Ultra - tiny dogs are undeniably cute , but I just do n’t have the heart to recommend them .
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I ’m a veterinary technician with over 20 years of clinical experience . I ’ve see manyteacup dogscome in for illnesses and injuries come to to their diminutive size of it . I also have serious vexation about the agency they are bred and raised . Here ’s what you need to know before you purchase a teacup blackguard , plus some alternatives to conceive .
Photo:Daniel Llao Calvet / Getty Images
What Is a Teacup Dog?
There ’s technically no such matter as a teacup dog . The full term " teacup " is a selling phrase used to boost extra - minor purebred dog that typically count less than five pounding . No prescribed criterion exists for these breeds and no organisation recognize them as a breed or grouping . The closest category is thetoy group , and many teacup dogs come from these breeds , includingChihuahuas , poodles , andYorkies .
What’s Wrong With Teacup Dogs?
I imagine teacup frank are awfully cute — who would n’t ? But there are a few details about teacup domestic dog that prevent me from recommend them to others .
Breeding Practices
Some breeders will copulate the runt of litter to produce the smallest click potential . The job with this is that runts are typically the least healthy members of the litter . They are often born with hereditary wellness conditions that can be passed on to their young . Repeatedly cover the young of peewee can concentrate the unsought trait , increasing the chances of passing the genes to next litters . crack - small Canis familiaris may also have hard maternity and complication in giving parturition .
Responsible breederschoose to breed the tidy dogs potential so that future generations are more likely to fly high . Unscrupulous breeder prioritize size and appearance over wellness .
Growth and Development
Some unethical breeders deliberately malnourish puppies to stunt their growth . They may also underfeed pregnant mothers to give rise smaller pups . If this sound dismaying to you , that ’s because it is . Poor development can lead to legion health issues . More so , making an innocent andiron suffer is plainly inhumane .
Health Concerns
Not all teacup dogs are unhealthy , but most are prostrate to several specific conditions . Between hapless breeding practices and unequal ontogenesis , many teacup dogs face wellness challenge throughout their lives . Their size of it makes lay in muscularity difficult , so they must be fed more often to finagle their parentage sugar . Also , because teacups are so humble , they can easily be step on or trigger over , make potentially serious injuries or even end .
The following are some of the more common wellness job seen in teacup dog :
Should You Get a Teacup Dog?
With all this information in mind , I desire you will pause before shopping for teacup dogs . Their popularity increases requirement , which may advance unethical multitude to breed more of them . Any dog labeled a teacupful will have a sizable price tatter , and ordered requirement further drives up prices .
luckily , you could in all likelihood find a flyspeck dog that is healthy . It comes down to where you choose to purchase or take on .
Alternatives
If your heart is determine on a tiny dog , you do n’t need to fall for the marketing ploys of teacups . Search forreputable breederswith expertise in the dog breed you want and ask about their smallest blackguard . If they habituate the term " teacup , " it ’s a cherry-red flag . Ask about breed practices , wellness examination of parents , and how the pups are evoke . Be certain to take on the parent dogs and enquire about their wellness .
Many bedding produce runts that are still healthy . The runt are not typically appropriate for procreation , but they can still find loving homes . It ’s important tospay or neuterthese dog when they ’re older enough ; the breeder may add this as a requirement in the contract bridge .
You may even bump a lilliputian dog up for acceptance from alocal creature shelter or rescue group . Veterinarians study these dogs before they ’re put up for adoption , so you may learn about existing wellness issues before you adopt . Best of all , you ’ll give that dog a second probability at a well-chosen life .
