They sound so adorable: tiny teacups, babyface puppies or supermini (insert toy breed here). But these extra-small dogs are really just a heartbreak waiting to happen.
No responsible breeder would ever purposely breed down the size of her line; national organizations like the American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club, set out breed standards which stipulate the ideal weight for toy dogs. So dogs that are super-small are either from an unscrupulous breeder preying on your emotions, or a Puppy mill!
Yorkshire Terrier
What’s wrong with super small toy dogs?
dogs bred to be small within one or two generations are the result of breeding runts with runts. Runts – undersized, sickly and poorly developed puppies – are of course not what you want for your loved pet. Besides a host of health problems, being too small can result in:
excessive shyness
very poor coat
overshot or undershot bite
Over time, professional dog breeders do change how breeds look, including their size. The first recognized Yorkshire Terrier, for example, was introduced to the American Kennel Club in 1872. At that time, the Yorkie weighed about 12 pounds; now the breed standard is 5 to 7 pounds.
dogs that are smaller than they should be have 6 big drawbacks:
First, teacups have more health problems and are more sensitive to potential hazards around the house than ‘full size’ dogs of the same breed. A jump from the couch can break a leg and they can have chronic diarrhea.
A super small dog faces high risks if an operation is needed, even common neutering.
Very small dogs are harder to house train. Their bladders are that much smaller and owners say it takes at least 6 months to potty train a teacup.
Teacups normally need a lot of attention and can’t be left alone for a long period of time. They need food more often – at least 3 or 4 meals a day, and can be very high-strung.
Teacups are not likely to live as long as “full size” versions. Most toy dogs have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years but a teacup can live as short a life as just 5 or 6 years.
AND THE BIG PROBLEM….
6. Teacups are prone to Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar shock. This problem is a temporary one with any toy Puppy until it grows to its full size, but with teacups that are under 5 pounds — they always at risk of this common yet very serious problem.
Hypoglycemia is caused because the small dog is not able to store enough energy (food) in its tiny digestive system. Any kind of stress can cause a drastic drop in blood sugar levels which can actually be fatal!
Causes include:
stress
over-handling
shipping
not enough food
cold
intestinal parasites
infection
What are the signs of Hypoglycemia?
Your dog will suddenly go limp, and may breath shallowly
gums may turn very pale pink
may vomit some green bile or a foamy liquid
unsteady, shaky almost drunk walking
drowsiness, shivering, collapsing, disorientation, seizures, listlessness, depression, muscle weakness and tremors.
But here are some tips to help your teacup right away if he or she shows signs of Hypoglycemia…
be prepared and keep corn syrup on hand — Rub it on the puppy’s gums, under the tongue, and on the roof of the mouth.
warm the puppy against your body or use a hot water bottle
The puppy should revive quickly. If not, call the Vet immediately – your dog is in serious danger. Let the Vet know that you have a hypoglycemic dog.
In conclusion, avoid anyone who advertises teacup or micro dogs; if you do get a puppy that’s smaller than the breed standard, be aware of some of the problems you may face and be extra vigilant.
The Truth About Teacup Dogs
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