Chihuahuas- R- Barking

Bella Was A Good Dog This Year

2012-01-05T20:56:00.000-06:00

Bella got a present this year, but it was actually a much smaller toy than this one....this big toy belongs to Abbey, our much larger chi/terrier mix, but Bella felt like she needed to break it in for her, I recon. All the dogs seemed to enjoy their new toys they got for Christmas....will post a few more pics soon.

Bella Enjoying Christmas

2011-12-14T17:46:00.000-06:00

Well, the tree is up, with all it's decorations and as of late, I have been doing quite a bit of wrapping.....I wished that I could be like some people who wrap their gifts up as they buy them, but no....not me. So, with wrapping paper all over the floor, present to wrap and name tags here and there, Bella has been wondering what the heck is going on. Maybe she doesn't remember this from last year, but she has been really interested in what I have been doing. The wrapping paper has startled her, and she has been watching me like a hawk. Crazy Chihuahua!

Holidays And Bella

2011-12-08T18:56:00.000-06:00

I am sorry that I have not written in a while...my life has been so busy that I haven't had much time to even sit and rest. My daughter went to Navy boot camp and finished....after that, she went to her schooling.and so far, it's been crazy around here. I did take Bella to the vet a couple of days ago for a heartworm test because on her last visit, they forgot to give it to her....luckily, she was heartworm negative....which is always good to hear. She weighed in at 4.4 pounds.....doing well.
Hopefully I will get back on track and start posting regularly again.

Steam Cleaning Before The Holidays!

2011-10-18T18:31:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I noticed how my carpets are starting to look dreary and dull, and talk about stink ! My chis have had a few mishaps as of late, something that just happens when you have dogs in the house...What to do about it? There's always the possibility of my pulling out my large, but heavy carpet cleaner and doing it myself, or there's a company out of Austin that will come and do the job for me. I found that http://thesteamteam.com/austin-cleaning-services seems to have a very wide variety of cleaning available. What's also good is that because I own pets, they also offer pet odor treatments, leather cleaning and also offer upholstery cleaning, which is something I need because my doggies love laying on my sofas. With the holidays coming up, what a wonderful way to spruce up my house before company comes!

Our Lazy Days Of Waiting

2011-10-11T22:31:00.001-05:00

With each passing day, we wait....Bella, Shorty and Abbey lay around the house along with me, waiting for their "sissy" (my daughter) to walk through the door. I don't know how dog's minds work and I don't know if they miss her or not....however, I DO know that if I say "sissy", they head toward the door and look out as if to be looking for her car to pull in the drive. Chihuahuas are very smart little dogs. From somehow knowing that I am saddened at my daughter's being gone, they cling right by my side at every moment they can. My daughter is in boot camp and she has one more month to go, and I am in hopes that by the time that Christmas comes around, she will get to come home on leave...
One good thing about having a dog is that they are wonderful companions...always here when I need them.

My Suprize Box

2011-09-25T09:17:00.000-05:00

Friday was a good and relaxing day for me, and my chis...I didn't have to work, and they were glad that I got to spend the entire day at home with them......however, right in the middle of the day, while we were all taking our little naps, my chis saw the UPS man come up to the door.....barking was what woke me up. Thank goodness for my little watch dogs....right? The UPS man brought a box, and immediately, I knew what it was. I was not expecting this package already, actually I thought it wouldn't come until next week. I brought it in, tore it open and my little chis started wagging their tails and sniffing away...... it was my daughter's box that came from Navy boot camp. She enlisted and went into boot camp just last week. They smelled her clothing and shoes, and looked at me, as if to say " where's sissy at"? I was sad, but at the same time, I was glad to get her things, and happy that my dogs were there to comfort me too. She is going to be gone for several months before she can get the chance to come back home...but I know that once she steps back into the house, they will be happy to see her.

Chihuauhas Are Great Companions

2011-09-13T10:08:00.000-05:00

Bella is soooo spoiled rotten. She has the best of all worlds....a window to look out of to see what's going on, and a nice warm blanket to hide underneath when she feels cold. Bella is a great source of comfort to me, and that's what is so wonderful about chihuahuas. Not only are they lap dogs, or at least ones who want to be near their owner, but they can comfort you in times of need....times when you are upset about something....and she is always there when I need her. She's a picky little eater though, I must admit, and she likes some children (the older ones) but does NOT like younger children as much. She loves the granddaughter who was staying with us all summer (age 10) but does NOT like my granddaughter who lives out of state and comes to visit (age 5)...perhaps it's because the younger one is a little rough at trying to pick her up, or maybe she's used to one more than the other. Bella is nosy, loves her chew toys and thinks that all the toys in the house belong to her and not the other two chis. Bella is now one and a half years old and that is when most chihuahuas mature. She is tiny, very tiny, but weighs 4 pounds and of those 4 pounds, she is stocky and feels solid when picked up, very much UNLIKE my other chi that weighs nearly the same but is very dainy and fragile-feeling when picked up. Bella, Bella, Bella, what am I gonna do with you? I will definetely need lots of attention when my daughter (or as we call her, your sis) leaves for the Navy next week.....boo hoo.

What Can I Say Except For "House Of The Laid Back Chihuahuas"

2011-09-06T11:08:00.001-05:00

Update On Bella's Elevated Liver Test

2011-08-19T21:52:00.000-05:00

Today I called to find out about Bella's elevated liver levels, and to be honest, they told me that they were low a year ago. Here's what it's supposed to be for ALT 10-100, and Bella's were 137. The ALKP is supposed to be 23-212 and her's her 57....but last year, Bella's alt was only 56 and the alkp was 220, so it seems that the numbers have been reversed. I explained that Bella would not eat the Science Diet and that I was having a problem with giving it to her so the Vet Dr. has prescribed something called Samm-E. and I have to go and pick it up. So, it's not anything heavy duty for me to worry about, but I still have some concern. Thank goodness I don't have to give my poor Bella that nasty food.

Bella And The New LD Food

2011-08-18T16:59:00.000-05:00

I am here to tell you that even though Bella had a slightly elevated liver count on her blood test, that she is supposed to be eating that Hill's Science Diet LD food. She hates it, in fact she did eat a small portion of it and ended up with loose stools. It was not a good thing. I spoke to the Vet and she told me to take her back off of it for a few days and then try and re-introduce it to her again. It is food that comes in a can, but it is not very moist at all. I am not sure how I am going to get her to eat it, or even try it again. And what's worse, there doesn't seem to be ANYTHING else on the market for liver diet. Now, the Vet did NOT say that she had a large problem, only that it was slightly eleveater....what does that mean? Should I go and have another blood test done? Has anyone else ever encountered this problem, and if so, what did you do?

Bella's Slightly Elevated Liver Test.

2011-08-12T21:57:00.000-05:00

It was time for Bella to go to the Vet to get her yearly shots, etc....and weighing in at a whopping 4 pounds, she was shaking and terribly upset. Bella doesn't like being somewhere other than home. She got her shot that counteracts any allergic reaction and it seemed like we were in there waiting for a very long time. Blood work came back and the dr. was explaining her results, and suddenly she told me that Bella's liver level was a little bit elevated. I was shocked. Bella always eats well, plays hard and has a beautifully shiny coat. Dr. asked me if she eats people food, and I said no, except for an occasional bit of chicken, and then she wanted to know about her food. I pay top dollar for the dog food, which is supposed to be good food. She prescribed some Hills Science Diet LD for her. I bought 2 cans, of which was dry and yucky looking. Bella doesn't seem to like it well and I mixed it with her regular food and she has eat some of it. The dry bag of food sells for 55.00 but it's nearly a 20 pound bag and my 4 pound chi is NOT going to eat it all. So, now I am on the hunt for the smallest bag. Seems there's nothing even close to it anywhere(other brands). I am now wondering if there is anything that might cause a slightly elevated liver level. No other tell-tale signs of trouble. Anybody with any answers out there? I would love to hear from you, if you do.

Bella Enjoying Her Chew

2011-07-28T06:51:00.002-05:00

Chihuahuas Are Wonderful Companions

2011-07-20T20:40:00.000-05:00

I am so used to being at home, having my chihuahuas there with me, everywhere I am....and when I step out of the house to run errands or to work, they are jumping up and down, very happy to see me. They are a constant and make me feel like they miss me no matter how long I have been gone. Due to some health issues of a family member out of state, I am away from home and have been for nearly a week....so I am truly missing those little stinkers. I still have family members at home to attend to them, but it's just not the same with me being gone....and I wasn't able to bring them along due to the fact that I would be extremely busy here helping to get things done. Chis make wonderful companions...loving, laying silently beside me when I am watching tv, and close by when I am doing household chores. There go with me to each and every room that I go into. Sometimes when I am in back of the house, they are great at letting me know if someone is at the front door, since I don't have a working doorbell. Tomorrow I will be going home, and once again with my chis.

Chihuahuas And Feelings

2011-07-05T23:30:00.000-05:00

Soon, my darling teen daughter will be leaving home. She just finished high school, and has joined the Navy. I am wondering how, or IF it will affect my little chihuahuas. Do they have feelings? They seem to, because they wag those tails with all their might, when I come home from being out runnig errands. Chihuahuas seem to bond to one person in the family, but MY chis seem to like everyone in our household. They favor me, but love our family members as well. I wonder if they will sulk or show any saddness after my daughter leaves. She will be in boot camp for a good 2 months, as well as schooling for another 5 months and will be gone quite awhile. I know they will remember her when she comes back home, but I am wondering, if what, kind of emotions do they have when a family member leaves ? They don't seem to have any sense of time, so maybe once she comes back in the door, it will be as if she just left? Anybody have any ideas on this?

It's Just One Of Those Kinda Days....Too Hot To Do Much But Sleep

2011-06-25T14:12:00.002-05:00

Bella's Nail Got Stuck Today

2011-06-15T16:37:00.000-05:00

Chihuahuas are small, but very sturdy little dogs. I found out something about my dogs today. Now, most chihuahuas are known for burrowing under the covers, and as usual, my two didn't think twice about getting under the blankets when I decided to lay down and try to take a short nap. I had on some very old pants, but they were knit.....oops ! that was the wrong thing for me to wear. Little did I know, that there was a small, and very tiny hole in the back of them. My Bella somehow put her paws up against me and her nail got caught in them. I tried to get her released, but couldn't so I had to hollar out for my daughter to come help me. She ended up cutting a much larger hole out of my britches to release my poor dog's nail. Bella was distraught over it and would not allow her to clip her nails. She stayed still long enough for me to cut most of the material off the nail, but later I am going to have to get the clippers out, when she's calmed down a bit more. I am a couple weeks behind on her nail clipping and this just showed me that I need to keep up on things. After my daughter graduating and all the company coming in and out, I got pretty caught up in all the goings on. Next time I will not let the nail clipping go longer than it should.

The Nosey-ness Of My Bella Dog

2011-06-08T09:02:00.003-05:00

Chihuahuas and Children

2011-06-07T09:12:00.000-05:00

This past week, I had a really hard time with my chis. They proved just exactly what everyone says about them being true to their owner and protective. My youngest daughter was graduating and two of her older sisters and families came in the celebrate the event. One daughter has a 5 yr old, and neither one of my chihuahuas liked her. She, of course, wanted to pick them up and neither Bella or Shorty wasn't having any part of that. They were scared at first, like most chis....After they found out that our guests were staying for awhile, they warmed up, and at times, even allowed them to pet them or pick them up...even a time or two with my 5 yr. old granddaughter, but not much. She wanted to handle them WAY more than they wanted her to. I had to explain to her that they didn't always want to be picked up, and for them, there were times that I put them into their kennel so they could have a break from all the action. I have had people ask my opinion about getting chihuahuas for their children. There are some that will do very well, but alot of them just would rather be around the adults...I think this is pretty much characteristic for the majority. Although, I will say, mine were fairly good about it, most of the time.

Bella Has Really Grown

2011-05-24T06:19:00.001-05:00

Bella is now just a little over a year old...my how she has grown. She is still a very tiny dog, weighing in about 4 pounds, but she's sturdy and strong. You know, they say that chihuahuas aren't fully matured until they reach about 18 months, and maybe that's why she still chews on things? Bella's favorite past-time is running in circles as fast as her little legs can carry her, all around the coffee table, into the kitchen and back around again. She loves to play. She loves bringing her toy to you, putting it in your hand, waiting for it to be thrown, fetching it and bringing it back and wanting it thrown again. I don't think that she ever gets tired of playing. This little dog will eat like a pig, so I have to watch how much wet food I put down with the dry. She much prefers it wet, but it's not as good as the dry. What a joy this little girl has been.

Bella And Her Vocal Self Today !

2011-05-23T06:55:00.000-05:00

Bella has become a little whiny this morning...she is clinging to me as close as she can get. I guess that chis have alot of emotion....or at least, mine do. Bella is very vocal....she cries when Shorty isn't out of his kennel in the morning yet, she makes cry noises is Abbey is accidently left in my bedroom when the door is shut, and she tunes in with the other two when they see someone or something outside. Bella is also whimsical...so funny, in fact that she's just an entertainer all around. I am so lucky to have my chis....they make my day go good when it seems to be going badly. Tricks? My chis can't roll over and play dead, or even do a "begging" trick but they sure entertain.

Chihuahuas And Dry Dog Food

2011-05-02T18:00:00.000-05:00

I have discovered that Bella cannot tolerate eating beef dry dog food. I don't know why, but she just cannot handle it. I didn't discover this right away, but my daughter had noticed several times where she didn't keep her food down. I am using Natures Variety, Prairie, and it has been a very good food. I have noticed my dog's coats very shiny and they are very healthy and happy. I also like getting the California Natural, lamb and rice, small bites and mix it in. I have heard that dogs don't need a variety, but I think that they do. They seem to like it really well. There are quite a few really good dry dog foods out there, but I think that you have to find which one is best through trial and error. Believe me, my dogs are very picky eaters. Do you find that your chihauhuas can handle beef dry dog food?

SleepyTtime Bella

2011-04-19T09:20:00.000-05:00

Goodmorning Bella, it's time to wake up....and does she care? Heck no! She has already been fed breakfast, and done her morning thing, so she figures that while I am on the computer and cleaning up in my bedroom that she can just take it easy. This little chihuahua has been such a joy in my life. I get a big kick out of watching her as she is very playful and very nosey. She is having a good morning this morning indeed!

Shorty And His Allergies

2011-03-30T22:06:00.000-05:00

People have allergies, in fact, I deal with outdoor pollen issues quite a lot. Do dogs have allergies? Yes, they do...some have allergies to fleas that bite them and their skin is in distress, some are allergic to particular foods, and that's where my Shorty dog comes in. I have noticed that he does extremely well on the dry food that I give him (prairie). I have come to like several brands but it seems that they like the Prairie the best. I also give them wellness chicken stew because it's in tiny chunks and you can see the peas as well. Shorty loves this and does well on it.......however, I have noticed that on rare occasion, I have given my chis boiled chicken. Shorty will especially scarf it down like it's nothing he's ever eaten before...but he ends up being sick the next day. Shorty has diareah and will not even eat the next day until it's almost time for bed. No matter if it's only a tiny amount, he cannot seem to handle it. He hides under the blankets most of the day until his tummy returns to normal. I guess that the boiled chicken will have to stop now that I 've noticed how it affects him, and there's no giving it to the other two without him because that wouldn't be too fair. ..so, no more boiled chicken for them.

I Bet I Have Some Of The Luckiest Dogs In The World

2011-03-10T22:25:00.000-06:00

I have a boss who is completely busy with helping a shelter get lost dogs back to their owners, and finding new homes for the little doggies out there who have no homes....and she stays extremely busy with all of it. I am amazed at all the dogs out there without homes. I look at their faces in pictures and wonder how anyone could surrender such a cute face. But it happens, I know, and it's so sad.......Then, I come home, and no matter how tired I am, I have my precious little chis who jump up and down at the site of my walking in the door, and they are happy to see me.....and I know that my little ones seem to be some of the luckiest chis in the whole wide world. They are inside dogs with all the luxuries that any dog could ever want. They have soft places to sleep, all the food and water they could handle, and warm, loving owners who are glad they are here. I love my chis, and I know they are lucky, but I feel lucky to have them too, because they are such great dogs !(oops...they don't know they are dogs...haha)

Bella And The Pj's

2011-01-29T12:25:00.000-06:00

Is Your Chihuahua Vocal?

2011-01-28T16:56:00.001-06:00

My Bella seems to use her vocal chords alot....not only is she a barking chihuahua, but she growls, gruffs, and makes all kinds of noises. She has been "letting me know" by the gruffing she makes for quite some time now. She has this one pair of pj bottoms belonging to my honey that she really thinks belong to her--not him. She loves chewing on the drawstring....here...take a look.

Update On Shorty

2011-01-27T07:53:00.000-06:00

Late last night, Shorty got up off his comfty spot and came to the kitchen, where I was, and looked at me, and went to his food bowl. I gave him some dog food and he ate it up like there was no tomorrow. I am so glad that he is feeling better. This morning, Shorty seems to be doing well.....he ate good and now he's laying in his favorite spot on the couch....So glad that he's feeling better.

Shorty Is Not Feeling Well Today

2011-01-26T16:32:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure what's going on with my little Shorty dog...he seems like he has eaten something that didn't agree with his stomach, and I am wondering if he somehow got a bit of food morsel that might have dropped on the floor somewhere, or perhaps he just ate something off the carpet, or what? I don't know....but he has been upchucking just a bit...not alot, and his poo has been a bit runny. When I came home from work this afternoon, he came to greet me and he was walking a bit wobbly, so I am wondering if he was coming out of a seizure or something but after a few minutes of my holding him, he seemed much better. He is laying around on the couch, getting up only when he feels like it and I am just watching him to see how things go. He's very alert and he seems okay now... I guess I will have to keep my eye on him to see how he feels later. Poor doggie...he's such a sweetie and I don't like it when my chis aren't feeling good.

My Little Stinkers

2011-01-18T21:55:00.000-06:00

What Will Bella Do Next?...My Barking Chihuahua

2011-01-11T08:22:00.000-06:00

For the past couple of days, and nights, my honey has been out of town working....so, I have had several really quiet days, except for the rumblings of my teenager...I was busy folding some laundry in my bedroom when Bella comes in, plays around a little and then....all of a sudden, she starts barking and carrying on, looking on top of the nightstand I have near my closet. My teen seems to think that Bella is barking at nothing, wondering as if Bella might be seeing a ghost of some sort...lol. I put my attention to what she might possibly be barking about and see that there's a pair of pj bottoms on top of the nightstand, belonging to the honey. I grab them, set them down on the carpet in front of Bella to see if that's what she was barking about, and sure enough ! it was. Now, that silly Bella has been doing her barking stuff every morning, and every evening. What a crazy little dog....and I am now wondering.....what will Bella do next to amuse us? All of this barking, over a pair of pj bottoms !

Relaxing After A Long Holiday Season....

2011-01-04T13:33:00.000-06:00

Got Any New Years Resolutions Regarding Your Chihuahuas?

2010-12-31T20:36:00.000-06:00

I know, it might sound like a silly question, and it's hard enough keeping up with my own resolutions and then to think of my doggies on top of that. I think that my chihuahuas are spoiled totally ROTTEN....but, if I had to come up with a new resolution for the New Year, I would have to say that I am vowing to keep up on making sure I don't lag behind on the treats this coming year. I am not one who gives my pups many treats... I just feel like I would rather them enjoy their food more than the treat sort of thing, but I think that I may have discovered a treat that they actually enjoy and I think that I could be more routine on getting them for them. They are such picky eaters, so it's not been easy finding just any ole treat that they like. I have discovered that Petco has a bin full of different things and have found a biscuit type or maybe a biscotti type of treat that they like. So, does anyone else out there have anything to add? Just curious!

Bella Hiding Behind Her Pillow

2010-12-27T22:14:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas From My Barkin Chihuahuas !

2010-12-25T13:36:00.000-06:00

Waking up this morning, everyone all excited for what's inside of their packages, Miss Bella got a toy, and so did Shorty and Abbey....and they got a dog blankie too ! They also got a doggie bone with carob on it......and it was devoured within a few hours time.....what all did your doggies get for Christmas?

This Crazy Bella Of Mine!

2010-12-14T22:44:00.000-06:00

Enjoying the outdoors through an open Window

2010-11-14T10:33:00.000-06:00

Oh That Bella Doggie!

2010-10-17T22:20:00.000-05:00

Bella decided not to eat at her morning meal this morning and acted as though she didn't feel well. She laid in her favorite spot, in the window sill and as I came in and left the house, she seemed to be normal but still wouldn't eat, even after my offering it a bit later. I ended up throwing it out because I don't like to give old food that's been sitting too long... I washed her bowl so I could try a little later, or perhaps at her afternoon meal, maybe she would eat. Bella is a funny one...she doesn't like to eat her food if her bowl hasn't been washed promptly. Maybe that's because chihuahuas seem to be very sensitive with their smelling. Afternoon feeding was almost here and I just couldn't stand it. I didn't want to put her food out and have her shun it again so I thought I would try something else. I had some small bits of boiled chicken in my fridge and decided to see if she was REALLY sick...haha....low and behold, she SCARFED it down without a moment's thought. I filled her clean bowl with her dog food and she ate like no tomorrow. No more Bella acting like she couldn't eat. She was giving her toys HECK....trying to make Shorty and Abbey chase her and she was feeling her oats. Aren't chihuahuas funny?

Bella, The Curious One

2010-10-03T11:54:00.000-05:00

Bella The Barker

2010-10-02T21:55:00.000-05:00

As of late, Miss Bella has been using her vocal chords alot....she has discovered that if she barks at something, things happen. She not only has a deep bark for a small puppy, but it's loud as well. She started all this when the other dogs would be looking at something outside and barked at something they saw, Bella barked. Heck, I even noticed times that she would just bark because she heard them start in....even without seeing what it was. Next thing I knew, I would be in the kitchen doing the cooking and there she was, barking at me. I look down at her to see what all the barking was about, and it's just her, wanting attention....or more...she smells the food and wants me to give her a taste..isn't she funny?

Shorty Still Isn't Tolerating Bella Very Well

2010-09-14T17:39:00.000-05:00

Shorty hasn't been tolerating Bella very well, and as a matter of fact, he normally doesn't want anything to do with her, but she's got other ideas.....she follows him, chases after him and makes her little growling sounds towards him and he has gotten where he now chases her a bit, and she's loving every minute of it! I have to admit, these dogs are so funny!

Bella Got Her Spay Stitches Out Today

2010-09-11T21:45:00.000-05:00

This morning was a joyous morning for me because I got to take my Bella in to have her stitches out and I was SOOOOOO happy because I thought that it also meant that she would be able to take off the nasty e-cone as well.....not so. I was not happy about it, but the Dr. said that she needed to wear it another day because the stitch site would still be tender. The e-cone will be coming off tomorrow and I will be so glad about that, and not only that, Bella will be too. She probably thinks that this is something she will have to live with for the rest of her life, but when she gets it off tomorrow, she will finally have some freedom. Making that smaller e-cone really did make a difference in her world and in mine. I just don't know why they don't make them and sell them in the pet stores for smaller dogs.

A Homemade E-Collar For Such A TIny Dog

2010-09-06T11:46:00.000-05:00

Since Bella only weighs 3.2 pounds, she is just extra tiny, and I had a hard time with that other e-collar, I went to the Dollar Tree, bought a 50cent piece of poster board, came home, drew a pattern off the old one, then I took off 1/2 inch off each end, and trimmed another inch off the long side and taped it on. As you can see in this pic, it's un-even where I taped it, but I have just evened that off and re-taped it and now it's nearly perfect---well, as about perfect as you can get when you HAVE no choice but to keep them from biting at the incision. Every single time I have taken her e-collar off, she reaches straight for the stitches so I felt I needed to keep it on. However, the one I bought from Petsmart is thick and plastic, making it very heavy for her, and not allowing her little nose to be able to reach her food very well. I was having to hand feed or putting her food on the edge of the bowl so she could reach it....so I am now going to try this. She is not wobbling as she walks now because it isn't heavy. She's also able to reach her bowl much better. I wished that they made this sort of thing for a tiny dog, but it's nearly impossible to find one. Thank goodness for the internet and people's opinions that gave me the idea to even try this. It comes off Saturday morning, thank goodness!

Bella With E-Collar

2010-09-03T15:58:00.000-05:00

Poor Bella With That Nasty E-Collar!

2010-09-03T15:57:00.000-05:00

As you can see, this collar is humongous, and it was the smallest one found!. Last night, we took the collar off of her and the FIRST thing she did was try to pick at her stitches...so we had to put it back on her. I was really hoping that she wouldn't bother with it, but I guess, being Miss Bella, she HAD to start picking. I HATE that collar but I don't want her to get an infection. I will try taking it off again to see if things change. You know, I have seen other dogs out in public before with that silly collar on and never really knew what it was for.....and now I know. As you can see, her coat is super shiny, and she is very healthy....and she's eating wonderfully! And here is Bella before her surgery....she LOVES to play!

Bella Got Spayed!

2010-09-02T20:47:00.000-05:00

Bella's probably mad at me wondering when all this vet visit stuff is gonna end. She finally got cleared of her demodectic mange, and yesterday, she had an appointment for her spaying. I took her in at 7am and my daughter, who just got a job at the clinic, brought her home last evening. She has only one stitch on the outside but it has to be kept dry and not covered, and in 9 more days, she will get the stitches out. In the mean-time, she is wearing one of those horrible, nasty head things so she won't clean her stitch and cause infection. I had to work today so she got stuck wearing it today but tomorrow I am off and I am going to take that darned thing off so that she can have some peace....although, I wonder if I take it off, will I have trouble getting it back on her again? I just don't like it at all, and neither does she. I don't want her to take a chance at getting an infection though.....those 9 days will be long ones for sure.
However, I am glad that it's done. I will no longer have to worry about my Shorty dog thinking he's gonna get lucky. lol.
Have any of you had experience with that darned cone thing that keeps them from licking the area? I guess I am gonna have to get used to it, until her stitches come out, but honestly, I will more than likely HAVE to take it off while I am home with her, just to give her some peace.

What is Demodectic Mange, Anyways?

2010-08-28T21:24:00.000-05:00

It's nothing pretty, that's for sure. Bella started scratching and her hair was starting to come out in little places. I was wondering what was going on. I even pondered upon the idea that maybe it was demodectic mange because many years ago, I had a toy fox terrier that had it, but at that time, there was nothing to be done for it but the dipping. I took Bella in for a check up and they did the scraping, and sure enough, that's what it was. They wanted to start the ivermectic in cherry syrup but I was afraid. I told the vet that I would go home and discuss this with my family and look online at other possible cures. Well, after much thought, I went ahead. She liked it, much to my suprize, so giving it to her was easy. She started clearing up day by day, a slow process, but when I took her back and got 2 different scraping of negative, she was done, and boy was I glad it was over!
Here are a few links I found in case you want to learn more about it.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-demodectic-mange.htm
and http://www.petshed.com/petcyclopedia/canine-demodectic-mange.html
you can also google this and find more about it.

Bella And Demodectic Mange

2010-08-28T21:16:00.000-05:00

With each new day, Bella brings some sort of antics and laughter to my world. This dog has such a cute and innocent face, but she's anything but innocent. Not only did she come into our household, she's a permanent fixture. I have been dealing with an issue that's not very pretty though....Bella ended up with demodectic mange. It is something that seems to be passed down from the mother. I was, of course, devastated. She got the scraping done, it was positive, so........ upon much researching, I went ahead with the ivermectic in cherry syrup method. It worried me, but I wanted her to be clear, so, I went ahead. It was about $35 for the bottle, but it lasted more than a month. She loved the taste so it wasn't hard to give. I can report now, that after all is said and done, she is CURED! well, hopefully for good. Her coat is such a black and shiny one, as she's been eating Nature's Variety. I also add a small spoon of soft dog food to her meal once a day, but she is doing great. I am so happy. She is going to get spayed on Sept. 1st, so I am a little weary and worried because she is only 3 lbs, but she has grown so much. I don't think anything is going to get this little gal down...she's too mean! and she's already been through so much....lol

Bella Made Such A Mess!

2010-08-07T07:20:00.002-05:00

Well, it seems that even though I have managed to get most of the cords out of Bella's way, AND I thought it was safe to leave her out while I was gone, I came home after a gaunt to the grocery store and Bella had REALLY made another mess! I came home to find that my yarn, which I thought was pretty well hidden and out of her way, was strung all the way across one room, tangled around my coffee table and all the way to the door! And of course, Bella, acting like she had nothing to do with it, even though she was right there with all of it!......I also found cotton balls torn up all over the floor. She had HAD a frenzy of a playtime. Oh how suprized I was at the mess that she created, but laughing that she had made such a mess of things! Don't you just love em?

Bella's Trip

2010-08-02T09:33:00.003-05:00

The trip was a success, much to my suprize. The drive turned out to be a little longer than we expected, due to our pulling a trailer with a car on it behind us, so we could take it to my oldest daughter. Bella did wonderfully! She slept for most of the trip, however, when we got there, it was like nearly 1am and she did not want to go back to sleep, but eventually did. The very next day, we happened upon a wonderful invention: a playyard that was made out of that lightweight material and folded all up ! While we were there, she played to her heart's content, but when we left, she enjoyed the roomy-existance of the new play yard. We found it at petsmart for 67. plus change. Yes, more than I wanted to spend, however, if you check out the wire ones, they run 85 and on up. I also checked into the children's play yards that are plastic and look like the plastic gates that connect ( no flooring) and they were running about the same in price, but hard to find. All, in all, the trip was good, Bella was good and we got home safely and not only am I happy, but so is Bella!

Bella's First Trip

2010-07-28T22:29:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow I am going to go and visit my grown kids and families out of state, luckily it's only 6-7 hours drive and I have made the decision to take Bella with me. Normally, I don't like taking the dogs on trips like that, but in this case, I think it's a must. Shorty and Abbey are older and are used to being out and roaming around the house freely all day, but Bella, well, that's a different story. I had finally decided that when I go out on errands for an hour or so, Bella is able to be with the other 2 dogs because she is potty trained well and I don't have that worry, however....... I have just found out that she has been CHEWING! ....and I mean EVERYTHING. My computer speaker wire is about gone, as well as 2 of my cell phone charger wires, my vaccum cleaner cord, and last but not least, my internet wiring for my computer. I moved my computer up to a higher location, but some of these cords are not moveable. She must be getting bored when I am gone and deciding to find new chew toys, even though she has plenty. So, I am going to take her with me. I don't want to leave her out all day without any supervision, geez, you'd think she was a child...lol.
I have my son doing the feeding and watering and changing the pee pads but he works very long hours and I just don't think it's a good idea to leave her roaming free willy. What to do about puppies and chewing? Most everything is up now but I still think she will find something to chew on, so she is going to be taking her first trip, and I sure hope it all goes well.

Bella Loves Playing With Her Toys

2010-07-25T16:08:00.002-05:00

Bella is having such a great time, and she absolutely LOVES playing. She doesn't mind tackling toys even almost her size.

Puppy Chewing Tips

2010-07-13T20:53:00.003-05:00

I named my littlest chi "Bella" but am now wondering if I should have named her Miss Bite-Everything-In-Site!.....I know that she is a puppy, and all puppies chew but she has tons of toys to chew on, but prefers to chew on the cords that connect to my computer and almost demolished one totally. I had to raise the computer up higher to prevent her from finishing off that one cord and start on another, and it's not as if I am not home, because I am. She just stays so busy that it's hard to follow her around all over the place.
For this reason, I am now going to give a great tip, especially for puppies.
Puppy-proof the house, and that means tying up all cords, putting away the shoes that you don't want chewed up, making sure that no extra food drops to the floor so they can get it, keeping the rug or floor vaccumed or swept as best you can, and even keep your pee-pads or newspapers out of reach because they will chew on EVERYTHING!
I have found that the "kong" toy with a treat inside will help or even detour some of this but if your chihuahua puppy is as rambunctious as mine, then it's going to be a contstant battle. Just remember, chihuahuas stay puppies for quite awhile and they teeth so they will really need to be watched really well....and don't forget--they are just puppies!

Bella Wants To Rule The House

2010-07-10T18:46:00.003-05:00

Day after day goes by, and I am watching Miss Bella grow....she's not getting really big, but her body is getting longer and she is starting to have some periods of NOT biting everything she sees. Well, let's back up and say, she's still biting everything, but not ALL the time now. lol. Silly dog.
Bella wants to play with Shorty but he still doesn't have any interest in her, although I have seen him sniff her backside a time or two, and they have managed to sit in the windowsill together without too much problem. All she wants to do is play, and he is just not having ANY of it. Bella is a very forward little chihuahua, and she wants attention. I don't know if it's just female chihuahuas but she wants to rule the house and she puts Shorty and Abbey in their places.....just like Prissy used to do. Oh, I tell you, she sure is the life of the household now, and I am so glad that I got her.

Bella And Her Vet Experience

2010-07-06T21:31:00.002-05:00

Today was another day in the round of puppy shots for Bella. Before every shot, they ask if they can give her a diaphenhydrine shot, which is supposed to be like benedryl and it helps to keep the side effects down to a minimum on her regular shot, so I say yes because of what happened to my Shorty dog years ago. It has always gone well, but today was a different day, and what a scary day it was for me, and for poor Bella. The technician gave her the first shot and was supposed to wait at least 15 min before her getting her regular shot. As it turned out, the tech guy wasn't so easy and my poor Bella was crying! But as soon as this shot was done and he went out of the room, Bella started acting funny....and I was very upset. She was moving her head all around like she was trying to have a seizure. I had her in my arms, in her blanket and I pushed through to the vet back room area and started asking for help....and the vet tech comes and another vet was there as well. I asked him WHAT was wrong with my Bella? They took her from me quickly and told me to wait. I was horrified, actually fighting back the tears because it took my mind back to when I lost my precious Prissy dog. The vet tech came back in and told me that they were putting her on oxygen, and for me to calm down because she would be alright. After a short while, he brought her back in, and she was better but still not herself. The vet came in and explained to me that Bella had gotten scared and all of this caused her to be this way because of her worry. The vet came and talked with me, assuring me that he checked her and she was going to be fine. I was MADDER than a wet hen, I tell you. I was not happy. Honestly, I think that the vet tech hurt her when he gave her the first shot. I think that she got scared and nervous. Poor Bella and what a vet experience it was today! After I checked out, she seems less nervous on the way home, but it wasn't until 4 hours later, that she finally went to sleep in my lap. I placed her inside of her kennel where her favorite blankie is and she is sound asleep. Boy what a day! I hope we don't ever have to have this happen again....poor baby!

Bella Updates On The 4th Of July!

2010-07-04T14:51:00.003-05:00

Bella gets braver each and every day. She still picks on Shorty and has even snuck up behind him and bit his ear a time or two. Not only that, she has now begun to bark at the other two when they are eating. She doesn't want them to eat while she's eating, and what's worse is that Shorty likes to come over to her plate and try and steal a morsel or two. I had her in a playpen and have now moved her to a large kennel....and that has worked out very well. Potty training is fantastic for the moment and we are still experiencing the biting and chewing of everything she sees in sight. What a wonderful 4th of July we are spending, just relaxing around the house. Couldn't be any better!

More Photos Of Bella

2010-07-01T00:15:00.001-05:00

Oh What A Ham!

2010-06-30T17:59:00.001-05:00

Meet Miss Bella

2010-06-25T16:04:00.002-05:00

This is Bella, and yes, she looks quite the innocent one, but believe me....she's not! She is spunky, extremely playful and not shy at all. Bella came to me at 8 weeks, weighing 1.6 pounds. I have started her puppy shots and exams through Banfield (petsmart) and all is going well.
She wants to play with my other chi (Shorty) but he just isn't having any of it......hopefully soon, he will figure out that she's here to stay!

Welcoming A New Chi Arrival....

2010-06-24T19:20:00.004-05:00

I have so much missed hearing the antics of my beloved Prissy....and so now comes the time for another new puppy in my life. I am now the proud owner of "Bella". She is so much an instigator, wants to be the alpha dog in the house and carries on like she owns the place. Being a puppy, she is so much the chewer, but she is much more the chewer than Prissy ever was. She has her own distinct style and grace. Right now, Blogger isn't letting me get a picture on here, but as soon as I can, I will. She's adorable and I think that's just what I needed.

Prissy's Ashes

2010-05-24T22:42:00.002-05:00

When Prissy passed, the vet gave me a choice of just taking her home and burying her in my yard, or having her cremated. I decided upon the cremation because I just could not bare to see her after she passed. She was so loved and I didn't want to see her without any life in her, especially since she was always so frisky and playful. I got a call from the vet office and went and picked up her little box, that was inside of a blue bag, which had her name embroidered on it. I spent a few moments in rememberance all over again, but knew that I had done everything that I could to try and save her. Why do our pets only live a small fraction of our lives? Is it so that we can share our lives with several pets? I don't know, but all I can say now is that she was loved very much.

Prissy Dog Is Sooooooo Missed.

2010-05-10T22:01:00.003-05:00

Missing my Prissy dog has been hard. I still haven't heard from the vet clinic when I am going to receive her ashes, but I am sure it's bound to be soon now. The house has been very quiet, and I am missing the prancing of miss Priss. Not only did I take it so hard, but my teen daughter took it very hard as well. Trying to soothe her tears were hard, because I was trying to dry mine as well.
I have to say though, that I truely enjoyed every minute of having Prissy. She was a joy to have and she always made my days happy, even when life didn't always go right. I wonder if our little dogs go to a doggie heaven.......ever wonder?

Why Shots Are Important

2010-05-07T14:13:00.002-05:00

Here are some of the reasons that shots are important for our little ones....I do, however, recommend that you talk to your vet Dr. first to find out how often they need these shots. Some of these are combined into one shot to make it more simple to get.
1. Distemper......very contagious, about 80% die no matter what is done for them.
2. Parainfluenza, Bordetella..... Canine cough which can eventually lead to pneumonia and death.
3. Giardi......... a serious intestinal infection caused by a microscopic parasite.
4. rabies.... a deadly illness that will kill an infected pet.
5. coronavirus...... this is the 2nd leading cause of viral diarrhea in dogs of all ages.

Heartworm prevention is important because one single mosquito can bite your pet and cause it to develop worms in the heart.

Losing A Beloved Pet

2010-05-03T10:55:00.003-05:00

With Prissy gone now, the house is terribly quiet. Yes, Shorty and Abbey are here, but it's just not the same. No more heck-raising, no more demands from my sweet Prissy dog. But I am so thankful for the time that I had her. The bad thing about losing a beloved pet is your heart aches for that special love you had and miss them like crazy, but somehow, time kicks in and the pain isn't as hard as it was at first. I know that one day, I will have another chihuahua puppy and love it just as much......but it's soooo hard when you lose the ones you have already.

My Precious Prissy Has Passed Away

2010-04-20T07:59:00.003-05:00

I am so sad this morning because there has been so much happening. Prissy took a turn for the worst yesterday afternoon and she passed away. I took her to the clinic and she was supposed to stay for 48 hours to get more meds and nebuliztion treatments. They called me to come pick her up and take her to the emergency vet for an overnight supervised stay. I got to the clinic, waited for her, and before I could get her, she passed away. I cried like a baby, I was so upset. I knew that I had done EVERYTHING in my power for her and it just wasn't enough. My tears run so deep with her loss because she was my companion, my friend and my faithful doggie. My Prissy was the light of this household.....sassy, demanding and cute as a button. I am truely going to miss her around here. For now, I gotta get off here because the tears flow heavy.......

Prissy Has Pneumonia

2010-04-18T21:39:00.002-05:00

Things have been really tough around here....Prissy has really been sick. I found out through the last test that was left to do (x-ray) that she has pnuemonia. I know, many people haven't heard of a dog getting it, but they do. My Prissy has fluid in her lungs and I had to leave her at the clinic for the entire day Friday. She was given 5 nuebulizer treatments and I got to bring her home for the weekend. It's been VERY touch and go with her all weekend. She is taking antibiotics 2 times a day and she has to have steam treatments 3 times a day but she has not been eating well at all. My poor doggie is skin and bones. Tonight (Sunday) I can finally report that she is starting to turn around a little. She seems more alert, not eating good but better. I have had to put water in her medicine syringe and make her drink some. I have spent alot of time with her and I had a few times where I thought she wasn't going to make it.... but now things are starting to look better and I pray for her to heal and become stronger and stronger each day.

My Prissy Is Not Feeling Well

2010-04-14T17:08:00.002-05:00

My Prissy dog doesn't seem to be feeling very good these last couple of days. I have noticed some weight loss on her and notice that she is not eating with gusto like she did before. She is 3 years old, normally weighing in at 4 pounds. I got worried so I called the vet clinic....took her in and they notice that her baby teeth that should have come out at 6 months old NEVER came out. She needs those pulled because she has too many teeth in her mouth as well as a cleaning. I just recently noticed that she is breathing a little fast. They took a complete blood work up on her and I should have found out this morning what the results were but the Vet has been way too busy to call me.... I am upset, and actually livid about the whole ordeal because not only has it cost me 152. for the fecal test and exam, but 93.00 for the blood work up--which I paid gladly because I want my prissy to feel better, but not getting a call back is really upsetting me. It seems that they get so darned busy that they take in all their appointments, but what about the ones from the day or so ago that still need answers? I am told that there is NO heartworm, which is wonderful, and NO parasites so I am still left here wondering. I will let you all know when I find out what's wrong.

Chihuahuas and Sickness

2010-03-19T14:50:00.003-05:00

I have been so sick this whole week, sleeping away most of the entire week....along side of me have been my two little chihuahuas holding steady to me as if they knew what was wrong. I don't know if they just have a sense about them that they know when you don't feel well but they are extremely smart dogs. Does your chihuahua do something special or different when you don't feel well? Do they cuddle up to you? Heck, my chis have been so close to me that I haven't had much room to myself. One thing about chihuahuas....they are so loyal!

Getting Prissy Spayed

2010-03-05T11:11:00.001-06:00

I have had my prissy dog for several years now, and in all this time, I have not thought about getting her spayed, except for the times that she comes into heat and our male dog, Shorty, is bothering her. She does not like Shorty and sometimes she can be very cruel towards him. Of course, what female wants to be bothered when they are having their time, right? Anyways, Prissy is showing me a side of her that I don't even like very well, and that's the fact that she has been tinkling on my sofa, the floor, the arms of the sofa, soft blankets and whatever else she wants to "mark" and I believe it's because she is in heat, or maybe coming into heat. I have not bred her, I think that she's way too tiny, and Shorty is not from the same litter, but they do have the same parents so that was never an option. I have made the decision to get her spayed and I have been reading that it's a good thing, that it helps them live longer lives and I am hoping and praying that it will stop her behavior of having to mark things in my home.......otherwise I will have to buy some diapers for her, and I really don't want to have to deal with that expense.

Nib-Nose Prissy Dog

2010-03-02T09:20:00.003-06:00

Miss Prissy is my little one who rules the roost over here. She is always checking the outside to make sure that everything's okay and that we are safe and happy, as well as her being a total nib-nose and looking to see what the neighbors next door are doing. She has a great view to our neighbors and what's going on outside. She doesn't like the cats who roam into our yard and she thinks that her barking scares them off. My dog is a very protective thing and she's a pure joy to have in our family. Miss Priss is a very tiny dog, weighing in just around 3 pounds.

Meet Chloe !

2010-01-20T13:15:00.002-06:00

meet Chloe, my daughter's new chihuahua. Chloe is about 3 pounds, very long legged and is such a sweetheart! She's even wonderful with my 4-yr. old granddaughter. Most chis prefer adults, but Chloe is still pretty much a baby herself so she is learning how to deal with a child and this is teaching her to be good with children. There's also a yorkie in their home that gets along famously with Chloe so getting her was a wonderful thing. Aren't chihuahuas great?

Abbey

2010-01-04T05:55:00.003-06:00

This is Abbey, and she is half chihuahua and half terrier. She is also a wonderful dog and often bends her head over from one side to question me as if she was a teenager acting like I said for her to go and do some homework!

Abbey's nickname is Abbey-Doo. She is about 8 years old. Although she is the oldest of my 3 chis, she does not rule the roost here....... Prissy does.

Does your chi make funny movements to make you laugh? I tell you, my chihuahuas are so entertaining.

Abbey is also the classic example of being careful where you buy your chihuahua. Abbey was told by my daughter when she bought her that she was full-blooded chi. At first, she looked like it but started showing terrier charicaturistics and some time later, I went to visit my daughter and she took me to the lady that sold her to her, and sure enough, she had MANY chihuahuas, however, there was one terrier male there whom she claimed couldn't mate.......and my Abbey looked JUST like the terrier. We love Abbey so we didn't say anything to the lady, but when buying your chi, please check out the parents and observe the litter BEFORE buying. Abbey is such a sweetie, and my other chis love her, and so do we.

I Have A Snoring Dog!

2010-01-01T20:45:00.002-06:00

Shorty is such a sweetie, and he loves laying beneath the pillowcase cover, on top of the pillow during the evenings, before he has to go to his kennel bed. I sit here typing and I hear this little dog snoring.....yes, he is really enjoying his pillow time, I guess.
Does your dog snore? Do you think that only overweight dogs snore? If so, guess again, because Shorty is a mere 2 pounds, if even that. He was going through a bout of not eating because I had changed their food, but a couple of days ago, I went back to his old food and he is now gobbling it up once again.
Does your chihuahua have a special place to sleep?

Wishing You a Very "Barking" Christmas From Our House to Yours

2009-12-25T21:19:00.004-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful "bark-y" Christmas. We sure did. This house was filled with much love, alot of food, and of course, my great chihuahuas. Prissy wasn't sure about today, with so much going on, Shorty was laid back as ever about all the company coming in and out, but let me reassure you, he was still doing his "barking" duties when people came and left. Abbey was a little nervous with all the company but did alright with it. Everyone got up mighty early, and since my daughter had to go to work this morning, we opened up gifts before she left. Prissy and Abbey both got really soft blankies to go in their bedtime kennels and Shorty got a new sleep pad to go in his. What did your chis get for Christmas this morning? Anybody get any really intersting gifts? If so, I would love to hear about them.

Merry Christmas everyone!

My Prissy Is A Great Actress!

2009-10-27T12:42:00.002-05:00

What a silly little dog she is, pretending to be shy. Do your chihuahuas like getting their pictures taken? Shorty loves to pose for the camera, and so does Abbey, but when it comes to this little gal, she shies away as if she were camera shy....Well, honestly, she's not a shy dog at all, so I think that she would make a great actress.

Pickiness Of My Chihuahuas

2009-10-19T09:40:00.002-05:00

Have you ever noticed how "picky" some chihuahuas can be? My chis are spoiled rotten and have a wonderfully, luxurious life, complete with soft pillows to sleep on, their own blankies to hide underneath, their own food bowls and are free to roam about the house as they please, except at night, where they do sleep in their own kennels, but they seem to prefer it that way. As of late, I have really tried the "wet food" approach to give them an add-in to their dry food, thinking that I was giving them a sort of treat, however, my Prissy did not appreciate it at all. She was so unhappy about it, that she didn't even try it......she only sniffed it and was poo-pooing her nose up at it. What does my Prissy like to eat? Well, this may sound silly, but besides her dry food, she seems to LOVE scrambled eggs. Yes, that's right! She thinks that she's human I guess. Does your chihuahua have a "special" food that they like or dislike? I would love to hear about it.

Hiding From The Thunderstorm

2009-09-23T15:47:00.002-05:00

This crazy dog of mine is so scared of the rain and inclement weather that he often hides where-ever he can find so escape the noise of the storm. Actually, this is something that I have found quite normal for the chihuahua breed. Most of the time, he follows me or tries to get me to pick him up but if I am busy, he quickly finds a hiding place. Does your chihuahua have a special hiding spot when it rains or thunders?

Clipping Your Dog's Nails

2009-09-03T12:42:00.004-05:00

How often should you clip your dog's nails? Should you do it yourself or take him to a groomer? I prefer having someone else do it because I have been able to find some groomers out there that will do it for only $5., which doesn't break the bank for me, besides, I am afraid that I am going to cut too low and I certainly don't want that. Maybe it's also because I don't want my chihuahuas to think of me as "the bad guy" if I do mess up. However, even when I do take them to cut it done, I will still sometimes use a small nail smoother, one of those little tools that you can buy, battery operated to smooth the cut nails a bit so they aren't so jagged and tough. However, if you do prefer to do it yourself, I have found a really good article that may help you with it. http://www.professorshouse.com/pets/dogs/how-to-cut-my-dogs-nails.aspx
It seems easy enough, and if you are brave enough, go for it.

Such A Spoiled Rotten Dog, Sleeping Like A Baby

2009-08-07T16:09:00.002-05:00

I don't know what's worse, Shorty sleeping under the covers on my sofa or him having to sleep inside the pillowcase on the end of my bed. What's a dog to do without such luxury? Do you have a spoiled chihuahua in your home? Shorty seems to be able to find a comfortable spot no matter what room he's in. Night night little doglet.

Love at First.......Bark!

2009-07-26T17:12:00.005-05:00

What's Shorty doing? He's peeking around the corner, looking at his new love......miss Nini, formerly known as "Juanita"........oh, such wonder, oh such bliss, who is this miss? One thing for sure, he was bewildered, excited and ready to find out more about her. This sweet lil chi is not quite sure that she's ready for having a boyfriend just yet but he sure thinks she's his. They ran back and forth after each other, then after a little while, Nini put him in his place and went to lay down on the other side of the room....needless to say, poor Shorty was shaken up a bit, with his little tail between his legs. Awe, aren't dogs silly?

Is Your Dog The Alpha Dog In The House?

2009-07-20T08:51:00.003-05:00

There are alot of households out there that have more than one dog....yes, it's true, some people just love having more than one. And I guess you could say, that's me too. I have 2 chihuahuas and 1 chi/terrier. One chi is a male, the other a female, but the chi/terrier is a female as well, and not only that, she's the oldest of the bunch, been around the longest and I thought that she would be the one to be the alpha dog ( the head hauncho) in our group, but she isn't. Prissy, the youngest female seems to be the head of our group here. I have trained my dogs to listen to my commands and some people say that I am actually the alpha dog here, which is so funny, because although they mind pretty well, they have a mind of their own and do mostly as they please. Do you find that having an alpha dog in the house means that the head dog leads the pack of them all, or just because they think they do?

No More Fleas!

2009-07-05T15:20:00.002-05:00

That's right, no more fleas to worry about over here. After spending countless dollars on so many products we finally found what works here for us. Treating the yard is extremely important. The lady at the vet clinic told me that they reccommend a product called "over and out" which is supposed to be good for ants but great for fleas too. I also treated my carpet with food grade DE and some of that 20 mule teem borax that I got off the laundry isle at the grocery store. DE is found at many feed stores, just make sure IF you use it, it's food grade, and put your puppies up while putting it into the carpet. And I think that since Abbey went to the vet and they said she was elible for the confortis pill, that has worked wonderfully....and no side effects for her, but there are some in many dogs so always check things out before doing it. Today is hot and my dogs are all lazying around taking it easy.

Abbey's Vet Visit

2009-06-30T06:25:00.002-05:00

After much work and worry over all this flea treatments and stuff, I had to find an answer.....so I took Abbey to the vet. Abbey is the one dog that gets tons of fleas where Shorty and Prissy only get a small amount. I thought that maybe the vet could give me an idea of what's going on, not to mention that Abbey was scratching and had a raw spot from it all as well. Vet check went great, Abbey's in good shape, no intestinal parasites to worry about but it came down to the "flea" talk. I told her that I had used just about everything to get rid of the fleas and they get right back on her. She gave me 2 options that would work. One was comfortis and the other one was frontline. It was a toss up, but I wanted to try the comfortis. It has to be bought in a 5-month supply and at $85.00, it was alot of money for me to cough up along with the vet bill too, but I went ahead. Comfortis cannot be used on a small dog nor can it be used with dogs prone to seizures so my other 2 chis cannot use it. Comfortis also has to be taken with food so it doesn't upset their stomache too much. Within 30 minutes the fleas started dying and Abbey isn't itching anymore. Now, I still have to deal with Shorty and Prissy and the fleas but it seems that since I treated my yard and the house, they are not having any at this time. Wow, that's such a relief! But I think that I will keep a good eye on things just to be sure! Has anyone else out there used the comfortis with good luck? Remember, comfortis cannot be used on small dogs that are prone to seizures!

Chihuahua Seizures, Flea Treatments

2009-06-27T08:34:00.005-05:00

Let me just begin this post by saying that chihuahuas are prone to having seizures at times, especially if they are on the small side, however, I have to tell you what I have discovered, at least about my own chis. My Shorty is about 2 pounds and as in some of my past postings, I have reported him having seizures. Well, I used to use that spot on treatment for fleas, and found that it only worked a few weeks, which was very expensive for me.. I also noticed that since I stopped the spot on treatment, he has NOT had any more seizures so now I am wondering if that was the cause of his. Yes, I do have to battle fleas and I think I have found that food grade Diamitous Earth works, just as a combo of salt/baking soda on the carpets swept in. That also includes treating the yard for fleas off of other animals who pass through. Do I dare wonder if the spot on treatments ( I have used several of them) could have contributed to the seizures? I have done some reading on the internet and I hear alot of nasty things. What do you think? Do you have an opinion on this subject? If so, I would love to hear it.

Shorty's Visitor

2009-06-22T07:43:00.002-05:00

Shorty sure had a wild and crazy weekend....he is normally not used to being picked up by a child, but my granddaughter thought that he was supposed to be in her arms the entire weekend. Shorty didn't give too much opposition to being carried, even laid on his back. What a great dog! Chihuahuas really aren't much into children and usually pick one member out of the family to bond the most with, and in our family's case, they usually stick to me but like the rest of the family too.... My granddaughter hasn't been to visit for about 7 months since they live out of state, but the dogs did wonderfully! Now, just watch a cat or a strange person walk around outside where they can see them through the glass door and they will bark of holy terror! Crazy dogs!

Finally Getting Ahead Of Fleas

2009-06-18T06:24:00.002-05:00

After searching for something that will finally kill the flea cycle, I think that I have finally found the answer. Believe me, I have tried the salt/baking soda mix, which does help some, spot on treatments that don't last but 2 weeks and are very costly, not to mention poisonous, flea baths, dips, over the counter holistic sprays that cost the pocketbook but don't really help much, I think that I found the answer I was looking for. It's diamituous earth, but it's the food grade one. I looked all over for it, and found it in my local feed store. It's safe, non poisonous and it's not a chemical....but it's starting to work. Nothing works immediately and this also takes a little bit of time but I am actually seeing some progress. My dogs are not itching so bad and I am not seeing fleas on them like before. I sprinkled some around the baseboards, under the dog beds, inside the kennel and now have to realize that it's not instantaneous. Fleas have to walk through the DE in order for them to dry up. So, it's another battle of the wait and see...

Brewers Yeast Is Only Momentary

2009-06-10T18:04:00.003-05:00

Well, Brewers yeast really did make the fleas jump off of my chis however, it did not keep them away because my dogs eventually shook it off. This morning, I washed my dogs in the dawn dish detergent, ran a flea comb through their fur, vaccumed really well and then I made a mix of half salt, half baking soda and sprinkled it all over the carpet, under the sofa cushions, then broomed it in really good and left it there. I have had it there all day and haven't vaccumed it up yet. I vaccumed all the sofas, washed all the blankets in the front room, mopped all the floors with bleach and cleaned out all the dog kennels and blankies that they sleep with. I pray that this works, but I am told that I must keep after it steady because it doesn't happen over night. Plus, the outside needs to be treated as well...oh joy!

Using Brewers Yeast On Dog's Coats For Fleas

2009-06-02T10:15:00.003-05:00

I am so sorry for writing so much about fleas but geez, it really can get annoying trying to find the right method of dealing with them. My chihuahuas are so special to me and I want them to be comfortable. About 3 or 4 days ago, we treated our yard, even though they never touch their feet on the grass, we treated it anyways. I also cleaned the house from top to bottom, washing all the cushion covers, dog blankets and such. We also tried that spot on treatment by adams. Well, that worked,but only for a couple of days. This morning I found more fleas. I got out the brewers yeast, you know, the one that you buy at the health food store (not the bakers yeast) and sprinkled it all over their coats. Those fleas just jumped off of them. Maybe if I continue this, they will be flea-free for awhile. I feed them top quality food, so I don't think it's that. Guess it's another trial and error here to see if it's going to work. Wish me luck!

Lazy Day Dogs

2009-05-26T09:45:00.003-05:00

My little chis are lazying around this morning...as if they didn't have a care in the world. I am still using that cedarcide application. Yes, there are still fleas but not as many now. I am still on the search of something better. I have heard alot of talk about using food grade Diamitous Earth but also hear that you can not breathe it in. Anybody have any good remedies for fleas?

Darned Fleas!

2009-05-04T12:57:00.004-05:00

With my work and trying to get rid of the fleas on my little chis, alas, I must update this blog and let you all know, that the "Evolve" just has not worked as I thought it would. Numerous bathings, spraying with evolve, washing all the bedding, vaccuming and even treating the outside just has done nothing but exhaust me. I wanted it to work so much. What do I do now? I guess I must go back to the spot on the neck treatment even though I really do not want to. Does anyone have any other remedies that work for them? If so, please post them for me as well as others. Flea season is right upon us and I don't want it to get out of control. Thankyou!

Update On Flea Meds

2009-04-19T15:51:00.001-05:00

Well, the flea medicine stinks, that's for sure, and I decided to give each dog a bath, and then re-appy it. So far, so good. But remember, this stuff comes out in a mist, and must be worked into the skin. I am going to monitor my dog flea situation and see how long before they start having flea problems again.

I Tried That New Flea Med

2009-04-15T09:20:00.005-05:00

yes, I went to our local pet store to buy that new flea medicine... I love floppy pets...that man in there is so nice and very helpful. If you live in the area around Nasa or by Webster or Clear Lake, in Texas, you can find http://floppypets.com/
I came home, took my chis on the front porch and sprayed them down with this evolv and I worked it into their skin. I took the dog brush and proceeded to get the fleas out. I came inside, sprayed down the dog's bedding as well. I will tell you now, that it was a very prominate cedar smell that lasted for a couple of hours. I have noticed that this morning that their coats seem to be nice and shiny but I think that I would have been better off bathing them first to get the fleas off, and then applying the evolv. I am going to see how it works for now and perhaps this weekend, I will bathe them and try it again. So far, I have not seen my smaller chis itching at all, but Abbey, who is part terrier/part chi and has alot of hair has scratched a little. I will write a follow up soon. Wish me good luck. I sure hate having to deal with fleas. But this stuff is not poisonous so I am hoping it works.

Prissy In Heat

2009-04-14T07:47:00.003-05:00

Prissy has never had puppies so this is just her random time to come into heat. I always notice that she's about to do that when Shorty starts sniffing around more....however, Shorty is not interested in Prissy. He is interested in my other female, Abbey, but she has been fixed. It's kind of a funny thing to see, that silly dog chasing around a dog that cannot have puppies. I don't know why he is like that, but he is. He starts playing with his toys more and can sometimes get out of hand with it. Poor Prissy, she is just more protective of herself and wants to be with me more. I have also noticed that she is doing something that I thought only male chis do, and that is "spray". She just leaves a trail of urine as if she were a male, but this morning, it was not on the papers, it was on my sofa pillow and I was not happy about it. I have never tried those diapers for when they are in heat and I wonder if they actually help. Anyone have any experience with this? If so, please comment.

Still Looking For Effective Flea Medication

2009-04-09T07:15:00.002-05:00

I just don't know anymore. I have indoor dogs and it's not even summer yet and Abbey and Shorty have fleas again....not many, but hey, fleas are fleas, right? I am so fed up with the monthly drops on the neck thing that do not last that I can't hardly stand it. That stuff is expensive for one, and secondly, they do not last long at all. For me, it's also messy because I don't want to get it on my skin so I have to put on a pair of gloves, open the container, hold my dogs still enough to put it on, and then it takes HOURS to dry so I don't like them rubbing all over the furniture with it wet so what's a girl to do?
I just so happened to go and purchase some dog food from the local pet shop ( I use Fromm's) and I asked him what he carried for fleas. He gave me a brochure about something chemical free, organic, pest control called Wondercide. He told me that the same people who made cedarcide, which is a wonderful product also makes the wondercide. I am going to go back and buy some to try it out. Anyone else try this? Here is the website http://wondercide.com
for anyone who may be interested in where to find this product. It's safe for dogs, and for humans which is wonderful. I do know that cedarcide was a great product because many many years ago when I had a toy fox terrier that had the red mange, I used it on him because I didn't want to go the route with the dipping and stuff and it honestly helped. Then, after awhile, I couldn't find the cedarcide anymore, but they do exist still. Anyone try this, please let me know!

I Guess I Have A Crazy Chihuahua!

2009-03-31T09:55:00.002-05:00

My prissy dog is such a great dog....faithful and true, but she loves having her privacy. .... sounds like a female, right? Well, Prissy has been driving me crazy the past several days. She has her own kennel that she sleeps in at night. That is her own "house" and she doesn't like anyone messing with it. Her food is attached by the wire on the front and I keep it with a little bit of food in it, but not too much that she wastes it. She comes out of her kennel every morning around 5-6 am and makes her way to the potty, food bowl and her water. After her routine, if I am not leaving to go to work for the day, she has decided that she thinks that her kennel is a hotel, and I am the host. She proceeds to want in her cage with the door locked and the covering over the door (thus, her privacy) and during the day, she will want to come in and out of it MANY times during the day. I tell you, I don't know where she got the idea that I am supposed to open her cage at any given moment during the day and sometimes it's 10 times a day. Is this a crazy chihuahua or not?

My Prissy Was Not Feeling Like Herself

2009-03-26T06:05:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was a very hard day for me because my "Prissy" was not feeling well....and it started from the moment that she came out of her kennel in the morning. We always have the same routine, she goes into her kennel at night and goes to sleep, in the morning around 5 am, she comes out and so does Shorty. I feed, make sure that the water bowl is filled, put down clean pee pads and she comes out of the kennel like a horse coming out of the race gate, licking, running wildly crazy and jumping at my side until I pick her up....but not yesterday. She came out slowly, quietly and I just went on with the normal routine, came back home from taking my daughter to school and she was still the same way. The whole day she laid under the blankies in the room that I was cleaning and by afternoon time, she was still the same, so I tried to feed her but she wouldn't eat. I was very upset by this time. I picked her up, put some water to her mouth and she finally got some. I decided to go outside and the minute she heard me say to the other dogs "let's go outside", she came running. I picked her up and put her on my lap, and she enjoyed the breeze. By the time I went inside with her, I decided to open a can of chicken and she ate, finally.....I just don't know what was wrong with her...now, it tends to look like she was just being a stinker so she could have some chicken in a can, but honestly, she laid around all day. Whatever her problem was, she did finally get over it. I can't tell you how worried I was, and if she had not gotten over it, I would have taken her to the vet the next morning. Do you ever have this happen to you with your chihuahua?

Spring is Finally Here!

2009-03-21T11:22:00.003-05:00

Prissy and Shorty, along with Abbey have been anxiously awaiting for spring to arrive. They all love laying on the back of the couch, in the windowsill with the window open. They get up there and act as if they can't move off the spot. Flowers are blooming and pollen is in the breeze which makes for so much for them to sniff about. Oh how lovely the days have been lately. There are times that Shorty has problems with his legs but all in all, he gets around still pretty well. They seem to enjoy this time of year so much and often act silly and frisky. And yes, they still are my barking-chihuahuas.

Dog's Coats

2009-02-24T21:06:00.003-06:00

My daughter gave all the chis baths this afternoon when she came in from school. I happened to have read one day on the internet how people are trying to keep fleas at bay. Well, Abbey is really the only one with the most fleas despite all the things that I have tried, it's really hard. I read that by putting apple cider vinegar to some water in a spray bottle that fleas don't like that too well, so after the bath, we put just a little bit of apple cider vinegar to a half bottle sprayer and just sprayed a tiny bit on their coats and wow! they have very soft coats. I don't know how well it will work on the fleas though, so we will have to see.

Puppies In The Window

2009-01-23T13:13:00.002-06:00

I just so happened to go into a Subway shop the other day to have my favorite meatball sub and as I walked up the walkway, I happened to pass a pet shop on the way. There they were, two little chihuahuas waiting to be sold. One was so much friendlier than the other, begging for me to pet her. The other one jumped right up from her nap once I came over to the kennel. These poor babies were so cute, and I wished that I could have rescued them from the shop but they were going for $800. each. I was shocked! At what time did these precious babies go up so high in price? Was this a pet shop that took good care of these puppies while they were closed to? I was so upset by seeing them want the attention that I had to walk out of there. Now, I won't say that ALL petshops are bad, but please be careful when buying a chihuahua. Make sure that they look healthy and are up to date on all shots. Ask if there is a return policy if you take them to your vet and find that they are not healthy, because you never know. I got my chihuahuas from a family relative where they had both the parents for me to see, so please take care when purchasing your new chi.

Dogs and Their Moods

2009-01-11T18:14:00.000-06:00

Somehow, today, amongst all days, my prissy dog just seemed to think that it was her day. No longer was I able to sit down alone and watch tv, not able to sit at this computer and write alone, no, not without my prissy. Today seemed to be all about her. She was needy today and showed me that she needed to be beside me. Now, it's funny, because some days she will sleep in her cage with the door open, all balled up in her blankies. Why not today? That is totally unknown to me because she just wanted to be near me. My dog has such a crazy personality, maybe she's just having one of those days like us women do !

Keeping Up With Rabies Shots

2009-01-06T20:14:00.002-06:00

Well, this past Saturday I took my Prissy dog to get her rabies shot. I wrapped her up in her favorite blankie which helped so much and proceeded to get her that rabies shot. I thought that things would go horribly because she just isn't one who likes to hold still. I picked her up and held her close to me, and much to my suprize, the shot was done and over with so quickly that she didn't even bat an eyelash. Wow, that was so done and over with fast !! Not knowing if she would blossum up like my Shorty dog does after a shot, I made sure to have some benedryl on hand in case she needed it but she didn't. The shot actually made her really hyper and she ran around for a longer period of time than normal, but she finally settled down and went to bed for the night. Having your dog's rabies shots are important, and they don't have to cost a fortune. I got ours through our local feed store, which worked out perfect....however, if your dog has other issues, visiting your local vet is always best.