Providing your puppy with love and care is essential as they are growing up, but some new owners may not feel adequately prepared to handle such a task. Never fear, however, because the purpose of this puppy care guide is to provide new owners, such as yourself, with helpful information that can be used in maintaining the good health of your puppy.
I'm a small dog breeder that lives in California, and my teacup Chihuahua puppies for sale that I have need to be taken care of every day, that is, until they're sold to a loving owner, then the responsibility falls onto their shoudlers. I've been doing this for over a decade, so I'm quite experienced when it comes to taking proper care of a dog, especially of the smaller types of puppies that I deal with on a daily basis. This guide can be used for most small breeds of dog, but since I primarily handle Chihuahuas, I'll be referencing them throughout.
Getting Started - Pet Safe Heating Pads
Once Chihuahua puppies reach 6 months in age, they go from a frail puppy to a tenacious little dog, and no longer require special care from you. It should be noted, however, that getting them to that age can be a little tricky. There are certain precautionary steps that need to be taken by caring owners in order to help ensure their new puppy remains happy and healthy. Remember, the smaller the puppy, the less room for error you will have in his or her care.
A simple, but critical item every new owner should have is a heating pad. Yes, caring for your teacup Chihuahua puppy means keeping them warm, and they certainly will need warmth since the Chihuahua is so young and delicate. Pet safe heating pads make this easy to do, so get one!
You might decide that a heating pad is not necessary, but before thinking that, consider the following questions: How cold does your house get during the winter? When it's hot outside, how long do you leave the air conditioning on in your home to keep it cool? In general, what's the average temperature of your home during the day and at night?
Basically, if the temperature in your home ever falls below 75F degrees, then I would recommend getting a heating pad for your puppy to keep them warm.
Now, there are two types of heating pads. There's one kind made for humans, and another made for animals. The difference between them is the maximum temperature they are capable of reaching. Human heating pads generally run hotter than dog heating pads, even on lower settings. Obviously if you have the choice, find one that is designed for dogs.
Once you have your heating pad and are ready to use it for your teacup Chihuahuas keep in mind that some heating pads may still prove to be too hot, regardless of whether they were designed for dogs or not. You can try adjusting the settings to low if the option is available, but if it's not, then I recommend wrapping a pillow case or towel around the pad, which should make it more comfortable for the puppy to lay on. Remember, before using the heating pad, turn it on and wait a few minutes before feeling it with your hand. You be the judge of temperature and then adjust accordingly.
Electrical Dangers
While your puppy is now much warmer thanks to the heating pad, there are new dangers that you need to be aware of, and they have to do with the electrical wires scattered around your home. These can stem from computers, televisions, kitchen appliances, air cleaners, vacuums, and so on. The wires pose a real threat to your puppy, because dogs have a tendency to chew on things and Chihuahuas are no exception to that rule.
Obviously if a puppy, especially one of the teacup size, would chew through an electrical cord, there's a high chance for them be delivered a fatal shock. It's necessary, then, for you to cover any exposed electrical cords. You can do this by purchasing electrical cord covers from a local store in your area. Be sure to buy a cover that is made out of a hard enough material that prevents any kind of chewing. These covers are beneficial for both younger and older dogs.
Please note: the heating pad you buy will have a cord attached to it, so don't forget to put a cord cover on that as well.
Children - Keep an Eye on Them for the Safety of Your Dog
Imagine being stuck on a rollercoaster with no way of getting off, you begin to feel nauseous and, well, that'd probably be the worst ride of your life. Similarly, small puppies can be put into this situation when young kids pick them up and carry them around. The kids likely have good intentions, but dogs typically prefer to stay close to the ground, where it's nice and stable.
Thus, it's really up to you to prevent this situation from occurring. This type of situation can actually be dangerous for a Chihuahua, because being carried around can cause nausea, and nausea can ruin a puppy's appetite. If a puppy's not eating, especially at such a young age, there's a possibility for low blood sugar to manifest itself, and that's real bad for any dog!
Now that you are aware of the dangers children can bring to the table, it would be wise to watch over them when they are near or if they are interacting with the small puppy.
Flea Treatment
Fleas! A filthy insect that not only steals blood from you and your pet Chihuahua puppy, but they can also cause all sorts of medical problems too! At some point, most people have to deal with these annoying parasites, so learning how to handle them now will prepare you for when they appear; a must for any owner!
The best way, I've found, is to use Frontline or Advantage, given on the nap of the neck every 2 months. It's safe, effective, and lasts a good amount of time. Flea medications you should avoid are ones given through the mouth, as these can be even more dangerous to your puppy than the fleas themselves.
Nutrical
Puppies can burn through calories at an extemely rapid pace because of how active they tend to be. This can be dangerous because sometimes the puppy burn through more calories than they are taking in, which then leads to low blood sugar.
One way to prevent this from happening is using a calorie supplement, known as Nutrical. Give your tiny Chihuahua some of this during the middle of the day, once a day.
And that just about does it for this puppy care guide. After reading through it, I hope you are better informed on how to care for your new, delicate and tiny Chihuahua puppy, and that you utilize this information to the fullest. This puppy care guide can help your teacup puppy grow into a healthy, full grown dog, that you and your family can love for a very long time!
Puppy Care Guide
