What You Need To Know Before Purchasing a Teacup Dog


Awe 😍 Teacup dogs! They are cute, cuddly and you can take them anywhere. Teacup dogs have always been in "fashion" as highly trendy. And, at first glance, I can see why-- again, the cuteness. Lots of people are drawn to them because they require less food and preventative medication than a standard dog. They also seem like a logical choice if you live in a facility that has pet size restrictions or in an area that is difficult to exercise a standard dog. But before you buy one, there are certain things you must be aware of before committing.

A Teacup Dog is any dog that is bred to be as small as possible-- this means about 5lbs or less in size. To obtain this optimal level of tiny, a breeder will usually breed the runts of litters. This can be problematic: sometimes the smallest of the litter is caused by a birth defect or another medical condition.  With standard dogs, dogs are bred to preserve healthy genetics. But with teacup dogs, they are bred for size first and foremost-- not necessarily healthy genetics. With all that said, if you are committed to a teacup dog, you need to be extra vigilant on researching the breeders and how healthy the family lineage is for their pups.

So, what are the problems you are up against with a teacup dog? The most common medical problems are:
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Heart defects
  • Collapsing trachea
  • Seizures
  • Respiratory problems
  • Digestive problems
  • Blindness
  • Dental problems- lots of teacup dogs don't lose all of their baby teeth. This means that usually a veterinarian will recommend to pull all the baby teeth of a teacup dog during a spay/neuter proceedure. 
Other problems include:
  • Liver shunts- a defect in the liver which affects the liver's ability to flush toxins.
  • Patella luxation- sliding kneecap, which can affect the way a dog walks and cause arthritis. 
  • Hydrocephalus- Water on the brain
With all of the above, the owner of a teacup dog needs to commit to regular vet visits to keep up with health. A medical emergency can become very dangerous for a teacup dog-- imagine trying to put an iv into an itty-bitty body.

Teacup dogs require extra care:
  • They must be supervised all the time. A teacup's bones are extremely fragile and most teacups are high energy by nature. This means that jumping off of furniture or accidentally falling off of something can cause bones to break. 
  • No missed meals. Missing even one meal can cause a teacup's blood sugar to drop to a dangerous level and cause seizures. You must also make sure your teacup is eating the correct diet for such a mini body.
  • Maintain Body Temperatures: A teacup dog can have a really hard time maintaining proper body temperatures in cold weather. A teacup parent needs to make sure that their furry friend is wearing a sweater in chilly temperatures to maintain body heat. 
  • Training. As with all dogs, it's essential to have a well trained pup. With teacups, it's really important in order to minimize accidents that cause high-risk ER visits. 
With any type of dog- standard, giant or teacup, you need to do your research before welcoming home your furry companion. Every breed has it's pros and cons whether it is in temperament or health. Knowing your specific breed is essential to the welfare of your pet. 

Here are some helpful links for further research enjoyment on this topic:

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