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.

There's always time for a nap.

People Sometimes Have to Work

Unfortunately it’s almost impossible to spend 24 hours a day with your dog. People tend to have to work during the day in order to support their dog’s many needs. People also do errands and go out for entertainment purposes without their canine companions. Shocking, I know.

In truth, we dogs occasionally like having a little time to ourselves. It gives us a chance to catch up on naps and play with our toys without constantly having to entertain our human caretakers.

Do You Suffer from Separation Anxiety?

I know my daddy has separation anxiety when he has to leave me alone. We’re both lucky in that he works at home and so he almost never leaves. Help.

Actually I do like having him there. But I save my energy for when my other daddy comes home from work. Then I have three or four hours of fetch to contend with.

Even Chihuahuas Need Some Alone Time

Most dogs get to nap all day long. I have to go on three long walks every day. I show my displeasure by dragging my little feet. I secretly smile when I see my daddy’s frustration with me. Occasionally he’ll pick me up for part of the walk.

But hey, I don’t put a harness on him and pull him from a comfy bed to go out and walk. They made indoor piddle pads for a reason.

Alleviate Boredom for Your Lonely Chihuahua

If you do have to leave your little dog at home alone, make sure they have plenty of toys and chewies to play with so they are not bored. Keep the TV remote accessible (kidding). Don’t forget water. A few snacks would be nice too.

If your dog is anxious and destructive or barks continually, you may want to invest in a dog walker to help with the boredom. You could take your Chihuahua to day care, but I for one would hate that. I prefer my home environment.

For additional helpful information read Reducing Separation Anxiety in Your Chihuahua from Dummies.com

I worked hard to earn this nap.

Chihuahuas are, like most dogs, fond of taking many naps throughout the day. We learn early on that naps are fun and an enjoyable way to spend a day.

We sleep up to 18 hours a day so we’re pretty good at it.

In between naps, of course, we must work hard. I usually spend my days guarding, entertaining, exercising, supervising and protecting my daddies. Without me they would be lost.

I decided to list some of my favorite places to sleep and/or nap. They’re actually the same thing except naps are shorter. I am always on the alert though. My work is never done.

1. In my office daybed. It’s pink and has a pretty daisy on it. A blankie is always on top.
2. In my living room bed. Bigger than my pink bed with a nice blankie tent. A great place to hide.
3. Anyplace there is sunlight. We Chihuahuas love to sunbathe and look for that special spot.
4. On a pillow.
5. On the sofa.
6. On the carpet.
7. On one of my daddy’s lap.
8. In my daddies’ bed.
9. In my own bed next to daddy. It’s the same as my office daybed. I think they move it back and forth.
10. Anyplace under a blankie.

Check out more information about a Chihuahua’s temperament at YourPurebredPuppy.com.

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?

Recovering from my knee "procedure".

Mostly because it has come out of place. I’ve recently recovered from my knee surgery to fix my Luxating Patella. This is a common problem for little dogs like myself, where your kneecap pops out and makes walking difficult. So I had the surgery and everything was fine. It had something to do with fixing the groove so the kneecap stays in place.

Except after a while the pin that was used in surgery to help keep the kneecap in place came loose. My vet assured me this was not a problem.

Then I started limping and hip hopping so it became a bit of a problem. The answer was to remove the pin. It was no longer needed and served its purpose. Lucky for me this was a simple outpatient procedure that just required a local anesthetic. In less than 10 minutes the pin was out. I didn’t even require stitches.

Daddy was told not to let me lick the area where the pin was removed. So of course the first thing I did when I got home was to lick that area. What? It required my attention. I had to clean it and help it to heal. Don’t even think of putting that ugly cone around my neck.

Check out Complications from Luxating Patella Surgery from eHow for more technical information on this issue.

Searching for the right spot.

Glad you asked that. Most people don’t realize that dogs have scent glands in their paws. Kicking the grass or dirt or whatever happens to be around after relieving ourselves is our way of “spreading our scent” and “marking our territory.” It’s also a way of showing dominance.

I’ve been doing this behavior a lot lately to show that I really do rule the world. This is my way of showing it, a little bit at a time. Someday everyone will realize that I am the queen of the Universe and they shall obey me.

Waiting for my lunch.

Eating out with your Chihuahua can be a great experience. Yesterday my daddies took me out to Chicken Maison in Redondo Beach. We all enjoyed a delicious Chinese Chicken Salad. I love the crunchy part of the lettuce as well as the carrot slivers. I didn’t get to taste any of the chicken since I have to eat my well-balanced Turducken dog food from Merrick instead. (FYI the Chinese Chicken Salads are huge. For a dollar extra you can split the order and get extra pita bread. My daddies think it’s the best they’ve had. Be aware that you order inside and they bring the food to you. You cannot bring your dog inside and they do not take your order outside.)

It’s always fun to take your dog out to lunch or dinner. Living in Southern California makes that adventure possible with lots of restaurants that have outdoor eating areas. Even if you’re sitting next to a parking lot there’s still lots of people watching to do.  Pack a nice blankie and water dish and you’re all set.

Please leave me alone.

Chihuahuas, like most dogs and people too, sometimes get upset stomachs. You can tell when we vomit all over the floor, sofa and even in our beds. Sometimes we give you a warning with a heaving, yucky sound. That’s your chance to move us gently to a better spot or grab a paper towel or two.

Most likely your little Chi ate something “bad”. A few nights ago one of my daddies tossed a foam pillow on the floor and left it there. Of course I had to inspect it with my mouth. By the time I was discovered by my other daddy I had chewed up a nice little hole in the pillow. He tried to get the pieces from me but I showed him. I ate them. Yumm. Except a few hours later I got the shivers. Then I proceeded to hurl my dinner, lunch and breakfast at once. After decorating the carpet in several places I took to my sickbed and hid under the covers until the shivering went away. I was not  hungry that night.

The best thing to do is leave your little dog alone if that’s what they want. They need time to recuperate. Make sure they are warm and comfortable. Keep a watchful eye out for any signs of serious distress.

The next day I was back to normal and ate as usual. But you may want to consult your vet as to what to feed your Chi with an upset tummy. You may want to try boiled ground beef, turkey or chicken mixed with plain white rice with a little extra water to prevent dehydration.

You can find lots of advice and remedies online for Chihuahuas who have upset stomachs, like Chihuahua Vomiting (ugh) from Caring For Chihuahuas. You can also find great info on “Homecare for the Vomiting Dog” from PetPlace.com.

Again, if your little Chi is up-chucking all over the place all day long you should consult your vet immediately.

Sniffing is serious business.

Do you feel like your dog is an anchor when you take them on a walk? Just think how you would feel if someone put a collar around your neck and dragged you outside. Sometimes we really want to go out and sometimes a nice warm bed seems much nicer.

Once we are outside we do enjoy sniffing stuff. And occasionally we feel the urge to taste and/or eat stuff. Some of this stuff may not be appealing to you but that’s because you’re uninformed of the quality, texture, taste and most importantly smell of the stuff.

“The percentage of the dog’s brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is actually 40 times larger than that of a human! It’s been estimated that dogs can identify smells somewhere between 1,000 to 10,000 times better than nasally challenged humans can.” Read more at Understanding a Dog’s Sense of Smell from Dummies.com.

In addition, “…a dog has a phenomenal olfactory memory. A dog can remember smells long after being exposed to the original odor. Not only can your dog recognize that a certain neighborhood cat passed by the day before, he can even tell what that cat had for dinner!” Read more at Dog Sense of Smell from Dog.com.

Thus, when you take us dogs for a walk you may be thinking a bathroom walk or an exercise walk. But we’re thinking this is serious business. We must sniff and catalog everything we pass. And then store it in our brains for later retrieval. Think of your dog as a living computer. Treat your iDog with respect and don’t pull us when we’re working.