Talk Big Tuesday - How Small is Too Small

Anything under 5-6lbs is too small, that’s my standpoint on this. I understand small dogs play a part for many people, but there comes a point where you have to ask yourself is this really a good idea?  I’m a groomer; I can’t express how hard it is to groom a 3lb dog, especially when that 3lb dog wants nothing more than to not be groomed. Most of my tools are bigger than the dog which makes it hard and if you have to restrain the dog in anyway such as for nails you’re constantly afraid of hurting it because the dog is so tiny.

Medically I can only imagine how hard they are to treat, a lot of medications aren’t meant to be cut down to such a small dose, so vets either end up being limited to what they can use or they have to send it out to a pharmacy to get it compounded. A lot of their tools are larger than the dog and make it incredibly awkward for both the vet and the dog, not to mention the health risks for a dog that small. Hyperglycaemia, UTIs, immune system sensitivity, Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease, Hydrocephalus and Chiari malformation are all extremely common in these dogs.

I can’t even fathom why anyone would want a 2-3lb dog. I’ve know of a woman who had two 3lb Yorkies, both ended up with broken legs by falling and jumping off the couch. That is too small.  If 5-6lb is too big for you, get a stuffed animal. People need to stop with this fad, its dangerous to the dogs. There is nothing wrong with wanting a small dog but there is a point where small becomes too small.