Candy is a Chihuahua No No
Chihuahuas, like most dogs, love Halloween. Sort of. Actually we love finding candy treats and will steal them if we can. Therefore it is not a good idea to leave candy lying around. Especially chocolate. We are not picky. We’ll eat any kind of candy. Including the wrappers. Why not. So be careful.
Dressing Your Chihuahua in a Costume Can Be Fun, or Not
Some dogs love getting dressed up for Halloween. I do not. What’s the point. It’s not like I get to go trick-or-treating and keep the candy. If your Chi does not like wearing clothes of any kind, please don’t dress them in a costume. It’s embarrassing.
Friendly Visitors or Annoying Beggars
A constant stream of noisy children coming to the door, begging for treats can be a bit bothersome for a sensitive Chihuahua. Begging for treats is my job. And I prefer to do it uninterrupted. So if your Chi is upset by all the commotion, please provide a comfortable, safe and noise-free place for them to hide.
Check out “Halloween Safety for Dogs” for some great advice from About.com.
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Chasing a squirell up a tree is my favorite dream.
Yes, yes we do. We have wonderful dreams of playing, running, eating.
Like people, dogs enter various stages of sleep, including the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage. This is where we dream. You can tell by the way we twitch and move our little paws.
Studies show that the number and length of dreams vary with the size of the dog. Thus we Chihuahuas have short and frequent dreams lasting less than 60 seconds.
Because we don’t have thumbs it is difficult to record our dreams when we wake up. But humans actually study this stuff. And they conclude that when animals dream they dream about events that occur in their everyday wakeful life.
This could be chasing squirrels, mailmen, barking at other dogs intruding on our space, just normal everyday things. Sometimes I dream I am a princess because that’s what my daddy says I am.
Check out this article “Do dogs and cats really dream?” from USAToday for more information.
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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.
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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.
Update (1/18/11): Are pets being over vaccinated? Be informed before you visit your vet.
What’s your opinion?
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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, any change in our routines. 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.
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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.
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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:
- Regular brushing prevents plaque buildup.
- It’s cheaper to brush than pay for tooth extractions or cleanings.
- Having your dog’s teeth cleaned by your vet means putting your baby under anesthetic. Scary and expensive.
- You dog will live longer and be healthier.
- 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. For a slideshow, check out How to Brush a Dog’s Teeth.
You also might enjoy How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth by Dr. William Rosenblad.
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.
Update 2/4/11: I seem to have outgrown my toothbrush chewing faze. Guess daddy will have to give me teeth cleaning treats until I decide to let him actually brush my teeth again.
Update 7/3/11: After a few months my daddy started giving me the old toothbrush with tasty beef flavored toothpaste again. I decided to try chewing the bristles and enjoyed it. It’s not the best way to do tooth brushing but it’s better than nothing.
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