New Puppy - Cape Coral,FL

As I sat here reading this I am all teary eyed! I cannot thank you enough for taking in this poor poor animal. Sometimes people are so cruel to these defenseless babies! I agree with everyone else that said to take her to the vet. I know my vet has a special food they sell for dogs with digestion problems, maybe this is what the person who tols you not to feed them dog food meant?

Good for you! With some patience, I'm sure your dog will become a great part of your family. Google Chihuahua rescue organizations and contact them for information. They will be very well versed on the breed and also on how to work with a dog that's had a rough beginning. If for some reason you can't find a Chihuahua rescue organization (though I'd be surprised) look for another small dog rescue group -- they might have some good info as well as be able to put you in touch with some support sources. Two books I highly recommend for anyone with a puppy (or dog) are by The Monks of New Skete, "The Art of Raising a Puppy" and "How to be Your Dog's Best Friend." They are awesome and have a nice way of approaching raising and training from a very kind perspective, something your new little one would benefit from. Best of luck to you. She's lucky to have found you all.

First of all, bless you for taking in this dog. You have given it quite a wonderful gift. We lost a 13.5 year old yellow lab and I never thought we could love another animal again and low and behold a new pup came into our lives and we still have PLENTY of love to give. I'm sure you do too. You and your husband sound like wonderful and loving people.

While I don't have any experience with abused pets, I have owned a dog for many years. I would say first of all, take the animal to a vet asap for a complete check-up and share your observations with him/her. They can give you wonderful advice on how to approach this pet. Its going to take A LOT of love and patience to help this dog learn that the people who are in charge of giving care are going to be responsible and loving pet owners and not be abusive. This animal has been very traumatized. Of course a dog needs to be fed dog food! Call a local vet and ask them that question asap and they will give you immediate guidance and set up an emergency appointment. I would also report these people to the humane society or some organization in your area about the mistreatment of these animals.
Good luck and call that vet or an emergency vet clinic ASAP!

Dog food is ok... My aunt used to breed chihuahuas, and she fed them dog food. Just make sure you get some made for toy-breeds in a puppy formula... (you should be able to ask for help at a local pet store.) Chihuahuas are very possessive, so enroll into puppy classes as soon as she is a bit more comfortable around people for socialization. They are also pretty tricky to house train... they have such tiny bladders that you will either want to take her out every hour (at this age) to 'go' or train her to use an indoor potty pad. Just be very gentle with her, and don't try to force affection on her. The more you 'force' her to do something, the scarier it becomes. My family often rescues abused animals. (so far we have rescued 4 dogs, 7 cats, 2 hedgehogs, 3 ferrets, and an iguana.) The key to helping any abused animal is PATIENCE. If she is still very timid around you, sit about 3 feet from her dish when you feed her. Let her eat in peace with you there. If she can't handle that, move back. The next day sit a little closer. Move closer until you are able to hand-feed her. Let her come to you for affection. It will take some time, but she is still only 6 months old. She has the potential to become a great companion. :) Good luck!

Good for you and your husband for taking in this dog!

How is her leg now? Did it heal incorrectly or is it still broken? Either way I would have the vet look at it. If it healed wrong and it's affecting the dog's ability to walk, they may be able to do some corrective surgery.

I can't think of any reason why you couldn't feed her dog food. You might check with a vet, or someone at a pet store, or a chihuahua lovers' group (an online forum, maybe?) to ask what's appropriate for a young chihuahua.

I would also google "grade your dog's food" to see what you should look for in dog food and what you should avoid. Did you know a lot of the preservatives in many dog foods are carcinogenic? It's sad, and probably has a lot to do with why so many dogs die of cancer. Here's a link that's about food for great danes but the premise of it is true for any type of dog and it tells you about the carcinogens and other things in dog food that are not good for them: http://www.heartlandgdr.org/feeding_your_dane.htm

Lastly, there is something called a BARF diet, that is a diet of raw food for dogs. I don't know much about it but you can google that too.

All my animals are rescues so I've picked up a couple tips over the years. First tip is never to look them directly in the eye. Direct eye contact is threatening to them. Always use sideways glances so they don't feel threatened. Also speak in a sing song type of voice to get their attention. Try sitting next to them as often as possible just talking and stroking them without making eye contact.

Try to set up a routine for doing things. In my house we're on a schedule of feeding, walks, playing, etc that's pretty much the same every day. It helped them get the flow of the household and get use to how things are done.

Depending on what they were given to eat will depend on what they can tolorate now. My former puppy mill dog wasn't fed on a regular bases so he can't tolorate any human food because it's too much for him. Same with some of the dog treats. The vet is a great guide in helping make sure they have the proper nutrition and feeding schedule.

It takes a while before they start to feel safe. Milo my former puppy mill guy took about a year before he wasn't fearful of everything. Some things still make him anxious (fireworks, thunderstorms, some big dogs when we are out walking). One of my cats was in a terrible situation and he spent the first 6 weeks hiding behind a curtain. Now he's up in everyone's business. The key thing to remember is that if you allow them time they will start to trust. You just can't have a time table for it.

I honor you for rescuing this four-footed baby. Your main resource right now is your vet. Ask right away about feeding. The vet needs to check her thoroughly to see if she has any internal problems, so you want to contact the office today. (I just noticed that you posted this yesterday, so I hope you've already made the call.)

Here's your secondary resource. Every breed of dog has a rescue organization these days, so go online and find your nearest Chihuahua rescue group. You'll be able to communicate with a number of people who have already had the challenges of healing and raising a rescued dog, and I dare say you'll find it a lot of help.

You can't blame the puppy for being frightened. She doesn't know what awful thing is going to happen next. You'll need to help her realize that she is safe and secure with you. It will take some time, and she may do a little testing - she's a puppy, after all - but that's all right. Along with that, you need to show her that you're the leader (dogs are pack animals, remember), so she will know she can depend on you.

If we could send Mamapedia "flowers" to posters instead of answerers, I'd send you a bouquet of those purple things!

Oh C., bless you. Time, and love, patience. How wonderful of you.
Why not dog food? I'd find a natural pet food store, we have a couple in this area, so I think you'd have one there as well. And ask them for suggestions.
How can someone do that to a little creature? Thank goodness she has you now. Best, k

I think it's awesome that you saved this little girl's life. I don't know about feeding her dog food but I used to cook for my dog and think it's healthier. Dog food is made from scraps and poor quality proteins. My dog was large and lived to be nearly 17, much longer than dogs that size usually live.
I would make him oatmeal with lots of organic veggies and lentils. You could add some tamari for some flavor but the veggies will do that too. Quinoa is another thing you could use in place of oatmeal to change things around. Make sure you wash the quinoa before cooking it though. Quinoa is so nutritious and a complete protein. Drizzle some hemp oil for omega 3,6 and 9, or hemp seeds. you can alternate with some flax too. Good for her coat.
This food will really make her thrive and it's easy on your budget too.