I agree, overweight can give them a host of health issues, just like with people. Gigi was perfect at 5lb. 15 ounces when I first rescued her. Right after she got spayed, she started to gain weight, a whole pound within a couple of months, even with daily walks and reducing the amount of kibble that she was getting, she couldn't loose the weight. Recently I had to change her diet to a lower protein, because she has liver issues that prevent her from burning up the extra protein as well as the extra fat. She has lost half a pound so far. Most chi's seem to be fed half a cup of kibble split into two feedings. She is on 1/3 cup and I wouldn't give her any less then that, even though she could loose a little more. She only gets one small milk bone biscuit, split in half twice a day. Her diet is very limited because of her liver issue, which has in the past also caused seizures. Even before the spaying she had a bottomless stomach, and at that time she was getting half a cup of kibble per day and maintained her weight. Loosing those hormones from spaying has a lot to do with there metabolism too. So for Gigi, it is a combination of her liver and hormones that could cause her to gain very easy, if I didn't watch her weight. I hate seeing fat chi's, it is no good for them.
Glad to hear that both your babies are doing so well. As far as the pictures go, why are you having a problem, just attaching a picture, like you would do if you sent a personal email? What happens when you attach one and send it? -------Original Message------- From: katie17082 Date: 4/21/2012 12:03:47 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Chihuahuas] Re: Hello, I just joined, my chi is 6 mos old, name Jo-Jo. Thanks again. Other than the occasional mice, I am very careful about feeding both my cavalier and jo-jo. My vet warned me that keeping my dogs quite lean is very important. Theh Cavaliers are prone to heart disease and patella problems, not to mention the deadly SM. (more info here http://www.cavalierhealth org/syringomyelia.htm) The breeders of my cavalier went to the extreme of artificial insemination to make sure he wouldn't inherit that horrid condition. He is 5yo now and is still clear. But I still have to be vigilant against mitral valve disease and patella problems. Sorry I went off topic, but I really love and care for both my boys. Jo-Jo, of course, it getting most of the attention right now because he is just such a little bundle of love and joy. My vet said that chis can have the same kind of back problems as doxis if they become obese. Vet said that they like to see a waist on both dogs. So my dogs are very lean. Not rib showing lean, just healthy lean. I just love this site, and can't wait to figure out how to post pics. Kathy --- In [email protected], Peggy & The Girls <phrpg5@...> wrote: > > Gigi is the same way, she could eat till she explodes, and she doesn't care > what it is either. Both my girls like to roll in this wild type of grass > that grows around here, and it is stinky! I guess to a dog, it is like > perfume to us, lol! Domesticated dogs have lost the instinct to understand > what is safe to eat and what isn't. Unlike there wild ancestors who taught > their young and handed it down from generation to generation. So we have to > be the protector and hopefully get them to understand when something is a > danger. > > > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Evelyn Quintana > Date: 4/20/2012 7:33:17 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Re: Hello, I just joined, my chi is 6 mos old, > name Jo-Jo. > > Peggy, this is what I do. I watch my two like a hawk because one of them > will eat anything and she wants to roll in I don't know what. There are no > other animals running around in my area and I have never seen strange poop > from other animals around. I have a fenced in yard but haven't seen any > strange animals. I did see a group on earthworms in the ground one time that > my Zoey was trying to roll in. That was weird. So now I just constantly > watch them. > > > Evelyn > > > > > From: Peggy & The Girls <phrpg5@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Friday, April 20, 2012 2:39 AM > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Re: Hello, I just joined, my chi is 6 mos old, > name Jo-Jo. > > > > > Yup....I am very sorry to say! Mice harbor so many bacteria's, and virus's > that can be deadly to a dog. Such as Salmonellosis, rabies, West Nile > encephalitis and there is more. > > The fleas on mice can carry Hanta Virus, Bubonic Plague. The ticks on mice > can carry Lyme Disease. > > The best way to safeguard your baby, is never to leave him in the yard > unless you are out there to watch him constantly. It may be worth it to put > him on a very long rope, from his harness when he wants to run, that way you > can pull him back faster then you could run to catch him, if he should pick > up anything. Also, if you have a lot of wild animals, then you would also > have to be concerned for coyotes that can leap a fence, and then there is > also all the birds of prey. What state do you live in? > > He is a Chihuahua and it is there natural instinct to catch and eat them. > Having him ingest poison from the dead mice is more then enough to worry > about. > > Sorry, still haven't a clue about the ripples. Do you think that he is a > pure breed chi, or maybe he is a mix, and that may be the reason why his fur > is like that? Did you ask your vet what he thinks it is? > > > > > > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: kathy darden > Date: 4/20/2012 2:00:26 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Re: Hello, I just joined, my chi is 6 mos old, > name Jo-Jo. > > > Thanks all for your replies. First of all, I took jo-jo for all of his > shots right away. He is all set for a year. > > I am still figuring out how to post and reply here. I'll get it pretty soon > > > The ripples are definitely not fat, as I said, they appear to be just longer > bits of fur across his back. > > Now I have another question. Jo-Jo keeps catching and EATING mice. We live > on 5 acres in the Forrest. Yard is completely fenced, so I guess the mice > are coming to him. Other than the possibility that the neighbors might > poison the mice, should I have other concerns? > > Thanks, > Kathy > > > On Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 8:14 PM, Peggy & The Girls <phrpg5@...> > wrote: > > > Welcome Kathy! I have never heard of ripples in a dogs skin. Unless you are > trying to explain that you can lift the skin and fur, like a fat roll. If a > dog is over weight those fat rolls can be felt and a lot of times seen. > > Lucky you to find such a treasure so cheap. I too hope that guy was honest > and it was really one of his pups. I also hope that he doesn't breed anymore > of them. Most of the time when people sell dogs and puppies in front of a > store, they are usually bought cheap from a PM. Here in NY they recently > passed a bill that it is illegal to sell domestic animals in front of stores > or at street fairs. I haven't seen anyone do that in years anyway. > I hope that you have had him to a vet for a good checkup and he got his > puppy shots, especially the Parvo. > > You can simply insert a picture if your email service has a button for that > or you can attach the picture and when the group sees the attachment and > clicks on it, it will open to the group page on the web. > > > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: katie17082 > Date: 4/19/2012 3:10:27 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Chihuahuas] Re: Hello, I just joined, my chi is 6 mos old, name > Jo-Jo. > > > > > > Sorry, don't know how to post photos. Jo-Jo is way cute, my first chi > ever. > > I have 4 cats, a cavalier king Charles spaniel, and now my little jo-jo. > > I will ask someone how to post a pic. > > But in advance, are ripples on a cih's fur common? > > Believe it or not, I got my baby from a young man in front of a grocery > store, he had jo-jo tucked inside his jacket, a very tiny baby. > > I wanted a chi for so long. The guy said,"Do you want to buy a puppy? Since > I had 4 cats and my Cavalier, I said my family would kill me if I brought > home another animal. Then the guy brings out this little baby from his > jacket. > > I,m thinking, $300-$400 dollars, which I absolutely did not have to spend on > Dec 14. > > So I ask, "how much? The guy says $40.00. I say, "Don't move, I'll be right > back. I go to the ATM in the store, suck out 40 bucks, and bought jo-jo. > > Believe me, every red flag went up. Is he sick? Is he stolen? > > I called the PD, I called Animal Control, I watched the newspaper ads. > > It turned out to be exactly as the young man told me, they were desperate > for money to feed their children, they sold the last pup for $40.00. > > I hope it helped them. > > Getting j0-jo has brought unbelievable joy in my life. He is so full of life > and fun and kisses and love. > > I do tend to go on and on, but I hope you enjoyed this. > > --- In [email protected], Raven <iceponygoddess@> wrote: > > > > Welcome to the list! Jo-Jo sounds cute. Can you post his photos so we cani > > see what you mean by ripples in his skin? :) > > > > Raven > > Lucy & Stella & Hazel, the Girl Doggies > > Huginn, Rothadis, & Dixie Chick, the Back Behind the Barn Ponies > > > > I ride a pony, cuz heart is not measured in hands. > > > > My Blog > > http://iceponytrekking.blogspot.com > > > > Respect ALL Earthlings. We are all animals of this planet. We are all > > creatures. > > >
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