Wee Chi Chihuahua's

The Basics:

Height: 6-9 inches    Weight: 2-6 lbs     

Color: any color or mixture of color

Coat: long or short

Temperament: bold and playful, terrier like

Care and Training: short haired chihuahuas should be brushed gently or wiped with a damp cloth. Long haired chihuahuas should be brushed daily with a soft brush. Bath only when necessary. Check ears regularly and keep nails trimmed. Chihuahuas should be socialized at an early age. Minimal exercise is required.

Health Issues: eye problems, collapsing trachea, dislocating kneecaps, hydrocephalus (water on the brain), open molera (soft spot)

Life Span: well onto teen years

Litter size: 1-4

Country of Origin: discovered in Mexico about 100 years ago. The true origins of their ancestors is still a mystery, although it is thought that the closest relative of the chihuahua is the "fennec fox". It is said they were bred from the foxes and the small dogs known as "techchichi" among the Toltecs of Mexico in the ninth century. Others believed the Chihuahua was the sacred dog of the Azecs and thirdly there is a possibility they may have existed in egypt some 3000 yrs ago.

 

 

*The term Tea-cup Chihuahua is inaccurate, chihuahua's are a member of the toy breed. There are no different categories of this breed.

DON'T BE FOOLED!

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Health Issues

Molera or Open Fontanel: chihuahuas are the only dog to be born with an open fontanel or molera at the top of the head. This is similar to human babies. The molera in chihuahuas is considered a breed chararistic and may remain open to some degree for their entire lifetime. Unfortunately, some veterinarians are not familiar with this fact and incorrectly diagnose these small dogs with hydrocephalus. The opening usually shrinks as the puppy grows and matures. It may shrink to dime-size. In rare cases, the molera may remain quite large and signal hydrocephalus, but will also be accompanied by other symptoms. This is not a life threatening condition in most cases so have your puppy checked by your vet and protect his head from bumps.

Hydrocephalus: also known as water on the brain, this can occur as a congenital condition or brain tumor or as a trauma during or just following birth. Hydrocephalus happens when the puppies body produces too much fluid and it is not able to drain it normally. This increases pressure inside the skull, causes brain damage and prevents normal development of the puppy. Toy breeds such as maltese, yorkshire terriers, pomeranians and chihuahua's are affected.

Symptoms of hydrocephalus usually occur when the dog is young, usually by 4 months of age. These include failure to thrive, seizures, unsteady gait, slow mental development and eyes that point away from the center of the face. The head will take on a dome shaped appearance and the soft spot on top of the head may remain open and large.  

Treatment is available for hydro puppies. Medications such as prednisone and phenobarbital can be prescribed to keep fluid build up down and seizures under control. Seeking the help of a specialist for further testing can be done. If the puppy is a good candidate, they may be able to insert a shunt from the fluid to the stomach to drain the fluid.

Hypoglycemia: also known as low blood sugars, can affect all small dogs and puppies. This condition can occur when the animal has gone without food, had diarrhea or been vomiting. The puppy will become very lethargic and may loose consciousness. Regardless of what you may think the problem might be, immediately give the puppy syrup or a special sugar formula from your vet. Then transport the puppy to the vet as quickly as you can. Failure to act can result in severe illness and even death.

Seizures: they can happen gradually or unexpectedly. They can be the result of many different things, including physical trauma (even weeks after),blows to the head, falls, liver shunts, hydrocephalus, pain, allergic reactions, insect bites, exposure to chemicals and many other reasons. Seek vet care immediately.  

Liver Shunt: this condition occurs when the liver is bypassed by some of the vital blood vessels, resulting in the blood not being detoxified effectively.This condition occurs immediately following birth when the pups circulation is re-routed from the placenta to the liver for detoxification. The animal may fail to thrive, difficulty eating and seizures. A surgury to redirect the blood flow to the liver will be required to save the animals life. A bile acid test can be done to diagnose a shunt. Blood is drawn, a meal is given and blood is drawn 2 hours later.

Luxating Patella: is a term used to describe when the knee cap of the puppy moves in the joint. An experienced vet is able to diagnose this condition in puppies as young as 5-6 weeks of age. The degree of luxation is rated from 1-5, 1 being least severe and 5 being the worst. A puppy with luxating patella can live a normal life or may be prone to arthritis later in their life if the degree is 1-2. With higher rated luxation, the dog may develop arthritis, pain and may need surgery later in life to correct the condition. While this is not a life threatening problem, a healthy body weight and vet monitoring is essential.  Providing your dog with glucosamine suppliment in food or as a vitamin helps to support joints and alleviate pain.

Tooth Decay: is a concern for all pets, especially small dogs that do not receive regular dental care. Feeding table foods can also be a contributing factor. Feeding your dog a quality hard dog food and brushing their teeth regularly can help prevent problems.

Constipation: can occur in puppies and adults for a number of reasons. Change in diet, stress and decreased water intake can cause constipation. I offer my pups lots of fresh water and 100% raw pumpkin from the can. They usually start to have regular bowel movements with in a day. If the constipation doesn't clear within a couple days, have your vet check the puppy, as it could be something more serious.  

Sebacious Cyst: this is a term to describe when an ingrown hair does not break the surface of the skin and causes an enlarged, infected cyst. This will have to be drained and kept free from infection until the wound heals. This is not a life threatening condition, but can be painful.

When in doubt, seek advice from your vet. The health of your puppy or adult dog should never be overlooked. Changes can happen very quickly in these little dogs, so always follow your instinct. Pet Secure Health Insurance is also available to help cover the expense of vet care. You can find information on this insurance at http://www.petsecure.com.

If there are any other health issues not mentioned here, please let me know and I will research and add it.