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  • Separation Anxiety In Chihuahuas

    Separation Anxiety Is The Leading Canine Behavioral Problem Separation anxiety is a behavioral disorder that’s all too common in Chihuahuas. You finally get home from a long day at work only to discover that your beloved Chihuahua has ransacked the house. Maybe there’s pillow or bed stuffing strewn across the floor, garbage pulled out of…

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  • Separation Anxiety In Chihuahuas

    Separation Anxiety Is The Leading Canine Behavioral Problem Separation anxiety is a behavioral disorder that’s all too common in Chihuahuas. You finally get home from a long day at work only to discover that your beloved Chihuahua has ransacked the house. Maybe there’s pillow or bed stuffing strewn across the floor, garbage pulled out of…

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  • Separation Anxiety In Chihuahuas

    Separation Anxiety Is The Leading Canine Behavioral Problem Separation anxiety is a behavioral disorder that’s all too common in Chihuahuas. You finally get home from a long day at work only to discover that your beloved Chihuahua has ransacked the house. Maybe there’s pillow or bed stuffing strewn across the floor, garbage pulled out of…

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  • Chihuahua Lifespan: Average Life Expectancy of The Chihuahua

    Healthy adult Chihuahuas live an average of 15 to 20 years. As with any breed, a Chihuahua’s lifespan varies depending on a number of different factors (see below for a complete list). Some of these factors are controllable, whereas others are outside of owners’ control. Owners should familiarize themselves with these factors so they give their…

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  • How To Raise a Chihuahua Puppy

    Raising a Chihuahua puppy inside your home is an exciting and memorable time that you’re certain to never forget. Just the sight of these energy-filled balls of fur is enough to put a smile on anyone’s face, regardless of what kind of day you’re having. However, the decision to raise a Chihuahua puppy on your…

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  • Chihuahua Wheezing and Hacking Sounds | Reverse Sneezing

    Have you noticed your Chihuahua wheezing, gasping or making similar hacking-like sounds? A lot of owners automatically assume the worst when their Chihuahua begins to experience one of these episodes, and as a result, they may hastily rush them to a nearby emergency veterinarian where they rack up bills in excess of $1,000. The fact…

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  • Patellar Luxation in Chihuahuas – What You Should Know

    If you’ve noticed your Chihuahua hopping while holding one of their back legs up, chances are they are suffering from a knee condition known as “patellar luxation.” This is one of the breed’s most common health problems, as Chihuahua experts and health professionally estimate roughly 10% of the population suffers from it. At first glance,…

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  • Foods Your Chihuahua Shouldn’t Eat

    Chihuahuas are downright sneaky at times and frequently eat things they shouldn’t. If you leave food on the coffee table or on a place where a small Chihuahua can reach it, chances are they’ll sneak their way into it. Unfortunately, however, there are a number of foods that are dangerous and even lethal to a…

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  • Why Chihuahuas Shake and Shiver

    Chihuahuas are notorious for shaking and shiver more than other dogs. So much in fact that inexperienced owners oftentimes believe a more serious health issue is causing this behavior. As a result, they rush their little canines to the emergency vet only to discover that there’s nothing wrong with them. So, what exactly causes Chihuahuas…

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  • Overview of Syringomyelia In Chihuahuas

    Syringomyelia (SM) is a serious health problem that affects a number of small dog breeds, one of which is the Chihuahua. Unfortunately, very few owners are aware of this condition and oftentimes mistake its symptoms for allergies or other issues. As a result, Chihuahuas suffering from SM aren’t given the treatment and/or medication they require.…

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A lot of owners seem to overlook the importance of having their Chihuahuas spayed or neutered. When you are busy looking at puppies trying to find the one that's right for your family, it's easy to forget about future issues like spaying and neutering. Unfortunately, this results in a large number of Chihuahuas growing up without getting fixed. The fact is that there are countless reasons why you should spay or neuter your Chihuahua.

Fixed Chihuahua

Some owners are still stuck in the mentality that spaying and neutering is bad because it causes pain and unneeded stress on Chihuahuas. While there have been incidents of infections taking setting in after the surgery, they are few and far between. The American Humane Society states that fixing your dog is one of the best decisions you can make regarding their health and well-being. Most professional veterinarians will also agree that spaying and neutering is a safe, healthy procedure that owners should have performed on their canines.

Is Spaying and Neutering Really Necessary?

The benefits of having your Chihuahua spayed or neutered far outweigh the disadvantages. With that said, there are a few special circumstances when you may want to avoid having the procedure done. If you plan on breeding your Chihuahua at a later date, then you obviously wouldn't want to have them fixed. Of course, this is a big decision that shouldn't be made lightly. Breeding a Chihuahua will require a great deal of time and money, both of which are difficult to come by in today's fast-paced world.

Another instance where you might want to avoid spaying or neutering your Chihuahua is if your veterinarian advises against it. If your Chihuahua has a compromised immune system, is too young or old, or if they have some other underlying health condition, a veterinarian may advise against spaying or neutering. However, contrary to what some people may believe, there's no such thing as a dog that's too small to fix. Always follow the advice of your veterinarian to ensure the safety and well-being of your Chihuahua.

Spaying and Neutering

Spaying and Neutering Saves Lives

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), approximately 5-7 million animals enter animal shelters each year, and a staggering 60% of these animals are euthanized (3-4 million annually). It's a grim statistic that's only made worse when owners neglect to fix their pets. As a Chihuahua owner, you can do your part to lower these numbers by having your Chihuahua spayed or neutered.

Having your Chihuahua spayed or neutered will prevent them from breeding, which in turn will help deal with overpopulation. Even if you don't plan on breeding your Chihuahua, the hormones set off by a female in heat is a powerful attractant to unfixed males. It's all too common for family Chihuahuas to away from home in search of a mate, which is why you need have yours spayed or neutered.

Neutering Helps To Prevent Males From Running Away

If you've owned unfixed male Chihuahuas or other dogs in the past, you are probably well aware of how eager they are to run off, especially if there's a female in heat nearby. I guess you could call it mother nature's dating service, as it brings the male and female together to propagate the species. Unfortunately, though, shelters and rescues throughout the country are overrun with far more puppies than they can handle. Neutering your male Chihuahua will eliminate their instinctual desire to roam the neighborhood in search of a mate.

With the desire to roam now gone from your male Chihuahua, there's less chance of them becoming injured from other cars, dogs, people or getting into poisonous chemicals. This alone should be reason enough for you to get them neutered.

Neutering Reduces The Chance of Prostate Cancer

As lesser-known benefits of having a neutered Chihuahua is the reduced risk of developing prostate cancers. Each year, thousands of male dogs die from this horrible disease. While having them fixed doesn't completely eliminate their risk of developing prostate cancer is does significantly lower it.

Studies have shown that prostate growth is directly linked to the amount of testosterone a Chihuahua produces; therefore, the more testosterone a Chihuahua has, the higher the risk of developing prostate cancer. Having them neutered removes the testosterone-producing testicles, which lowers their chance of developing this cancer.

Chihuahua Run Away

No More "Territory Marking" On Your Furniture

One of the biggest complaints owners have about male Chihuahuas is their instinctual behavior that results in them lifting their back leg and and peeing on the sides of furniture. Even if they are potty-trained, they may still have the desire to mark their territory on your furniture. Behavior such as this simply can't be tolerated in the house, especially if you want a clean home without the dreaded smell of pee.

You must understand that male Chihuahuas, or all male dogs for that matter, have the instinctual desire to mark their territory because of the testosterone hormone. By neutering them, their testosterone levels decrease significantly, which should curb their desire to pee on the sides of your furniture, walls and other areas inside the house.

Spaying Eliminates Heat Cycles

Female Chihuahuas go into their heat cycle about once or twice a year. During this time, they will be more sensitive, territorial, and they will bleed. Caring for a Chihuahua in heat requires extra care and attention. By spaying your female Chihuahua, however, you will eliminate their heat cycles altogether.

The truth is that these are just a few of the many benefits of having your Chihuahua spayed or neutered. If there's one reason that draws you to fix your Chihuahua, it should be to help control the population of Chihuahuas that end up in shelters.

*In the words of the famous Price is Right host Bob Barker "Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered."

References:

https://www.avma.org/Pages/home.aspx

http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/adoption-pet-care/caring-for-your-pet/spaying-neutering.html

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/facts/why_spay_neuter.html

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/spayneuter-your-pet

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