Watch out! The Chihuahua puppies are coming! Are you ready? Are you sure? Any puppy is a lifetime commitment, including a Chihuahua puppy, but no puppy will be as small as a Chihuahua. Because of their tiny size and their complete lack of fear, they will get into trouble that can get them killed. The good news is that all of these dangers are preventable.
Simply being stepped on can kill a Chihuahua puppy, because they are so small. If you have ever taken care of a hamster, gerbil, rat, mouse or guinea pig, then you already have a good idea of what is involved. Unfortunately, you can’t keep Chihuahua puppies in a cage indefinitely, but you can crate them or seclude them in one room if rowdy visitors drop by. Chihuahua puppies think they are immortal, so you need to look out for them.
You need to keep an eye on how you move and handle your Chihuahua puppy to be sure you do not cause internal injuries. If you have handled a small kitten, pet rodent or a pet bird, then you know exactly how to securely yet lightly to hold a Chihuahua puppy. Get a vet, a Chihuahua breeder, or a friend who has any of these animals to show you if you need to practice. Chihuahua puppies are fragile, but not nearly as fragile as Italian Greyhounds.
You need to keep a close eye on your Chihuahua puppy’s health. Since they are so small, they dehydrate very quickly and can die from it. Any vomiting more than twice a day and any diarrhea needs to be dealt with immediately. Don’t give them lots of table scraps or milk as this can give them diarrhea. They need good quality dry and wet dog food. Dog food is actually more nutritious than the stuff you are eating.
Keep an eye on your Chihuahua puppy for health problems, especially for vomiting or diarrhea. Because of their small size, they can die of dehydration very quickly. Feed them small frequent meals of quality puppy food for small dogs until they are about six months old, when they can be fed twice a day.
People food, especially cow’s milk, will give Chihuahua puppies’ diarrhea, so avoid them. If you are not sure of what to feed, ask your vet or a Chihuahua breeder.
Chihuahua puppies are actually stronger than some other slim breeds of dogs, namely the Italian Greyhound. They are also one of the most intelligent breeds of dog and learn about house safety in a matter of weeks (as opposed to years in a human child). Teach your puppy his or her name as soon as possible.
The only thing your dog will learn is that you babble like an idiot and will ignore you. For your sanity and the pup’s safety, pick a reasonable name of two syllables or less for your puppy.
