Taking Care of a 6-Week-Old Chihuahua

Chihuahua puppies need special care at 6 weeks old.

At 6 weeks old, according to Family Treasure Chihuahuas, a chihuahua puppy is entering the second period of its development. This includes its socialization, or learning how to get along with and behave like other canines. There are times when a chihuahua pup is unable to stay with its mother and litter mates, for instance if it is smaller than the rest and unable to get enough to eat, or if the mother rejects it. There are also unfortunate incidents when something happens to the mother of a litter, and you are left with their tiny lives in your hands.

Things You'll Need

• Soft cloths
• Puppy formula
• Goat's milk
• Saucepan or microwave-safe dish
• Baby bottle or syringe with nipple
• Food scale

Instructions

1. Keep the pup warm and dry. While it is able to regulate its body temperature at this age, it will have difficulty doing so if the temperature isn't kept a little warmer than what you would consider comfortable for yourself.

2. Clean the puppy before and after each meal. This includes encouraging it to eliminate, as this would be something the mother would do. Use a soft cloth dampened with warm water, and clean the pup all over, finishing with its bottom. When you wipe over the pup's bottom and belly, it should encourage elimination.

3. Feed the puppy every two hours to three hours. Use a store-bought formula recommended by your veterinarian, and mix according to the instructions. According to Leerburg Video and Kennel, goat's milk is more easily digested than cow's milk, and works well when mixing formula.

4. Heat the mixed formula in a saucepan or in the microwave, then allow to cool to almost room temperature before feeding.

5. Place the formula in a needle-less 3cc syringe with a rubber nipple fitted over the needle end. This is the perfect size for a tiny chihuahua. Do not force the pup, but let it suckle as it would from its mother.

6. Provide your pup with medical care. Chihuahuas are prone to several congenital conditions that can be monitored and controlled with veterinary assistance. Hypoglycemia is one of them. Avoid this by feeding small meals regularly.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the bottle or syringe you use to feed your pup has a large enough opening in the nipple. When upended and squeezed gently, a little formula should drip out.

• Be sure your bottles and equipment are sterile.

• Use a food scale to weigh the puppy and feed the formula by weight to guard against over-feeding.

References

• Family Treasure Chihuahuas: The First 12 Weeks
• Leerburg Video and Kennel: Bottle Feeding Puppies
• The Puppy Dog Place: Chihuahua Puppy Care ... a new owner's guide

Resources

• Picasso Chihuahuas: How to Hand-raise Puppies
• The Tea Cup Myth