Teacup dogs may seem cute and "handy" to carry around in your bag, but the truth is that these genetically selected dogs have many more he alth problems than you think. you could imagine There are many canine breeds that have their "teacup" version, such as the M altese bichon, the Yorkshire terrier or the chihuahua.
Often mistaken for toys, breeders have been constantly selecting and breeding dogs to create even smaller versions of these animals. If you are thinking of getting a teacup dog, please read this article on teacup dog breeds: everything you need to know
What are teacup dogs?
The rise in popularity of teacup dogs is mainly due to some celebrities, such as Paris Hilton Ella he gleefully displayed dogs (and even pigs) that fit in the palm of his hands or in little teacups. Hence her name.
A teacup dog can be of different breeds, but must never weigh more than 1, 80 kilograms or more of 43 centimeters in its adult stage. Although it should be noted that these measures have not been standardized or recognized by the different canine organizations.
Teacup dogs are sometimes confused with "toy" dogs, although it is important to note that dwarf dogs or exceed the weight and measurement mentioned. The most popular teacup dog breeds are as follows:
- Yorkshire terrier
- Poodle or poodle
- Chihuahua
- M altese
- Dachshund or dachshund
- Beagle
- Pinscher
- Papillion
- Smooth Fox Terrier
- Pug or Pug
- Boston terrier
- Australian Terrier
- Brussels Griffon
- Pekingese
- Shih Tzu
In order to achieve a teacup-sized dog, breeders cross the smaller dogs of a litter with other small-sized dogs, until he obtains pups of a desirable size for clients. The intention of the breeders when creating these small dogs is simply economic, however, this leads to different he alth problems for dogs that makes us delve into the reasons why why it is not advisable or ethicalencourage the sale of teacup dogs.
A Teacup Dog's Life
According to "Canine Journal" [1], inbreeding (a very common practice in the selective breeding of purebred dogs) decreases notably the life of a dog. In the case of teacup dogs, which would paradoxically live longer due to their small size, their life expectancy is considerably reduced In addition, the risk of developing congenital diseases and mutations increases markedly.
Teacup Dog He alth Problems
Teacup dog breeding techniques make them more prone to various he alth problems, which can result in a miserable quality of life.
Physical he alth problems
- Hypoglycemia: This condition is caused by a sudden drop in blood sugar levels and can cause weakness, lethargy, tremors and, in the worst cases, even a coma. The fact is that teacup dogs need to eat at least every three hours, mainly due to the small amount of food they are able to ingest. If their feeding schedules are not followed correctly, they can easily develop hypoglycemia.
- Heart defects: congenital diseases such as pulmonary stenosis are common in this type of dog. In fact, chronic valvular disease affects up to 40% of teacup dogs. Other heart-related he alth problems include a heart murmur, an enlarged heart, or dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Tracheal Collapse: This is a genetic condition characterized by obstruction of the dog's airways. This can cause coughing, difficulty breathing properly, and blue gums, which indicate a lack of oxygen.
- Seizures: These seizures can occur in teacup dogs as a sign of hypoglycemia and other he alth problems.
- Respiratory Problems: Dyspnea and tachypnea can easily occur in these dogs. The first can appear due to the overload suffered by the respiratory system, thus causing noisy breathing. On the other hand, tachypnea causes you to breathe much shallower than normal.
- Digestive Problems: A teacup dog's internal organs will also be smaller than those of a normal sized dog, which is why it is common for your liver to have more trouble cleaning out toxins.
- Gum Disease: Teacup dogs often experience far more dental disease than average-sized dogs. Generally, the accumulation of tartar causes gingivitis, which in the long run can lead to periodontitis, which causes bleeding gums and tooth loss.
- Patella luxation: it is also known as "sliding patella" and can greatly impair the dog's ability to move, also favoring the arthritis.
- Hydrocephaly: this pathology is characterized by the accumulation of liquid in the dog's brain, causing blindness, convulsions and many discomforts.
- Weak Bones: A teacup dog's bones are extremely brittle, which can cause various diseases such as osteoporosis or mineral deficiency. It also makes them more prone to fractures.
Psychological he alth problems
Apart from the physical problems mentioned above, teacup dogs will also suffer from a number of psychological problems throughout their lives:
- Behavior problems: According to a recent study at the University of Sydney [2], the combination of dog size, head shape and weight can affect a dog's behavior. Genetics also plays an important role and it is that reproducing dogs with behavior problems can directly affect the puppies in up to 30% of cases.
- Chronic Stress: Due to their fragile hearts, teacup dogs do not handle stress well. It is important to highlight that chronic stress causes a great drop in defenses, thus predisposing you to suffer from the diseases that we have mentioned previously and to manifest more behavioral problems.
- Learning problems: excessive humanization, avoid socializing them with other larger dogs (thus creating fears, which subsequently generate aggressive behavior) and their own physical characteristics (small bladder and stomach) predispose teacup dogs to have more learning difficulties. That translates into more effort on the part of their owners to teach them proper habits.
Is it a good idea to breed teacup dogs?
The he alth problems of teacup dogs are mainly due to selective breeding techniques, which have arisen as a result of the great demand for dogs of this type by owners. In addition, there are many breeders who do not have a license or the conditions to reproduce dogs in optimal conditions.
It should be borne in mind that online sales of these dogs do not show a certain guarantee of their origin, since in most cases the breeder's license number Breeding sick dogs is also a crime that carries financial pen alties and imprisonment [3]
It is also common for breeding females to reproduce over and over again, thus increasing their anxiety levels, which have a direct impact on puppies and also causing premature births. Once born, the puppies face possible malnutrition due to poor conditions and in some cases, to make them look even more "cup of tea" sold prematurely, before eight weeks, when they should still be with their mother. All this causes serious socialization and learning problems, not to mention he alth problems, which mean that many dogs die before they are even sold.
Bearing in mind that most associations and federations do not approve or recognize this type of dog breed, we advise against buying a dog that is advertised with these characteristics. On our site we would like to add that advocating dog adoption makes illegal and irresponsible breeding industry incompatible.
How to take care of teacup dogs
The many problems that can arise in a teacup dog means that we must provide a little extra care. Pay attention to the following tips:
Feeding a Teacup Dog
In order to prevent hypoglycemia, these dogs should eat three to four times a day or approximately every three or four hours. Apart from offering them a suitable diet for their characteristics (with specific foods for miniature dogs), we can also add corn oil to their intake to avoid low blood sugar levels. Likewise, we can enrich your diet with foods rich in vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids, ideal for good coat he alth.
Reduce stressful situations
It is important to ensure that the dog does not suffer from stressful situations. To do this, we can develop a very marked routine of walks and meals, carry out short play sessions and ensure 14 hours of sleepneeded.
It is not advisable to always carry them with us, especially if we live in a city, since excess stimuli can cause stress. The dog needs a comfortable environmentat home to rest whenever you need it.
Veterinary care
If you encounter any of the symptoms mentioned above, you should go to the vet to rule out any he alth problem. Although fractures are usually the most frequent cause of veterinary visits for these dogs, they are susceptible to various diseases, so it is also important to go to the veterinary every 6 or 12 monthsto perform a general exam. Don't forget to also follow the vaccination schedule and the deworming schedule.
