Hair: You have to keep yourself prepared to brush your Chion frequently - at least three or four times per week. The reason is that daily brushing works wonders against hair tangles.
Try to use a stiff bristle brush along with a metal comb for the best results. Apart from that, you can proceed to bathe your Chion when it’s required, but ensure that you don’t use shampoo too often because it can easily cause the skin to dry out.
Teeth: It's also recommended that you brush your pooch's teeth a few times every week to prevent any periodontal disease.
Ear: Checking your Chion's ears is also mandatory as you need to look for any earwax build-up, redness, or mites - which can lead to severe ear infections later on.
Nails: Furthermore, use a nail clipper to chip off the nail ends once in a while. Make sure that you don't cut the nails too short, as it can lead to bleeding.
Eyes: Since your Chion can risk Corneal Ulceration, which is an injury to the eye, ensure to keep your dog safe from sharp objects or furniture inside your home. Moreover, the damage can also happen if the dog's hair brushes against the cornea of its eyes. Therefore, it's suggested to keep your dog's hair trimmed away from his or her eyes.
Alternatively, you can also look for redness, fluid discharge, or any other issues that might seem irregular. In that case, get in touch with your vet for the best possible medical opinion.
Recommended daily amount: Chions are extremely fan of a poultry-based diet. As a pup, it's suggested that you feed your dog at least three to four times a day - generally in small amounts, so that it becomes easier for him or her to digest. When your dog is at least six months old, you can move to feed twice a day.
What food to choose: Try to opt for dry and high-quality dog food because small dogs are more prone to dental problems in the long-run. This is why it's suggested to incorporate 'teeth-brushing' into your dog's daily routine. Per day one cup of dry food would be enough to keep your Chion healthy and happy.
How to keep god shape: It should be noted that Chions tend to gain weight if overfed, so try to stick to a regular diet plan without much alteration. Besides, avoid leaving food out in the open during the day and limit the overall treats that you may plan to give him or her.
How many time to feed your dog: Twice a day is highly recommended.
Apart from being prone to injuries, most Chions turn out to be healthy dogs. However, their protruding eyes and fragile limbs can lead to severe health conditions, so you should be aware of the following diseases:
Addison’s Disease
Condition: It's has been termed as a hormonal deficiency disease that was first noticed in young adults through diarrhea and vomiting, which can later turn into serious issues such as collapsing.
Treatment: Once diagnosed, it can be readily treated with proper care and medications. It should be noted that the disease can take some time to be identified at first, which is why regular check-up is always suggested.
Collapsing Trachea
Condition: Generally, causes a choking, harsh cough especially when excited or exercising.
Treatment: If the condition is moderate, it can be dealt with medications; otherwise, surgery is highly recommended for severe cases.
Corneal Ulceration
Condition: Due to the protruding eyes of the Chion, it can be prone to injuries on the eye surface since they’re always exposed.
Treatment: Within two to three weeks, the eyes will heal themselves. In case the condition lasts longer, then veterinary guidance is advised because severe cases may lead to partial or complete blindness.
Patellar Luxation
Condition: This condition involves slipping of the knee-cap due to the shallowness of the bones present in the Chion’s legs.
Treatment: If the condition is severely affecting the dog's mobility, the knee-cap needs to be surgically removed from the Chion's leg.
Hypoglycemia
Condition: The condition involves critically low levels of blood sugar because the body cannot store adequate amounts of glycogen.
Treatment: Since this condition is more prominent in pups, it's recommended to give your dog small yet frequent meals throughout the day.
Even though Chions are fun-loving and playful breeds, they can be challenging to train. Chions have enough smartness to quickly learn the training procedure, but they can be extremely noisy to deal with, primarily when the housebreaking training will be carried out. Moreover, since they're minimal in size, they can resort to biting or using their teeth, when feeling threatened.
This is why early socialization should always take place for a Chion, which would help in mellowing down aggressive behavior. You also need to be patient with the training procedure, as consistent direction and lots of praise, will be required to get things going as they should.
Like with all types of dogs out there, you should always keep your Chion checked-up with your nearest veterinary doctor regularly. In that manner, you'll be able to detect any health concerns at an early stage. Moreover, your vet will be able to create a unique care routine for your Chion.
Chions are prone to weight gains, and they tend to have high energy levels as well. Ensure that your dog gets at least 30 minutes to 1 hour of long walks along with shorter strides and active play sessions as well.
