Tag Archive for 'chihuahua health'

The Chihuahua would be a dangerous breed if large

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Chihuahua Puppies
on March 5, 2009
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Chihuahua Facts and Fictions

One dog expert jokingly said the Chihuahua would be a dangerous breed if large. There is some truth to this. These extremely popular toy dogs can have marvelous temperaments or they can be not nice.

Genetic influence is a major cause of dogs with not-nice temperaments in the breed. Tiny dogs have small litters and the high demand makes it easy for people to sell even carelessly bred Chihuahuas. To find a carefully bred Chihuahua, you need a careful breeder. The breeder referral contact person or national breed club contact person, both of whom are listed on the American Kennel Club website at www.akc.org, can help direct you.

The other major influences on your Chihuahua’s personality will be what the dog experiences in life. That makes how you allow people to treat your dog important. Chihuahuas need to be rather courageous to cope confidently with a world so much bigger than them. It’s our job to keep that confidence a positive force rather than a self-defense attitude because the dog has learned to doubt humans will provide the protection such a little one requires.

Fearful dogs are not happy dogs and can be hard to handle. Chihuahuas are unlikely to cause terrible injuries, but disease transmission, infected dog bites and restrictions on your lifestyle certainly happen with aggressive Chihuahuas. Tiny dogs are highly susceptible to developing defensive aggression from fear if mishandled by children. With large dogs we have to worry most about what the dog might do to a person, while with the tiny dogs we must be extremely vigilant about what people do to the dogs. The person doesn’t have to mean harm by an action for harm to result from it.
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Health of the Chihuahua

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on February 14, 2009
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This is a long-lived breed, often achieving 16 or more years of age. However, there are some genetic diseases that can cause problems. Like most toy breeds, the Chihuahua is susceptible to slipped stifles (a knee injury caused by joint weakness) and fractures and may suffer from jawbone disorders, eye problems, heart disease, and tooth and gum complaints. The potential for some of these problems can be minimized by buying from a breeder who tests breeding stock for inheritable problems and by careful management. For example, Chihuahuas should not be allowed to jump off high furniture or out of your arms as the impact on landing could fracture a leg. Children should not be allowed to carry a Chihuahua or to play roughly with one for the same reason.

The Chihuahua puppies is also born with a soft spot on the top of his head that may not fully close, so a blow here could kill him.

The Chihuahua tendency to shiver or tremble is not a health issue but takes place when the dog is excited or stressed. One explanation is the toy dogs have a higher metabolism and so dissipate body heat faster than larger dogs. Shivering helps to generate body heat – that’s why people shiver when we are cold. However, rapid dissipation of body heat is a distinct disadvantage in cool or cold climates, so Chihuahuas should always be protected when taken outdoors in these areas. Fortunately, there are dozens of styles of protective sweaters available.

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