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Grooming your chihuahua

Chihuahua grooming is easy, but it must be done. Grooming your chihuahua is a perfect opportunity to bond with your best friend....

Let's face it -- while Chihuahuas are great dogs to have, they will inevitably get dirty and require grooming. If you have a smooth coat Chihuahua, brushing it once a week will help keep it shiny and healthy.

A soft-bristle grooming brush or cloth should be sufficient. However, if you have a longhaired Chihuahua, you should increase the brushing to about two or three times each week (if not more).

Some people prefer to have their longhaired Chihuahua clipped by a professional dog groomer to eliminate the need for so much brushing, which is fine. If you choose to take your Chihuahua to a groomer, however, make sure you start doing it at a very young age to avoid causing undue stress to the dog.

Proper grooming also includes your Chihuahua's eyes. To keep them clean, try dripping a small amount of saline solution onto a cotton ball and then gently wiping the dog's eyes. A warm rag or a Q-tip will also do the trick when grooming. Because a Chihuahua's eyes tear regularly, they can develop a tearstain, which is especially noticeable on blonde colored dogs.

The saline will reduce or eliminate the stain and clean the eyes of the Chihuahua. This type of grooming should be done once or twice a week, depending upon the tearing near the eyes.

If you notice the tearing is associated with a bloodshot eye or white discharge, the problem usually cannot be fixed by grooming techniques and is probably an infection (meaning you will need to take your Chihuahua to a veterinarian for treatment).

Finally, don't forget that good grooming also includes regular nail trimmings and bathing of your Chihuahua. With the proper upkeep and maintenance, though, you will keep your Chihuahua clean, healthy, and infection-free.