PUPPY GENERAL INFORMATION AND CARE SHEET

You have just purchased a new Chihuahua puppy. Now you have a new “baby” and of course you want that baby to grow up and be a healthy playful part of your family. BUT there are certain things that you need to know and do to make this happen. In the following paragraphs these are just the basics of how to care for a new puppy and some information that may save our baby’s life in an emergency situation. I will also try to educate you to be observant so you may meet the needs of even the tiniest of my little puppies.

TAKING YOUR PUPPY HOME.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they purchase a new puppy is they immediately have to take it visiting to show it off. NOT A GOOD IDEA !! Do Not Take your dog to a PET STORE/Petco. Take your puppy straight home and try your very best to keep it there until it has adjusted to it’s new surroundings and it’s new “parents”. Don’t do anything that stresses the puppy out like going out shopping for new puppy clothes. You will have plenty of time later. You can place a small stuffed toy with your puppy for a little company. Do not allow your puppy to have run of the house. Your puppy should be placed in a small area /crate/playpen etc. He will not be able to find his food and water if he goes out exploring a big room or house. Please remember these are very small puppies and even a small room to us is a huge place for them. If you put your puppy alone in a room to "cry" himself to sleep he could be in great harm. Make sure your puppy is comfortable and feels safe. 

Going to the Vet
When going to the vet, use some common sense. Keep your puppy in a crate or in your lap when visiting the vet’s office. Do not let it romp on the floor or furniture and most certainly do not allow it to socialize with other animals that also may be in the office at the same time. Do not let others handle or pet your puppy. Their hands may carry germs that will cause your puppy to become sick. Where do all people take sick dogs? To the vet! Where is the best place to pick up germs or contract disease? Naturally, it’s where everyone takes sick dogs. TO THE VET!!

Your puppy will already have its first series of puppy shots when you receive it. Make sure that you complete to proper series of puppy shots as this could save your puppies life. If the vet you choose says your puppy will have to be started over on its shots already given run out the door! It is vital that you do not overload your little Chihuahua’s immune system. This can cause just as many problems as not receiving any puppy shots. Make sure you take your new puppy to someone you feel comfortable with. Make sure that you do not do more than one treatment in a visit. If you puppy needs a worm treatment ask to take it home and give a couple days after the vaccination was given. Also when your puppy is old enough for its rabies shot make sure that is the only shot it is receiving that day. The puppy series that you vet will give will protect it from catching several different viruses. Make sure that vaccination for your Chihuahua does not contain protection against leptospirosis. This vaccination has been known to have adverse reactions when given to Chihuahuas. Discuss this with your vet to see if leptospirosis is something your Chihuahua has to be concerned with catching in your area. Always remember to tell them when taking your Chihuahua in for its shots that you do not want it to include “lepto”. It could be fatal to your Chihuahua.

DIET AND FEEDING:

If you were caring for a human baby you would be feeding it every few hours and constantly changing its diaper and keeping the environment clean. Use the same idea for your new Chihuahua puppy. You should keep the puppy on the same food that was provided for you so that you don’t stress the puppy any more that necessary. If you decide that you do not want to continue the puppy on the same food you must slowly introduce the new food. Mix a little of the new food in with the food the puppy is already eating. You can add a little more of the new food and a little less of the old food each day. This should be done over a 10 day period until the puppy is completely on the new food only. Don’t change the puppy’s diet or eating routine too abruptly. The smaller a puppy the more times a day it has to be fed. I leave dry food out for my puppies at all times (until they can go several hours with out eating).  You have to remember that because of their small stomachs they have to eat more often to sustain themselves. Never confine the puppy for any length of time with no food or water. This means during the night also. Puppies have to eat and drink during the night time hours just to sustain themselves. Make sure to confine them in an area that has enough room for a bed, food, water and some paper down so they can relieve themselves. Until they are older they will not be able to go very long without eating, drinking and going to the potty. They are babies. Do not put the puppy in bed with you to sleep during the night. They will not have access to food!  They can also fall of the bed. That is too far of a fall for a small Chihuahua. I have provided access to dry kibble at all times for this puppy, so that is what it is use to. It has been weaned from mom for several weeks and is eating dry food with no problems. It is very important to make sure the puppy is eating once you get it home. Do not be concerned with your puppy eating the same kind of food everyday. You should decide on a good puppy food and keep it on it. When you offer different kinds of food all the time “trying to find one he likes” you are actually creating a picky eater. The food I sent home with you new puppy is a great new puppy food. Once your puppy is a little older I suggest Nutro Max. It is a great food and all of my Chihuahuas love it. You can change to adult small bites as your puppy becomes an adult.

HYPOGLYCEMIA

This is the scientific name for a condition where the sugar level suddenly drops. The first signs of this problem is usually staggering and falling over as if they are drunk. Or they can be observed lying on their side paddling with their front feet as though they are swimming. If these symptoms are observed you must act very quickly in order to save your puppy’s life. You have to get the sugar level up to bring the puppy out of this situation. And it must be done quickly. I suggest you have a tube of Nutrical on hand. You can get this at any pet food store. If you puppy does show any signs of low blood sugar or if it is not eating, give it some Nutrical. If the puppy’s is not willing to lick the Nutrical you can put some on your finger and rub it on the puppy’s gums. Sometimes when they get like this their mouth will clinch shut and you will have to pry it open. This should help get the puppy’s blood sugar back to a more normal level. Once the puppy is responsive you must get it to eat. If your puppy has an episode like this it is not eating enough food. It could also be an underlying problem that may need medical attention. Make sure you offer the puppy the Nutrical several times a day-even if it is acting fine. I have never had this problem with any of the puppies I have taken home but have seen many puppies come into the emergency clinic like this. The owners are in a panic that their puppy is two breaths away from its last and if this situation is not handled immediately it very well could be. Read the hypoglycemia contract on the information page.

HOUSE TRAINING

A young puppy cannot be expected to “hold it” until it is taken outside. You should have paper down on the floor close the where your puppy is at all times. If it is introduced to the option of not having paper down it will forget about the paper thing and just go when needed. You can do the same thing with "puppy litter" it is a great alternative to newspaper or puppy pads.

Make sure the area that you keep you puppy when you are not with it has a bed, food, water and a place to eliminate away from the bed, food and water. They do not like to eliminate where they eat, drink and sleep. Once your new puppy is familiar with its new surroundings and getting use to it’s new routine you can start introducing eliminating itself outside. Chihuahuas are
really smart and catch on pretty fast as to what you expect of them.

HAIR LOSS OR THINNING

In Chihuahuas when they are between 8 and 12 weeks of age you may notice a sudden thinning splotchy pattern in its coat. This is often misdiagnosed by vets and they suggest skin scrapings to determine if mites are present. It is a normal condition and should only last a couple of weeks. You should only be alarmed if it is accompanied by a rash. That could be a sign of démodé tic mange mites or some sort of allergy. I have now learned to wait it out and everything is always fine.

TEETHING

Chihuahuas usually have their full set of puppy teeth by six weeks of age. But some of them lack jaw muscles strong enough to crush dry kibble. I will not send home a puppy until I know they are eating dry food without any problems. When Chihuahuas are about 13 weeks old they start to cut their permanent teeth. This process can go on for 3 to 6 months. It can affect puppies differently. Sometimes their ears will droop or they will have one ear up and one down. This can change from day to day. At this age they will want to chew on everything so make sure to provide a lot of puppy safe chew toys. This will discourage them from chewing on your good shoes or nice leather couch.

REVERSE SNEEZE

Occasional bouts of sneezing, snorting, honking and wheezing are not unusual in Chihuahuas, and is sometimes called a reverse sneeze. This is usually caused by a elongated soft palate that is thought to become temporarily misaligned. It is a common trait in toy breeds. Pulling hard on a leash, drinking too fast or getting overly excited can lead to an episode of reverse sneezing. Reverse sneezing should not be confused with a different condition call a collapsed trachea. Although reverse sneezing may be scary, it only lasts a short time and can be ended by massaging the dogs neck and throat and encouraging the dog to swallow or lick. Another way to slow the reverse sneeze is to clap your hands to distract the dog, or pinch closed the dog’s nostrils with your fingers, forcing it to breathe through its mouth and to swallow.

LUXATION OF THE PATELLA

Luxation of the patella or dislocation of the kneecap is a common hereditary problem with Chihuahuas and other small breeds. Patellar luxation can occur in varying degrees from minimal to debilitating. Very young dogs may be able to compensate for this deformity but the condition tends to worsen over time. Most of the time the Chihuahua is older before symptoms of patellar luxation are obvious. The dislocation is most commonly found on the inner side of the patella. The attached ligaments become stretched over time until the patella is rarely where it is supposed to be, and may pop in and out of place very easily. Recent studies have shown that immediate treatment is recommended, rather then waiting until the dislocation has crippled the dog. The reasoning is that while the knee is dislocated the entire body of the dog is compensating for it causing deformations of many other skeletal areas.

THE MOLERA

Historically the Chihuahua as developed in Mexico and the United States has displayed a soft spot on the top of its head. In the Chihuahua this spot, or fontanel, is know as the molera, and is the same that is found in human babies. In the past this molera was accepted as a mark of purity in the breed and is still mentioned in most Chihuahua breed standards all over the world. American Kennel Club (AKC) lists it as an acceptable breed standard.

It is important to note that while many Chihuahua puppies are born without the molera, there are probably just as many born with one and its presence is nothing to become alarmed over. The molera in a Chihuahua will occur on the top of the head and may vary in shape and size when present. Unfortunately many people (some veterinarians -not familiar with the Chihuahua breed standards) have tried to link the presence of a molera with the condition known as hydrocephalus. The truth is that a domed head with a molera present does not predispose the Chihuahua to this condition.

VACCINATION REACTION

It is not uncommon that your puppy will have a systemic reaction to its
vaccinations. This can include a low-grade fever or muscle aches and pain. They may be really sleepy for the next 24 to 48 hours after their vaccinations. A more severe adverse reaction would be characterized by hives, swelling of the face or even vomiting. This reaction can be prevented by administering an antihistamine at the time of the vaccination. Please check with your vet about this option. In some rare cases dogs will have a more severe reaction leading to death. Leptospirosis, the component most likely to produce such severe reactions should always be left out of your Chihuahuas vaccinations. Chihuahuas do not respond well to this component so unless the area you live in has a leptospirosis concern please ask you vet not to include it in its vaccine. If your dog has had a vaccine reaction in the past, don’t skip future vaccinations but do warn your veterinarian so he can take the proper precautions when vaccinating your pet. If your dog does have an adverse reaction to its vaccinations always contact your veterinarian immediately.

SHIVERING

This is a trait of the Chihuahuas. It is usually a communication of sort. They may be scared or unsure of something or someone. Or they may just be cold. Young dogs often shiver after they have been fed. Shivering is generally caused by the fact that the Chihuahua is so small that its body temperature changes very quickly. Shivering is a way for their body to compensate for this difference. Please make sure your Chihuahua is nice and warm during the winter months. It doesn’t take much for these little guys to catch a chill. You will notice that Chihuahuas love to bury themselves under blankets or when it’s warm they love to bask in the sun.