Have you ever thought of adopting a teacup sized animal? If yes, you need to think again. You may think these tiny creatures are small and innocent, but the way they are produced should be looked at in an entirely different way.

Small, innocent, and furry; What could be wrong with them? They may be great cuddlers, but you probably don’t know how they become ‘teacup.’ The term “teacup” refers to their size. If you think about it, a normal sized dog cannot just shrink and become miniature. There had to be something genetically done to it. Full-grown adults are forced to breed with youngers animals that are only 3-4 months old. The genes of the younger one will transfer to their offspring, making them unusually small. This practice is repeated daily until the breeder of the animal is satisfied with the size of the offspring. They then advertise the offspring and try to make a profit off of them. Depending on the animal, teacup breeds usually range from $1,000-$8,000.

Teacup animals are not natural. Obviously different breeds have different  health issues, but the list for teacups are long and severe. One category of diseases can be related to their small and unusual size. The most common disease in teacup breeding is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can cause seizures or even death if not carefully monitored. Other common problems include heart and respiratory problems, hydrocephalus, a case where water builds up into the brain, and liver shunts.

If you are still determined to get a teacup breed, please be very careful when choosing. Make sure you know what goes on behind the scenes of the breeder, and ask many questions. The best thing to do is reconsider your choice of animal.