A typical Chihuahua dog will live between 14 and 18 years and generally will not face any major health concerns, according to the experts at AnimalDiscovery.com; however, a Chihuahua that is adopted later in its life will have certain needs and requirements that must be met to ensure its good health and longevity. The owner of an older, adopted Chihuahua can easily learn to meet her pet's needs by following some guidelines for veterinary care, grooming, exercise, feeding schedule and nutrition.
Things You'll Need
- Older adopted Chihuahua
- Veterinarian
- Grooming tools
- High-quality dog food
Instructions
Take your Chihuahua to the veterinarian for a full exam, including blood work. This allows you to find out if your Chihuahua has any age-related issues so you can address them early.
Groom your Chihuahua. Adopted older dogs often need a lot of grooming. Brush your Chihuahua's teeth three times per week, as dental problems can lead to heart disease.
Exercise your Chihuahua in moderation. Older dogs may have conditions like heart disease or arthritis, so running or jumping may be too hard on your dog's body. Walk the dog, and play with it to improve its physical and mental well-being.
Feed your Chihuahua high-quality food. Many older adopted dogs are malnourished, and dogs need more protein as they get older to maintain muscle mass. Vitamin E, antioxidants and beta carotene are necessary to make an older dog's immune system stronger. Provide the dog with cool, fresh water every day.
Look at your Chihuahua's stools to determine nutritional health. The stools should be formed and small, and colored medium to dark brown. Loose stools or stools that are rock-hard are signs of a poor diet.
Avoid over-feeding your Chihuahua. Obesity is very common in senior dogs. Sandra Whittle, a past president of the Chihuahua Club of America, states that Chihuahuas should not be fed table scraps. Chihuahuas are tiny dogs and do not require a lot of calories. Feed your dog a quarter to an eighth of a cup of food once a day, and do not leave food available at all times.
Have patience with your Chihuahua, especially if you have recently adopted the dog. Adjustment time can be longer for older dogs, and it may take a few weeks for your dog to adapt to you and its new home.