is a unique trait for this breed and is NORMAL.
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If you need any information or assistance, we urge you to contact the breeder FIRST.
Many veterinarians do not have much knowledge concerning this breed and often could treat a chihuahua puppy with too much medication. The vaccines may also be too strong for some puppies to endure, especially the tinier ones, so discussing your concerns with the breeder would be suggested as the breeder is surely your best link to information about this breed.
All of the breeders on our website have raised and bred chihuahuas for many years and therefore are the best to advise and to help with any concerns you may have.
We would generally be able to assess a problem quickly and find a solution.
If veterinary care is the only solution, then by all means you must care for your puppy in this case, but normally, the breeder can help you out in many minor, non-urgent situations.
We are always available to answers questions so donÂ't hesitate to ask.
Our commitment is in helping all new parents successfully raise their new additions.
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