This breed's flattened face contributes to a few Chin suffering from breathing
and heart problems, as is common with brachycephalic breeds.
Because they are a brachycephalic breed, temperature extremes
(particularly heat) should be avoided.
Luxating patellas (knees) and heart murmurs are other genetically
predisposed
conditions.
The oversized eyes are easily scratched and corneal scratches or
more serious ulcerations can result. Mild scratches benefit from topical canine
antibacterial ointment specifically for eye application; more serious injury or
ulcerations require urgent medical care.
Some Chin do have seasonal allergies.
The Chin, as with most small breed dogs,
can also have a risk of hypoglycemia when under the age of 6 months; this concern
can continue in Chin that mature at 4 to 5 pounds or less.
EAR CARE
Inflamed or Infected ears
INGREDIENTS: (Available at any pharmacy)
16 Oz. Isopropyl Alcohol
4 Tablespoons Boric Acid Powder
16 Drops Gentian Violet Solution 1%
Mix ingredients into a plastic squirt type bottle, these work best
to dispense the solution to the effected ears. Shake this solution every time
you use it to disperse the Boric Acid Powder. Your dog will not object to even
the first treatment.
The Boric Acid Powder soothes the ear.
The Gentian Violet solution is an anti-infection agent.
TREATMENT:
Evaluate condition of ears before treating and if very
inflamed and sore do not attempt to clean out ear at all. Wait until
inflamation has subsided which will be about 2 days.
Shake the bottle each time before using.
Flood the ear with solution (gently squirt bottle), massage
gently to the count
of 60, wipe with a tissue. Flood again on first treatment,
wipe with a tissue, and leave alone without massage.
The dog will shake out
the excess which can be wiped with a tissue.
NOTE: The Gentian Violet does stain fabrics.
SCHEDULE of treatment is as follows:
Treat 2 times per day for the first 1 to 2 weeks depending upon
severity of ears.
Treat 1 time per day for the next 1-2 weeks.
Treat 1 time per month (or even less frequently, depending on the
dog.)
The Success Rate for this treatment is 95-99%.
You MUST complete the schedule.
Should an infection persist in the treated ear after the above
course of treatment, you may also have some bacteria in the site.
This can be eradicated by using a gentle flush of raw apple cider vinegar and
water (warm).
Use 2 Tablespoons of vinegar to one cup of water, 2 times per week.
PUPPY HYPOGLYCEAMIA
(Low Blood Sugar)
Hypoglycemia simply means a low blood sugar. Glucose is the form of sugar found
within the bloodstream. Glucose is formed during the digestion of foods and it
can be stored within the liver in a storage form called glycogen. Most instances o
f low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in the puppy are the result of inadequate
nutrition; either not enough or poor quality (undigestible) food. Excessive
exercise may also cause the body to use up more sugar than is available.
What are the symptoms?
A puppy with hypoglycemia will lack energy. Glucose (sugar) is the fuel the
body burns for energy; without it the puppy is listless. In severe instances,
the puppy may even seizure, since glucose is necessary for the brain tissue and
muscles to function. These hypoglycemic episodes will cause the puppy to fall
over and appear weak or comatose.
What are the risks?
The risks depend on the severity or extent of the lack of blood sugar. If it is
due to lack of food or excessive exercise it can be easily corrected. If however,
the underlying cause is more serious, such as liver disease preventing the storage
of glucose as glycogen, or intestinal disease preventing the proper digestion
and/or absorption of food, then hypoglycemia may be chronic and life threatening.
What is the management?
If a puppy is listless due to low blood sugar, it is imperative to immediately
provide sugar.
Karo syrup and honey are excellent sugar sources and should be
fed to the puppy. If the puppy fails to respond to sugar, or the hypoglycemic
episodes are frequent, then a thorough exam by a veterinarian is in order.
It must be determined if the low blood sugar is simply the result of inadequate
nutrition or a more severe underlying disease.
Stress & Low Blood Sugar:
Toy-breed dogs can be susceptible to stress, which can cause a condition of
low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia.
In small breed puppies from post-weaning
to 4 months of age, the most common form of hypoglycemia is called
"Transient Juvenile Hypoglycemia"
"Transient" because the symptoms can be reversed
by eating;
"Juvenile" because it is seen in young individuals.
Glucose is the "simple" sugar that the body uses for "fuel" to run its various
functions. Table sugar, or sucrose, is made up of two simple sugars, glucose and
fructose, and can be broken down rapidly after eating.
All sugars are carbohydrates. Grains are also carbohydrates but are
considered "complex" carbohydrates because they have more components and take
longer to be broken down.
The body uses glucose as its primary energy source.
All the parts of the body except the brain can, if needed, use alternate
energy sources...fatty acids, for example, which the body accesses by breaking
down fat stores.
The brain, however, is completely dependent upon glucose to function.
If the glucose in the blood is lower than normal, the brain function is the
first to show signs. In dogs, these signs may be seen as weakness, behavior
changes, confusion, wobbly gait, or even seizures. In fact, in young dogs that
have had what may appear to be an epileptic seizure, low blood sugar is
generally ruled out before a diagnosis of epilepsy is made.
How are small breeds different?
Puppies of very small size and toy breeds of
dogs have characteristics that make them more prone to the development of
Transient Juvenile Hypoglycemia, which is brought on by fasting.
Pups of any breed are more likely to develop hypoglycemia than adults, because
their skeletal muscle mass and liver size are smaller and brain size, larger,
in proportion to the rest of their body. Therefore, there is less glucose being
put out into the blood and more being used by the brain, which is dependent upon
adequate glucose in order to function.
In small and toy breeds, this discrepancy
is more pronounced. Even a brief period of fasting in a toy breed puppy can
trigger a hypoglycemic "attack."
As previously described, one of these attacks may appear as weakness, confusion, wobbly gait,
or seizures. If your puppy is lethargic, listless, or not interested in eating,
stress and low blood sugar may be the cause.
Eating food that is readily digested and metabolized will reverse minor signs,
but intravenous glucose administration is required for severe cases.
Puppies with Transient Juvenile Hypoglycemia have normal liver size and
function, but inadequate glucose precursors or glucose in its stored form.
Therefore, any significant stress, such as a routine trip to the vet that occurs
in the absence of a recent meal can cause the blood sugar to drop to dangerously
low levels.
Low environmental temperatures, infections, vaccinations, strenuous
exercise, worming, and inadequate nutrition increase the risk even further.
Feeding recommendations for puppies at risk for hypoglycemia include
frequent (4 - 5 times a day)
feedings of high-carbohydrate, high-protein and/or high-fat foods.
Normal feeding schedules will be 3-4 times per day.
Make sure water is available at all times.
Stress and hypoglycemia can cause dehydration and can lead to death.
If your puppy shows signs of stress, you can use a quick remedy for this:
Pedialyte (or generic electrolyte replacement formula) can be
purchased at Pharmacies or Supermarkets and is an effective quick remedy for
stress & hypoglycemia.
Gatorade or similar electrolyte sports drinks can also be utilized.
Even a quick remedy of plain sugar water can be used, if you don’t have anything
else available.
If he will drink the fluids on his own, allow him to do so!
Improper administration of fluids by syringe or any other means can result in
choking or aspiration and can lead to aspiration pneumonia.
Be guided by your vet for any health issues
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