Enchantment Chihuahua Rescue with Margaret Wiltse

$20

Donation Amount

The meet and greet for April 20 is CANCELED


IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PET OWNERS

Contact: Shelton Dodson
Director of Public Affairs, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
sdodson@nmda.nmsu.edu
Office: 575-646-2804
Cell: 575-339-5011
Dec. 1, 2023
Animal health officials advise pet owners to take proactive measures against a canine respiratory syndrome in New Mexico
Haga clic aquí para español.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In collaboration with state and federal animal health officials, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) is advising pet owners on how to protect dogs against a canine respiratory syndrome.
NMDA’s Veterinary Diagnostic Services Division is working closely with the Office of the State Veterinarian at the New Mexico Livestock Board, the New Mexico Department of Health, the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the New Mexico Veterinary Medical Association and the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine to develop a coordinated response to the canine respiratory syndrome.
It has not been confirmed if this syndrome is a new disease or a combination of ailments common to dogs.
To help mitigate the risk of this illness to dogs, New Mexicans are encouraged to avoid commingling areas such as dog parks, grooming facilities and boarding centers, especially if their dogs are not fully vaccinated or are at higher risk of illness. 
As the holiday season approaches, dog owners may choose to board pets while they are away from home. If you plan to board your dog this holiday season, it is vital to have up-to-date vaccinations – including canine influenza, Bordetella and parainfluenza – at least two weeks prior to the start of boarding.
Veterinarians in New Mexico have reported dogs with symptoms consistent with this syndrome. These reports are suspected cases, but have not been positively identified. New Mexico joins 14 other states that have reported cases of sick dogs with symptoms that resemble kennel cough. The nearest state relative to New Mexico with confirmed cases is Colorado. 
In the most recent cases of the canine respiratory syndrome, dogs are experiencing prolonged coughing that can last weeks or months with minimal response to treatment. While there is no official total on how many dogs have died nationwide from the canine respiratory syndrome, it’s believed that most, if not all, of the dogs had underlying conditions and were at high risk of illness. 
Symptoms of the canine respiratory syndrome can include:
Trouble breathing
Wheezing
Coughing and/or sneezing
Fever
Discharge from eyes and/or nose
Lethargy
Dehydration
Loss of appetite
If your dog is displaying more than one of the symptoms listed above, officials urge you to promptly contact your veterinarian to determine if further evaluation is necessary. Early evaluation can help in getting accurate diagnosis and treatment.
State-level veterinarians in New Mexico will collect samples from dogs across the state that are showing multiple symptoms associated with the syndrome. The samples will be sent to the University of New Hampshire, which is leading the effort to identify the pathogen that is causing the illness.
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Find us at:
NMDeptAg.nmsu.edu
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @NMDeptAg
YouTube: NMDeptAg
LinkedIn: New Mexico Department of Agriculture

HELP image
We need volunteers to be foster parents for our dogs!  We want to be able to bring in more dogs to our care but we don’t currently have enough people to take care of them.

Becoming a foster parent for us means that a dog will be placed with you with the understanding that you will fulfill its basic needs as well as love and nurture them. The goal is to get them ready for adoption into a new family. We have, on average, three meet and greets a month where we are on location for 2 hours to show our dogs to the public; and it is hoped that you bring them to these events.

If you are interested please email us and give us your information.

thanks
Enchantment Chihuahua Rescue with Margaret Wiltse
What is a Chihuahua?  According to akc.org a Chihuahua is “a balanced, graceful dog of terrier-like demeanor, weighing no more than 6 pounds.  The rounded ‘apple’ head is a breed hallmark.  The erect ears and full, luminous eyes are acutely expressive.  Coats come in many colors and patterns, and can be long or short.”  A Chihuahua can also have a “deer” head.

Originating in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico where it was first noted in the 19th century. The Chihuahua is thought to be a descendant of the techichi, a small mute dog kept by the Toltec people in Mexico as early as the 9th century.

Those of us who own a Chihuahua know they are silly lapdogs that love their humans.  While they can be a bit yappy, we still love their cute bark and liveliness.  
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Chihuahuas are fairly easy to take care of and train.  According to petco.com “If you adopt your Chihuahua while they’re a puppy, you’ll have a better chance of success. Starting around 8 weeks old, Chihuahuas can begin to learn basic cues and start their potty training. The key to training puppies is gentleness, praise and consistency. Start small, but do a little work with your Chihuahua every day.”  Even though it is easier to train a puppy, you can train adult and elderly dogs as well.  Here is a quick guide on how to take care of your Chihuahua.  

Potty training can be a little tricky because chihuahua’s are cold sensitive, so going outside in cooler weather may not work the best.  The key to potty training any dog, especially chihuahuas, is patience and consistency.  Pick a quiet place, out of the way of people and other animals, and consistently use that spot the same time every day.  Use positive reinforcement as a reward. 

Socialization is essential with chihuahuas.  They need to be exposed to other dogs and people as early as possible so that being around them is part of normal life.  New situations can be overwhelming for your pup so start slow and be consistent.  

Feeding a Chihuahua the correct food is the best way to keep your dog healthy.  The need puppy food before the age of 1 years old, adult food until they are 10 years old, and senior food after 10 years.  With the 4 to 6 pound dogs a 1/4 cup of food a day should be plenty.  In order to ensure the correct amount ask your veterinarian’s advice. 

Grooming can be a little tricky because chihuahuas can be high strung and anxious. The perfect way to begin grooming is start slow and gradually adding more to the process. For example, start by brushing their coats, advance to nail cutting, and then advance again by going to a groomer.
There are two types of Chihuahua coats, long and short. For short hair all you need to do is brush them once a week. Long hair chihuahuas have several steps to keep them well groomed. Start by brushing the hair and getting the undercoat, then get a deshedding comb, and finally a soft long bristled brush for getting down to the skin.

Bathing an inside dog should be done about once a month. A dog that goes outside should be bathed at least twice a month. Use a towel to dry them or use a blow dryer on low with warm air. Do not wash the face with soap, instead use a warm damp cloth to gently clean their eyes and face.

Styling your dogs hair should be determined after you have a conversation with your groomer. Trim their nails regularly.

A chihuahua’s anal glands may need to addressed regularly. If you see your pup scooting their butt on the ground it may indicate their anal glands need to be emptied. Having a vet or groomer empty the glands is the best course of action; though some owners will want to learn how to do it on their own.  








1. Soft bed placed near where you spend the most time
2. Vitamins and supplements
3. Flea and tick solutions
4. Grooming supplies
5. Clean up supplies are mostly needed during potty training and for any additional accidents.
6. Potty pads for the inside dogs
7. Dog waste bags
8. Toys that are small enough for them to carry, but doesn’t pose a choke hazard.
9. Clothes are needed to keep them warm because they are cold sensitive. However we all know how cute they can be in a little outfit. 

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Welcome to Enchantment Chihuahua Rescue with Margaret Wiltse! We provide a loving, safe place for all Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes. Our mission is to provide compassionate and affordable care for the many wonderful and deserving Chihuahuas waiting for their forever homes. We do this by fostering the pups in our volunteer’s homes.  We are committed to rescuing and rehabilitating these special dogs and fostering their well-being in our loving environment. Thank you for your support!

Adoption fees

Puppies under one year old are $300. Adults one to twelve are $275. Seniors thirteen and older are $250.

What we do before adoption

Before each adoption we will ensure all dogs are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped if necessary, and any necessary medical care (i.e. dental, trauma). Any long term health issues will be your responsibility.

Contact Us

EMAIL: wiltsechihuahuarescue@gmail.com INSTAGRAM: wiltsechihuahuarescue FACEBOOK: Enchantment Chihuahua Rescue LTD with Margaret Wiltse

  • 10609 Moonlight Ct NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
  • July 2023 ADOPTED

  • AUGUST 2023

  • September 2023 ADOPTED

  • October 2023

  • December 2023

  • January: Mikey

Adoption forms