Chihuahua Eye Care

Chihuahua Eye Problems

Part of what makes your Chihuahua so adorable is the large, protruding eyes.  Their sweet little faces with the overly large eyes seem to express so much emotion they are irresistible.  However, those same eyes are prone to infection or injury and you should be careful to treat your Chi’s eyes with care and attention.

Eye Irritants

The large size of the eyes coupled with the fact that the dog is low to the ground means that Chihuahuas are likely to get a lot of road dust and grit in their eyes.  Their eyes tend to tear a lot in an effort to get rid of the irritants.  Light coloured coats of both short and long haired Chihuahuas can become stained under the eyes from this tearing.

Using a saline wash to gently wipe the eyes one to two times per week will help to keep the staining to a minimum.  If this is not effective there are specially formulated solutions that your veterinarian can provide to help clean the area under the eye.  These solutions also provide a barrier to prevent future tear staining.

Eye Infections

Some of the irritants that plague Chihuahua’s eyes can lead to infection.  Watch for increased tearing or watering or a change in the type of discharge.  Any time your Chi has greenish discharge from the eye it is time to seek veterinary care.  

Infections can come from injury or irritation and often lead to the area around the eye becoming inflamed.  The inflammation will go away once the infection has been taken care of.  Treatment is usually by using eye drops to fight the infection.

Eye Injury

Your Chi is especially prone to injury if they spend time in the woods.  Running through the bushes exposes them to injury by sticks or branches.  Many dogs that are low to the ground have poked their eye causing serious damage that can only be corrected by surgery.  Specialists in ophthalmology usually handle these types of injuries.

Cats also cause many injuries to Chihuahua’s eyes every year.  If you own a cat be very careful when your cat and your Chihuahua first meet.  Being so low to the ground, your Chi is a very easy target for a quick swat from your cat’s paw.  A scratch on the cornea can lead to ulceration which can also lead to infection.  

Protecting your Chi from injury is the best course of action but if injury occurs make sure to see a veterinarian.  Use a buster collar to prevent your Chi from scratching at their injured or infected eye and making the condition worse.  Sometimes your veterinarian will place a human contact lens on the eye for further protection.

Another less common injury is caused by owners themselves.  Be careful that you never grab your Chi by the scruff of the neck.  Holding a Chi this way and pulling the skin tight can lead the eyes to protrude too far and be unable to retract.  The only way to correct this type of trauma is through surgery and suturing the eye closed until it heals.  This type of scruffing occurs most frequently when trying to restrain a Chi from aggression.  If you need alternate Chihuahua training tips seek help from an expert.

Chihuahua’s eyes are beautiful and expressive and are one of the unique features of these feisty little dogs.  Taking care to keep them clean and free from injury is essential to overall care for your pet.

Spaying or Neutering Your Chihuahua

Introduction

Spaying or neutering your Chi is the surgical sterilization procedure used to make sure your pet is no longer able to produce offspring.  

Spaying is the word used for female dogs, and neutering is the term for male dogs. 

While you may love your Chi very much and believe they are the most sweetly adorable little dog in the world it is not always the best idea to let them breed.  The cost to society of unwanted animals and the health risks for your pet are both to be considered.

The other consideration if you own a female Chihuahua is the risk involved with breeding and whelping.  Small dogs like Chis often have difficulty giving birth and end up having caesarean sections.  The added trauma for your dog and the added cost to you in this situation is considerable.

Benefits of Neutering 

Neutering your male Chihuahua can have medical and behavioural advantages.  The male hormone, testosterone, accounts for some of the aggression issues and roaming tendencies that male dogs are famous for.  Removing a dogs testicles removes the source of testosterone production so your little boy may be calmer and less likely to leave home looking for a girlfriend.

From a medical point of view, neutering your Chi is very beneficial. Male dogs can develop testicular tumours so, obviously, removing this body part eliminates any future possibility of this.  Also testosterone can feed the growth of other tumours, specifically perianal tumours, so eliminating this hormone production has its own health advantages.

Also, a significant portion of unneutered male dogs, Chihuahuas included, develop prostate disease.  Testosterone is the culprit here as well.  Helping your little boy achieve the best possible health for the whole of his life is important.

Benefits of Spaying

As an owner, dealing with your female Chihuahua’s heat cycle two to three times a year can be reason enough to have your dog spayed. Having to keep your little girl away from all the boys who want to get close to her while she is in heat is also a big hassle.  Besides these owner benefits your female Chi can reap significant medical benefits as well.

Mammary tumours are reduced by up to 95% in spayed dogs compared to unspayed females.  Getting your pup spayed sooner rather than later is also important.  If your Chi has more than two heat cycles the benefits in terms of reduced mammary tumours is lessened.

Older female dogs are also subject to problems with ovarian or uterine cancers.  Surgical sterilization for female dogs involves the removal of these reproductive organs, thus making these forms of cancers a non-issue.

The other concern is pyometra, where the lining of the uterus becomes infected with bacteria.  If the cervix closes the uterus cannot drain and the dog can become seriously ill.  By the time you notice a problem, spaying your dog is the only option.

When to Spay or Neuter

Discuss with your veterinarian when the best time is to spay or neuter your Chi.  Many veterinarians recommend the age of six months as an ideal time, but doing the procedure earlier is always possible.

Six months is a good time to spay or neuter due in part to the developments going on in their mouths.  It takes until about the age of six months for your Chi’s baby teeth to fall out.  If they don’t fall out on their own they may need to be removed.  If left in they can become impacted or, at the very least, make keeping teeth clean a challenge due to overcrowding.  Removing baby teeth needs to be done under an anaesthetic, so doing it at the same time as a spay or neuter makes sense for your Chi. 

Whether or not you decide to spay or neuter your Chi, consider the behavioural and medical benefits carefully before making your decision.

Agility Training for Chihuahuas

What is Agility Training?

Agility training is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy.

Many of you will have seen these types of competitions live or on television where dogs are directed over jumps, through tunnels, over seesaws and through weave poles.

Unlike dog racing where there is a “rabbit” for the dogs to chase, agility uses no food or toy rewards and the handlers are not allowed to touch either the dog or the obstacles.

The level of training required for a dog to excel at agility is considerable.

Many owners use agility simply as a means of training and exercise for their dogs and are not interested in the high level competition that the sport can entail.

Agility and Chihuahuas

Many of us think of dogs like Border collies being the typical agility dog.

This is simply not true.

Any dog of any size can take part in agility and intelligent little dogs like Chihuahuas are often excited by the mental stimulation involved in the sport.

Obviously your Chihuahua can’t compete on the same size obstacles as a Great Dane.

Your little one would end up running under any hurdle set up for a large dog, so small dog courses are part of the sport.

The UK Kennel Club has three measurement standards for competition: 

large, medium and small.  

Small dogs are defined as those measuring 35cm or less at the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades).  

If your Chi is particularly small then some of the obstacles will pose a bigger challenge than others, but with practice and training they can soon get the hang of things.

In the United States there is a Teacup Dog Agility Association which only allows dogs 17 inches or less in height to compete.  In this association there are no restrictions according to age or breed, but meets run by most kennel clubs worldwide have restrictions on allowing member animals only for competition.

Obstacles and Training

A high level of training is required for your Chi to complete an agility course.  Some owners “handle” their own dogs, and some hire “handlers” who take the dog through obstacle training.  Most Chihuahua owners interested in recreational agility training handle their own dogs and use the time to create a deeper bond with their dog and to reinforce positive behaviours.

Your Chi must be fully attentive to you during training and competition because you can only use voice commands and body language and movements to instruct the dog how to complete the course.  You run through the course beside your dog guiding them through the various obstacles.  If your Chi is the pack leader in your house, it is unlikely that they will listen well enough to follow your commands. 

Your Chihuahua must be able to climb and jump, weave through a series of poles, enter and exit tunnels, traverse seesaws, and pause on a specific spot on command.  Each agility course is set up differently so your Chi must follow your directions exactly in order to complete the course on time and without penalties for doing an obstacle incorrectly or in the wrong order.

Benefits of Agility Training

Small dogs like Chihuahuas receive the same benefits as their larger counterparts as far as exercise and stimulation are concerned.  Where agility really helps Chis is in the training aspect.  Many of these little dogs are doted on by their owners and as such believe themselves to be the leader of the pack.

Establishing the human being (that’s you!) as the leader helps your Chi to be well-adjusted and happier and leads to a deeper bond between you and your pet.  The stress of being pack leader causes many dogs to display aggressive tendencies, and Chihuahuas are certainly in this category.

If you are looking for something new to try with your Chihuahua, look up your local chapter of the kennel club and give agility a try.  You may just find a sport that both of you love.

Administering Medication to Your Chihuahua – Part Two

Review

In the previous article we talked about types of medications and how to give your Chi pills and liquids. We also discussed what to do when you find it impossible to give your little one oral medication.

Although administering medications can sometimes be frustrating, don’t give up.  These drugs are necessary for your Chi and your vet will be happy to work with you to find something that both you and your Chihuahua can handle.

In this article we will discuss ear and eye medications and touch on how to give injections.

Ear Medications 

Ear medications usually come in liquid form and you will need to give a set number of drops into the ears either once or twice daily.  The trick with ear medications is that the drops need to be given far into the ear canal, meaning that you can’t often see how many drops go in.

If you fold back your Chi’s ear on to the top of their head, you will expose the largest angle of the ear canal.  You can drop the medication directly into the deepest part you see.  Sometimes veterinarians will give you a timed dosage – for example, the directions will not be “3-4 drops” but “give a 1 second squeeze”.  This allows you to put the bottle into the ear and not have to watch the drops leave the bottle.

Chi’s ears are small just like the rest of them so be careful not to insert the bottle too deeply into the ear that you cause damage.  After you have put the drops in, don’t let your Chi shakes his or her head. Massage in front of the ear to work the medication around.  You will often hear a squishing noise.  Now your Chi can give a good head shake.

Sometimes the vet wants you to use a cotton ball to remove debris and excess medication afterward.  Follow the directions you are given and treat for the length of time that the vet recommends.  Just because the problem seems to have stopped doesn’t mean you should stop the medication.  Complete the full course just like you would with drugs like antibiotics.

Eye Medications

Eye medications come in the form of drops or ointments.  When using either form be careful that the tip of the container doesn’t touch your Chi’s eye.  Not only can you damage their eye but you contaminate the bottle.

Administer drops by putting your thumb and finger on the top and bottom eyelid.  Hold your Chi’s eye open and instil the drop of medication.  Let your Chi close their eye and gently massage to move the medication around.

Ointments can be given by pulling down the lower eyelid and squeezing the prescribed amount of drug onto the inside of the lower eyelid.  A strategy that some owners try for giving ointment is to squeeze a line of ointment onto their own finger.  Usually ointments are prescribed by length – “instil a ¼ inch strip into the right eye twice daily”.  Put ¼ inch on your finger, then pull down the lower eyelid and roll the ointment off your finger and onto the eyelid.  Your finger should be almost flat lengthwise against your Chi’s eyelid.  Make sure that the medication is safe to be on your skin.  Some ointments require you to wear gloves when using so make sure to protect yourself accordingly.

Injections

Giving injections is scary for most owners.  Poking a needle into our little Chihuahua’s skin is difficult and we feel bad for them.  With serious illnesses such as diabetes you will have no other option.

Most injections given by owners are subcutaneous, meaning they are given under the skin.  By lifting the skin between the shoulder blades where it is loose you form a tent of skin.  Poking a needle into this tent of skin ensures that you don’t hit muscle and makes the injection less painful for your Chi.

Other Tips

The biggest tip for giving medication is to get help.  Ask someone else to hold your Chi while you administer medication, freeing both your hands for the job.  Have a treat ready to give when you are finished so your Chi gets positive feedback.

Speak to your veterinarian about any concerns or problems you are having.  They are there to provide the best care for your pet and should always be willing to listen.

Kennelling Your Chihuahua

Choosing a Kennel

If you are travelling and can’t take your Chi with you a boarding kennel is sometimes the only option left to care for your pet.  

Choosing the right kennel can make all the difference to you and your Chi.  

If your Chihuahua is happy at the kennel and you trust the kennel operators to care for your pet then your vacation will go a lot more smoothly. 

Researching kennels in your area can be done easily with the internet but also ask friends and family members for recommendations. 

Kennel Types

There are websites available that list kennels by area and discuss what amenities are available at each one.  Try to find one that offers much the same environment that you provide your Chi at home.  Some boarding kennels call themselves dog hotels, and tend to be set up like small hotel rooms.

Dog hotels have real walls and doors, and some even have windows. They are quite spacious and allow you the opportunity to bring some of your Chi’s favourite items from home.  Ask about taking bedding and toys to make your pet more comfortable and feel more at home.  Dog hotels feel more like a small home than a kennel.

Standard kennels are more like dog runs.  They often have cement floors with kennel doors where other dogs can be seen and heard.  For little dogs like Chihuahua, the noise of many other dogs can be overwhelming.  Try to visit these kennels during peak times so you have an idea of the noise level that your Chi will be exposed to.

If your Chihuahua has aggression issues around other dogs, selecting a dog hotel where your pet has less opportunity to see and hear other dogs is a better bet.  Hotels also have a lower limit of dogs at one time, meaning that there is more one on one time between kennel staff and your dog.

What to Provide to the Kennel 

Besides the bedding and toys to help your Chi feel at home, you should provide the kennel with enough of your dog’s food to last for the entire visit.  Switching foods can be hard on dogs and can lead to stomach upset.  With the added stress of being away from you and home, keep your Chi’s diet consistent to avoid problems.

If your Chihuahua has any medical conditions make sure that kennel staff are fully aware of the problems.  Give them a list of all medications and a schedule of when they must be given.  Make sure that medications are clearly labelled.  Provide veterinary contact information so that if your Chi becomes ill, kennel staff knows who to contact.  Also leave the kennel name with your veterinary hospital and discuss your wishes in the event of an emergency.  Hopefully, nothing like this will ever be necessary but it is better to be prepared.  Leaving instructions with your veterinarian about how much you are willing and able to do for your pet makes decision-making easier.

Medical Requirements for Kennelling

Most kennels require your dog to be up to date on vaccines.  Bordetella or kennel cough is of particular importance because of its ability to spread from dog to dog in a kennel situation.  Check with your kennel about their vaccination requirements well before your vacation.  Many owners have been left in the lurch when a kennel will not admit their dog because they cannot provide proof of vaccination.

Also check with the kennel how soon before you plan to leave that vaccines need to be done.  Getting a kennel cough vaccine the day you plan to drop the dog off at the kennel is most likely unacceptable.  Many kennels request vaccines be done a week prior to the dog coming to the kennel.

Having a Chi is a wonderfully enriching experience, but with pet ownership comes responsibility.  A little time and effort will help ensure that kennelling your Chi is a positive experience for the both of you.

Administering Medication to Your Chihuahua – Part One

Types of Medications

We all hope that our pets never get sick, but if something does go wrong it is better to see a veterinarian sooner rather than later.

Catching a problem early often means that whatever medications you take home can be done for a shorter time period than if you let the problem get out of control.

The most common medication prescribed by veterinarians come in the form of pills or liquids to be taken by mouth.  

If your Chihuahua has an ear or eye problem you will be given drops or ointments to administer directly to the affected area. 

In the case of more serious illnesses such as diabetes you may be shown how to give injections and check blood sugar levels.  This type of treatment will be ongoing for the life of your Chi so make sure you ask questions and understand how to give the injections.  Veterinarians and their staff are trained to do these types of things; the average pet owner is not. 

Oral Medication 

Although your Chihuahua is about the same size as a cat, be thankful it’s a dog.  Dogs are usually easier to pill than cats and they don’t often try to rake you with their claws!  Most Chi owners find that giving a pill can be done most easily by hiding the pill in a yummy treat.  Try cheese, peanut butter or part of a wiener.  Keep the portion as small as possible to get your dog to eat it otherwise the calories can add up. Little dogs like Chihuahuas need to be careful with their weight to avoid knee and joint problems. 

If your Chi is very smart – and they often are – they will manage to eat the treat and leave the pill.  The next option many owners try is crushing the pill into a treat or their regular meal.  This is problematic because many pills taste bitter when crushed and unless your Chi eats the entire treat or meal you are not getting all the medication into your pet. 

Sometimes the only way to give a pill to your Chi is “down the hatch”. You need to open your Chi’s mouth and pop the pill to the very back of the throat.  Hold your Chi’s mouth closed and rub the throat to encourage swallowing.  If your little guy or girl stubbornly refuses to swallow, then use a syringe to squirt a little water into the side of the cheek.  This will often make them swallow.  There are websites online which give step-by-step instructions and even provide videos on how to give your dog a pill if you still have problems.

Liquid medication can be given by squirting into the side of the cheek. Remember to go slow and give your Chi breaks in between.  Squirting the entire dose at one time usually means both you and your little one end up wearing half the medication which doesn’t help your  dog much.

Remember to praise a lot and give a treat and some extra love afterwards.  Your Chi will hopefully associate medication time with good food and love and the experience won’t turn into an ordeal.

The Last Resort

If you find it impossible to give your Chihuahua oral medication talk to your veterinarian about what your options are.  Although small, Chis can put up a fight when they want to so you’re not the first owner to have this problem.  Sometimes oral medications can be compounded at a pharmacy into a transdermal formula.  These formulations are applied directly to the skin and absorbed into the body.

If your Chi is taking antibiotics there is an injectable form which can be given once and lasts as a slow release drug for two weeks.  This is extremely convenient but is not used as often because it costs more and because it is not effective on all bacteria.  It doesn’t hurt to ask if your Chi is a candidate for this drug.

The very last resort is taking your Chi to the vet’s office and having them give the pill.  Most vets are happy to help however they can so don’t be afraid to ask.

In the next article we will talk about ear and eye medications and giving injections.

Chihuahua or Pomeranian – Which One Should You Choose?

If you are looking for a special little dog, then there is a good chance that Chihuahuas and Pomeranians are both on your breed short list. In this article, we look at Chihuahuas vs. Pomeranians, based on their breed traits and attributes, to help you decide which is best for you. 

Size

 

According to the breed standards for Chihuahuas vs. Pomeranians, there is very little difference in size between the average Chi, and the average Pom. Chihuahuas are usually slightly smaller (about one inch shorter) and slightly lighter (about a pound) but they’re both classed as toy breeds, so they’re both great dogs to share an apartment with, and they’ll both look good in a designer doggie carrier!

Temperament

 

When it comes to temperament, this is where the real difference in the Chihuahua vs. Pomeranian debate comes in. Chis are typically outgoing, clever, feisty little dogs, which makes them perfect for people who like dogs with spunk. It does mean that they are not great with kids though! 

Poms, on the other hand, tend to be less intelligent, but great with kids, and they are friendlier and more social little dogs. So if you like a docile, passive dog, a Pom might be the better choice. 

Grooming and Care

 

Another important factor to consider when weighing Chihuahuas vs. Pomeranians is the grooming aspect of owning one of these little dogs. Chihuahuas have smooth coats, which require very little in the way of grooming, but they do tend to shed a lot of short hair all the time! 

Poms, on the other hand, have long, dense, fluffy coats, and they do tend to need more frequent bathing and brushing to stay in tiptop condition. If you are short on time, and you own a Pom, you will probably need to resign yourself to spending a little more on grooming services!

Lifespan and Health 

 

When it comes to lifespan, the competition between Chihuahuas vs. Pomeranians is very close again. Both will live to around sixteen or older, with the minimum lifespan being between twelve and fourteen years, so whichever you choose, you are going to have a companion for a long time!

When it comes to health, Chihuahuas tend to be more prone to genetic, hereditary, or congenital diseases and disorders, however, they are hardier than Poms, and that may balance out.

Appearance and Cuteness

 

One of the main reasons that people choose small breeds of dog is that they are just so darn cute! When it comes to comparing appearance between Chihuahuas vs. Pomeranians, you are in for a tough one! Both breeds are small, which automatically makes them cute, and while Poms usually look like walking puff balls, with their long thick coats, there’s something to be said for the Chi’s feisty nature and cocky attitude. 

Overall, it is very hard to say which breed would win, if you had to vote on Chihuahuas vs. Pomeranians. Ultimately, the decision should be based on personal preference, since these two little dogs are evenly matched in just about every other way!