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Caring for Teacup Chihuahua Puppies
With a perfect blend of intelligence and beauty, combined with a courageous heart of gold and undying faithfulness, the allure of the Chihuahua dog is easy to understand. And the inherent charm of owning a tiny, 2-3 pound dog characterized by great charisma and enthusiasm for life make the tiny “teacup” Chihuahua even more irresistible! As delightful as owning a teacup Chihuahua can be, there are several health, environmental, and training issues that may require extra special care and attention. Teacup Chihuahuas are generally born right alongside larger or, “normal sized” littermates. It is believed that their diminutive stature is due to having been conceived later than their littermates and that they are not fully developed when born, although it may also have to do with an uneven distribution of nutrients while developing in the mother’s uterus. Whatever the case may be, tea cup Chihuahuas are often very fragile when born, have a higher propensity for puppy-hood death, and may encounter additional health issues later in life. The most common ailments that affect very small Chihuahuas include the following: Luxating Patella is the occurrence of a dislocated knee cap. This can be caused by weak tendons, ligaments, or muscles and may require professional veterinary attention or surgery. Hydrocephalus, or “water on the brain”, occurs when there is an excess of cerebrospinal fluid built up inside of the brain cavity and can lead to developmental problems and/or seizures. Very small Chihuahuas may also be at higher risk of heart and lung problems, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and seizures.
It is also very important to be aware of the environment the teacup Chihuahua is exposed to. Despite their very small size, many Chihuahuas have no qualms about confronting and/or threatening larger dogs. Although this can be an endearing quality, it can easily become a danger to their lives. Special care must be taken to ensure their safety around larger dogs. Consideration should also be given to keeping teacup Chihuahuas in households with children. If they are around children, the children should be instructed on proper treatment of these delicate dogs and carefully supervised at all times. Chihuahuas are very intelligent dogs and generally respond very favorably to positive training techniques. They should never be punished severely and should never be trained using aversive training techniques, such as choke and pinch collars. Instead, time should be taken to bond with them and they should be encouraged to perform using positive reinforcement (for example, rewarding them for sitting by giving them a treat). A great wealth of information can be found in positive training books and by attending a local puppy class that uses positive training techniques. Training will only improve the dog-owner relationship and all parties should live more happily and comfortably together. Overall, teacup Chihuahuas can make excellent and easy to manage companions that will bond with their owners and easily become part of the family. If their health, environmental, and training needs are met, they have a great chance of living happily to a ripe old age and will provide years of great enjoyment and pleasure for all involved!
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Teacup Chihuahua Puppies