What is a Teacup Dog?
Micro, miniature, toy, and teacup. What technically is a teacup dog, and what differentiates it from other tiny pups out there? The “teacup” dog is not, in fact, a dog breed, nor is the term registered or endorsed by the American Kennel Club (AKC) or by main dog breed registries. This is an umbrella term to describe dogs that are so small in size; they can fit in a designer purse.
This term also applies to pocket-sized or micro dogs, with all three being unrecognized, umbrella terms.
While there are no specific measurements for what makes a “teacup” dog, the term is simply used to describe a dog that is smaller than average in size compared to what its breed is originally known for. However, a teacup dog is usually classified as being 5 pounds or less.
Teacup versions of many popular small dog breeds are often bred and include the teacup Poodle, teacup Pug, teacup Yorkie, Maltese, Pomeranian, and Shih Tzu.
What is the Difference Between a Teacup Puppy and a Runt?
Since there is no veterinary medical definition of either, we must rely on what is generally accepted by laypeople. Weve already established that teacup puppies are smaller than the breed standard and sometimes much smaller.
A runt puppy is generally considered to be smaller than its siblings. Sometimes there can be one or more runts and in other litters, most of the puppies are within a few ounces of each other in size.
A puppy buyer who doesnt visit the litter in person is not likely to know whether the puppy they are buying is coming from a litter of all smaller puppies or is the runt of the litter with larger siblings.
A runt may appear to be a teacup puppy, but in reality, a runt comes into this world at a disadvantage. Even before birth, there is competition to find the most advantageous location within the uterus to implant. A poor place can mean that the puppy does not get the necessary nutrition even before they are born. It is thought that puppies that implant closest to the ovary have more nutrients than those that implant in the center.
After birth, these puppies may be weaker or sicker and have an even harder time competing for mamas milk and warmth. The larger puppies in the litter are stronger and have less difficult locating the warmest place or the teat with the most milk.
Many runts do not survive even with human intervention. Those that do many have some of the same health problems that some teacup puppies have.
Are Teacup Dogs Prone to Health Issues?
Due to their tiny size alone, teacup dogs are most definitely prone to health issues, even if just in the form of accidents or traumatic events. This is exceptionally important to keep in mind when choosing to adopt a teacup dog, as you need to take into consideration whether or not you are financially prepared to care for a dog that is prone to health issues and if you have enough time to give them the extra care and attention that they need.
Teacup dogs are extremely delicate and, more or less, need to be treated like a baby their entire lives due to their tiny size. Let’s take a look at the top health concerns in teacup dogs.
Before diving into the medical health concerns that often plague teacup dogs, it’s important to note that a simple accident could end catastrophically for a teacup dog. So much as an excited teacup pup jumping out of your arms when carrying them could fatally injure a teacup dog.
Not only this, but these tiny dogs are incredibly prone to being sat on or stepped on, which in itself could end your teacup dog’s life. It’s extremely important to keep in mind that you are dealing with an extremely fragile little creature that needs to be watched at all times.
Hypoglycemia is the medical term for critically low levels of sugar in the blood. Both toy and teacup dogs are especially prone to this condition because small dogs have more brain mass per body weight compared to larger breeds.
As a result, they need more glucose for their size to maintain proper brain function. Sadly, if a teacup dog misses a single meal, their blood sugar levels may drop dangerously low, causing seizures, shivering, and possibly even a fatal coma.
A collapsing trachea is a common health concern in toy to teacup-sized dogs and is a common cause of airway obstruction. The trachea, also known as the “windpipe,” is a tube made up of sturdy rings of cartilage through which air is transported to and from the lungs.
In some cases, the tracheal rings begin to collapse. As air is squeezed through, a common characteristic of a honking cough is the result. Small breed dogs appear to be more prone to the congenital abnormality in which the tracheal rings are weaker than normal, causing the collapsed trachea. This is a serious and sometimes fatal condition.
Your teacup dog’s bones are incredibly fragile, whether or not any major accident occurs. A teacup dog’s bones are much smaller and more fragile than larger dogs, making their skeletal structure prone to breaks and fractures.
Other health problems teacups may face include:
Now that you know how much commitment and dedication is involved to properly care for your teacup pup, there are a number of things you can do to ensure that you’re giving them the best care possible. Read on for our tips on caring for your teacup dog:
Just as you need to babyproof your home when bringing home a new baby, you’ll need to do the same for your teacup puppy! Several factors go into “teacup proofing” your home and yard, many of which you may never have thought of.
It’s important to eliminate dangers in your home for all pets and animals in the form of toxic food, small items that may present a choking hazard, and ensure that no poisonous plants are existing in the home. However, teacup proofing your home also means removing objects that could potentially fall or topple over onto your teacup, blocking your teacup puppy from reaching higher surfaces that could result in a fall, and blocking any small spaces that they could squeeze themselves into and get stuck.
Although your little teacup pup may be feisty, it’s important to play with them carefully. Teacup puppies are usually not the most ideal choice for children, as children may have a hard time grasping the concept of how delicate these little guys are, especially if they’re used to larger dogs.
While not all teacup dogs have the long, silky fur of the Yorkshire terrier, many of these breeds do have coats that require regular grooming. You must also be more careful when bathing these delicate dogs. Toy and teacup dogs are also more prone to dental issues than larger dogs, so regular dental care and tooth brushing are necessary to avoid further damage.
5 Best Teacup Dogs That Don’t Shed
Why are Our puppies so expensive? … It has taken years of breeding and downsizing of parents to produce the “teacup puppy”. There are a lot of sacrifices that go into breeding tiny puppies. They require around the clock care for the next 3 months and for the extra tinies even longer.