~ A SPECIAL SECTION FOR DOGS 5 LBS. AND UNDER~

            We all know that these little tiny puppies are special. But we also have to know that it takes a special person and some special care to keep them at their best. When responsible breeders takes on the task of breeding these tiny little dogs, they know that they will have their share of puppies that have special needs. 

            Breeding dogs this small costs much more in veterinarian costs and pregnancies are often more complicated. People who are not professional breeders should not breed these dogs and any dog under 5 pounds should not be bred. The little ones under 5 pounds are some of my most popular dogs, but I recommend spaying the females before their first heat rather than breed them if you get one this small.

            Purebred dogs tend to have certain breed specific problems. Although the majority of these dogs are hardy and healthy there are some health problems that we see often enough to mention here. I am not trying to scare anyone out of having one of these wonderful tiny jewels. But I want you to know what you need to know so that you don't run into problems.

1) Extra teeth and periodontal disease can be a big problem for these little guys. Especially the smallest ones under 4 lbs. Many of them have extra baby teeth that fail to come out, or they simply don't have enough room in their tiny mouths for the amount of teeth they have. This leads to trapping of food between the teeth after meals and may lead to serious periodontal disease. If you are aware of this you can prevent big problems.

 Have your vet check the mouth thoroughly, paying particular attention to the small bottom front teeth. This area is especially hard to brush. Brush his teeth every day and use the products I recommend in the dog care section you shouldn't have any major problems. If your dog has bad breath all the time there is a reason for it. Please have his teeth checked often.

2) Low blood sugar can become a problem because of their size. Mostly because they are very small they cannot eat enough at one meal to keep up with their high metabolism. I recommend that you feed him twice a day (three times a day for puppies). If you are trying to feed home cooked meals, try supplementing that with a breakfast of a few pieces of a good quality hard dog food like Innova. Yams have natural fat and sugar that make a teaspoon of cooked yam a good breakfast. If you do run into a situation where he can't eat and acts listless you can use a little Karo syrup until you can get his food into him. 

3) Obesity can become a problem and shave years off his life. If you have never had one of these adorable little ones you will probably have a tendency to give in and feed him too much or give too many treats. Keep in mind that his stomach is only the size of a quarter. Unless he is in hard training every day like agility he should only eat a tablespoon of food or two at a time if you don't want him to gain weight. This means that you want to pack maximum nutrition into what you do give him. (see dog care section for more detail). To how you what I mean here are two pictures. The first is an overweight dog and the second is one of normal weight.  

             If you can, exercise him every day and watch his weight. His ribs should not show from a distance but you should be able to easily feel them. If he is looking fat and round he is probably overweight. Check with your vet if you are unsure. I recommend weighing them with a postal scale that weighs from 10 pounds on down. Once he becomes an adult and his weight stabilizes you can figure out how to feed him to keep him at his best. If he is around 3 pounds a weight gain of a couple of ounces can actually make a difference.

4) If your baby has a round bulb like head (more common in the tiniest ones) his fontanels (soft spots) on the top of his head may not close completely. This is usually not a big problem but it is something to be aware of. Have your vet check for this and just be aware that it can be dangerous for these little guys to get a hard hit on the head. Usually dogs learn to get along regardless of size, but if you have a big playful dog as well, you might want to keep an eye on them when they play so they don't get too rough.

5) These little guys usually mature slower than larger dogs so they may not be able to hold their urine and feces as well until they are a little older. If you are consistent with house or crate training (which begins here with me) you will not have too many problems. Just bear in mind that it may take them a little longer to be completely trustworthy in that department.

6) The B type body is preferred by some and it features a longer body with shorter legs. They are usually a little more barrel chested and can have bowed legs. Sometimes they can have problems with joints or kneecaps but this is not usually a big problem for them. If he starts limping or seems to have trouble running or keeping his balance just have him checked for joint problems.

7) Vaccinosis (overdose of or reaction to a vaccine) can be a problem with certain vaccines. This is especially true of the smallest dogs. As a breeder I have to meet certain specifications and all my puppies are fully vaccinated and up to date. Once you get him it is up to you and the vet you choose how you go about his vaccination program. You may notice that they have diarrhea or don't feel well after a vaccine. More and more vets are becoming aware of dose appropriate vaccines which are geared to their small size or the idea of drawing blood work (titers) every year to see if a vaccine is necessary.

Some vaccines do not cause a problem immediately but as they build up every year are the cause of many medical problems. Look into this yourself and discuss this with a veterinarian who is up to date on this subject. Holistic vets are sometimes more aware of this problem. If you click on this picture it will take you to the web site where you can get detailed information about vaccines.

8) Rarely, demodex (mange) can show up in an otherwise healthy dog. It is caused by an external parasite that is also present in low numbers on healthy animals, including people. Whether or not a pet shows symptoms of this disease depends primarily on their immune status. It is impossible to predict which pets will get this disease, or how well a pet will heal if it shows symptoms. The immune system of these tiny dogs matures slower so occasionally demodex will pop up. Demodex is caused by a mite, a microscopic ectoparasite that infects the hair follicles. 

Most pups pick up these mites from their mother when they are nursing, and do not normally cause any problems. It is a dog under stress or one with a compromised  immune system that will develop this disease. If your puppy feels stressed during the trip he may show a spot or two of hair loss. If this happens have him checked by your vet and do whatever you can to help him adjust and feel secure in his new surroundings. This can be treated and will likely not reoccur again. Be careful though about the harsh treatments. Don't treat unless absolutely necessary. It will often go away by itself once the puppy is settled in. As I said, it is rare but is can happen. Just like people, dogs all respond differently to change and stress.

Well, that is all I have for now. Despite the above possible problems, these little guys are usually tremendously hardy and adaptable. If properly cared for they usually have a long life span and will give you years of love and companionship. They pack a lot of dog into a very tiny body!   :)  Marion