Teacup puppies are available in many different breeds, including Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, Maltese and Yorkshire terriers. The price of these puppies depends on the breed and the seller’s location. Some sellers charge hundreds or thousands of dollars for a teacup puppy while others sell them for as little as $50 or $100. If you want to buy a teacup puppy, you should do plenty of research before making any decisions about where to purchase your puppy from and how much you should pay for it.
Where Can I Get a Teacup Dog?
You can find a teacup puppy at any reputable breeder or rescue. You may also find one at your local animal shelter.
Many people buy puppies from pet stores, which is never a good idea. That’s because the dogs in these stores are often bred in puppy mills — large commercial breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of the animals.
These facilities are notorious for treating animals as commodities and abusing them in order to keep costs down. The puppies they sell are often sickly, not socialized and sometimes come with bad habits such as chewing or barking without training.
If you want a healthy puppy, take a look at small breeds from reputable breeders.
Perceived Advantages of Owning a Teacup Dog
Having a dog that fits in a pocket has potential advantages. You can take them anywhere, they get lots of attention from friends and family and—when they’re healthy—their small statures mean they don’t need large quantities of food and/or preventative medications. This can keep yearly costs low.
Small dogs are also appealing to pet owners who live in facilities with pet size restrictions or can only provide short walks or other forms of exercise.
But doctors say the breeding history of teacup dogs can make these tiny canines more predisposed to certain health issues.
Health Risks for Teacup Dogs
The teacup dog is a small dog bred to be a companion. These dogs tend to be hypoallergenic and are suitable for people with allergies. They are also popular with people who live in small apartments or homes, as they don’t need as much space as larger dogs do. However, there are some health risks associated with teacup dogs that owners should be aware of before buying one.
Teacup dogs can suffer from various health issues due to their size. Some of these include:
- Heart disease. Teacup dogs have a higher risk of developing heart problems than other breeds because they are so small and have less muscle tissue to support their hearts.
- Allergies. Teacup dogs have very short muzzles, which means they have trouble breathing through their nose when it’s very hot and humid outside — especially if they’re overweight or not getting enough exercise on a regular basis (which can lead to weight gain). This makes them more prone to developing allergies because their nasal passages are inflamed from being constantly irritated by pollen or other allergens in the air.
- Skin problems. Teacups are prone to skin conditions like allergies, dermatitis, and bacterial infections. These conditions can be treated with medicated shampoos, ointments, or tablets. If your teacup dog is scratching excessively or losing hair, see your vet right away.
- Low birth weight: Low birth weight puppies are born with a low body weight, which can lead to health problems later in life. The puppy’s immune system will be compromised, leaving them susceptible to illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia.
- Liver shunts: Liver shunts occur when blood bypasses part of the liver and goes directly into another part of the body instead of going through the liver first to be filtered before returning back into circulation again. This makes it difficult for your dog’s liver to function properly, which can result in serious health issues such as jaundice or even death.
More Potential Dangers for Tiny Teacup Dogs
Owners of these pint-sized pups have to stay vigilant. If the dogs miss even one meal, their blood sugar levels could drop dangerously low and cause seizures and even death. They also have trouble keeping their bodies warm in cooler weather, which is why you see so many teacup dogs in sweaters.
The dogs’ small bones can break easily, which means owners have to be on alert not to step on them or allow them to jump from too-high surfaces.
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