Archive for the ‘Ask Lucy’ Category

This is such an important topic that I feel I must cover it again.

Occasionally your Chihuahua may get sick and need to take a pill. There are many ways to accomplish this task. Basically it comes down to hard vs. easy.

The Easy Way

The easy way is to hide the pill in a treat. This could be a bit of cheese, peanut butter, meat, cream cheese. Even a little ice cream can work. Whatever kind of mushy food your Chi loves.

You can even try hiding the pill in your dog’s food. But we Chihuahua’s have a keen sense of smell. And sometimes that little pill can be bitter. We can be very clever in eating the treat and/or food and spitting out the pill so be careful.

Don’t forget your pill cutter. This little gizmo makes cutting a pill so much easier than with a knife.

The Hard Way

Check out this video on “How to Give Your Dog a Pill” from PetPlace.com. It makes the hard way to give a pill to your dog look almost easy. Just open the mouth and place the pill in the back of the throat. Then all you have to do is inject a little water in your Chi’s mouth and watch them swallow the pill.

Uh huh. That’ll work just fine with most Chihuahuas. You know how much we enjoy having our mouths opened and something stuck down our throats.

Or you could try a pill popper, that blows the pill down your Chihuahau’s throat. That sounds easy-peasy too.

I'm ready to play, after my nap.

I enjoy sleeping. It’s fun, relaxing and gives me energy to play with my Daddies all evening long. I have many places to sleep so I can pick and choose the best options. There’s my regular, sturdy bed next to the living room floor heater that’s ideal in winter. It has two blankies over the top of the bed so I can easily run under the covers if ever I need a quick nap and wish to hide.

I also have a portable bed that is next to my daddy in his office where he works during the day. It has a little pillow and a comfy blankie. This is the same bed that magically appears beside my daddies bed at night. I prefer to sleep in my own bed at night because I don’t want to be disturbed by my daddies. Also, their bed is so high I might hurt myself if I decide to jump off and use the restroom (piddle pads).

Generally a Chihuahua sleeps 12 – 14 hours a day. Some sleep up to 18 hours a day. There’s light sleep and there’s REM (Rapid Eye Movement) deep sleep. We wake often to make sure our environment is kept safe and secure.

I would sleep longer during the day but my daddy wakes me for several long walks. I don’t believe in exercise but my daddy does. What can you do.

Here’s more information on the Behavior and Temperament of Chihuahuas from PetChiDog.

You never know what you may catch in a social situation.

I was just given a reprieve today from my vet and I will opt out of getting a bordetella vaccination. The question is, is this vaccine really necessary? Opinions differ. My opinion is no.

The bordetella vaccine prevents kennel cough, a bacteria that is spread through the air (yikes). It is recommended if your dog socializes with other dogs whose histories are questionable. But if your dog mostly stays at home and avoids dog parks, kennels and the groomer, this vaccine is probably unnecessary (consult your own vet, don’t take my biased opinion).

As an aside, I don’t see any reason for boarding your dog in a kennel. It’s lonely, uncomfortable and scary. You’re usually placed in a small, enclosed space without any of your familiar smells and belongings. No toys, no blankie, no chewy. And lots of strangers and other dogs who bark and whine. Ah, but I digress.

Keep in mind that the bordetella vaccine has side effects which could be worse than the kennel cough itself. This includes hives, nausea, diarrhea or even death! Can you imagine dying from a vaccine. I shudder at the thought. Also the vaccine only lasts about 6 months and may not cover every strain. So you could get the vaccine and still get kennel cough. My daddy’s Chihuahua before me got really sick from the bordetella nasal spray. Ugh.

Check out “Information on Bordetella Vaccination for Dogs” from eHow for much more information on this vaccine. And don’t forget to ask your vet what they recommend for your own particular dog.

What’s your opinion?

That bone is mine! Let me at it.

Hard as it is to believe, your Chihuahua is a dog and dogs love bones. They smell good and we absolutely love to chew them.

I seem to be finding bones wherever I walk lately. Are people throwing their chicken bones out the window?

My daddy won’t let me keep the bones I find and I let him know that I am not happy with him stealing my bones from me. He says genuine animal bones can be dangerous. They chip and can damage your dog’s interior organs. They can also harm your dog’s digestive track.

Sounds dreadful. But still I can’t resist. That’s why daddy recommends a safe rawhide or nylon bone instead. Not as good, but better than nothing, I guess.

The morale of this story is think twice before giving or allowing your dog to have a bone. Read “Bone Fragments Cause Canine Gastrointestinal Problems” by Joy Butler to get the real scoop.

Checking out hydrants relieves my stress.

Lots of things can stress your Chihuahua.

We take our cue from our human companions as well as the environment. We Chihuahuas are very intuitive and we know when something is up with our parents. Also stressful situations like thunderstorms, fireworks, sirens, strangers at the door, strange company, noisy children, people putting their hands in front of our faces, being left alone, arguing parents. Ay, the list goes on.

Because Chihuahuas tend to be nervous types, a little bit of stress can cause unwanted behavior. Don’t ask.

There’s a great article called “Our Stress, Depression, Joy…Can Dogs Tell” by Dr. Nicholas Dodman. Dogs really know when something is wrong and whether they should hide or attack. I have lots of hiding places and know just where to go where I can’t be caught.

Depending on our personality, we can either act out in an aggressive or annoying way or just take to our beds and nap. Nice soothing classical music helps us relax. Just make sure it’s not the 1812 Overture.

[Advertising Alert!]

Music My Pet is one of several CDs made especially to help your dog relax. It makes a perfect gift for that hyper dog, and their human caretakers.

Sleeping on the job.

Because we can. Just like humans, dogs can get the hiccups. Mostly this happens with puppies if they eat or drink too fast. They usually outgrow this.

Sometimes I still get the hiccups just because. Mostly hiccups are harmless, but if you notice other symptoms such as vomiting, see your dreaded vet.

Doing my part to keep the streets clean.

Spring is officially here. Can you believe it?! I’ve never seen snow but I have felt cold and wind and rain, even in Southern California. I still sleep under three blankies next to a floor heater. I like to be cozy.

But I digress. The subject is toxic plants. You should avoid eating them. I know I am guilty of eating lots of things I shouldn’t. I drive my daddy crazy as I constantly pick up things on my walks. Sometimes I just like to carry a leaf or a stick. But sometimes I smell a flower or catch a piece of a plant that’s blowing in the wind. Often I let go when daddy tries to retrieve my catch. But sometimes I don’t want to and choose to eat it instead.

So far I guess I’m lucky since I have not eating anything bad for me. Occasionally I do cough a bit, but that’s part of the experience of eating on the road.

Unfortunately some plants are toxic to dogs and for Chihuahuas a little bit of toxicity can go a long way to causing harm.

PetPlace.com has an interesting article called “Outdoor Spring Plants – Are They Toxic?“. You should check it out and be informed.

Here’s a list from the article of plants to avoid:

The springtime plants that can result in gastrointestinal upset in dogs and cats include:
Amaryllis
Ferns
Caladium
Calla lily
Hyacinth
Iris
Tulip

Plants that are considered very toxic and can result in severe illness or even death include:
Crocus
Azalea
Rhododendron
Tiger Lily
Easter Lily
Bittersweet
Clematis
Daffodil
Day lily
Foxglove
Lily of the Valley
Narcissus
Morning Glory
Death Camas

Make sure your daddy or mommy carries a plant identification book when you take a walk, so that when you absolutely have to eat a plant, you’ll know if you have to visit the emergency room.

Or else learn the commands “leave it” and “drop it”. I’m still working on that. So far, I’m winning.

Regular Brushing is Very Important to Lucy.

Just because I’m a little Chihuahua with little teeth doesn’t mean I don’t need to keep up with proper dental hygiene. Not brushing can cause lots of periodontal diseases that can shorten your pet’s life. As it is our, time on earth is limited so why shorten it by dental neglect.

Here’s why I think you should brush your Chi’s teeth:

1. Regular brushing prevents plaque buildup.
2. It’s cheaper to brush than pay for tooth extractions or cleanings.
3. Having your dog’s teeth cleaned by your vet means putting your baby under anesthetic. Scary and expensive.
4. You dog will live longer and be healthier.
5. Cleaner and fresher breath is most welcome.

For specific instructions you might want to read “How to Brush a Chihuahua’s Teeth” from eHow.com.

To be honest, I don’t really brush my teeth so much as I chew on the bristles while my daddy moves the toothbrush around. It has the same effect but is less clinical sounding. And chewing a toothbrush is so much more fun. Especially one flavored with beef flavored tooth paste. I love beef flavored Petrodex toothpaste. My daddy tried another brand but I rejected it quickly.

Please remember to replace your toothbrush every six months. And don’t forget the gums. Germs can collect and they’re oogie. You might try some crunchy dental treats, too.

Lucy and her toy.

Chihuahuas, like most dogs, love to chew. It’s what we live for. Because we don’t have thumbs, it’s hard for us to use our “hands” to do things with, such as typing this blog, knitting or playing video games.

So most things are done using our mouths. As puppies it is the way we explore the world. We see, we grab, we taste and we chew. It is best to give your Chihuahua an appropriate toy or chewy substance. This helps relieve boredom and it’s fun.

But if you don’t give us a “dog-friendly” bone or stuffed squeaky toy, we will take what we can get. This includes every piece of paper, material, rug, wall, sock, shoe and most things non-editable.

Please make sure if you must leave your dog home alone that there is nothing he/she can get a hold of that may cause damage to their insides. I’m lucky. My daddy works from home and is almost always around. This makes it difficult to get away with things.

Here’s an excerpt from an article called Why Good Dogs Eat Bad Things… Should You Worry? by Dr. Jon at PetPlace.com:

Chewing on things is a normal part of “puppyhood”, and many times the things our dogs eat are not dangerous. Still, you can expect to see some vomiting and maybe even a little diarrhea when your dog eats something that is not “food”.

So, before you rush your pooch to the vet, check out this list of non-toxic items that dogs often eat.

If your dog eats any of the items on this list, you do NOT have to worry unless the object becomes lodged in the stomach or intestines, causing an obstruction.

Acrylic paint
Ballpoint pens
Bath oil
Bubble bath soaps
Candles
Chalk
Citronella candles
Cosmetics
Crayons
Deodorants
Elmer’s glue
Fabric softeners
Glow jewelry
Hair conditioner
Hand lotion
Incense
Indelible markers
Ink
Lipstick
Magic markers
Mineral oil
Modeling clay
Newspaper – (non-colored/black ink only)
Pencils (nontoxic since they are no longer made of lead)
Petroleum jelly
Play-Doh
Putty
Rubber cement
Shampoo
Shaving cream
Silica gel packets
Soap
Spackle
Suntan lotion
Superglue
Teething rings
Thermometers
Toothpaste
Water colors

If you have any doubt, always call your vet or local emergency clinic.

Where is my dinner?!

Chihuahuas love to eat human food. It’s so much more desirable than dog food. But if you really want to cook your own dog food you must find a nutritionally sound recipe.

Don’t make the mistake my daddy did with his previous Chihuahua. He let her decide what to eat and she ended up eating nothing but VitaSnax and whatever meat daddy had for dinner. She got quite a variety but not the right nutrition. The result was the inability to digest protein leading to a protein deficiency as well as Inflammatory Bowel Disease. It wasn’t pretty.

Search online and you will find plenty of ways to prepare a proper meal for your dog (from wikiHow.com).

For another option to cook your own pet food check out balanceit.com. It’s run by a board certified veterinary nutritionist and was recommended by Dr. Michele Hoag DVM, Plaza Del Amo Animal Hospital, as seen in The Daily Breeze.

Just make sure you have the right amount of meats, grains, vegetables and healthy supplements.

But if all this is too much, you can always play it safe with a good, high quality, human grade dog food. I eat Merrick Turducken. It’s tasty and good for me. Plus daddy usually adds a few extra ingredients for flavor and variety, such as other dog food, treats, rice, vegetables and such.