Vinyl-Violet My Little Deerhead Chihuahua

Hi Everypawdy! Its been a while since I last did a blog, but here I am today writing about our little lady Vinyl-Violet, its getting close to her eye operation, she is having  her left eye removed as we have tried over the last year to find a way to be able to have her eye saved but with no evil, over the last 16 months we have tried so had with medicine and and constant eye drops to save her eye, but have be unable to fix her problem, The poor little girl has gone blind from all the ulcers and scaring from the buildup of muck scratching her eye! So we are going to have one very own ChiRiffic pirate and she will be so much happier and healthier, we have thought long and hard about this issue as having an eye removed was the last thing we wanted for her, But after trying everything we could we made the hard decision to book her in for the eye removal. And it's not long now as its on the 21st of November 2018 so it is fast approaching. 

Please keep Vinyl-Violet in your thoughts, and here is a little more information regarding her operation.

What is Enucleation? 

Enucleation is the surgical removal of an eye and its associated structures, e.g. eyelids. The procedure is undertaken in order to prevent pain or spread of disease, such as when an eye is irreversibly damaged, cancerous, or affected by non-responsive glaucoma. 

Enucleation in dogs is often a treatment of last resort, when all previous attempts to salvage the eye have failed. The procedure is carried out under full general anaesthetic and, although a major procedure, there is every chance of a successful outcome. 

This is not a specialist procedure and is commonly carried out at general vet practice. 

 

Enucleation Procedure in Dogs 

Enucleation is never undertaken lightly and only after all other treatment options have been explored. For example with glaucoma, referral to place a surgical stent (drain) in the eye may be an option. Enucleation requires full general anesthetic and may involve an overnight stay after the surgery, for additional pain relief and monitoring. Elderly patients may require intravenous fluids during the surgery to reduce the risk of kidney complications. 

The procedure involves:  Preparing the patient by withholding food overnight prior to the operation A pre-op check, possibly including screening blood tests A premedication injection and pain relief to prepare the dog for the aesthetic The dog may be put on intravenous fluids at this point The anesthetic is administered via a catheter in the front leg and maintained via gas delivered through a tube in the airway A vet tech monitors the dog's vital signs  Hair is carefully clipped from around the eye and face The skin is made sterile with surgical scrub The surgeon scrubs up, and then sutures the eyelids of the affected eye together The surgeon removes the eye by careful dissection, and any bleeding vessels clamped and tied off Skin is sutured over the empty socket The dog wakes from the anesthetic and must wear a cone to protect the surgical site The dog is discharged with pain relief and perhaps antibiotics The dog requires a post-op check at two to three days The sutures are removed 10 - 14 days later 

Efficacy of Enucleation in Dogs 

Once the initial post-operative discomfort is over, enucleation is extremely effective at preventing ocular pain, without risk of relapse. Many owners who opt for surgery after a delay often notice their dog is happier than it has been some time, now the long term low pain has gone. In many cases, the alternative to enucleation is long-term management of a condition, which can be difficult or even impossible to achieve. This may require visits to specialists for repeated anesthetics to repair damaged corneal tissue or regular visits to have the pressure within the eye measured. Medical management of severe eye conditions is rarely successful, which leaves the possibility that the dog is in constant low-grade pain, so treatment decisions are best made with the dog's long term welfare in mind. 

Enucleation Recovery in Dogs 

It is essential the dog wears a cone until the sutures are removed. For the first two to three days postoperatively, the dog may be quiet from the anesthetic and experiencing some discomfort. The pain can be managed with medications, which your vet will supply.  Following a check-up at the two to three-day point, the dog has gentle lead exercise until the sutures are removed at the 10 - 14-day mark.  Complications are rare, but include hemorrhage or wound breakdown. If the bleeding is severe, revisional surgery may be required or the clinician may opt to pack the socket and use pressure to prevent further blood loss. However, the vast majority of patients make a full and uneventful recovery.  Once the sutures are removed no further aftercare is needed and the patient signed off.  

Cost of Enucleation in Dogs 

The one-off cost of enucleation surgery must be balanced against repeated specialist visits, repeated anesthetics, and ongoing medication costs. At a general practice, the cost of enucleation surgery ranges from around $400 - $950 depending on the supportive care needed.  Prescription eye drops for glaucoma cost around $15 -25 per bottle and may last around 2 - 3 weeks each. When a condition is managed medically the dog may need weekly visits initially and then three-monthly check-ups. The cost of these visits can be $25 - 50 for a regular vet, to $70 - $270 for a specialist veterinary ophthalmologist.  

Dog Enucleation Considerations 

There are many factors to consider with enucleation surgery. The procedure is permanent and irreversible, and the dog blind on that side afterward. However, many of the conditions for which enucleation is appropriate may have already resulted in loss of sight. The short-term discomfort of surgery is balanced against the long-term benefit of being pain-free. In addition, this surgical option can be cost effective as the results are permanent. The risks of surgery are low and relate to hemorrhage and any anesthetic risks for that individual patient. However, good surgical technique and pre-op screening minimises both of these factors. 

Enucleation Prevention in Dogs

 Many of the health conditions that result in enucleation being an appropriate option are not preventable. Conditions such as glaucoma are strongly linked to genetic conditions such as luxating lens or poor drainage angles from the eye. 

Please be vigilant for the earliest signs of discomfort in your dog to get the eyes checked. Early medical treatment stands a better chance of success than much later intervention.  Other problems such as eyes popping out of sockets are linked to face shape. Flat-faced breeds such as pugs and pekes are at greatest risk. To avoid problems, the owner should avoid scrubbing their dog (which pulls back the eyelids) and use a harness rather than a neck collar.  

Owners should be vigilant for signs of eye discomfort, such as blinking and squinting, closing the eye, rubbing, or an ocular discharge, and seek veterinary attention. Prompt treatment of ulcers on the cornea (surface of the eye) can stop them from perforating which could result in the loss of an eye.  

We hope this has helped for you to understand a little more about Vinyl-Violets condition! We will keep you all updated with the recovery of our beautiful girl!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read about our furbaby. 

Miss Squeak 

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Have you had to have your furbabies eye removed let us know your story. 

Miss Vinyl-Violet Chihuahua Puppy

 Welcome to Miss Squeaks Truth About Dogs,

its been a while since I have done a blog, But I m back and we have a new Chihuahua puppy, 

we have had her since the 25th of April and she is now almost 7 months old and her name is 

Vinyl-Violet and she is just adorable and is love so very much. She has settled in very well and is loved by her Furbrother and Fursister, 

she is now totally toilet trained yay!

I have been very busy with getting her trained and socialised so thats what i have been up too. Lately 

we have been having lots of fun with all our chihuahua cfurfriends that we have playdays with once a month, so i thought would introduce her to the world, and as it said we are now back to blogging so if you would like your furbaby to have a feature in this blog lets us know in the comments, and see you all soon 

Miss Squeak Miss Mildred and Vinyl-Violet

Come check us out on Facebook at 

Chi-Riffic Chihuahua's (fan page)

or at 

Chihuahua's Down Under (Chi-Riffic) 

that is our friendly group with lots of fun stuff and cute puppies hope to see you there!

Miss Squeak Talks Apple and Deer Head Chihuahua's

Deer Head vs Apple Head Chihuahua – What’s The Difference?

Okay so today is the day we talk about this issue as it has come up  before but I never addressed it so her we go,

If you have done any research into the Chihuahua breed, you've most likely heard of deer head and apple head getting used to explain them. Breeders, veterinarians, consultants and furbaby owners often use these terms to explain specific Chihuahuas based on their physical characteristics and look. The actual fact is that most Chihuahuas will either be classified as deer head or apple head based on how they appear. So, what precisely do these unusually-sounding terms mean? Keep reading and i can reveal the variations between deer head and apple Chihuahuas and what you need to understand regarding them.

Naturally, one would possibly assume that deer head and apple head Chihuahuas are a particular breed. After all, with such a large amount of individuals referring to their Chihuahuas with these terms, logic ought to tell you that it's a certain breed. If you discuss with the American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC) or Chihuahua Club of Australia you merely will not find these varieties formally recognised. this is often a somewhat similar scenario as the term "teacup Chihuahuas," Which I have also  explained on another section of my blog. Even if individuals use the terms apple head, deer head and teacup daily to explain their Chihuahuas, the reality is that none of those are officially recognised varieties by any major canine association

Apple Head Chihuahua Characteristics and Information:

As previously expressed, no major canine associated, The Australian Kennel, recognises apple head or deer Chihuahua varieties. you can check their web site, send them an email or call them up in person if you do not believe ME. However, they do place an emphasis on the "apple" form of a Chihuahua's head because the breed standard. Both the Chihuahua Club of America and also the AKC state the breed standard's head must possess "A well rounded 'apple dome' skull, with or without molera."

If you are questioning what a molera is, let ME explain - Chihuahuas ar often born with a soft spot in their skull wherever the bone failed to properly form. Instead of  having a tough, thick bone that totally protects their brain, a Chihuahua with a molera can have a rubbery patch underneath their skin. While  it does not supply as much protection as a tough boney skull, it still offers a valuable line of defense against head injury. The exact range of Chihuahuas stricken by this condition is unknown, however some breed experts claim that up to 80th of Chihuahuas have a molar.

Here are a number of the characteristics of an apple head Chihuahua:

Short muzzle

Prominent jawline

Large, distinguished forehead

Round, apple-shaped head (with or without molar)

Deer Head Chihuahua

Deer Head Chihuahua deer Head Chihuahua Characteristics and Information 

On the other side of the fence is that the deer head Chihuahua, that are equally as common as their counterpart the apple head. Because the breed standards set by the main canine associations specifically state that the top of a Chihuahua should be apple-shaped, deer head Chihuahuas are often excluded from tournaments and shows. Some folks even regard them as poor breeding thanks to their informal formed head. Do not  let that stop you from owning one, though, as they can make  terrific pets that are just as doting, mischievous and fun as apple heads.

Here are a number of the characteristics of a deer head Chihuahua:

Like the apple head, deer head Chihuahuas may be found with or without a molera.

Tend to have less health issues.

Long snout protruding further out than apple head Chihuahuas.

More slim skull that resembles the head of a deer, thence the name.

Many owners swear that deer head Chihuahuas are more manageable and less aggressive than apple heads.

Should I Purchase a Deer Head or Apple Head Chihuahua?

Whether you ought to own a deer head or apple head Chihuahua may be a choice that solely you'll make. Because of  their cute and tiny size, many of us base their decision on appearance alone. whereas there's nothing wrong with taking into account however a Chihuahua puppy appearance, you should really be focusing on their temperament and traits. Once you've found a breeder with a litter of pups, go over there one or two time to actually sit down and play with them. this may offer you an opportunity to see that Chihuahua pups are mischievous, fun, affectionate and want to be around you. I remember selecting my first Chihuahua, Miss Mildred because she was the peewee who came up to ME and would not flee. I straight off knew she was the one for me and have not regretted making that call.

Something that is necessary to notice is that apple head Chihuahuas are additional prone to health issues that plague the breed. Compared to alternative dog breeds, Chihuahuas have comparatively few health issues, however this does not mean they're going to keep 100 percent healthy their entire lives. some of the foremost common health issues related to Chihuahuas are diabetes, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), inflammatory disease and bone fractures To mention some. deer head Chihuahuas may still suffer from a number of these conditions, however the possibilities are lower than those of an apple head's.

                                Chihuahua 

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

 

• 
  

• Group:
  Group 1 (Toys)
• History:
• General Appearance:
  
  

  Small, dainty, compact.
• Characteristics:
  
  

  Alert, little dog, swift moving with brisk forceful action and saucy expression.
• Temperament:
  
  

  Gay, spirited and intelligent, neither snappy nor withdrawn.
• Head And Skull:
  
  

  Well rounded 'Apple Dome' skull, cheeks and jaws lean, muzzle moderately short, slightly pointed. Definite stop.
• Eyes:
  
  

  Large, round, but not protruding; set well apart; centre of eye is on a plane with lowest point of ear and base of stop; dark or ruby. Light eyes in light colours permissible.
• Ears:
  
  

  Large, flaring, set on at an angle of approximately 45 degrees; giving breadth between ears. Tipped or broken down highly undesirable.
• Mouth:
  
  

  Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
• Neck:
  
  

  Slightly arched, medium length.
• Forequarters:
  
  

  Shoulders well laid; lean, sloping into slightly broadening support above straight forelegs, set well under chest giving freedom of movement without looseness.
• Body:
  
  

  Level back. Body, from point of shoulder to rear point of croup, slightly longer than height at withers. Well sprung ribs, deep brisket.
• Hindquarters:
  
  

  Muscular: hocks well let down, with good turn of stifle, well apart, turning neither in nor out.
• Feet:
  
  

  Small and dainty, turning neither in nor out; toes well divided but not spread, pads cushioned, fine, strong, flexible pasterns. Neither hare nor cat-like, nails moderately short.
• Tail:
  
  

  Medium length, set high, carried up and over back (sickle tail). When moving never tucked under or curled below the topline. Furry, flattish in appearance, broadening slightly in centre and tapering to point.
• Gait/Movement:
  
  

  Brisk, forceful action, neither high stepping nor hackney; good reach without slackness in forequarters, good drive in hindquarters. Viewed from front and behind legs should move neither too close nor too wide, with no turning in or out of feet or pasterns. Topline should remain firm and level when moving.
• Coat:
  
  

  Smooth, of soft texture, close and glossy, with undercoat and ruff permissible.
• Colour:
  
  

  Any colour or mixture of colours but never Merle (dapple).
• Sizes:
  
  

  Weight: up to 2.7 kg (6 lbs), with 1.8-2.7 kgs (4-6 lbs) preferred.

Faults:

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

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Miss Squeak and Miss Mildred xx

Miss Squeaks Fun Tricks For Furbaby Chihuahua's.

Hello everyone hope all is well and your furbabys are giving you lots of love cuddles and kisses.

So i was thing lets talk about teaching our furbabys to do some sweet little tricks and a few came timing as I do train Miss Mildred to do tricks and it was very easy as the Chihuahua breed is very smart and they want to please. So after I give some more information on theChihuahua breed we will get started wth the few easy tricks I get 

Miss Mildred to do daily as our furbabys are small fragile and ever so tiny its hard to keep treat training as they can put on weight haha and I say this as Miss Mildred put weight on while i was training her but now a kiss and a cuddle makes her just as happy !

The Chihuahua is a terribly intelligent dog; as a matter of truth this breed has the biggest brain in comparison to body size out of all of the dog breeds within the world. therefore whether or not your Chihuahua may be a puppy or an older dog, you'll be able to definitely teach your dog some cute tricks. The key and secret to training your Chihuahua to perform tricks to repetition.

If you show your dog one thing over and over again; continually teaching him the same method, he can eventually learn it. This breed picks up info quite quickly; some tricks can solely take a matter of a week or 2 to find out.

When you are teaching your dog, it's best to do so during a quiet area wherever there aren't any distractions. make learning fun, act excited once he learns one thing and never scold him if he's taking time to catch on. when he will master a trick, take care to reward your Chihuahua with lots of happy words of praise.

When a Chi is first making an attempt to be told and is putting in effort, do provide a tasty treat as reward... however don't fret regarding always having to offer food as motivation. when you additionally offer praise at the same time, after a while a dog can have an automatic response... and at that point your smile, praise and therefore the attention that your Chi receives are going to be all that's required for him or her to require to stay playing. 

Some other smart tips to keep in mind is that taking time on a daily basis to work on these commands can create the simplest success... After all, sporadically having sessions once or twice per week merely will not provide the repetition that's required.

And, you need to be in an passionate mood in order for your Chihuahua to be in one! Dogs scan body language and tone as if they were ready to read our minds. If an owner is feeling positive with a decent attitude that learning is fun and a gradual process, a dog can typically mimic that perspective...And that is what's required to set a decent learning foundation. 

Cool Trick 1 - What  Hand? 

A really cute trick to show your Chihuahua will make it seem as if your dog could be a bit psychic! you must have your dog sitting in front of you. Reach to grab a handful of little treats; however take care that it's a small enough quantity in order that your hand will completely cover the food whereas creating a clenched fist.

Put your hands behind your back. Then, place each hands out toward your Chihuahua at a similar distance from him.

Say the command words of "Which hand?" using an excited voice. Your dog should be able to understand which hand holds the treats merely from the smell. A dog's ability to smell is totally amazing! once your dog put his paw on the proper hand, open your hand to reveal the treats. in this case, the treats are going to be the reward. 

Do not provide the treats till your Chihuahua puts his paw on the hand that hides them. this may teach him that merely nosing it's not enough.

Neat Trick 2 - Saying Grace

This is a good trick to show your Chihuahua, particularly when you have company over for dinner. In order  for this to work, you may want a small toddler's chair or booster seat that's placed on the ground.

You may additionally use a solid box or alternative object that is sometimes in your room or eating space. The height of the object must be so that your Chihuahua will stand and rest his or her front legs on the object.

This trick is "Saying Grace" but you must not have food out after you are training your Chihuahua to try and do this trick, because it can distract him from learning this. Have him sit in front of the item. Say the command words, "Say Grace" while you gently elevate his front paws and place them on the object.

Again, repeat the command words and gently place his face softly down upon his front paws. Your Chihuahua can currently be during a position that seems that he's expression a prayer. you must pat his head and say encouraging words to stay his face down for a number of moments.

Never hold his head if he resists. after a count of three or four, release your gentle touch and reward him with excitement, pats and hugs. 

The key to a dog learning to do this automatically once hearing the command words is to train him often. 

Doing this four to five times on a daily basis for one to two weeks ought to have your Chihuahua ready to do an amusing supper time trick.

Trick 3 - Greetings!

This trick is simple however can make your Chihuahua appear very smart! Sit your Chihuahua in front of you. Gently acquire one of his paws and gently shake it while expression the command word, "Hello". 

Act terribly happy while you're doing this and show your Chi that you simply are more than happy that he's permitting you to do this. After a while, say the command word again, however this time you may just gently touch his paw without shaking it. Act as if you expect him to require action. If he doesn't, lift the paw and repeat the hand shake.  

After a jiffy, your Chihuahua can perceive what to do after you sit before of him and say, "Hello". this is often a beautiful trick to have your dog grasp for when you introduce him or her to friends, family and other.

Super Cool Trick 4 - Sweet Kisses

This is a beautiful Chihuahua dog trick and extremely simple to show. You need to  sit your dog in front of you. Before you are doing the next step, do bear in mind that this is often temporary and very soon you will be able to eliminate this 1st part! 

Put a really little dab of wet pet food on the cheek of your face. Say the command words, "Kisses" and permit your Chihuahua to lick the treat off your face. As he's doing so, repeat the command word. 

Then, attempt to do so by merely pointing to your face and saying, "Kisses". If your Chihuahua kisses you, make certain to praise him with happy word and excited pats. After a while you should be able to merely say "Kisses" and obtain a sweet Chihuahua kiss. 

Miss Mildred loves to do all of these tricks and she is very happy to show anyone them!

I have put a lot of training into my sweet little Chihuahua and I am so happy she was so eager to learn we alway practice the shake before she is allowed her dinner so now she sits waiting for her command shake or paw so she can have her dinner. Its really cute and lots of fun too. 

 Miss Mildred and I Miss Squeak 

would like to thank everyone for coming and reading our new blog 

Fun Tricks For Your Furbaby Chihuahua

And we would love to hear any trick that you do with your furbaby so let us know below in the comments and don't be shy !

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We also hope this blog has helped you to train your new furbaby. Come back soon for some new information and if there might be something you would like to know use the comments and tell us !!