Chihuahuas - Origin, history and much more – Lobo Azul

The Chihuahua is a very peculiar, special, charismatic and temperamental breed. Known as a very common lineage among Hollywood artists and at the same time very commercial throughout the world.

Size : Small.
Weight : Between 1.5 and 3kg.
Hair type : Short and straight
Character : Devoted, Vivacious, Alert, Aggressive, Fast, Brave
Health : Healthy
Life expectancy : Between 12 and 20 years.

Next, we will see their most common characteristics, as well as their care and some curious facts about the Chihuahua dog breed .

Where do Chihuahuas come from?

According to the genetic information analyzed by experts on the subject, there are several hypotheses about the origin of the Chihuahua breed because, throughout the history of the world, in its different periods, great changes and crossbreeding have occurred not only in humans. , but also in the different species of animals and plants. It is thought that this famous breed comes from Mexico mainly near the border with the United States, in the northwest of that country, in the state and city also called by that name.

The meaning of Chihuahua according to the ethnic language of the tribes that lived there during the colonization of the Spanish is: “ dry and sandy place ”, “ next to two waters ”, “ place of factories ”, “ place of the Holeful Stone ” or « costalera or sackería » (don't think it's because of the dog). However, North Americans, in reference to that place, popularly began to call the animal by this name: “Chihuahua.” As reflected above, crossbreeding has been key, since many scientists affirm that current Chihuahuas originated from mixing with the “Techichi” species. This is one of the dog breeds discovered through studies of the pre-Columbian era, with dogs of small lineage from Europe and Asia. As there were ships that arrived in Mexico from the time of colonization, new races began to form among living beings, and it is believed that the popular Chihuahua is smaller than its predecessor , the “Techichi”.

What unique features do Chihuahuas have?

The Chihuahua, unlike other dogs, has certain characteristics that allow it to be recognized anywhere in the world , due to its physical appearance and the way it behaves. All this makes it quite peculiar, in addition to all these other features:

It is a small-sized canine : the smallest compared to other dog breeds, with approximate measurements between 15 cm to 30 cm in wingspan from head to tail, and height from 10 cm to 20 cm.
It is one of the species that has the most colors in its fur : such as different shades of brown, from the darkest to the lightest; as with the color black and its chiaroscuro stages. There are also white and tricolor ones.
They are temperamental and quite brave when it comes to confronting something that bothers them: be it a human or another animal, regardless of its size.
They are agile and hyperkinetic dogs : Chihuahuas are easy to domesticate and train.
It can, as long as you know how to raise it, live with different breeds of dogs or other pets.
They have big eyes, a small mouth but with a strong bite, they are loving and jealous of their owners. However, we must not forget that they are dogs with admirable adaptability and intelligence .
They can live an average of twenty years of age.
They are naturally shaky and nervous dogs.
The Chihuahua has an approximate weight of 3 kg.

long hair chihuahua — long haired chihuahua

In addition, it is worth noting that there are several types of Chihuahuas recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club ) and the FCI (International Cynological Federation). These are organizations that are responsible for establishing breeding rules for dogs, in addition to their canophilia, whose types are the following:

Apple head.
Deer head.

Note : Its main difference is that the second is taller and thinner. Its head is like that of a deer. In addition, it is genetically healthier than applehead.

Straight hair.
Long hair.

Note: Its difference is that the second has longer, smoother fur and is internally hairier than the first, which may be more aesthetically pleasing to the human eye.

How should we feed our Chihuahua?

The main characteristic of Chihuahuas is that they are very small animals , therefore the Chihuahua's diet must be well planned, a balanced diet that allows this famous animal to be kept in the best conditions. His stomach is small, as are his teeth; and they are hyperkinetic, meaning they process their food much faster than other animals. Additionally, the food should be loaded with sufficient nutrients, proteins, minerals and carbohydrates. For this, there are certain dog foods from recognized brands that are responsible for making those croquettes that Chihuahuas love. These range from when they are puppies to their adulthood. You can also prepare a very healthy homemade delicacy for this type of breed. Leaving aside the feed, you can also prepare homemade food, but remember that any food source for this breed must be loaded mainly with a good amount of proteins such as: beef or chicken, always without salt, also of some lipids.

You can include some “healthy fats” such as corn oil and foods that contain sources of Omega3 and Omega6 such as oily fish. This is to contribute to the dog's brain and vision development, as well as help minimize the loss of cognitive knowledge. It is important to consult with the veterinarian about the amount of food that should be given to a Chihuahua per day. In order to avoid overweight problems, you also need the necessary vitamins to complement your diet. It must always be kept as a reference that some foods that humans commonly eat should be avoided and the food given to other animals can be harmful to the Chihuahua's health. This is because it can cause allergic reactions, stomach problems or dehydration, among others. As is the case of:

Chocolates, cheeses, milk, onion, coffee, fermented doughs (such as bread), garlic, grapes, salt, alcohol, raw eggs, avocado, bones, ice cream, sugars and sweets in general, cat food, baby food, tobacco, raw fish, citrus fruits, etc.

How to maintain the health of the Chihuahua and what are the most common diseases?

To take care of the health of this small canine, in addition to everything indicated above about the diet that our Chihuahua should have , certain physiology and pathologies that can be found in these tender but reckless animals must be taken into consideration. Due to the peculiarity of its height, the Chihuahua is prone to being fragile in its bone structure, which can be a problem for owners. Because they must be very cautious regarding falls and prolonged efforts when taking a walk or in the area of our little friend's daily life.

Some common diseases

In its extremities, especially in the joints, the Chihuahua can degeneratively suffer a “ patellar luxation ”. This is a momentary deviation of the kneecap from the legs, causing great pain and instability when moving. They may also have a tendency to a degenerative process in the pelvic bone , causing hip dysplasia or coxofemoral dysplasia. It is a hereditary disease that does not allow proper formation of the joint between the hip and femur, causing problems walking and doing normal activities.

On some occasions it does not occur throughout the life of the Chihuahua, however, from six months or into the dog's adulthood the symptoms described above begin to be observed. Other conditions that these cute dogs can suffer from are “hypoglycemia”, which is a problem of low blood sugar in Chihuahuas, since they do not have as much muscle to contain glucose in their body. And to this is added excessive exercise or movement or liver problems. This pathology can occur between the fifth and fifteenth week of the animal's life, and needs to be treated by a veterinarian, since it is quite common in this breed of Chihuahua dogs.

Vision problems

Despite the above, this breed of dog has large eyes, which is why they can suffer vision problems due to exposure and contact with plants, insects, allergic reactions or caused by parasites, such as ticks, some viruses. or contaminating bacteria, for example:

Scleritis: which is a disease that affects the eyes, causing inflammation in the white part of the eye or the “sclerotic zone”, whose pathology, if not treated diligently, could cause the animal to lose vision in that eye.
Conjunctivitis: it is a disease that inflames the “sclerotic zone”, which turns red and inflamed the inner part of the eyelids, causing soreness, frequent tears, eye pain and hypersensitivity to light.

Respiratory and heart problems

Another condition that Chihuahuas can commonly suffer from is “ Reverse Sneeze ,” which is caused by not exhaling air correctly through the snout. This causes them to suck air forcefully through their nostrils, due to the small size of the Chihuahua's trachea and throat. Epilepsy and heart diseases (arrhythmias, heart attacks, hydrocephalus) can also be one of the hereditary problems in Chihuahuas . However, one of the most common physiology is the characteristic nervousness it has. These tremors in Chihuahuas are due to hereditary causes, as well as physical and psychological factors to which they are exposed. It could be due to the amount of energy, which is dissipated in this way, as the canine may feel fear, cold, stress, ear pain, nerves, or another emotion that it experiences at that certain moment.

How is the mating and fertilization cycle of Chihuahuas carried out?

The reproduction process of the Chihuahua takes place after six to seven months of life, where the female has her first menstrual cycle, which has several stages, which are:

Proestrus: These are the days when the dog bleeds from the vulva, it becomes inflamed and emits the specific odor that attracts dogs. However she growls and won't let herself be ridden. It lasts approximately ten days.
Estrus: It is the period where she stops bleeding, she is more given to males and allows herself to be “ridden”, and it is the moment where sexual intercourse occurs. This process where the Chihuahua's ovulation is available lasts approximately seven days.
Right-handed: After sexual intercourse between dogs, the puppy begins to form through the different stages of gestation, which has an estimated time of sixty days. After that, childbirth occurs, which can last more or less than thirty hours.

The female Chihuahua is in charge of looking for a comfortable place to “give birth”, finding it among old clothes, pillows, rags that smell like their owner and other things that make her feel comfortable and protected. This is to then lie down and flow with childbirth, where she makes a great effort through the physiological changes that occur such as dilation of the vulva, dizziness, contractions, weakness, etc. It proceeds with the birth of the puppies and, finally, the placenta. After giving birth, the mother's recovery time passes and then the puppies begin to feed on her milk. Great care must be taken when giving birth to a Chihuahua, since there are females that are so small internally that they are not good “ givers .” This will result in cesarean sections having to be carried out, increasing the risk of mortality for both the puppies and the mother.

recommendations

Despite the different complications that could arise in the loving Chihuahua, it is a noble dog, with a big heart and little expense, compared to other breeds. It is important to make a timely visit to the veterinarian, following his recommendations, doing constant exercise, feeding him in the correct way and, above all, giving him a lot of love. Only in this way can you have a large, healthy, strong and happy Chihuahua at home. Other articles that may interest you: