The Chihuahua
Breed & Care Information
Personality
The Chihuahua is a very loyal pet, building a strong bond with their owner! They can also be known for their feisty personality, many Chihuahua’s do not realize how tiny they truly are!
Size
The Chihuahua is often referred to as the original teacup puppy available in tiny teacup and toy sizes ranging from 2 lbs to 8 lbs full grown. The smaller the dog the more fragile they can be. Consider a size that works well with your family.
Coat & Color Options
The Chihuahua is available in a short-coat and a long-coat breed in a variety of colors. The long-coat is known to be less shedding than the short-coat, but neither are considered hypoallergenic. Chihuahua’s are often cold. They enjoy to burrow under soft blankets and wearing clothes all year round!
Grooming
The Chihuahua requires minimal professional grooming, but do require regular baths and cleaning. Deep cleaning in Chihuahua’s ears is recommended to fight infections.
The Chihuahua has gentle skin that should be washed with a gentle shampoo. TropiClean Shampoo is a gentle shampoo that uses coconut oil and water to cleanse their coat and skin. Bathe your Chihuahua every week to keep them fresh and clean! TropiClean Ear Cleaning Wipes can be used once a week to gently remove ear wax and debris and reduce risk of infection.
Health
Diet & Nutrition
The Chihuahua is known to be a very healthy breed, however, most small breeds do face health concerns related to their size.
Chihuahua’s do have tiny teeth that are prone to dental issues. Stick to a dry dog food to avoid plaque and tartar build up. Brush your dogs teeth regularly or use a water additive to avoid dental concerns. TropiClean Fresh Breath Water Additive is a safe, natural additive you squirt in your pal's water bowl each morning. It removes plaque and tartar, eliminates harmful bacteria in the mouth, and gives your pet pal 12 hours of breath so fresh you won't mind the face licks.
Hypoglycemia is also common in small breed dogs. Hypoglycemia is caused by low-blood sugar and is usually the result of a lack in diet. Hypoglycemia is easily preventable by monitoring their feeding schedule. Small puppies should eat every 4 hours to prevent low-blood sugar. A high calorie supplement such as Nutri-Cal is recommended in tiny puppies. Mix Nutrical in your puppies water bowl to maintain strong blood sugar levels throughout the day.
It is recommended to monitor your Chihuahua’s eating habits, especially during puppy stages. Offer your puppy food every 3 to 4 hours to help prevent low blood sugar. They should be eating roughly ¼ cup to ½ cup of dog food per day based on activity level.
A high-quality, small-bite dry dog food is recommended to maintain their shiny coat, to protect their bones, to keep their teeth clean, to be gentle on their digestive system, and to overall keep them healthy. We recommend Royal Canin dry dog food. A nutritional supplement, such as Nutrical, may also be needed in teacup sized puppies to prevent Hypoglycemia.