December 15, 2011
Posted in Pet Health

Over the past few years, small dogs have made their way from the comforts of the home into restaurants, hotels and boutiques across America, by way of their owners handbags. This trend has given these precious pooches the name of "purse dogs."

Although owners of these dogs may love the constant companionship they gain from having their dogs by their side at all times, small breeds such as Yorkshire terriers, toy poodles or Chihuahuas can have a number of serious health problems that owners looking for a tiny companion should consider.

According to the news source, these teacup breeds are prone to defective knees, hips and shoulders, heart and liver problems, bad teeth and fragile bones that are easily broken. These conditions aren't super common, but with any purebred animal it's best to seek out breeders who screen their dogs for predisposed conditions. The site reports that owners should never buy from a breeder who is willing to sell tiny puppies before they're 12 weeks old. If these tiny dogs are taken from the litter any sooner, they have a higher chance of dying as they need to be fed every four hours. Going longer than that just once can pose a serious threat to the new puppy.

Even though these small breeds can develop medical conditions, many times they live long healthy lives, as long as their owners take good care of them.

Once you bring your tiny puppy home, you'll need to stick with its feeding regimen to allow it to grow strong. Find a brand that caters to the specific needs of small breeds like Wellness Small Breed Super5Mix Healthy Weight Recipe Dry Dog Food. Depending on how early you get it, you may need to stick to feeding it every four hours, however always consult with your veterinarian first.

In order to keep your pooch's knees, hips and shoulders flexible and healthy as it ages, start it on a daily joint-enhancing supplement like Cosequin For Dogs, Glyco Flex III or Super Joint Enhancer to ensure it gets what it needs from the get go. Giving it a supplement like Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet will also help to keep its eyes, heart, brain, skin and coat strong and healthy. Supplying it with treats like Greenies for dogs will not only show your pooch you love it, it will also help keep its teeth strong and clean. 

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