Molera: (soft spot)
Some Chihuahuas have a soft spot on their head... this is called a molera. It is perfectly normal trait for a Chihuahua to have as long as it is one. Although I have known a few with 2 that were just fine as well. Usually more than that and you are looking at hydrocephalus. But a puppy from me won't be sold that has hydro.
Hypoglycemia: (low blood sugar)
Tiny dogs, puppies in particular, do not have an adequate supply of internal fat to maintain a constant blood sugar level. Hypoglycemic episodes can happen in times of stress, illness, or going to long without food. Make sure your new puppy has food available at all times for the first few weeks and never leave the puppy alone for extended periods of time until he/she has fully adjusted to his/her new environment and is eating on a regular basis. Always keep honey or Karo syrup on hand in case of an emergency. The first signs of hypoglycemia are usually staggering, unsteadiness, weakness, lethargy. Can lead to unresponsiveness and seizures. This is an emergency and you must act quickly! Cover a fingertip in honey/karo and get it into the dogs mouth, rub into gums and try to pry mouth open if he will not lap it up on his own. Once he/she gets the taste of it, he/she should start to lap on his/her own and come around fairy quickly. Make sure the pup starts eating adequately, you can offer plain yogurt, meat baby food, or boiled chicken bits to induce an appetite. If pup is refusing all food, you must seek veterinary advice.
Coccidia: (opportunistic protozoa)
Coccidia lives in the bowels of all dogs. Something has to weaken the immune system for the protozoa to have the opportunity to multiply and cause problems. Usually this is brought on by stress of some sort. the first signs are usually decreased appetite and loose, foul smelling stool that may contain bloody mucous. This can escalate into a bout of hypoglycemia. If your puppy shows signs of this, immediately seek veterinary advice. A daily supply of plain yogurt containing acidophilus can prevent coccidia from multiplying by keeping a balance of good bacteria in the GI tract.
Reverse Sneeze: (Chihuahua Honk)
This is fairly common in toy breeds, it is thought to be caused by an elongated soft palate that becomes temporarily misaligned. though the short bouts of sneezing, snorting, honking sounds can seem a little scary, it is nothing to be concerned about and will last only a short time and stop on it's own. You can help stop the episode by the dog to breath through his mouth or swallowing (I usually train all my Chi's to give me kisses on command to use during an attack and works well. And if they are refusing to kiss me I'll try to get them to lick some peanut butter, honey, or other creamy liquid stuff they really like.). Usually this is brought on by getting overly excited or drinking too fast. This is not to be confused with another condition called collapsed trachea.
Tea Cup Myth:
There is no such classification. It's just a term used to entice people to buy puppies. The standard for Chihuahuas is 2-6 lbs. Seriously... How much smaller do you want to go? And in my experience the smaller the Chi the more health problems and extra special care they will need.
Growing Pains:
Though not painful at all to the puppy, starting around 8-12 weeks of age, the new owner may wonder why his once erect eared fuzz ball is now looking patchy and flop eared. Some pups will have sparse or bald patches, one or both ears may flop or curl. the pup is going through a normal growing phase, he is shedding his puppy fur and will grow new hair quickly. His adult teeth are starting to come in and for some reason that seems to take the spirit out of their ears for awhile. All pups are different and this may last weeks to months buy soon enough they will have a full coat and erect ears again. the only medical concern would be a rash on balding skin.
A little review and a few more things.....
- Keep honey or Karo syrup on hand at all times, most likely you will never have to use it, but in the event of a hypoglycemic emergency it is a must have!
- If you plan to change to a different brand of dog food, do it gradually and wait until the puppy is settled in his new home for a week or more. Food and water should be available at all times including over night for awhile. Gradually work out a feeding schedule as the puppy grows.
- Decreased appetite- to help stimulate an appetite try a fingertip o honey, karo syrup, or Nutristat gel, meat baby food, or boiled chicken.
- Diarrhea- Clear liquids, fresh water, pedialyte. Plain yogurt containing acidophilus will help to add good bacteria into the GI tract. Bland diet, rice with boiled chicken bits.
- All puppies need to be contained when not being supervised. A crate or playpen is a safe place. Crates work well for helping with potty training also, as the puppy will not want to taken out to relieve himself often. The crate should not be used as punishment, most dogs consider that their den and feel safe there. There must be adequate room for food and water during the first few months.
- Chihuahuas love children. children must be taught to handle them with care, being dropped or stepped on could cause injuries. Whit supervision and gentle care, a chihuahua will do wonderful with children. With young children a 6 lbs dog would be a better choice than a smaller one.