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  • Teacup Chihuahuas – Separating The Facts From The Fiction

    Whether you currently own a Chihuahua or are thinking of owning one, you’ve probably heard people refer to some of them as “teacups” or similar names. Typically, owners and breeders may refer to their ultra-small Chihuahuas using terms such as these. This can undoubtedly be confusing giving the fact that the American Kennel Club (AKC)…

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  • Chihuahua Potty-Training and Housebreaking

    Potty-training is an essential process that every owner must go through with their Chihuahua. Unless you plan on keeping your in a fenced in backyard (not recommended), you’ll have to teach them to use the bathroom outside and not inside the house. Unfortunately, however, Chihuahuas have a notorious reputation for being a breed that’s difficult…

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  • Comparing The Differences Between Long-Coat and Smooth-Coat Chihuahuas

    Purebred Chihuahuas are categorized as either long-coat or smooth-coat (AKA short coat). Contrary to what some people may believe, these aren’t actual breeds but rather varieties of the Chihuahua. If you’re thinking of adding a new Chihuahua to your family in the near future, it’s important to understand the differences between long-coats and smooth-coats. While…

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  • Is It Safe To Raise a Chihuahua Around Larger Dogs?

    With an average weight of just 3-5 pounds, there’s no denying the fact that Chihuahuas are small dogs. In fact, they are oftentimes considered THE smallest breed in the world. Of course this is just one of the many reasons why people choose to own pet Chihuahuas over other types of dogs. However, their small…

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  • Chihuahuas and Small Children – Can They Coexist?

    Child With Chihuahua One of the most common concerns people in regards to owning a Chihuahua is whether or not they are safe around small children. Because of their feisty, no-holds-bar kind of attitude, these pocket-sized canines have a reputation for being snappy and sometimes even aggressive. In a house of full-grown adults, you probably…

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  • How To Help an Obese Chihuahua Lose Weight

    Many owners brush off their Chihuahua’s obesity as a non-concerning issue that doesn’t pose a real threat. In addition, there are even some people that laugh or poke fun at their weight problem. The fact is, however, that that obesity is just as dangerous to canines as it is to us. It can lead to…

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  • Chihuahua Flea Treatment and Prevention

    If you see a flea on your Chihuahua, it’s important to take immediate action to treat and prevent them from coming back. Although they are most commonly found in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, dog and cat fleas can still be found year-round in warmer regions of the U.S. The problem is that many…

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  • How To Safely Drive With a Chihuahua In The Car

    Picture of Cars Driving Seeing a perky dog with their head popped up in the passenger side seat of a car driving down the road is enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. Whether you are young or old, chances are you’ll get a kick of seeing this on the highway. If you plan…

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  • What To Expect From a Chihuahua’s Heat Cycle

    Female Chihuahua Female Chihuahuas can make wonderful, loving family pets. In fact, many people prefer them because they don’t mark their territory like their male counterparts. If you plan on raising a female Chihuahua, though, you’ll need to be aware of their heat cycle. This is a critical time in their life that requires special…

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  • How To Train a Chihuahua To Stop Barking

    Does your Chihuahua bark up a storm at every little thing they see? If so, you aren’t alone. Barking is one of the most common problems reported by Chihuahua owners. While some of them may only bark when guests or family members come to the front door, others will bark at the television, vacuum cleaner,…

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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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