Chihuahua Information Center
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Chihuahua Puppy Care
Dr. Sara's Healthy Home Cooking for ChihuahuasHere, exclusively on PetChiDog, the #1 Chihuahua Informational Site.
Do you know what is really in dog food? Do you know why certain brands will cause your Chi to eat grass and/or feces. Even high quality manufactured dog food contains... Read More
Vaccinations
Those who do not vaccinate their dogs are putting their Chihuahua at great risk. There is a lot of talk about "over vaccinating" however to not do so at all is a huge mistake.
This is a non-negotialbe part of Chihuahua puppy care.
Those who do not vaccinate their dogs are putting their Chihuahua at great risk. There is a lot of talk about "over vaccinating" however to not do so at all is a huge mistake.
This is a non-negotialbe part of Chihuahua puppy care.
Your veterinarian will give you a vaccination schedule. To see more details of what to expect, you may wish to read our Vaccinations section.
Deworming
Chihuahua Puppy Soft Spot
The Chihuahua is born with a soft area on its head called the Moleras, this grows in and bone will form to close this area as the dog grows older. During the first 6 or 7 months, this area must be touched extremely gently. Sadly, even some veterinarians believe it is normal for the soft spot to remain for life; thus they miss a potentially deadly disease! If your dog has a soft area on his or her head after 7 months, this may be Hydrocephalus and a reputable and experienced vet must diagnosis this.
Providing the Perfect Home
Bringing home a Chi puppy is exciting and also a big responsibility. To provide great Chihuahua puppy care, you will want to have ready and offer the Chi pup many things:
A crate - Tiny Chihuahua puppies can only hold their needs for an hour or so. A 3 month old Chihuahua puppy can only hold on for 3 hours at the most; a 4 month old for 4 hours and so on. It is best to use the crate for times that you cannot keep a close eye on your dog; however a Chihuahua should not be left in a crate all day.
Time - Chihuahua puppy care means providing care through the entire day, not just when you are home. Therefore, if a Chi puppy is under 6 months old and you must be gone during the day - it is recommended to ask a neighbor, friend or family member to check in around noon to feed your puppy and take them for a walk to eliminate and get some brisk exercise.
Dog Food - You never want to run out of dog food. Once you find the flavors that your puppy loves, stock up. For growing puppies, providing a very high quality dog food is so important for proper Chihuahua puppy care. you may wish to learn more about this in our Feeding section and for newborn puppies, you will want to read about weaning your Chi in our Pup Weaning section
Toys - A dog toy is not just a dog toy! A dog toy is a method of helping a Chihuahua puppy with teething issues and it is a method of keeping your dog very busy. Giving your dog a plastic generic dog toy is not going to do very much! For great Chihuahua puppy care, you will want to provide 2 types of dog toys:
1. Dog toys for teething. When your Chihuahua puppy teethes, you should provide toys made specifically for teething. These are able to be put in your freezer to be made cold (such a great help for puppy teething issues) and they will be shaped in such a way that your puppy will be able to gnaw the toy against the sore gum and tooth.
2. Interactive toys. A Chihuahua puppy will soon become bored with a rubber dog toy that does nothing. Dog toy makers have responded to the need for interactive toys. Giving your puppies toys that make noises and hold treats inside will help keep your dog busy and entertained. A bored dog can soon become a dog with separation anxiety issues. A bored dog can also start to have behavioral problems. Therefore, your choice of quality dog toys is very important.
Blankets -A soft baby blanket should be placed inside the dog crate, any time that your Chihuahua puppy is placed inside. It is important to keep this clean. Beware of dog allergies, if you notice any signs, your laundry detergent may be the cause. Be sure to read our Allergy section.
Dog Dish & Water Bowl - As mentioned above, a Chihuahua puppy has a soft spot on its head. The dog food dish and water bowl should be very shallow, so that the puppy does not bump its head against it.
Dog Tooth Brush & Dog Toothpaste - Dental care should begin from day 1 when you bring your Chihuahua puppy home.
Collar & Leash - The dog collar and leash for a Chihuahua should be very lightweight.
Designated Outside Elimination Area or Litter Box - Which way do you prefer to house train your Chihuahua? Choosing one spot outside will help your puppy understand what to do! You may also train your Chi to use an indoor litter box, this is a very accepted method for small breed dogs, and certainly for the Chihuahua.
A Good Vet - Do not choose the vet closest to your home. Choose the most qualified and caring veterinarian.
Safety & Love
Chihuahua puppy care also means providing your dog with a safe, peaceful, happy and loving home. The puppy should have it very own area to :
Keep an eye out for health issues, when treatment can be provided in early stages, this of course, is best. Read all of our sections to understand each important aspect of Chihuahua care.
Are You Looking For a Chihuahua Puppy?
Deworming is a very important part of Chihuahua puppy care. Since parasites can ravage a little
Chihuahua, cause extreme suffering and ultimately death, it is very
important to keep up with preventive treatment.
Giving your dog the medication is very important because heartworm prevention medication will not work for tapeworms, whipworms and other parasites that can enter quickly into the body and cause great harm. Today, medications will perform 2 functions at the same time: prevention and expulsion.
If a mama Chihuahua has worms (sometimes very hard to detect without medical testing) these can and most often are passed from mom to puppy during birth.
For proper Chihuahua puppy care, this should be done at certain times (and also at times through the dog's life):
Giving your dog the medication is very important because heartworm prevention medication will not work for tapeworms, whipworms and other parasites that can enter quickly into the body and cause great harm. Today, medications will perform 2 functions at the same time: prevention and expulsion.
If a mama Chihuahua has worms (sometimes very hard to detect without medical testing) these can and most often are passed from mom to puppy during birth.
For proper Chihuahua puppy care, this should be done at certain times (and also at times through the dog's life):
- When the Chi is a puppy at 6, 8, 10 and 12 months old
- Just before planned breeding and also before whelping.
- Older, adult Chihuahuas should be dewormed 2 times per year
- Anyone who just obtains a Chihuahua should deworm the dog for precautionary measures
Chihuahua Puppy Soft Spot
The Chihuahua is born with a soft area on its head called the Moleras, this grows in and bone will form to close this area as the dog grows older. During the first 6 or 7 months, this area must be touched extremely gently. Sadly, even some veterinarians believe it is normal for the soft spot to remain for life; thus they miss a potentially deadly disease! If your dog has a soft area on his or her head after 7 months, this may be Hydrocephalus and a reputable and experienced vet must diagnosis this.
Providing the Perfect Home
Bringing home a Chi puppy is exciting and also a big responsibility. To provide great Chihuahua puppy care, you will want to have ready and offer the Chi pup many things:
A crate - Tiny Chihuahua puppies can only hold their needs for an hour or so. A 3 month old Chihuahua puppy can only hold on for 3 hours at the most; a 4 month old for 4 hours and so on. It is best to use the crate for times that you cannot keep a close eye on your dog; however a Chihuahua should not be left in a crate all day.
Time - Chihuahua puppy care means providing care through the entire day, not just when you are home. Therefore, if a Chi puppy is under 6 months old and you must be gone during the day - it is recommended to ask a neighbor, friend or family member to check in around noon to feed your puppy and take them for a walk to eliminate and get some brisk exercise.
Dog Food - You never want to run out of dog food. Once you find the flavors that your puppy loves, stock up. For growing puppies, providing a very high quality dog food is so important for proper Chihuahua puppy care. you may wish to learn more about this in our Feeding section and for newborn puppies, you will want to read about weaning your Chi in our Pup Weaning section
Toys - A dog toy is not just a dog toy! A dog toy is a method of helping a Chihuahua puppy with teething issues and it is a method of keeping your dog very busy. Giving your dog a plastic generic dog toy is not going to do very much! For great Chihuahua puppy care, you will want to provide 2 types of dog toys:
1. Dog toys for teething. When your Chihuahua puppy teethes, you should provide toys made specifically for teething. These are able to be put in your freezer to be made cold (such a great help for puppy teething issues) and they will be shaped in such a way that your puppy will be able to gnaw the toy against the sore gum and tooth.
2. Interactive toys. A Chihuahua puppy will soon become bored with a rubber dog toy that does nothing. Dog toy makers have responded to the need for interactive toys. Giving your puppies toys that make noises and hold treats inside will help keep your dog busy and entertained. A bored dog can soon become a dog with separation anxiety issues. A bored dog can also start to have behavioral problems. Therefore, your choice of quality dog toys is very important.
Blankets -A soft baby blanket should be placed inside the dog crate, any time that your Chihuahua puppy is placed inside. It is important to keep this clean. Beware of dog allergies, if you notice any signs, your laundry detergent may be the cause. Be sure to read our Allergy section.
Dog Dish & Water Bowl - As mentioned above, a Chihuahua puppy has a soft spot on its head. The dog food dish and water bowl should be very shallow, so that the puppy does not bump its head against it.
Dog Tooth Brush & Dog Toothpaste - Dental care should begin from day 1 when you bring your Chihuahua puppy home.
Collar & Leash - The dog collar and leash for a Chihuahua should be very lightweight.
Designated Outside Elimination Area or Litter Box - Which way do you prefer to house train your Chihuahua? Choosing one spot outside will help your puppy understand what to do! You may also train your Chi to use an indoor litter box, this is a very accepted method for small breed dogs, and certainly for the Chihuahua.
A Good Vet - Do not choose the vet closest to your home. Choose the most qualified and caring veterinarian.
Safety & Love
Chihuahua puppy care also means providing your dog with a safe, peaceful, happy and loving home. The puppy should have it very own area to :
- Eat - a quiet area in a quiet room
- Sleep and rest - a dog needs a spot to retreat to when they feel overwhelmed and just want to rest
- Are socialized to both humans and other pets
- Have a daily routine that they can count on - times for waking, eating, exercise, play time & interaction with you, walks, play time with their toys, grooming, eating and relaxing with the family.
- Proper Chihuahua puppy care means making sure that your puppy can also count on knowing where things are. A puppy must be able to know exactly where their dog food will be, their water, their doggie bed and so forth.
Keep an eye out for health issues, when treatment can be provided in early stages, this of course, is best. Read all of our sections to understand each important aspect of Chihuahua care.
Are You Looking For a Chihuahua Puppy?
If you are reading this puppy care section to prepare for the purchase of a Chihuahua puppy, you will not want to miss our Puppies For Sale section, to learn about which option is absolutely the best and also our Recommend Breeders.to know exactly who to trust - We are proudly not a directory - we only show you the Chihuahua Breeders who we know and trust so that you can have a perfect puppy.
