GUARDIAN CHIHUAHUAS
For New Owners
Kay Foster, Willits, CA
707-548-9368
FAX 707-459-1551
I have put together this packet of information regarding your new Chihuahua. This is basic info that I would want to know about this breed if I was a first time owner. The Chihuahua is not a fragile dog, (only in the first 16 weeks), but there are a few things you need to be aware of in case they arise.
In some respects, bringing your new Chihuahua puppy home is like bringing home a tiny newborn human baby. Most important!! Chihuahuas, like many other toy breeds, may be susceptible to a form of low blood sugar called hypoglycemia.
You probably won’t experience low blood sugar (with your particular puppy) but, in the event that you do, it is an emergency. Small dogs, especially Chihuahuas, have a very small fat reserve around the liver. When they get stressed for some reason (like going to a new home), or if they play too hard (using a lot of energy), or miss a meal, the fat reserve is used up and the body will begin to draw upon the blood sugar for energy. If this condition is left unchecked the dog will grow progressively weaker until it falls into a coma and eventually dies. The good news is that this condition is easily arrested and puppies that do experience hypoglycemia will usually outgrow it by 16 weeks of age. Your goal, as a new owner, should be to keep the puppy s stress level as low as possible during the critical period.
Often the most dangerous period is between six and ten weeks of age. During that time the puppy is weaned away from the dam, wormed, vaccinated, bathed, his toenails are trimmed, and sometimes he is sold into a new environment. Also, the immunity that a puppy gets from the mother’s first milk will drop off somewhere around the ninth week, and that will increase his vulnerability to virus and bacteria. All together, these factors contribute to a very stressful time for the little dog. Some puppies breeze right through it and others have problems.
Hypoglycemia is seen most often in smaller specimens of Chihuahua puppy, but I caution all new owners to watch your puppy carefully until he is at least 16 weeks of age. If the puppy is a ‘tiny’, I won’t even sell a puppy until it is 12 weeks of age. This can cause bonding and socialization problems because the first 120 days of the puppy’s life are like "the formative years" in the life of a human child. What it comes down to is a judgment call by the breeder as to when the puppy is strong enough to leave. Once that call is made the new owner has to take over and become the puppy's ‘Guardian’. It is hard to hold the breeders responsible for hypoglycemia when they aren’t there. While hypoglycemia could be a potential problem to any puppy, given the proper circumstances, it can be easily treated.
Sugar in the drinking water, pancake syrup, nutri-cal vitamin paste, nutristat, (generic nutri-cal and less expensive), kids sugarcoated breakfast foods will help restore lost blood sugar. In severe cases a veterinarian may have to inject a glucose solution into the dog’s bloodstream. This occurs usually in cases where the dog is unconscious and unable to swallow. The injection is usually made into a major blood vein such as the jugular vein in the throat.
One good idea is to make sure your dog eats just prior to his being out of your sight for any extended period of time. You can also boost him with sugar in some form (except candy) before you leave him. You must make sure to leave some food available so the dog can eat while you’re away. Some Chihuahuas are nibblers who eat very slowly and some are down right finicky so take that into account and leave him with nutrition that is tempting enough that he will eat something while you are away from him.
Stress can be a real problem to some Chihuahuas. Common sources for high stress are, being sold and taken to a new environment, a temporarily depressed immune system caused by vaccinations, a radical and sudden change of diet, being terribly frightened by something. Some things humans might consider being of little consequence, such as trimming his toenails or giving him a bath, can be terrifying to your little dog. Like people, some dogs will handle stress better than others. The point being that you should minimize stress in your puppy’s life whenever possible and keep him eating to offset any possible bouts of stress-induced hypoglycemia.
Stress-induced cough in a Chihuahua is not uncommon. Most breeders have, at one time or another sold a puppy to an excited new owner and then received a phone call a few days later with the news that the dog has a horrible gagging cough. Someone has convinced him that it is "kennel cough" and they’re afraid he’s going to die. This condition is usually temporary and will go away as he becomes accustomed to his new surroundings. The "kennel cough" situation is usually caused by at least some of a group of thirteen different viruses, three of which we have available vaccines. However, those three viruses cause 90 percent of kennel cough symptoms. This means, basically, that we can give the dogs a measure of immunity to "kennel cough" but we probably can't totally eradicate it. Stressful situations or drastic changes in humidity may trigger a coughing response in Chihuahuas even if they have been vaccinated. The good news is that this is a "self-limiting" viral situation and will go away with time. It is very similar to a "cold" in humans. The Chihuahua has a short palate, and due to this, you may hear your darling having a snorting problem as if something was in his airway. It happens when they are playing, or running to fast or too much. He will quickly recover and begin again.
A change in diet may cause your dog’s bowel movements to become loose for a while. A little bit of stress-induced diarrhea is often seen when a puppy is transferred to a new environment. Also, if you give the puppy sugar in his diet to offset hypoglycemia you will probably see some loose stool. Again, don’t panic. Give him a little time and it should clear up.
If your dog is a finicky eater, try him on cottage cheese, boiled chicken, 93% lean ground beef, scrambled eggs, or any high protein source that he will eat. Another good idea is baby food meats, veal or lamb are the best. Things that you should avoid are whole milk (hard on the digestive system), chocolate (poison to a dog’s system), raw eggs (at least the white part), or cooked bones, (bones will splinter and damage the intestinal tract) of any kind. Some breeders advocate giving dogs raw bones. However, there is always a risk of acquiring parasites when a dog eats the flesh of another animal.
New puppies need a series of vaccinations. If a puppy gets a good dose of immunity from the mother it will stay with him for several weeks. The accepted "drop-off time", is considered to be around the ninth week but that can vary with the individual dog. Most breeders have a vaccination schedule that they follow and it can vary from breeder to breeder but one accepted pattern is to start worming at 3 weeks of age and come on in with a first vaccination somewhere around six weeks of age. I start at 5 weeks with a Parvo – Corona vaccine and only give ½ the normal dose of 1 cc. Then age 8 weeks I begin a combination vaccine of Fort Dodge Duramune Max 5, (without Leptospirosis – This can be very harmful to the Kidneys of these small breeds), and continue vaccinating every 3 weeks for a series of 3 combinations vaccines. After that he should get regular annual booster of the same combination vaccine. From the time that your puppy is vaccinated it takes three to six days for a vaccination to completely absorb into his system. This is why vaccinations should not be given closer than one week apart.
The viruses and bacteria that I vaccinate against are Distemper, Parvovirus, Adenovirus; hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Caronavirus, Bordatella. In addition, I use Nemex liquid wormer. I have found that Apple Cider Vinegar will repel fleas. I put about ¼ cup in a gallon of water. They love it!! Also, be aware that worms can build up a tolerance to some wormers if that is all they are exposed to so it is better to change wormers from time to time. Remember, any time you worm your dog you are putting poison into his system so be careful.
Virus and vaccine studies have shown that, in most cases, parvovirus by itself will not kill your dog. The same holds true with coronavirus. However, these two together are a "deadly duo" that will kill nine out of ten unprotected dogs that they challenge. (Dogs unprotected by vaccine, that is.) These opportunistic viruses take advantage of any condition that depresses a dog’s immune system.
Isolation is the best form of protection for a new puppy until it has had enough vaccinations introduced into its system to begin building its own immunity. Parvo and other problems can be brought into an environment on the bottom of shoes, on clothing, (airborne virus), by other animals, or by humans who have been exposed to infected animals. If your puppy is under sixteen weeks it is a good idea to keep him away from other animals as much as possible and to have your friends wash their hands thoroughly before they handle your new addition. Another dog may look normal and be perfectly healthy itself, but it can be a passive carrier of a virus or bacteria that your puppy has no immunity to. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to exposing your new puppy to outside dogs.
Watch your puppy carefully the first few days after you bring him home. You will eventually learn what is a normal behavior pattern for him. Monitor his eating habits, bowel movements, play patterns, and sleep time. Most puppies have two speeds; full speed ahead and "crash". Any time you see variations in behavior that trouble you, don’t hesitate to call your breeder. If he doesn’t have a satisfactory answer then call your veterinarian. With Chihuahuas it is better to address a potential problem before the animal is in serious trouble than to wait and see if he’ll get better without help. These little dogs are pretty fragile until they reach four to six months of age.
After six months or so the Chihuahuas are very hearty little dogs. They require very little grooming and they live a long time. Feed the best foods available and your dog’s immune system will be sturdy well into its old age. Chihuahuas don’t usually eat much so you won’t go broke feeding them. You will probably save money because good nutrition now will prevent system breakdowns (and possibly, vet bills) later on in life.
Good luck with your "Little Buddy" and I know he will bring you years of blessings and joy.
For more health info visit The Chihuahua Club of America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 24, 2008
Contact: Daisy Okas
Phone: 212-696-8343
RELEASE OF "BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA" PROMTS AKC TO REMIND POTENTIAL DOG
OWNERS NOT TO GET STARSTRUCK
-- Dog Experts Say "Put Your Pet in a Leading Role:"
Research Breeds and Find a Responsible Breeder --
New York, NY - With the release of "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" the American Kennel Club(r) (AKC(r)) reminds moviegoers about the importance of making careful, educated decisions when considering adding a dog to their home.
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," follows the story of "Chloe," a pampered Chihuahua from Beverly Hills who finds
herself accidentally lost in Mexico. Alone for the first time, Chloe must rely on new friends to lend her a paw and help her to find her way back home.
Like Chole's friends, the AKC (www.puppybuyerinfo.org) and the Chihuahua Club of America (www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com) would like to lend
moviegoers a paw in finding their way to a breed that best fits their lifestyle. Both groups urge potential dog owners to carefully research a breed when buying a puppy and to only buy from reputable breeders.
"Chihuahuas are very delicate as puppies, and can be inadvertently injured by being dropped, stepped on, or having a small item fall on them," said Bruce Shirky, president, Chihuahua Club of America. "For
this reason, we recommend that families with very small children perhaps consider a larger breed. The Chihuahua Club of America hopes that anyone who becomes interested in owning a Chihuahua as a result of seeing this
movie will educate themselves on responsible dog ownership and all that it entails."
People who see "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" may think about owning a dog like "Chloe," said Lisa Peterson, AKC spokesperson. "Chihuahuas are also
known for longevity -so remember, before you add a new member to your family, dog ownership can be a 15-to-20-year commitment for the life of your dog."
Regardless of breed, all dogs need to be properly identified. While Chloe received assistance from her fury friends to get home, most dogs are not so lucky. Make sure your dog can be permanently identified with
a microchip. Keep contact information current with your recovery service provider, and enroll your pet in AKC's Companion Animal Recovery
ID System www.akccar.org/microchip. All animals are eligible for enrollment in AKC CAR regardless of identification brand or type,
microchip, tattoo or AKC CAR collar tag. The AKC CAR database stores over 3.9 million enrollment records and has been used to perform more than 340,000 recoveries.
People can help ensure that all Chihuahuas - and all dogs -- find themselves in loving, life-long homes by consulting resources such as The Chihuahua Club of America and the American Kennel Club.
The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function.
Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events,
hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion
Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.
AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.
