All You Need to Know About Taking Good Care of Chihuahua Puppies

Chihuahuas may be tiny and smart, but they sill require care just the same as any other dog. If you've just gotten yourself a new Chihuahua puppy, or are planning on doing so in the future, then you'll need to learn how to care for it and keep it healthy. While they can be quite self sufficient, they still need some help from owners. Chihuahuas can live for fifteen to twenty years, so you'll need to invest a huge part of your life in caring for yours.

These little pups can be picky eaters. You need to buy small, sample packs of dry food that is high in protein and low in fat. See which flavours your puppy likes best and buy larger portions. As tempted as you may be to do so, don't feed him or her table scraps. Also, be careful with doggie treats. Many snacks can be unhealthy for Chihuahua puppies.

Once you've found a good, healthy, dry food brand for your pup, be careful not to put too much in the dish at a time. They tend to be slow eaters, so two or three average sized portions a day should be enough. At night, clean the dish out with hot, clean water. Don't use any soap, as Chi's are unable to stand the odor. If you find that yours ever has trouble with chewing, add a small bit of clean water into the dry mixture.

Chihuahua puppies need to be taken to the vet regularly for shots and check-ups. They should also be tested for parasites and worms. If you can't afford to get your puppy all the vaccinations, then you shouldn't adopt one at all. Adopting Chi puppies costs money, thus you need to make sure you have enough prior to adopting.

In addition to health care, you should also show caution around your puppy. Since Chihuahuas are the smallest dogs in existence, you need to make sure you always know where yours is. Try keeping them as far away from your feet as possible, and let your family and friends know that they should do the same. Also, don't adopt one if you have small children in your house. They may play a little too roughly with the pup and hurt him or her by accident. It's all too easy to cause critical harm to a Chihuahua pup without even meaning to.

Another thing you need to do is ensure your new little pet is well groomed. They typically clean themselves everyday, but you should still brush their coat and teeth often. Longer haired Chihuahuas need to be brushed every single day. Shorter haired ones don't need as much care, but you should still occasionally wipe their coats down. They need to have their teeth brushed about once a week and a bat at least once a month.

Follow these guidelines and take good care of your Chihuahua puppy. If you do so, then you can expect him or her to grow up into a strong, healthy dog that will be with you for many years to come!