Archive for the ‘Chihuahua Info’ Category

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.

Everybody likes to dine out once in a while. And so does your Chihuahua (other dogs too!).

It’s fun to go to new places and see new people. The smell of food cooking is wonderful. And Chihuahuas especially enjoy sitting on their daddy’s lap while dinner is being served. Unfortunately eating off the table is seen as rude and not socially acceptable. Pity.

It is against the law to bring your little furry friend into a restaurant. The health department thinks it’s unsanitary. Can you believe that?! But don’t worry. Many restaurants have outdoor seating and some of those welcome pets. They’re my favorites.

If you happen to live in an area with a nice year round climate like Los Angeles there are many restaurants to choose from and enjoy. If not, then I can tell you sitting out in the snow is not my idea of a good time. I know this because I don’t like the cold, not because I’ve ever seen snow. Don’t forget to bring a nice blankie. If you’re near the beach it might get a little chilly at night.

Here’s a list of Pet Friendly Outdoor Restaurants in the Southbay, taken from The Daily Breeze. Check online for restaurants in your neighborhood. Of course you can always eat outside at almost any fast food eatery, even Starbucks.

Hermosa Beach

Martha’s 22nd Street Grill – 25-22nd St.
Good Stuff – 1286 The Strand
Hennessey’s – 8 Pier Avenue
Le Petite Cafe – 190 Hermosa Ave.

Manhattan Beach

Hennessey’s – 313 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Johnny Rockets – 1550 Rosecrans Ave.
The Local Yolk – 3414 Highland Ave.
Uncle Bill’s Pancake House – 1305 Highland Ave.

Marina Del Rey

Baja Fresh Mexican Grill – 13424 Maxella Ave.
The Cow’s End – 34 Washington Blvd.
Mercedes’ Cuban Grill – 14 Washington Blvd.

Redondo Beach

Kool Dog Diner – 1666 South PCH
Petit Casino – 1767 South Elena Ave.
Whole Foods Market – 405 N. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Zazou – 4810 South Catalina Ave.

Torrance

Lazy Dog Cafe – 3525 W. Carson St.
Whole Foods Market – 2655 Pacific Coast Highway

Palos Verdes

Rive Gauche – 320 Tejon Place

San Pedro

Lighthouse Deli/Cafe – 508 W. 39th Street

I exercise and eat right daily.

Do you wonder how much you should feed your little Chihuahua? If he/she is overweight, then you should be very concerned. Overweight dogs do not live as long as normal weight dogs. They need lots of exercise and the right kind of quality food.

The folks at TrainPetDog.com have developed a unique calorie calculator for dogs. Give it a try. (Caution, you will be given the opportunity to buy a Canine Cuisine ebook. If you do, I get a little commission.)

Waiting for my surgical tape to fall off.

This is not an easy thing to do. Trust me, I know. It’s very painful if you pull the tape off. Yikes! Since I just had knee surgery a week and a half ago, I consider myself a survivor and an expert.

According to WikiAnswers: “The easiest way is to soak the tape in water to release the adhesive in the tape. This may not work because the dog may not like to be in water. It is the best way that will not hurt the dog.”

I agree it may not work. Standing in a pool of water is not my idea of fun. I’d much rather lay in my bed under three blankies.

I’ll go with my vet’s idea. Leave it alone and it will come off eventually (even he didn’t want to pull my tape off).

Gradually my tape is peeling off. I help a little by licking at it. Once it’s gone I will feel like a new Chihuahua girl. I deserve a treat.

Anticipating my medicine.

This actually applies to all dogs but since I am a Chihuahua I tend to be self-centered. Medicine is not tasty. Therefore, trying to give your Chi a pill is going to be a problem, unless, of course, your Chihuahua (or dog) loves pills.

So the trick is to hide the pill in something your pet loves. Here are some great ideas I recommend.

1. Peanut Butter (just enough to disguise the pill, not half a jar)
2. A piece of meat (chicken or turkey). Make sure the pill doesn’t fall out.
3. Cheese. Not too much, just enough to hide the pill so it isn’t visible. If it’s too big your dog may decide to chew the cheese and potentially spit out the pill.
4. Mashed potatoes (or a bit of unmashed potato). Make sure it’s cooked.
5. Canned dog food. If your dog is picky this might not work.

Liquid medicine is also a challenge. I absolutely hate having a dropper full of yucky medicine forced into my mouth. So I bite. Daddy tried gloves. I fought back. Two daddies tried holding me and opening my mouth at the same time. I won.

Then came a brilliant idea. Hide the liquid medicine in ice cream. Just a bit of lactose free vanilla. I loved this. Now I look forward to my medicine every day. Ice cream is probably not the best choice for your dog, but it works great. You might want to consider vanilla yogurt or natural apple sauce.

So don’t get stressed over giving your Chi medication. Make it a game of hide and go treat.

Here I am recovering in my plush bed.

I am recovering from my surgery but food is still very important to me. Thus I find the controversial debate of canned vs. dry dog food fascinating.

My daddy generally mixes my dry dog food with some canned dog food. They are both high quality Turducken from Merrick. I find this to be my favorite brand. I actually prefer the canned because it has chunks and gravy and lots of other tasty goodies. When the two are mixed together I usually eat the dry as well as the canned but I don’t chew it, I just swallow the pieces whole. So any benefit of crunchiness is not happening.

Perhaps some day my daddy will get the hint and just give me the canned food with an occasional crunchy treat.

Check out these interesting articles for more details. “Feeding Your Dog – Canned or Dry And How Often? from PetPlace.com and Professor’s House on Dry Dog Food vs. Canned.

I would write more but I need another nap.

According to an article from DogAge.com you should keep your dog far, far away from any food that is “sugar-free”. Most likely that “human-grade” treat contains Xylitol, a sugar-free sweetener.

You can find this very bad substance in some candies, gum, and even soft-drinks. I doubt many people give their dogs gum or diet soda but if you leave it around they might decide to try it. We dogs are curious beings.

I’m not always picky about what I put in my mouth. I may have swallowed a thing or two I’ve found in the street. Don’t judge me.

Anyway, Xylitol can cause low blood sugar, seizures and impair muscle coordination. If your dog does eat something with Xylitol please see a vet as soon as possible. Just saying.

Sad but true. Even Chihuahuas. And I am unfortunately a living example. It turns out what seemed to be a lump on my belly is instead an “Umbilical Hernia”. There is an opening where my belly button would be if I had one, and through that opening has passed either part of my intestine or fat. Ugh. Can you imagine?

A hernia is “an abnormal opening in a muscle through which other tissues of the body pass.” These openings, or hernias, are under the skin so you don’t actually see them. There are two primary kinds of hernias in dogs. One is in the groin area and another in the “belly button” area.

I blame my mother. According to my vet, it may be hereditary or my mommy dearest may have bitten off my umbilical cord too close and left a little hole. Then I grew up and that hole did too. Because it’s under the skin you can’t see it. Except now there’s an unsightly bulge in my belly. No bikinis for me right now.

So if you notice a lump on your Chi, take them to the vet and have it examined because there can be complications with blood supply and such and can be fatal. Yikes! Having part of your intestine ooze out of your stomach is yucky. Surgery is needed to close the hole after placing back the stuff that escaped.

For more information read Inguinal, Umbilical and Diaphragmatic Hernias in Dogs from Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc., Race Foster, DVM or do a search online. Or visit your friendly vet.

I'm playing hard to get.

Chihuahuas and cats may get along. I for one find them interesting. I’m not sure I would ever want to live with one, though. We both like to groom ourselves, lie in laps to sleep, sun ourselves and get attention.

Chihuahuas are often smaller than most cats. That could prove dangerous if the cat decides to pounce on the Chi from above. And they have claws that scratch. I have personally found that cats like to swipe at little dogs. Luckily I was out of reach.

I often encounter several cats on my daily walks. They come up to me and stare. I stare back. This could be a sign that I’m ready to attack. Probably not a good idea for me to do. I’d probably lose.

I was visiting some relatives recently and they have a cat. This is not the first cat I have been with in an enclosed space. Luckily nothing happened. I growled a bit and he tried to eat my food. But all in all we got along fine. Don’t I look relaxed in the photo? We do not play together, yet, but maybe in the future. As long as I’m in a good mood.

It’s best not to leave your cat and/or Chi alone together until you are absolutely sure they are okay with each other. Try not to stare at them or show anxiety because that might rub off on your Chi. Be calm and maybe all will go splendidly.

For more information check out this article from PetChiDog.

Have you decorated your home for the holidays? Have you considered how fascinated your little Chihuahua is with all things chewable? Imagine their reaction to trees, lights, ornaments, tinsel, pine needles, gifts, flocking and more.

This is my second Xmas. I don’t remember the first one as I was only a few months old. But this year Papa Lee went all out. I love that fake white flocked old tree. Lots and lots of white stuff falling all over the floor. Daddy Charlie rushed out with the vacuum but I was clever and quicker. I managed to grab a mouthful of white fluffies to play with under the safety of the coffee table.

Just so you know, though, here are some things the ASPCA wants you to keep in mind for your pet’s safety.

1. No holiday sweets, especially chocolate. Unsweetened baking chocolate is particularly toxic to your dog. It wouldn’t take much for a little Chihuahua to have tummy issues or worse.
2. Hard to believe, but dogs are better off keeping to their normal, everyday diet, assuming that consists of high quality dog food and not table scraps.
3. Never give your dog poultry bones or greasy, spicy and fatty foods. The results could be very, very bad.
4. Alcohol is a definite no no. There’s nothing worse than a drunk Chi and it could prove fatal.
5. We do love those fancy cellophane wrappers as well as aluminum foil. But keep them away from us.
6. Holiday flowers and plants could be poisonous. Lilies can cause kidney failure, mistletoe and holly berries can be toxic. Poinsettias can cause vomiting or nausea. Oh my.
7. Xmas tree water can look enticing to a little Chi. But the bacteria and fertilizers can prove to cause unpleasant stomach upsets.
8. Ornaments and other decorations look like toys. We want them. Don’t give them to us. Avoid decorating those low hanging branches. Or else use doggie treats. (That’s my idea. Yum.)

Also check out these DogAge Holiday Tips.