About Dog Food

Shehadda Victory was four months and struggling due to a reaction to a vaccination and her tiny size. She was losing the battle. When we placed her on the NuVet Vitamins, she pulled right up to the stamina we all want to see in a Chihuahua. Shehadda only grew to be 2 pounds 4 ounces, a very small package indeed!

Most vitamin packages have 8 or 12 vitamins and that's it. Even the most popular (expensive) vitamin paste recommended by the vets has a sweatened base with only 8 or 12 vitamins. NuVet goes much farther because it has herbal additives and micro-nutrients even most humans don't get.

Most vitamins offer Vitamin E which is made from a byproduct of gasoline. I don't want a gasoline derivative in MY body or my dogs'! Some vitamins are invalid if heat-processed and others can lose their potency if introduced to water. Many vitamins are processed in ways harmful to the vitamins' potency. And some cheaper variations of vitamins cannot be easily digested by the body while slightly more expensive variations could.

NuVet chooses ingredients which our dogs' bodies can use and processes them for the best utilization. This is important when it translates into a healthier dog with fewer vet bills for you.

I started using the NuVet Vitamins on weaning puppies and it immediately improved their strength, endurance and stamina. These little guys hobble over to the food at three weeks of age and take a lick of the honey-drizzled vitamin. Whenever I need to, I add these vitamins plus a whelp-help supplement to pregnant females' food. I have seen remarkable results since then.

Some might believe the vitamins will increase the size of the puppies. OK. So WHO wants an itty bitty puppy without the strength to endure? I'll take a chance on the increased size if it stabilizes the dog for you!

It is my opinion that the NuVet vitamins are one of the best things you can get for your dog because of the additional ingredients necessary in diets. If you only purchase one container for your puppy, it will last nine months. Start him out right and keep him on track--with fewer vet visits.

Drizzle a thin layer of honey across the food (to act as a binding agent and to supply quick-to-process sugar), then apply the vitamin, or do as I do and just sprinkle a little powder in the bowl. Don't get the tablets, however, dogs don't like them as well!
And don't set it up on automatic delivery because the amount these little guys eat will vary quite a bit depending on their size at time of purchase and the amount you place on the food.

NuVet Vitamins,, www.NuVet.com
Order Code 15972 - you must have this to order.

Vaccinations

There is concern in the "Pet / Breeder arena" about whether or not to vaccinate a tiny Chi with the same amount of vaccination a Saint Bernard receives. Reportedly, more and more puppies are dying because first vaccinations are killing the tiny puppies. Some Chi breeders hold off on the vaccinations with the reasoning that the puppies are kept indoors and that they are "pretty safe". Some people vaccinate the puppies just before the pups leave with their new owners. Some people give half of a vaccination shot. We don't really know why some Chi puppies are dying, but allowing them to go unprotected is simply not an option and in my thinking would put more puppies at risk of contacting the virus than if we vaccinated them in the first place. Giving half doses might not be effective enough, either. It is this breeders' opinion that the scientists who established the rule of one size vaccination fits all puppies must have known what they were doing. Therefore, I will strive to vaccinate my puppies from 6 to 8 weeks of age, and every few weeks thereafter until the full puppy vaccation succession has been followed.

No half vaccinations from THIS kennel. They will receive full vaccinations starting at 6 to 8 weeks and continuing until you take the puppy home. All our adults will receive rabies, even if there will never be an exposure to rabies, because THAT is the law.

I could have purchased a Parvo-only vaccine for the purpose of re-couping some of that money lost but that leaves the puppy open to four other potential problems (parainfluenza, distemper and adenovirus-2), although the likeliness of their contracting any of these other diseases before you get a five-way shot is almost nil. Still, my desire is to do what's right regardless of the "reasoning away" factor. So I give "Progard-5" (which is a "five-way vaccination") for older puppies and adults starting at 6-8 weeks.

Cheap Chihuahuas and Pomeranians:

There have been quite a few inexpensive puppies sold at rediculously-low prices, but the dogs died of Parvo shortly thereafter. Why? Because the seller lied or omitted the need for having administered the parvo vaccine. Some of these breeders place the puppies in compromising conditions, possibly with sub-standard housing, inferior foods, over-breeding or severe inbreeding practices.

I plan to be a Chi. breeder for at least twenty years. When you take your pup to the vet, it's a reflection of my kennel and on my practices. It's my responsibility to match healthy puppies with healthy recipients. It is my responsibility to be responsible so you get the best quality, healthy puppy. We don't sell cheap dogs because we have to pay for these associated costs so you don't have sickly dogs with high vet bills. I have to wonder if cheap Chihuahuas going without proper care produce healthy puppies for you.

Our Medications:

We attach vial labels to the Bill of Sale, making notations of medications administered. It is your responsibility to take the Bill of Sale to the vet so your puppy doesn't receive a duplication of medication. When we say we "wormed" our puppies, it would be with liquid Nemex-2. We do not "tapeworm" our puppies as tapeworms usually come from flee infestations and we do everything in our power to deter that pest from even beginning. My administering our medications will NEVER negate immediate follow-up with your vet. We require that you visit your vet within three working days of picking up your puppy if you want to ensure its' health.

Expected Adult Weight and Sizes of Puppies:

If you type in "Chihuahua Weight Chart" into the computer's search engine, you will find a chart comparing the weight of the dog to its' age, showing the estimated weight at adulthood. We attempt to weigh your puppy three times, comparing them to the weight chart. There are always predisposed genetics, thyroid imbalances or diet-al difficulties which could effect the end weight; so there is no guarantee of weight expectations. We simply trust the weigh scale more than our "experienced eye" to judge the size of this puppy, and this chart gives a basis of comparison of dog with dog. Think about this...A tiny Chihuahua can be born at 2 ounces while a large puppy would be 4 ounces. As I said, I would trust the chart's measurement system a little more than an experienced "eye" to judge end weight.

Protection and Conditioning your tiny pup to fit in this great big world:

There are always unobservant and inattentive people who just don't seem to understand the delicacy of an under-foot, under-four-pound Chi, and who never seem to remember to watch out for them. In our house, we stamp our feet in such a way to teach young dogs to stay away from the feet without scaring them into permanent timidity. Once they get that point, we then teach them that we'll protect and comfort them and that "all is well in their great big world!". ((Although we don't do that to your puppies.))

If kids will be factored in your lives, please, please teach your children, your nieces and nephews and your friends to be considerate of the tiny package in your home by not diving at it or making it run away as they are being pursued! A hard plastic kennel in the corner of a room is a GREAT place to put a tiny dog when youngsters or inattentive visitors grace your home. If that hard plastic kennel is his "bed" then he quickly settles down. Soft beds in the corner are great unless you have a flow of traffic. And if you ever have a vet-mandated order to "keep him quiet and still for a few days", you'll be glad you trained him to enjoy the peace and safety of a hard kennel.

Six month old babies do not leave the puppies alone and are too young to adequately train to do so. A kennel is a great place to go when moving from an apartment or when a toddler is awake and ready to play. A #100 or #200 sized kennel is all your dog would need, the #200 would be better than a #100 but either will work WELL.

About the health of our females and our puppies:

Any dog in my kennel with an unreasonable defect (specifically a disease or genetic defect) would be removed from breeding, possibly even notifications sent out to current puppy owners, should that be necessary. There's no sense in making humans or puppies suffer. We can't knowingly reproduce defects.

Hypoglycemia:

Any breeder with a conscious has to stand behind the dogs. But a good number of people damage their puppies and try to return them to the breeder, blaming the breeder for the damage they themselves did. Breeders have had to be pretty selective to whom they sell puppies and for what reason they were returned.

I will to stand behind every dog I sell as fairly to the purchaser as I am to myself. For I am 41 years old and I have learned something about life....Whatsoever a man sows, THAT shall he also reap! I can't sow badly because it really does come back to me! But I won't be taken.

Puppies of weaning age can have a more difficult time regulating their blood sugar levels and NEED food in front of them continually, yet most new owners start feeding them four times a day to "potty train" better. Tinier puppies and infrequent feeding increases the likelihood of problems or even morbidity.

Stability at time of departure:

Hypoglycemia is common in Chi's and can be avoided almost entirely if a few rules are followed, things I talked about in this communicae' (vitamins on nutritious [not cheap] food with with honey drizzles, not having worms, and continual food and water). Most of the hypoglycemia problem happens at weaning when the pups are going from natural sugars supplied in the mothers' milk to unnatural, heat-processed dog food. And the problem could be increased if the puppy is still nursing on Momma when they leave the kennel to your home. It has to do with the amount of easily-processed sugar ingested and the amount of fat currently on the dog when he/she leaves the breeder. If the puppy is stabilized before it leaves and the conditions at the new home are appropriate, the puppy shouldn't have a blood sugar problem.

Puppies are very excited to meet their new owners and use a lot of energy greeting them so make sure you take precautionary steps to prevent problems, steps such as bowl sanitization, powdered vitamins, continual feed and water, and a low-stress environment.

If you will look up www.NuVet.com you will see a who's who listing of vitamins, minerals and herbs. A container costs $60 but last 9 months because each "serving" for a Chi is actually approximately 1/4 a serving sprinkled on top dogs' food, which could last several days...a nine month supply of vitamins.

This vitamin should pull ANY puppy through whatever stresses they encounter the first nine months. If you never purchase another container, it will sustain him with easily-digestible nutrients and herbs at a time most susceptable to stress-related problems. AND, NO, it isn't over-vitamin-ing the pups, especially considering dry dog foods are cooked at extremely high temperatures which kills nutrients.  If it came to a choice between a soft bed with a few toys or the vitamins, the container would provide nutritional advantages and stabilization that the toys would not.

Rest assured that NO PUPPY WILL EVER LEAVE MY HOUSE if it is not completely stable enough to endure whatever I think the person in front of me would require of that puppy. I'll lose a sale before I let a weak dog leave!

And, UNDER EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE, if the puppy should ever "go down", such as in dying or struggling in some similar fashion, place a small amount of honey on your fingertip, rub it on the puppy's gums, and take the puppy to the vet. I can't tell you how many puppies were saved because they got an instant gush of sugar in their blood stream, which perked them up enough to be treated. If the dog is in a seizure, however, a tiny amount could be applied to the outside edge of the gums, however, you run the risk of entering an open air tube. That would be your judgment call, I would do it because a good number of pups in seizure are so because of hypoglycemia and the honey would help curb that. It's your judgment call, not mine.

Occasionally, a pup will stop eating or drinking when you remove them from their regular circumstances. Monitor the dog making sure they receive regular feed and water when you take trips.

HYPOGLYCEMIA IS NOT THE NORM, EVEN IN THE TINIEST OF PUPPIES, AND SHOULD NEVER BE ACCEPTED AS THE NORM. It shouldn't be "expected". But should anything happen, place honey on your finger, then the dog's gums and take it to the vet. If you don't have honey, corn syrup or perhaps even sugar.

In Conclusion:

May I suggest you check out NuVet.com and purchase a container before you purchase a dog, even if your puppy purchase leads you elsewhere. (Use an order code #15972)    When you purchase a pup, I'll give you a sample of vitamins which should last a week or so.

A Chi puppy will eat 1/4 to 1 cup food a day so get her on healthy food from the start. You don't have to bust your budget to do so.  A contianer of NuVet Vitamins will last 9 months and will strengthen your pups' overall health, including his organs. This translates into fewer vet bills later on because the health of the dog is improved. A Chihuahua can live as long as twenty years so make sure you start them off with good, sound organs and health.

Dogs really do consume more of the cheap food because they are missing nutrients and have phantom hunger.

Wal-Mart offers storage totes (with lids) for $10. If you place a small tote in the corner of your living area, you can train your Chi to go potty in the tote by placing him inside when he has to potty. ((You can achieve the same goal inverting a hard, plastic kennel.

Rather than taking him outside to potty, take him to the tote for a couple of weeks for him to get the idea that "I do my duty inside and then I go outside" for the reward of play! After two solid weeks, cut an opening (not a circle) in the tote large enough for the dog to easily go in and out, say, 8" wide leaving a 2 to 3" lip at the bottom. If the puppy potties inside the tote, the remains stay inside rather than falling out the edge such as he would with newspaper on the floor.

I offer this idea because, to Chi's, the whole house is a giant wooded and carpeted yard ready to play and potty in, and toy breeds are notorious for indoor pottying. Totes take care of that problem, and if you visit somebody on a weekend excursion, you can take a small, clean tote for him...It smells like home, it smells like his body smells...YOU get the idea.

Most snow storms leave snow height larger than the Chi is tall! Think about that!!!!. I should know because Minnesota has huge snow storms leaving great amounts of snow. Come January, the snow, in many places, is stacked higher than the people! It is always intimidating to see the snow drifts higher than you are! Would you want to go to the outhouse if the snow was that tall and that cold?