The Chihuahua, once 6 months old, is a very hardy little dog. Until the Chihuahua puppy reaches this age, you will need to take special precautions to keep your puppy happy and healthy. The tinier the chihuahua puppy you purchase the less room for error you will have in its care.
PET SAFE HEATING PAD
Provide a heating pad set on LOW for your new puppy. It may also be needed in the summer indoors if you keep your air conditioning on and set below 72 degrees. Please do not use a human type as they get too hot even on low. If you do use a human type then keep the pad wrapped in a pillow case with a towel over this and buy a cord cover to slip over the cord. Make sure the puppy can step away from the heating pad so the pad should not cover the full bottom of the Chihuahua bed/carrier.
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NAP TIME "Just one more kiss, then the baby needs to rest."
It is important for tiny puppies to have plenty of rest as well as exercise. Because puppies love to play so much, just like with growing children, they can get over-stimulated and not know when to rest.
NUTRICAL
Smaller puppies can burn up calories faster then they take in and this can lead to low blood sugar.
Give an inch of NUTRICAL mid day.
YOUR NEW PUPPY NEEDS PEACE AND QUIET for the first month in his new environment. Constant running around and excitement will wear your puppy out and you will end up with a health crisis.
Always make sure that your puppy has a place to call his own. Make sure the puppy has his own toys, blanket and bed in a quiet area he can rest and feel safe and secure. Your puppy should rest for 2 hours for every 1-2 hours of play. His area should not be drafty. Do not place his area near a fan, vent, or near a door. His area should not be located near a furnace nor near a fireplace. We prefer that you buy a playpen for the first 2 months you have your puppy.
DO NOT LET CHILDREN CARRY PUPPY AROUND TOO MUCH
Let the puppy explore a little bit at a time. A puppy may be small but will still like to walk around and have his feet on the ground! Do not let the puppy have full run of the home. Also a loving child may want to carry the puppy all around but you must not permit this as it can cause motion sickness and lack of appetite. How would you like to be on a constantly moving "ride" much of the time?
SOCIALIZATION
All babies born in our home are socialized from birth with daily interaction. I always like to be with the mothers during their births. My girls always find comfort with me being there with them. Handling as well as talking to the new babies everyday is important to bond with them and make sure they are healthy and getting enough to eat.
FLEA MEDICATION
NO flea medicines given by mouth!
You can use Frontline or Advantage on the nap of neck every 2 months rather than monthly.
WARNING! Do not use over the counter flea topical's as the ingredients in them can cause seizures in dogs and cats.
RABIES WARNING: Please wait 2 full months after the puppyshots are finished before giving RABIES.
There may be a link between Rabies and Distemper given close together causing neuro signs and death.
The rabies vaccine given close to a yearly BOOSTER may be dangerous. My own idea is that the modified live DISTEMPER (a neuro disease) somehow combines with the killed RABIES vaccine. (Also a neuro disease.)
Affected adult dogs and puppies who die first show neurological signs, usually within 21 days of receiving the rabies vaccine. Several owners say that their dog had received a regular yearly booster at the same time or close to the Rabies.
If you have had a bad experience happen with Rabies, that it was given at the same time or close to as another dog vaccine, please email me as I have been doing research on this for the last few years.
