Chihuahuas

CHIHUAHUA

Chihuahuas are among the smallest of the toy breeds. They are an enjoyable breed although they can be protective. Chihuahuas are a lot like a human baby in that they are one of the only breeds to be born with a soft spot, or molera, on their head much like a human infant. They do need special care when very young but most moleras will grow shut by the time the Chihuahua is one year old. Another concern about raising a very tiny Chihuahua is that they are prone to becoming hypoglycemic and without attentive care they could suffer health problems if not fed properly. Don't let this scare you from selecting a Chihuahua. There are so many wonderful things to enjoy about them. As long as you are a responsible pet owner and you provide plenty of love and care, your Chihuahua will thrive.

 

Here is some very helpful information regarding the Chihuahua molera:

THE CHIHUAHUA'S MOLERA

Sponsored by The Chihuahua Club of America

Historically, the Chihuahua as developed in Mexico and the United States has displayed a "soft spot" on the top of the head. In the Chihuahua, this spot, or fontanel, is know as a MOLERA, and is the same as that found in human babies. In the past, this molera was accepted as a mark of purity in the breed, and it is still mentioned in most Chihuahua breed standards the world over.

It is important to note that while many Chihuahua puppies are born without the molera, there are probably just as many born with one, and its presence is nothing to become alarmed over. The molera in a Chihuahua will occur on the top of the head and may vary in shape and size when present.

Unfortunately, many lay people (and some Veterinarians not familiar with the Chihuahua) have tried to link the mere presence of a molera with the condition known as hydrocephalus. This has caused many new comers to the breed serious concern and undo worry. The truth is that a domed head with a molera present does not predispose the Chihuahua to this condition.

Along with the observations of devoted breeders over the years, there is adequate medical evidence to support this statement:

While it would be impossible to list all the medical documentation in this paper, these few included here are perfectly clear: the presence of a molera does not mean the dog has a medical problem.

The Chihuahua is a little dog! They belong in the house, at their owner's side, returning all the love they deserve to receive. With or without a molera, the healthy Chihuahua that is loved and given proper Veterinary care will live well into its teens as an irresistible member of the family.

 

Hypoglycemia and Chihuahuas

Hypoglycemia is defined as a blood glucose or blood
sugar concentration of less than 70 milligrams per
deciliter(mg/dl) of blood. Symptoms depend on how
quickly the blood glucose concentration decreases but
rarely occur until it falls below 50 mg/dl.

Symptoms reflect the rate of decrease of the blood
glucose concentration, the underlying cause of
hypoglycemia, and the chronicity of the problem. One
common form of hypoglycemia is called juvenile
hypoglycemia because it occurs in puppies less than
three months of age. Juvenile hypoglycemia is
common in puppies because they have not fully
developed the ability to regulate their blood glucose
concentration and have a high requirement for
glucose. Stress, cold, malnutrition, and intestinal
parasites are problems that may precipitate a bout of
juvenile hypoglycemia. Toy and teacup breeds, less
than three months of age are most commonly affected.
They will usually out grown this by 3-4 months of age.

Other causes of hypoglycemia include fasting before
vigorous exercise, which may be a factor in the
syndrome called “hunting dog hypoglycemia”; Addison’
s disease, an endocrine problem caused by a lack of
hormone production by the adrenal glands which can
cause weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, and collapse;
excessive insulin administration, as may occur in pets
with diabetes mellitus; insulin-producing tumors of the
pancreas, called “insulinomas” or “beta cell tumors”;
severe liver disease; some other tumors that produce
insulin-like factors; dogs with portosystemic shunts,
which are congenital blood vessel abnormalities the
cause blood from the intestines to by-pass the liver;
hereditary diseases arising from abnormal storage of
glucose as starch in the liver, or glycogen storage
disease; and serious systemic bacterial infection, or
sepsis.

What to Watch For                   
  •   Loss of appetite           
  •  Extreme lethargy
  •  Incoordination
  •  Trembling
  •  Muscular twitching
  •  Weakness
  •  Seizures
  •  Unusual behavior
  •  Dilated pupils
  •  Apparent blindness
  •  Stupor or coma
A teacup size dog of any breed can be a lot of work. Sometimes it could mean around the clock care and feeding.
These puppies stomachs are so small they can not eat enough at one time to maintain their bodies for long periods of time.
Without the right care these puppies can die. These puppies
should not be left home alone while you work until at least 4 to 5 months of age. If you are not positive that you can give around the clock care for your puppy, you should not get one.  
Hypoglycemia in a teacup is Very Serious!
Things to have on hand.
  • Pedialite
  • Nutri-cal
  • Honey
  • Yogurt
Gerber baby food
  • Veal
Heating pad

What to do
If your puppy can't get up or seems to be have a seizure, his sugar has probably dropped. Give it either the Nutri-cal or honey. You may have to pry his mouth open but he has to have it. Make sure his temp stays up and keep rubbing him . Keep him stimulated! If you are using nutri-cal, Put a line
on your fore fingure from the first joint to the tip of your finger and feed it to him. You may have to do this several times. If the
puppy is real young you may have to mix a bit of water in with it to thin it. It could take up to 20 minutes to get him completely aware again. If this happens alot, you need to take him to the
vet.  After your pup feels better he may not want to eat. Offer him some veal. It is very gentle on the stomach because it is for babies and most of the puppies love it. Some people say that feeding Yogurt will keep the sugar levels up. 1 tsp 3
times a day. They seem to like vanilla nd banana best.