Appointments to Make
Depending on whether you're bringing your Chihuahua home from a quality breeder or a poorly funded municipal shelter, you might have a few or a great many appointments to make for your pup or dog. A quality breeder, a good rescue, and a dedicated shelter will all deliver a Chihuahua that is clean, healthy, and ready to start a new life. In this case, the only appointment you will need to make is with your veterinarian for a basic wellness checkup — and you'll want to have this taken care of as soon as possible after picking up your Chihuahua.
First Stop: The Vet
There are two needs for speed in scheduling this appointment. First, young puppies in particular are notorious for going down quickly if they are ill; they just don't have the resistance to disease and strength that a healthy, larger adult dog would have. In other words, a pup may appear just a little off one minute and within twenty-four hours be desperately ill.
In addition to ensuring that your puppy is in tip-top health, your veterinarian should also be able to explain the early health signs that might indicate an emergency (such as vomiting, diarrhea, or listlessness). You should also find out where you will need to go if your Chi becomes ill after clinic hours and be familiar enough with the route that you can get there easily after dark.
At this first wellness exam, your veterinarian will check for signs of illness. He will look for signs of existing health conditions, such as heart disease or blindness, as well as infectious diseases. In particular, your veterinarian will be checking for signs of parvovirus and canine hepatitis, which are often lethal to young puppies.
When you take your Chi to the veterinary exam, bring her shot and worming records (supplied by the breeder) so that your Chi won't have to receive any more vaccinations than necessary. If your Chi came from a shelter or pound, these records may not be available. Your veterinarian will need to be aware of this, too, in planning your dog's upcoming health care.
The second reason for scheduling the veterinary appointment within the first day, if possible, is because many breeders' health guarantees only remain in effect if the dog or puppy is examined within a set period of time. Usually, this time period is anywhere from twenty-four to seventy-two hours. This means you may have as little as one day to get your Chi examined for diseases and illnesses.
If your new Chihuahua is ill at the time of examination, your veterinarian will have to provide proof that the dog was sick upon examination in order for you to return or exchange the puppy, depending on the terms of your contract. Be aware that most contracts do not offer to pay for the puppy's veterinary expenses if you try to save the puppy, which is what most puppy owners choose to do who have already become attached to their new canine.
If your Chihuahua becomes ill outside of the breeder's time window, as defined in the contract, it is normally assumed that you exposed the Chi to a contagious disease. In that case, it is not the breeder's responsibility to return your money or offer to exchange the pup for a healthy one. Breeders' contracts vary, however, concerning their responsibilities if your Chi develops a hereditary disease, such as canine hip dysplasia or epilepsy.
Second Stop: Grooming Shop
If you adopt your Chihuahua from a shelter or an animal-control facility, you will likely want to make an appointment with a professional grooming shop before bringing your Chi home. Many adoption facilities don't have the budget to treat all strays and owner surrenders for ticks, fleas, and mites. These are pests you certainly don't want to bring into your home if you can avoid it.
When setting an appointment with a groomer, make sure to let him know that to the best of your knowledge, the Chihuahua you are bringing in has never been professionally groomed. This gives the groomer a heads-up to go slowly and gently with the dog and use a muzzle, if necessary, to ensure the groomer's safety.
In addition to having any and all pests eradicated from your Chi's skin and coat, make arrangements to have your Chihuahua bathed, dried, and trimmed, if necessary. Long coats may require more extensive work as some of the denser, finer coats can mat and tangle. In extreme cases of prior neglect, part of the coat may need to be shaved, but trust your groomer. He'll avoid anything radical if at all possible.
Don't forget to have your Chi's toenails clipped. It's one less thing you'll have to worry about in the first few weeks that your Chihuahua is home. Additionally, if your Chi is an adult, clipping toenails may not be on her agenda (at the moment) and leaving this potentially touchy job to a professional can save a lot of anxiety for both you and your dog.
Some groomers are hesitant about working on unknown dogs that could be potentially ill or easily frightened. Respect your groomer's position and see if he will accept your Chi after she has had her vet check. If this is still unacceptable, call around to other grooming shops and find someone who is willing to work with you and your dog.
