Tuesday, June 28, 2011

How To Care For Your Chihuahua Pup

By Jennifer Laurie


Well, you have just returned home from the breeders with your Chihuahua pup. You sit right down and start looking round for the owner's manual...What! No owner's manual?

Unfortunately your cute small young dog does not include an owner's manual so you have got to dig in and learn the way to give your Chihuahua the care and training it needs.

Hence until you get up to speed with the training program, this text will help you on the way to correct Chihuahua care.

Chihuahuas, are a great breed for little houses, residences or city dwellers, after all they're minute dogs and are principally house pets. You don't ever want to let them outside on their own. They don't know they are little and will challenge the largest dog on the block because they are also really protective.

Now, let's chat about their care and feeding.

You must consult your veterinarian about the nutritional needs of your little dog but after weaning (up to 6 weeks), puppies should be fed 4 tiny meals per day until 3 months old; from three months to six months they should be fed 3 meals each day and from six months to a year they ought to be fed twice a day. After a year, once per day is fine. Chihuahuas prefer a couple of tiny meals in contrast to one gigantic meal each day with consistent adult dog food. Occasionally, canned food is troublesome for this breed to digest, leading to diarrhoea.

Washing your baby dog ought to be done about once a month. Bathing too frequently may take away the natural oils from the coat and result in dandruff. Shampooing occasionally can basically boost the sheen of the coat.

You should take care not to get water into their ears, as an infection can develop.

Technically speaking Chihuahuas remain puppies for approximately 2 years. This is the training period and you should try to train your dog in it's feeding habits and potty habits. To paper train your puppy, just keep the puppy on paper as much as practicable for the first 2 weeks they live with you. Then move their food and water just off the paper. Every time you see the puppy begin to have a bowel movement, just place them on the paper. He can soon discover what is expected of him.

Puppies and adults should have access to fresh clean water always throughout the day. The bowl should be scrubbed with very hot water but avoid using dish soap as the odor may make them shy away.

Trimming the puppies ' nails should be a monthly event. You may use pussy claw trimmers and it's best to start this nail-trimming routine early-on so that your dog becomes accustomed to the clipping of the nails and to the usage of the trimmer.

Talk to your vet on the periodic cleaning of your Chi's ears and teeth, booster shots and vaccinations.

It is best to go to the vet after eight or nine weeks. Your little dog will often need extra shots. You need to bring the puppy's shot record that you received when you bought the puppy.

At this visit, they should either be wormed or given a fecal test for worms or other parasites. The worming is less hassle and expense than the test and won't harm your puppy.

The vet may suggest that you brush your pets teeth. The small and toy breeds have more dental issues than the standard and larger breeds. Glaringly the anatomy of the smaller breeds have left the teeth more crowded in the jaw and, with tiny space between the teeth, enables more dangerous bacteria to stay in the mouth, therefore the requirement for brushing.

Also, owners should be aware of the simple fact Chihuahuas are prone to weak knees. That issue may happen as they age. If your Chihuahua has difficulty walking, take them to the vet.

Try to stay with the same vet or treatment facility and keep good records. It is important for your pet's health.

You should remember this is merely an introductory part of your "owner's manual" to start you off on the right trail to giving quality care to your puppy. You must learn more from books and other Chihuahua owners.

More importantly, your Chihuahua needs much tender loving care with human contact, touching, petting and general attention.

Chihuahuas are by nature gentle, trustworthy and sweet-tempered and they'll give lots of affection and love to you in return for your care. You will never be alone with a Chihuahua in your house.




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