of Connecticut

HELPFUL HINTS FOR TAKING CARE OF YOUR CHIHUAHUA

Never feed your dog raisins or grapes! This can cause kidney failure

and ultimately in some cases, death (especially in small dogs).

Chis love attention and do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. They will probably want to sleep in bed with someone. They should never be left to sleep outside or in a cold, drafty place. They cannot take the cold, due to their size and they love warmth. You will probably notice your Chi “sunning” him/her self in places where the sun shines in your house.

Beware of small puddles of anti-freeze in your driveway or garage. This is poison and you would not want any dog drinking this accidentally.

Most Chihuahuas shake when they are nervous, cold or scared. This is not a sign of “Canine Parkinson’s” but a very common thing in this breed. A little hugging, petting or a blanket usually takes care of this!

Please do not tie your Chi up and leave it outside unless it is protected and supervised. It is a small soul that cannot protect itself from larger, possibly meaner animals. It needs your loving supervision. Also, unfortunately, there are people that will steal them because they are a breed that is in demand and very expensive at a pet store.

Because they are so small, Chis can get underfoot. You will get used to having this mini boy or girl around, but in the beginning, take a good look before you sit on the couch…..!

Children and Chihuahuas can get along wonderfully, as long as the children understand that this is not a toy to be poked, slapped, kicked, pinched, dropped from heights…or any number of other creative things children sometimes do. Like any other dog it will bark, snarl or bite if it is provoked. Generally speaking, Chis LOVE children, but again, supervision is strongly advised.

Please have your Chi neutered or spayed. There are countless unwanted and homeless Chis in shelters. As an adoptive parent of a Chi, you would not want to add to this terrible problem we are all working against!

If you have questions about Chihuahuas in general, we are always happy to receive your emails and questions. Since we are not veterinarians, please defer all medical questions to your pet’s vet.

We LOVE to get pictures of your pet as it settles into your family. It makes us happy to see all of our hard work paying off! Email pictures to Peggy@TheChiSociety.org .

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US IN OUR RESCUE WORK!