Is my chihuahua the right weight? Or is he too skinny? What is the ideal weight for chihuahua dogs? Many chihuahua owners believe that their animals are thin, so to answer these questions, this post will talk about the physical characteristics of the chihuahua breed dog. In addition, let’s talk about the care of this breed.
Skinny chihuahua
Chihuahuas are small dogs and that’s why they can give the impression that the animals are thinner. However, the thin ones can be an indication of diseases or malnutrition in dogs.
The ideal weight for a Chihuahua dog is between 1 to 3 kg. So, dogs can give the wrong impression to many owners. To know if the dog is thin, other parameters must be evaluated, such as the absence of a layer of fat in the region of the ribs and hips, the silhouette well insinuated.
To know if a dog is thin, veterinarians use a scale called a body condition score that can vary from 1 to 9, with the ideal being the animal that is in 5, that is, neither thin nor fat.
Main causes of weight loss in chihuahuas
Dogs can show weight loss in infectious diseases that can be caused by bacteria and viruses. These diseases can be quite varied, some can lead to changes in the gastrointestinal tract leading to vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, thus leading to weight loss in dogs.
Infections can also happen in other organs, but they can lead to apathy, prostration and many animals can lose their appetite, resulting in weight loss.
Another factor is that in many parasitic diseases, the parasites prevent dogs from receiving nutrients from the ingested food, thus favoring an increase in food consumption by the dog without adequate weight gain. That’s why it’s important to give dogs their worm remedies up to date.
Allergies and irritable bowel syndrome can also affect these dogs by preventing the Chihuahua from absorbing and gaining weight. These pathologies should be treated by a gastroenterologist veterinary doctor. With the use of adequate food and treatments for crises, animals can have a good quality of life.
Poor dog nutrition can also lead to weight loss and even keep the animal leaner. The use of unbalanced or low-quality food can not only make the dog thin but can also favor the appearance of other diseases due to the lack of vitamins and nutrients necessary to keep the animal strong.
What to do for the animal to gain weight
First, a veterinarian should be consulted to encourage the consumption of balanced diets with the amount of specific nutrients for the animal. In addition, some physical activities can be indicated to keep the dog healthy.
Periodic consultations with the veterinarian can prevent dogs from getting sick. Since in these consultations these animals can be vaccinated and dewormed. In addition, exams can detect diseases in their early stages, preventing the clinical evolution of diseases that weaken the dog’s health status.
And how is the chihuahua dog
Below we will talk a little about the characteristics of the Chihuahua breed.
About the Chihuahua breed
One of the theories about the origin of the Chihuahua believes that these dogs lived wild in Mexico. These small dogs were captured and domesticated by the indigenous people of the region.
Physical characteristics
The head is very round and small, and the eyes are round. The ears are large and are always on alert. It is a dog with a compact body, short and muscular limbs, its tail is moderately long, carried high, arched or in a semicircle.
The Chihuahua’s coat can be short-haired or long-haired and can be found in many shades and combinations except for the merle color.
Behavior / Temperament
Chihuahuas have a strong personality. They are small dogs but agile, alert, restless and very courageous. It’s a dog that can bark a lot. They can react to any strange movement, always calling the tutor’s attention. Therefore, it is considered a good guard dog.
Breed health
Chihuahuas are very healthy animals, but they need to do physical activities such as playing and going for walks to burn off some energy. This breed can have some genetic diseases such as:
- Patellar deviation;
- Cryptorchidism;
- Hydrocephalus.
Patellar deviation is a disease where the animal may limp and feel local pain, as the patella leaves the anatomical place, which may lead to injuries from temptation and other complications.
Cryptorchidism is the disease present in males where one or both testicles are not observed in the scrotum. The puppies are born with the testicles in the cavity and until 8 months these testicles tend to be in the scrotum.
After 8 months of the absence of one or more testicles the animal is considered a cryptorchid. In these cases, castration of the animal is indicated, since the testicle in the cavity has a greater predisposition to become a tumor that can worsen the health of the animal.
Hydrocephalus, on the other hand, has no well-described causes. It is a disease that happens in the intra uterine life where there is a large accumulation of liquids in the puppy’s skull.
Thus, the bitch may have difficulties when giving birth to the animal in a natural way, being a necessary cesarean section. Puppies often die due to neuronal complications generated by hydrocephalus.
Dogs with these genetic disorders are discouraged from breeding. And there must be veterinary monitoring for better resolution of the cases.
These animals do not have so many reproductive problems, but gestational follow-up with a veterinarian is advised due to the high incidence of hydrocephalus, which can lead to dystocia, resulting in the mother and the offspring’s death.
Animals must have a routine of being vaccinated and dewormed. In addition to care with ectoparasites such as fleas and ticks. When these preventive cares are not applied, the animals can present health problems.
Illness, happiness, excitement, or fear can cause the animal to shiver; this same sign can be seen when they are cold. If constant tremors are observed, a veterinarian should be sought.
General Care
Short-haired dogs do not need clipping, while long-haired animals may need clipping. Bathing these animals must be done constantly and they must have their fur brushed at least twice a week.
Baths in this breed are indicated with specific shampoos for dogs and neutral shampoos. Bathing should be done very carefully, especially to avoid getting water into the ear. The animal must always be very dry after bathing to avoid the growth of microorganisms that can lead to dermatitis.
Brushing the dog’s teeth is necessary to prevent tartar buildup. Brushing the teeth should be done every 48 hours, using specific toothpaste for dogs. As for nail clipping, the nail should be cut once or twice a month. Cutting the nails prevents the animal from getting hurt or even hurting the tutor.
Conclusion
Chihuahua dogs can be considered thin due to their size, but to be sure a veterinarian can evaluate the animal. The weight loss of chihuahua dogs can mean poor nutrition and diseases that can be infectious or not. Finally, this post talked about the characteristics of these little dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Skinny chihuahua
How heavy is a chihuahua?
The Chihuahua’s weight should be between 1 and 3 kg.
How long does a chihuahua live?
Chihuahuas usually live between 12 and 20 years, depending on their genetics and general care.
Do the chihuahuas bark a lot?
Yes, because they are dogs that have great hearing and any noise they find suspicious they will bark. Thus making them good dogs to guard.
Reference
CBKC – Brazilian Canine Confederation, 2015 Official Breed Standard: chihuahua. Available at: https://cbkc.org/application/views/docs/padroes/padrao-raca_187.pdf, accessed January 22, 2022.
Pictures from pixabay.com
