Chihuahua Puppies

It seems like a lot of people have been acquiring chihuahua puppies lately, because I am getting a lot of emails regarding the cost, care, and concerns around adopting a chihuahua puppy. I decided to make this post a list of things to keep in mind after you take one of these little guys home.

Let us start with the beginning.

A female chihuahua will give birth to a litter of about one or two but sometimes more puppies. Some of the symptoms of a pregnant chihuahua are: slightly enlarged vulva, increased appetite, enlarged nipples.The gestation period for this breed is about nine weeks, or 63-66 days.

Once a chihuahua puppy is born, he/she should be with the mother for at least eight weeks before it is sold. It is not wise to take home a puppy that is younger than this age because it needs the milk from the mother for a while to grow. Avoid any breeders that offer you a chihuahua puppy younger than eight weeks.

The first set of chihuahua puppy shots is normally given between 6-8 weeks and are repeated every 3-4 weeks until the puppy is 16 weeks old. These shots are called DHPP vaccinations, which stands for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus. So it is advised to find a vet as soon as you buy the puppy and setup an appointment to get the shots. These shots are given this way in order to protect the puppy from the time between weaning to until the time that the chihuahua puppies own immune system can become fully functional.

When you take your chihuahua in for shots, also set up an appointment to get it dewormed. This usually is a pill that is given with the shots.
Another shot you will want your chihuahua puppy to get is the rabies vaccination. This shot is given at 4 months of age and then repeated at one year of age. Then after the dog is a year old, the rabies shot will be required every three years or so.

Eventually, you should get your chihuahua puppy spayed or neutered. Having your dog fixed reduces the risk of getting mammary or testicular cancer in the dog.

Please keep checking this page for more chihuahua puppy information.