Small dogs are petite and do not have such high requirements for the spaciousness of the breeding environment, so they are the first choice for many owners who live in urban apartments. Although small dogs are smaller in size and cost less than large dogs, they still require a lot of care, maintenance and attention from their owners.
Just like large dogs, small dogs also have health issues and daily needs that require special attention, and some breeds have specific care points that need to be paid attention to. Don't think that small dogs are easier to take care of! Before raising a small dog, make sure you understand all the following small dog care matters!
Common health problems for small dogs
Although a sparrow is small and has all its internal organs, the small body of a small dog also contains all the organs needed to maintain the healthy operation of the dog's body. The mini body structure also brings some innate health conditions to small dogs:
1. Heart disease
Degenerative valvular heart disease is more likely to occur in middle-aged and older small dogs. In some breeds, it may even occur before middle-aged and older dogs. The main function of the heart valve is to prevent blood from flowing backward. When the valve degenerates, it cannot block the blood when the ventricle contracts, causing blood to flow backward into the atrium.
At this time, the dog's body will activate an automatic protective mechanism to increase the blood volume in the blood vessels to maintain normal cardiac output. In the long run, it will cause myocardial hypertrophy to expand and overload the heart, eventually leading to heart attack and heart failure. The biggest threat to small dogs from degenerative valvular heart disease is the difficulty in early detection. In the early stages, dogs will not show any obvious symptoms and can only be judged by the murmur during ventricular contraction.
Therefore, if the owner does not take the dog to the animal hospital for health check-ups regularly, it will be difficult to detect the disease early. When valve degeneration gradually worsens, dogs may develop bronchial symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. If the disease is not discovered in the early stages and there are no symptoms during the course of the disease, you may need to go to the animal hospital to confirm whether you are suffering from heart disease, bronchial disease, etc. for treatment. Then, dogs are very likely to suffer from acute heart disease, which may cause severe rupture of the mitral valve chordae tendineae, leading to sudden death of the dog.
If it is a dog that has been diagnosed, you should pay attention not to exercise strenuously on weekdays, and avoid the dog being overly nervous, overly excited, etc. Degenerative valvular heart disease requires long-term drug control and daily observation to slow the progression of the disease. For example, small dogs over five years old should go to the animal hospital for auscultation every six months to confirm whether there is a heart murmur or other conditions to ensure early detection and early treatment.
Small dogs are prone to heart disease in dogs.
2. Knee ectopic position
Knee ectopia is a common health problem in small dogs. Most of it is due to congenital, genetic and other problems that lead to kneecap slippage. Knee ectopia is divided into four levels according to severity. Level 1 and 2 kneecap spondylolisthesis can be adjusted back into place, so symptoms are usually less severe. Sometimes you will see a dog suddenly stop and lift one foot when walking or running fast. This is likely to be a slipped kneecap. However, after the activity, the dog will return to its normal position automatically.
But after reaching the third level, because it is difficult to push the knee back to its original position, many obvious clinical symptoms will begin to appear, such as: long-term lameness, pain, deformation of the thigh and calf bones, etc. Knee joint ectopy can be checked by the doctor through simple observation and palpation. If necessary, the doctor will also use X-rays to check whether there are other problems that cause claudication.
If a dog is found to have congenital knee joint ectopia after a doctor's examination, it is recommended to pay attention to the following matters in daily life:
- Avoid strenuous exercise, going up and down stairs, standing on hind legs, jumping, etc. If the dog is found to have joint problems recently, let the dog rest at home for a few days and suspend activities.
- Control your weight: Excessive weight will cause overload on the knee joint, making it easier to slip and dislocate. Therefore, if your dog shows signs of knee ectopia, special attention should be paid to diet control to avoid becoming overweight.
- Nutritional supplements: Nutritional supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, etc. can be supplemented according to the doctor's recommendations.
Although ectopic knee joints are a congenital health problem in many small dogs, prevention is better than cure. If detected early and paid attention to maintenance, there is a chance to prevent health problems from worsening into diseases.
Common Small Dog Breeds and Feeding Instructions
In addition to the common health problems of small dogs mentioned above, each dog breed also has its own health and maintenance issues that need to be paid attention to due to heredity and genes. Owners must know this before raising their dogs. Take good care of it and live a healthy life.
Red Toy Poodle
As the dog with the second highest IQ in the dog world, the red poodle is a very popular breed of dog. Red Toy Poodles are smart and can understand commands quickly. However, they are lively and active, and they still have the following health problems that require special attention:
1. Easy to fracture
Red Poodles are petite in size and have slender bones. They are prone to the risk of forelimb fractures in their childhood. Avoid jumping too often. In addition, the aforementioned knee joint ectopia is also easy to occur in active red toy poodles.
2. Otitis
Due to the natural ear structure, red poodles are prone to earwax. In addition, poodles' ears hang down. If they are not cleaned and dirt is accumulated in the ear canal, it will easily cause ear canal inflammation and emit odor.
3. Atopic dermatitis
Poodles have naturally sensitive skin and are prone to allergies and dermatitis. In addition to keeping the environment tidy, you should also pay attention to identifying the dog's allergens to prevent the dog from experiencing itchy skin.
Red Toy Poodles have droopy ears and are prone to otitis. Pay attention to cleaning the earwax.
Maltese
Maltese are well-behaved and clingy dogs. They are very cute and lovable dogs. What health conditions should we pay attention to?
1. Heart disease
Maltese are one of the small dogs that are naturally prone to degenerative valvular heart disease. Of all small dogs, Maltese are most likely to develop heart valve disease, and they develop it at a relatively younger age.
Therefore, you must have regular health check-ups. If you find that Maltese are prone to wheezing and coughing, and the condition becomes more serious at night or after exercise, you must pay attention and go to the hospital at any time.
2. Eye diseases
Maltese have more hair around their eyes and are more likely to produce tears, eye feces and other secretions. They are prone to dark tear stains, eye inflammation, inverted eyelashes and other problems.
Chihuahua
Although Chihuahuas are viewed by many people as ferocious little dogs, they are very loyal dogs. Once they recognize that you are their master, not only will they not be aggressive, but they will also stick to you all the time!
As the smallest dog, what health conditions should Chihuahuas pay attention to?
1. Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is a disease in which fluid accumulates in the ventricles due to incomplete closure of the skull, tumors, etc., compressing the brain and causing symptoms such as behavioral changes, convulsions, mobility impairment, strabismus, and stroke in dogs.
Because of the relationship between genetics and congenital head shape, Chihuahuas are the dog breed most prone to hydrocephalus.
2. Easily gain weight
Chihuahuas are naturally prone to gaining weight, so they must be moderate in their diet. Otherwise, their small bodies will have to bear such a heavy weight, which can easily lead to other diseases such as heart disease, ectopic knee joints, etc.
3. Dental disease
Chihuahuas are the smallest dogs. They have such a small mouth, but like other dogs, they have to be filled with 42 teeth. Such crowded gums make their teeth difficult to clean and maintain, and they are prone to periodontal disease and other conditions.
Chihuahuas are a breed prone to hydrocephalus in dogs.
Pomeranian
Pomeranians are naturally prone to nervousness and are one of the representatives of "neurotic" dogs. They are highly alert and very dependent on their masters. They want to stick to their masters all the time. What situations are likely to occur if they are clingy?
1. Joint dislocation
Like many small dogs, Pomeranian's bones are small and fragile. In addition to easy dislocation of joints, you must also be very careful about hitting your head when jumping from high places.
2. Tracheal collapse
Tracheal collapse is caused by softening of the tracheal cartilage, which can cause symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, and wheezing in dogs.
In addition to Pomeranians, Yorkies are also small dogs that often suffer from tracheal collapse.
Shih Tzu
The classic and cute looking Shih Tzu is one of the favorite dog stars in pet product advertisements. With their big eyes and short noses, they have the following health conditions that you should pay attention to:
1. Eyeball prolapse
Under normal circumstances, the eyeballs are embedded in the eye sockets, but due to genetics, Shih Tzu dogs are born with shallow eye sockets. Therefore, when the head is traumatized, hit, or the dog is overly excited, eyeballs may prolapse or bulge. The condition of the eye socket may cause permanent blindness if it is not treated immediately by a doctor.
2. Respiratory diseases
Shih Tzus have short mouths and noses, which make them prone to breathing difficulties, respiratory diseases and other problems, and they are also prone to snoring while sleeping.
Pug
The round and flat face is the signature symbol of pugs. Due to their special appearance, they are often regarded as the popular protagonists of Internet meme pictures. Although their special appearance is cute, it also brings some health problems that need to be paid attention to:
1. Respiratory tract and heat stroke problems
Dogs with short noses and flat faces are prone to symptoms such as difficulty breathing and suffocation in extreme cases due to their short respiratory tracts.
For example, when the ambient temperature is too high in summer, it is difficult for flat-faced dogs to dissipate heat due to the limitations of their natural respiratory tract structure, which can lead to symptoms such as heatstroke and difficulty breathing.
2. Skin diseases
Although the pug's signature wrinkled face is cute, bacteria can easily breed in the skin folds due to moisture and other reasons, leading to skin diseases. Atopic dermatitis is also prone to occur in areas without wrinkles on the body, such as the abdomen and soles of the feet.
Pug dogs have many wrinkles on their faces and are prone to skin and respiratory problems.
Dachshund
Whether it is a short-haired Dachshund or a long-haired Dachshund, they have always been one of the most popular small dogs with their short and long hair.
However, the rate of spinal problems in dachshunds with long spines is 10-12 times that of ordinary dogs, which brings them some health problems:
1. Herniated disc
The intervertebral discs between the vertebrae maintain the stability of the spine and buffer the pressure between the vertebrae. When the intervertebral discs bulge due to pressure extrusion, it will cause symptoms such as stooped legs, weakness of hind limbs, and inability to walk. In severe cases, it will cause systemic paralysis.
2. Cataract
Cataract is a disease that occurs in the eyes of dogs. It will cause the lens of the eye to become cloudy. The appearance of the dog's eyes will become white and cloudy, which will affect the vision. Dachshunds are one of the dog breeds most prone to cataracts, and they can occur at any age.
Dachshunds have longer spines and are prone to intervertebral disc problems.
A suitable breeding environment for small dogs
Small dogs are smaller and do not require as much living space as large dogs. However, there are still some safety aspects that need to be considered in terms of the breeding environment:
1. Pay attention to injuries
Some dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers, are very petite. When people are around them, it is easy for people to step on them without paying attention to the dogs, causing injuries to the dogs. In addition, because small dogs are relatively short, about the height of a person's ankles and calves, people can easily trip over them if they don't notice. Family members should pay attention to their safety.
In addition, because the bones of small dogs are thin and fragile, if there are children in the family, special attention should be paid to their interactions. It is easy for small dogs to hit their heads, feet or bodies during play, and the dogs may suffer fractures. Danger.
2. Provide a sense of security
Most small dogs are more wary, easily startled or frightened, and bark more often. Therefore, many people say that small dogs are more "nervous".
However, in addition to the fact that barking can easily disturb family members or neighbors, it should be noted that if there are factors in the environment that constantly make the dog feel stressed, it will have an impact on the dog's physical and mental health in the long run. Therefore, if you want to raise small dogs, it is recommended to try to provide them with a safe and secure space, such as avoiding environments where strangers and cars often come and go.
If the dog must be kept in a store or other place due to care needs, a comfortable and secure corner should be arranged in the environment for the dog, or the owner should try to stay as close to the dog as possible to provide them with a sufficient sense of security.
Small dogs such as Maltese and Yorkshire terriers are petite and have fragile bones that can easily be stepped on, so be very careful.
Daily activities for small dogs
Although most small dogs do not require a lot of daily exercise to consume energy like large dogs, they still have to deal with the amount of activity and the time spent interacting with their owners. Many small dogs have problems with the heart, bronchus, and kneecap ectopia.
Small dogs with these problems should also pay special attention to the selection of daily activities. They should not exercise excessively, do not choose actions that are too intense, or require jumping, such as throwing and catching Frisbees, etc., which are not suitable for this type of small dogs. You can choose activities that are gentler and can consume your dog's energy:
1. Take a walk
Walking allows you to stretch your muscles and enjoy the companionship of your owner. It is one of the most suitable activities for small dogs. The suitable walking time for small dogs is about 20 to 30 minutes, which can meet the daily activity requirements of most small dogs. Excessive exercise is not advisable. However, some small dogs are exceptions and require a lot of activity. For example, the Jack Russell dog, which is famous for being naughty and lively, requires a lot of activities to satisfy.
2. Educational toys
If you're not out and about, there are plenty of activities at home that can satisfy your small dog. For example, play with toys, such as snuffle mats, stress relief toys, hide and seek treat toys, etc. These toys can allow dogs to satisfy their desire to explore and hunt, and at the same time allow dogs to use their brains. As daily activities, they are helpful for their physical, mental and mental health.
Conclusion
The above are the important things to know about raising small dogs, including health issues and conditions that need to be paid attention to in daily breeding. They are all things that a responsible owner should know. Therefore, you must do your homework before bringing your dog home! Being a dog's lifelong owner also gives them a healthy and happy life!
