Pitbull Chihuahua mix can be considered as a pet. This breed is a cross breed between Chihuahua and American Pitbull Terrier. These breeds are playful and full of life so that it is ideal to be a pet for an active family. But, how big will this breed get? You are able to find the answer here. In addition, we also have some explanation about the feeding, coat and colours, and also the health issues of Pitbull Chihuahua.
The Size of Pitbull Chihuahua Mix
The size which can be reached by Pitbull Chihuahua can be various. It depends on which parent that give the domination. Usually, Pitbull Chihuahua can grow up to 20 inches in height at the shoulder and weigh in at up to 20 pounds.
According to K9 Web, males Pitbull Chihuahua can reach 14 inches to 18 inches tall and they can weigh 20 lbs to 35 pounds. Female Pitbull Chihuahua can reach 12 inches to 16 inches in height and they can weigh 15 lbs to 30 lbs.
Usually, the body that they have is short, broad and muscular. The short neck that they have is inherited from the pitbull as their parent. If they have small feet, long ears, and thin muzzle, it means that these characteristics are inherited from Chihuahua.
Feeding for Pitbull Chihuahua
If you decide to keep a Pitbull Chihuahua, you do not need to prepare any excellent diet. They will do well on high quality age suitable dog food. A Pitbull Chihuahua does enjoy canned, wet dog food. However, they also will do best on a diet of kibble. The reason is because this mix is very active. They need a food which is suitable for a normal size breed and not a food which is engineered specifically for Chihuahua.
Why Kibble? It can help to vanish the accumulations of bacteria and plaque from the teeth of your dog when they crunch their meal. It will clean the teeth. Besides, it can also be very effective to prevent the onset of canine periodontal disease and gingivitis.
You also have to give them unlimited fresh water in a day. When they have dry food to eat, even giving them fresh water is a must.
How about the frequency of feeding Pitbull Chihuahua? You are able to feed them two meals a day. They need only 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups of dry dog food in a day due to their small size. Can we add a little more? If you think that it is necessary, you are able to add more. However, you have to make sure that you do not overfeed them. If you do that, this breed will be fat and it is not good for their health.
Coat and Colors of Pitbull Chihuahua
How are the coat and colors of Pitbull and Chihuahua? The type of the colours can be various. If you find that the parent Chihuahua is short-coated, then the puppies will have the short, close glossy coat which is also common to pitbulls. But, if you find that if the Chihuahua parent is long-haired, then the puppies may have that coat type. A short-haired Chihuahua is more usual to find. It is because the long-haired variety or purebred is more difficult to find.
The Pitbull Chihuahua which is usual to find is that black, tan, white, brown, golden or differing shades of brindle. Merle is the only color that you will not find on Pitbull Chihuahua.
The Health Issues of Pitbull Chihuahua
The lifespan of Pitbull Chihuahua is about 10 to 13 years. This breed is healthy. However, there are some health conditions where they can be prone such as Hip Dysplasia, Patellar Luxation, Hypoglycemia, Heart Issues and Collapsed Trachea. Let's find out what they are.
- Hip Dysplasia
This is a common genetic condition not only in Pitbull Chihuahua breed but also the other breeds of dogs. It affects the hip joints which cause malformation. The deformity at the end will cause the hip joint to disintegrate so that the dogs have chronic and painful arthritis. This is a minor case and it can be managed with drug therapy. If your dog has more severe cases of hip dysplasia, they will need surgical correction.
- Patellar Luxation
This is an orthopedic condition where it often appears in small dogs. It happens following injury or trauma. Then, it causes one or both of the kneecap of the dog to dislocate. It can be hereditary which appears in young puppies of a few months old.
- Hypoglycemia
This condition can be suffered by a lot of small dogs. It happens when the blood sugar level of the dog falls too low. Usually, it can happen after an exercise session, if they miss a meal or when some exciting event happens. If you find that your dog suffers from hypoglycemia, you need to contact your vet.
- Heart Issues
Pitbulls are not prone to heart conditions. Nevertheless, there are two cardiac issues which are able to give effect to Chihuahuas. Those are Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and Mitral valve disease. What is Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)? It is a condition after the puppy is born where they become apparent. If can give effect to a small blood vessel in the heart which then cause it to fail to close correctly. How about Mitral valve disease? It develops in fully grown dogs. It happens when weakened heart valves allows blood to flow backward. So, it puts the heart under considerable strain.
- Collapsed Trachea
The windpipe or trachea of a dog is a muscular tube which is supported by surrounding rings of soft cartilage. Trachea passes through the neck of the dog to the lungs. If a dog pulls hard against a collar or choke chain, tracheal collapse can happen. There are a lot of small dogs which are born with deformed or weakened tracheal cartilage. It can make the windpipe to collapse. As a result, it can interfere with the ability to breathe of the dog.
