Chihuahua's are easy to maintain largely due to their small size. Baths are easily given in a wash basin or small tub once a month or more frequently, whenever it seems that the dog is dirty, but never more than once a week. Before bathing your Chihuahua, put a ball of cotton in either ear and be careful not to let any water get into them. Water in the ear can cause much irritation to the dog and make the ears susceptible to infections. After bathing the dog, take the cotton balls out and wrapping a big wad of cotton around your forefinger and keeping it hooked rather than straight, gently wipe the inside of the ears without pushing your finger too far in.
Long Haired Chihuahuas
Long-haired Chihuahuas tend to get their hair matted very frequently. Before bathing, the coat must be brushed or the matting will prevent the coat from getting cleaned. Brush your Chihuahua as often as every day. You'll know you're doing well if your dog's coat is soft and glossy.
Bathing Your Chihuahua
After bathing your dog, it might make sense to cut his nails. Prolonged contact with water makes the nails soft and easy to cut. This means that you'll be able to go through the process faster and will consequently cause your dog less discomfort and nervousness. Before you attempt cutting your dog's nails at home though, it is recommended that you closely observe a vet doing it first. This is because it's easy to cut too much of a dog's nails and injure the paw, making it bleed. The best thing would be to not cut your Chihuahuas nails at all and let them be ground against a concrete floor or other rough surface by making your dog regularly run on it.
Checking Your Chihuahua For Ticks
Among the things that need to be done regularly, perhaps the most important is to check for ticks after every walk. Ticks first appear in the paws - between the nails and underneath, in and around the ears, eyes and stomach. Removing them early ensures cleanliness for your dog and you, especially since Chihuahuas climb up on beds and snuggle with their owners given the slightest chance.
