Chihuahua weight and bloody loose stools ; colitis canine;

Question
QUESTION: Hi! I have a purebred Chihuahua puppy. At 13 weeks he weighed 4 lbs and 14 oz! Of course, he is totally off the weight chart for Chihuahuas. Do you have an idea how much he will weigh as an adult? The vet said he was not really overweight, but almost. I have been feeding him 1 cup of dry puppy kibble per day since then and he now looks good - muscular and in good weight. He is about 16 weeks now but have not weighed him. Since his weigh-in at 13 weeks, his frame has grown quite a bit but he has lost all the puppy pudge! If you could give me an educated guess I would be very happy. His dad weighed about 4-5 lbs and I think his mom around 7 or 8 lbs.

Thanks,
Kathy


my chi / miss priss   ANSWER: Hi - Well, you do have a big boy...... My girl was about 5 pounds at 8 months of age.  AT the one year mark she was 7 lbs and has stayed around that weight.
Her Dad was small at 4.5 lbs but Mom was an 8 pound girl.  I would estimate your boy will be around 7-8 pounds at 12 months of age.  You don't want him to go over 8 pounds if possible.
Chi dogs have luxating patella problems and the x-tra weight just makes it worse.


So, for your boy I would refer you to a food that has little to no corn or junk fillers.
The junk fillers is the problem with overwieght dogs.

Let me know if you want help with feeding?
I also have some home cooked recipes you can try...
YUM YUM


Marie Peppers LPN MA
mtnmom@gci.net


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again! I very much appreciate the time spent answering my questions! Wanted to give you an update on my chi's weight. I took him in the other day to have his nails clipped and he weighs 8 lbs already! Yikes! The vet said Jake looked good and not overweight. She did make the comment that he did not look at all like a Chihuahua, but I assured her he is purebred. He has a distinctive pattern on his coat and I have photos of him from birth and through the weeks nursing at his chi mother and with his siblings, and I also know his daddy. So I don't believe I was scammed in any way. He was born on about April 12th, I believe. What happened?!

Anyway, below is my question. I know you are not a vet but bet you know the answer to this.

I have another chi named Joey, who is Jake's half brother and is several months older. On Monday Joey was neutered. Because of the surgery we have had to keep them from playing, etc. They are very close and it has been difficult for both of them to be kept apart. On Monday night Joey had blood in his stool. I talked with the vet's office. They said that bloody stool sometimes happens after the surgery due to anesthesia and to bring him in on Wednesday if he still had a problem. He then developed bloody diarrhea so my husband took Joey in this morning. The vet said it could be stress related or due to the pain medicine. Okay, FINALLY on to my question.

While Joey was at the vet's office today, Jake had a BM with blood in his stool! I couldn't believe it. It was the first time and I think his tummy is upset from all the change taking place with Joey's situation - lots of stress for him, too. I have heard that it is okay to treat dogs with Pepto-Bismol, Pepcid or the like for this kind of thing, and I certainly don't want this problem to develop further. If it is okay to use something to settle his tummy down at his age, what should I use and at what dosage? By the way, everyone is up-to-date on their vaccines.

What is your opinion?

Thanks alot!
Kathy


Answer
Hi again , the blood in the stool is something to watch very close.  It can mean colitis = Colitis is a condition of inflammation of the intestines, thus blood stool.

Here are some suggestions on feeding and supplements for this condition:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Alternative-Medicine-Pets-3721/2009/2/Help-colitis-al

Joey would have caught a bug from the vet's office and surgery.  As for Jake, he could have belly nerves or caught a bug from Joey.  Sometimes the food moves so quick that it causes blood related to inflammation of the bowel.

See my suggestions in the above link.

BEST wishes
Marie Peppers
mtnmom@gci.net