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COVID-19 Tips

Chihuahua Care Tips During the Coronavirus Pandemic

This page will be updated as new information develops.

We also encourage you to visit the CDC's site info regarding the new coronavirus.

First published: March 29, 2020

Last update: May 6, 2020

Overview

Many people are affected by the new coronavirus in one way or another; it’s a time of uncertainty, and this is can be especially true for pet parents as they search for pet care information during this time.

To help, we’ve rounded up all of the most frequently asked questions we’ve received and answered over the past few weeks and have posted them in this article for you. As new data is released, this article will be updated to reflect the new information.

This article also covers 7 steps you can take to keep your Chihuahua safe and to help maintain their health and well-being during this time.

FAQ

Could my Chihuahua catch the new coronavirus?

In answering this question, it’s important to note that testing positive (being infected with) the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is not the same thing as being sick with COVID-19 (the disease that it can cause). There can be both asymptomatic cases (no signs of illness) or symptomatic cases (there are clinical signs of illness, ranging from minor to serious).

So, keeping that in mind, while there has not been an overabundance of testing, several canines and felines have tested positive for the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

With dogs, the first cases were in Hong Kong. There was a Pomeranian and a German Shepherd, from different households, that tested positive but neither were sick. The Pom passed away a short time after being released from quarantine facilities, however it is thought that he died due to old age (he was 17).

And more recently, a Pug in the US tested positive and did have a minor cough for several days, though it is not yet known if the cough was due to COVID-19.

In all cases, it is believed that humans in the households spread the infection to their dogs, not the other way around.

With felines, several cats, both in the US and overseas, tested positive and several tigers and lions from the Bronx Zoo in New York City have tested positive. Some of them were sick with COVID-19 symptoms including coughs and respiratory issues.

Is the coronavirus vaccine for dogs linked at all to this new coronavirus?

The answer is no. There are several types of coronaviruses and the one that puppies are sometimes vaccinated for (it is a non-core vaccine, meaning not part of regular vaccinations), is for a disease called canine coronavirus disease (CCoV), which causes intestinal infection and is caused by the canine enteric coronavirus (CCV). It is completely unrelated to the new coronavirus.

How do canine colds and flus compare to the new coronavirus?

Canine colds are common, very contagious among dogs (but cannot spread to humans), and generally run mild to moderate, but severe cases can lead to kennel cough, bronchitis, and other respiratory issues.

The canine flu is caused by two different known strains, is extremely contagious between dogs (but cannot spread to humans), and can run mild to severe.

With both canine colds and the canine flu, symptoms include runny nose, congestion, coughing (dry or wet), watery eyes, fever (more often with the flu vs a cold), body aches, and/or headache.

Neither are the same as COVID-19, caused by the new coronavirus.

To compare, as detailed earlier, there are no documented cases of dogs becoming ill with COVID-19 (only that they tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus).

Are veterinarians testing dogs for the new coronavirus?

Right now, vets are not routinely testing dogs for the new coronavirus. However, there are companies working on testing kits for both dogs and cats so that widespread testing will be possible in the future.

How can I keep my Chihuahua safe?

Before we answer this question, please note, again, that researchers do stress that cases of pets contracting the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is rare (and, so far, evidence points to this only occurring with close contact with humans that were symptomatic with COVID-19). No dogs have become symptomatic. And there is no evidence that pets can spread the disease to humans (or other pets).

This said, there is still lots that researchers need to learn and some pet owners are looking for tips just to be on the safe side. The following are some guidelines to help keep germs at bay and to promote overall good hygiene.

#1. Keep your pet clean, as recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

To help accomplish this, we at PetChiDog recommend that you can give baths more often during this time (just be sure you are using a quality shampoo and conditioner) and/or use grooming wipes to quickly and frequently clean your Chi without giving full baths. Wipes such as our favorite Earthbath All Natural Grooming Wipes can be used for full-body wipe-downs or for spot cleaning.

#2. Wash your Chi’s paws after they’ve been outside, as recommended by the AKC. Note that there is no proof at all that the new coronavirus could be tracked in from outside. Rather, this can help stop germs (and dirt) in general.

We at PetChiDog recommend that you can use an outdoor garden hose (along with soap and only if it’s nice enough outside), an indoor sink (be sure to sanitize it afterward), or a portable dog paw cleaner like the Dexas MudBuster Dog Paw Cleaner (which is great to keep dirt and germs contained).

#3. Keep your Chi's belongings clean. This includes food and water bowls, toys, bedding, harnesses and leashes, and other items that can either be handwashed or laundered with warm water and soap.

#4. Have your Chi practice social distancing too. Any guidelines that you are under to keep a distance from people outside your household should apply to your pets as well.

#5. There are currently no recommendations from any officials for pets to wear face masks (despite any videos or photos that you may see).

#6. If a pet owner is sick with suspected or known COVID-19, there are important, additional safety measures (seen next).

What are the guidelines for pet owners that are under ‘home care and isolation’?

Home care and isolation is the term used when a person has suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and they have been advised to stay at home, isolated from others, to recover.

For these instances, there are certain safety measures the CDC recommends for pet owners that we will summarize here.

#1. Let your doctor know that you are a pet owner. In some cases, this info will then be relayed to your state’s public health veterinarian for record-keeping purposes.

#2. Staying isolated from others means from humans and pets, as per the CDC’s pet care guidelines. This means that someone else should take on the tasks of caring for your Chihuahua including feeding them, walking them, etc. until you are feeling better.

#3. If you live alone and are the sole provider for your Chihuahua, wash your hands both before and after any care task and wear a face mask (if you already have one).

7 Tips to Keep Your Chihuahua Healthy & Happy During this Time

Please note that the CDC has guidelines to prepare your entire household that you may also want to read over.

The following 8 tips are specifically in regard to care for your Chihuahua.

#1. Try to keep the vibe upbeat. Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic puts a toll on everyone and this sort of ongoing stress can negatively affect canine family members, especially breeds like the Chihuahua that are closely bonded with their humans and easily pick up their emotions.

Take time each day to break away from the news and focus on the good things (like spending more time together).

#2. Enlist a secondary helper, if possible. There are two reasons why having other family members help with Chihuahua care tasks can be a good idea: In the unlikely event that you fall ill you will want your Chi to be used to someone else temporarily caring for them, and your situation may have changed to one in which additional help is appreciated.

#3. Have enough food and goodies for your Chihuahua on hand. The CDC’s advice to stock up on food and water for at least a couple of weeks applies to pet food and treats as well. Bulk amounts of dog food and treats (snacks, training treats, etc.) can be stored in something like the Vittles Vault Outback Airtight Pet Food Container to keep it from getting stale.

#4. Have enough of your Chi’s care items on hand. Take a look at what you have at home for shampoo, coat care, skin & paw care, pee pads, toys, Greenie dental chews, and any other items that you currently use as part of your Chihuahua’s regular care routine and consider having 1 to 2 months’ worth in case it’s harder to get to the pet store, shipping takes longer than usual, etc.

#5. If your Chihuahua has any prescriptions, including oral or topical medications, speak to the vet about having an extra months’ worth on hand.

#6. Keep your Chihuahua moving. Staying at home more should not mean that exercise is cut back; there are many benefits to regular exercise that are especially relevant for Chihuahuas.

It helps a dog release pent-up energy that may otherwise be directed elsewhere (restlessness, excessive barking, destructive chewing, etc.), it’s helpful for emotional well-being to engage the senses, it helps regular metabolism, keeps the digestive track running smoothly, and much more.

Continue to take your Chi for at least 2 walks per day, as long as you’re able to. In cities that have ‘stay at home’ orders in place, most do allow people to take their dog for walks. Be sure to practice social distancing.

An alternative exercise that you can do in your yard or even inside is engage your Chi in games of fetch. Be sure to time then (aim for about 20 minutes, with rests as needed). If your Chi doesn’t have a favorite fetch toy yet, something like Zanies Mini Tennis Balls for Dogs can be lots of fun.

#7. Stop boredom in its tracks. Chihuahuas may enjoy lazing around. For a little while. Then, it can get super-boring. And bored dogs can bark more, chew things up, get very antsy, or even become sullen and depressed.

These are our top 3 picks for things to keep a Chi busy:

1. The PetSafe Busy Buddy Barnacle Toy. This is a treat-release toy that’s adjustable, so you can make it just challenging enough to keep your Chi interested. Best of all, the ‘extra small’ is ideal for tiny breeds like the Chihuahua.

2. The Joe’s Home Dog Snuffle Mat. If you’re not yet familiar with snuffle mats, you'll be happy to learn about these. Snuffle mats are fabric floor mats with lots of flaps where you sprinkle in dog treats. Then your Chi goes to “work” foraging for them. Dogs love to do this because they get to use their incredible canine sense of smell and are ‘self-rewarded’ as they find the treats.

3. The Pet Qwerks Animal Sound Babble Ball. This fun orb reacts each time its nosed or pawed by letting out silly animal sounds (pig, duck, frog, bird, and more). It’s awesome for independent play and it’ll shut off when your Chi takes a break in order to conserve batteries.

A Final Thought

It seems that each day brings more news that can cause anxiety. Everyone is on edge, wondering what can be done. The impactful things that you can do as a pet parent is to be prepared, stay up-to-date on instructions given out by the CDC and other officials, and to remember that love will carry us all through. We are all in this together.

As always, love, hugs & Chihuahua kisses,

The PetChiDog Team

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