Handle with Care!
You're now aware that sleeping in bed with a tiny puppy is not a good idea, but this isn't the only time that you will have to exert care and caution with your new Chihuahua puppy. As the smallest of the toy breeds, and at its smallest as a puppy, the Chihuahua youngster can present herself with many opportunities for serious injuries.
Physical Frailties
Falls are one of the top causes of broken leg bones. A Chihuahua puppy can suffer grave injuries when dropped only three or four feet from the floor. That's arm-holding height for many older children and adults. Children of all ages should only hold the puppy while they are sitting on the floor and under the direct and very close supervision of an adult.
A puppy with a molera — a hereditary hole in the dog's skull where the bones do not close — is of itself not a health risk. Chihuahuas live just fine with this unique anomaly. The presence of a molera does require the pup's owner to be careful handling the puppy and to be cognizant of where the molera is. Pushing on this opening can cause serious injury to the pup.
It is a common “mythconception” that Chis with moleras are more prone to hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid collects and exerts pressure on the brain. This is a very serious, potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate veterinary attention; however, the presence of a molera is neither a prerequisite for nor an indicator of hydrocephalus.
Environmental Hazards
Chihuahua puppies do not retain heat well and can become chilled easily. It is for this reason that you will want to provide your Chi with warm bedding in a draft-free area in your home. Dog coats are necessary in cold weather, and a lighter jacket might even be needed in a very cool, air-conditioned home.
Besides watching the thermostat in your home, you will also need to keep a close eye on other pets in your home. A family dog that is friendly with other dogs will usually recognize that the Chi pup is a puppy; however, that doesn't mean that your older dog won't accidentally injure the pup. If there is a huge disparity in size (for instance, your other dog is a boisterous eighty-pound Lab), you will need to make careful introductions. Keep the dogs crated if you cannot watch their interactions.
Dogs aren't the only possible danger to the Chihuahua. Pets of all species — cats, birds, even a territorial house rabbit — are capable of frightening and/or injuring a Chi puppy. If your other house pet is free roaming and has access to the entire house, always keep an eye on your Chihuahua and supervise any and all interactions. A pouncing cat, a swooping macaw, or a hard-biting rabbit can inflict serious if not fatal injuries to a little puppy.
Do not assume, either, that just because your pets — whether canines or of other species — seem to get along great while you are home that this balance will remain in effect when you leave the house. It is better, initially, to err on the side of caution and crate your Chi so you know she is safe. As with children, if you can't supervise, separate. Fortunately, most pets adjust over time to the new addition and will recognize the Chi as a member of the family rather than an intrusion. Be prepared, however, for a situation in which one or more of your pets will not cohabit peacefully with the Chi. If this is the case, the pets involved will require constant supervision and/or separation.
Some high prey-drive breeds (those that enjoy chasing balls or anything else that moves) might not recognize a Chi puppy as a dog, per se. If you catch your adult dog staring hard or stalking your Chi slowly — watch out! Keep the dogs separated, and seek professional animal-behavior training advice immediately in order to defuse this volatile situation.
