Owning dogs, in particular taking care of the japanese chin, is a specialty of people. Some historians theorize dogs were domesticated sometime between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that canines evolved from the wolf. Since those days, human beings have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, which vary in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, whose 3-ft stature has earned them the distinction of the tallest dog. However, the most popular canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The japanese chin is also a popular choice among dog owners. Many owners are unaware, however, of some critical japanese chin care tips.
General health care cost of your japanese chin
The annual budget for caring for the japanese chin—to include everything from food and treats, to veterinary care, toys and license—could range between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This figure doesn’t include capital costs for sterilization procedures, a collar and leash, dog carrier and crate. Tip: Make sure you have all the required items before you get your japanese chin home for the first time.
Typical japanese chin Care
Feeding your japanese chin
- japanese chin puppies between 8 and 12 weeks need 4 meals in a day.
- japanese chin pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals in a 24 hour period.
- Feed pups 6 months old to 1 year old 2 times every twenty-four hours.
- When your japanese chin makes his or her 1st birthday, 1 meal every twenty-four hours is enough.
- Many times japanese chins, however, do better with 2 lighter bowls. It is your job to adapt to your japanese chin’s eating tendencies.
High-quality dry dogfood provides balanced nutrition for grown japanese chins and may be mixed with canned food, water, or broth. Your japanese chin may love fruits and vegetables, cooked eggs, and cottage cheese, but these should not result in more than 10 percent of his or her daily meal intake. japanese chin pups should be given premium-quality, name brand puppy food. Try to cut down on “table food”, however, since it can cause mineral and vitamin imbalances, bone and teeth issues, and may cause very picky food choices as well as obesity. Give clean, potable water always, and make certain to clean food and water dishes very often.
japanese chin Care Tips: Make sure to get your japanese chin some daily physical activity
japanese chins need daily exercise in order to stay healthy, stimulate their brains, and maintain good health. Daily exercise also really helps japanese chins fight boredom, which would often lead to destructive behavior. Supervised fun and games can appease most of your japanese chin’s desires to chew, dig, chase, retrieve and herd. Activity needs are dependent on your japanese chin’s level of health and her age—but merely a walk around the block every day and 10 minutes in back of the house probably won’t cut it. If your japanese chin is a six to 18 month adolescent, her requirements will probably be much more.
Grooming tips for japanese chins
Frequent brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your japanese chin clean. Inspect for fleas and ticks daily during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes japanese chins don’t need to be bathed more than a few times during the year. Before bathing, comb or cut out all mats from the japanese chin’s coat. Rinse all soap from the coat, or the dirt will stick to soap residue.
How to Handle Your japanese chin
Pups are obviously the easiest to handle. To carry your japanese chin puppy, place 1 of your hands beneath the dog’s chest, with either the forearm or your other hand supporting his back legs and rump. Don’t attempt to grab or lift your puppy by his or her front legs, tail or nape. When you need to lift a larger, full-grown japanese chin, lift from underneath, supporting his or her chest with one of your arms and rear end with the other.
japanese chin housing
Your japanese chin needs a comfortable peaceful location in order to relax away from all the drafts and away from the ground or floor. You might want to purchase a doggie bed, or feel like making one from a wooden box. Place a clean comforter, sheet, blanket, or pillow inside the bed for cushioning. Wash your japanese chin’s bed covering often. If your japanese chin will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure she has access to plenty of cool water and covering in the summer, and a dry, warm, covered shelter when it’s cold.
Licensing and Identification for japanese chins
Make sure to heed your city’s licensing regulations. You should connect the license to the japanese chin’s collar. This, along with an ID tag, could help secure your japanese chin’s return should he go missing.
japanese chin Temperament Info
Training Your japanese chin
Well-behaved, companion japanese chins can be a blessing to have. However, left untrained, your dog can be nothing but trouble. Training your japanese chin on the basics—”Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, and “Leave it”—bolsters your relationship with both the japanese chin as well as your family. If you’re the owner of a pup, start training her on the appropriate responses asap! Use doggie snacks as recognition and incentive. Puppies can enroll in obedience class when they are adequately immunized. Contact the community SPCA or humane society for information about obedience schools. You should always keep your japanese chin leashed while in public, even while a puppy. Just be certain your doggie will come back to you if you tell her. An aggressive or disobedient japanese chin cannot play with children.
About your japanese chin’s Health
japanese chins should visit the veterinarian for a full screening, vaccinations and heartworm exam annualy, and ASAP when he is injured or sick.
Knowing Your japanese chin’s Dental Health
While many of us may simply dislike our japanese chin’s halitosis, it’s important to be aware of what it may be a sign of. Halitosis usually means that your japanese chin is in need of a dental check up. Plaque due to germs results in a foul stench that can only be eliminated by the help of a professional. After a professional cleaning, the mouth can be be preserved in a healthy state by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. The veterinarian can provide you with additional information for reducing periodontal ailments and bad breath. You can easily clean the japanese chin’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste twice weekly. Clean them with a gauze pad, a piece of nylon stocking stretched over the finger, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the gum and tooth, often affects japanese chins. Frequently, tooth loss happens due to periodontal infection. Diseases can sometimes also propagate to other areas of your japanese chin’s body. The vet can sometimes clean the teeth at a routine physical.
Halitosis (bad breath) in japanese chins
If your japanese chin has smelly breath, gum disease may simply be the tip of the iceberg as far as his health issues. A pleasant, even sweet smell can frequently be a sign of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. When your japanese chin’s breath smells of urine or ammonia, kidney disease is a possibility. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your japanese chin has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in japanese chins
Daily, regular inspections of your japanese chin for fleas and ticks during the warm seasons are critical. Use a flea comb to remove fleas. There are many new techniques of flea and tick control. Consult your vet about his or her recommendations.
Heartworms in japanese chins
Your japanese chin is at risk of developing heartworms if she is exposed to mosquitoes often. The insect carries the worm from dog to dog. Heartworm infestations are fatal. It is critical you ensure your japanese chin submits to a blood test for this parasite every spring. You should also give your japanese chin a monthly pill in the warm, wet time of the year to be able to protect her from heartworms. Your japanese chin should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some places, usually the regions with hotter temperatures, where doctors advise parasite pills be given year round.
Medicines and Toxins
Don’t ever give your japanese chin medicine that hasn’t been prescribed by her vet. For example, are you aware that just one ibuprofen caplet causes stomach ulcers in some dogs Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your japanese chin. When you have reason to think that your pooch has been exposed to a toxin, contact the veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24-hr. animal poison help.
Neutering and Spaying japanese chins
Female japanese chins should be spayed—the removal of the uterus and ovaries—and males neutered—removal of the testes—by 6 months of age. You will usually significantly reduce your female japanese chin’s risk of breast cancer by spaying prior to adulthood. Spaying also eliminates the possibility of an infected uterus, a traumatic condition in older females that demands intensive medical care. Neutering males prevents testicular diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
japanese chin Innoculations
- japanese chin puppies should be innoculated with a combination shot (called a “five-in-1”) at 2, three and four months of age, and then once each year. This innoculation immunizes your pup from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. The japanese chin puppy’s vaccination program cannot be finished prior to 4 months old.
- If your japanese chin has not been vaccinated and is older than 4 months, he will need to be given 2 vaccinations as soon as possible, 2 to 3 weeks apart. After that you must vaccinate yearly.
- Your japanese chin puppy’s immunizations should coincide with his socialization program. You can take your japanese chin pup to socialization courses by eight to 9 weeks of age, as recommended by most doctors. At this age, they should have already received at least their first vaccinations.
Since rules vary around the country, contact a community veterinarian to get instructions on rabies immunization. For instance, NYC statutes state that pets older than three months be innoculated for rabies. After the original vaccination, she must have a second immunization the following year, and then every 3 years. There are several immunizations that may or may not be appropriate for your japanese chin. Your vet can give you his opinion. Also, if your japanese chin gets ill because he is not innoculated, do not administer the shots until the dog has made a full recovery.
Roundworms in japanese chins
japanese chins are often exposed to worms—especially in rural areas. Eggs that carry roundworms are transmitted through a japanese chin’s feces. Most puppies, from all environments, even those with healthy mothers, carry intestinal worms. The key to effective treatment is early detection. This will maximize the possibility that the medication is highly effective against the parasite your dog has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best define the culprit—and prescribe the right medication.
Additional japanese chin Care Tips
Checklist of japanese chin Supplies
- High-quality dog food and snacks specifically designed for japanese chins and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb and brush for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Quality leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Box or dog bed with blanket or towel
- Dog toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to japanese chins:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Onions, garlic & chives
- Poultry bones
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit & stems
- Yeast dough
Final Thoughts
Unless you are at home, or in a fenced-in, secured spot, keep your japanese chin on a leash at all times. If your japanese chin goes number 2 on your neighbor’s lawn, the sidewalk or any other public spot, please remove and dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about japanese chins
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