Chihuahuas are among the smallest breeds but also, without a doubt, one of the most popular dog breeds worldwide. These tiny dogs have big personalities and are absolutely adorable.
But as with most small breeds, these little dogs are prone to some genetic health conditions that you should be should be aware of.
Follow our Chihuahua Health Problems guide to get an overview of what to look out for.
Chihuahuas are not necessarily more prone to health problems than other toy breeds, but there are certainly some genetic conditions that affect this dog breed more than other dogs.
Here is a list of the most common Chihuahua health problems you should be aware of as a pet parent, according to the American Kennel Club:
This dislocation of the kneecap is a hereditary disease that will present itself early on in a dog’s life.
Symptoms usually are limping or not using the affected hind leg at all until the kneecap pops back into place.
This is a relatively painful disease related to joint problems where your dog’s femur will dislocate at thehip . This disease is most likely to develop in older Chihuahuas.
Sometimes physical therapy or medical treatment can help elevate this problem completely if diagnosed early.
Luckily, this problem is more common with larger dogs anyways.
Hypoglycemia occurs when your dog has severely low blood sugar and can cause symptoms such as drowsiness, disorientation or extreme weakness for your dog.
Make sure to take your Chihuahua to the vet as it may need an improved diet or might be related to bigger issues such as liver disease.
If your pet is not fed regularly it is quite easy for a pooch of such a tiny size to become hypoglycemic and have an excessive drop in its blood sugar levels. Pet owners should therefore stick to the feeding schedule as meticulously as possible.
A collapsed trachea, i.e. the tube that transports the air into your Chihuahua’s lungs, is quite common in Chihuahuas and can cause them to have difficulty breathing or even to faint.
If your dog has a strange cough or starts showing breathing difficulties, take it to the vet, this is a medical emergency and will require treatment, but it has a good prognosis if caught early and treated correctly.
Due to their unusual small mouths, Chihuahuas might have problems with not having enough space for their teeth and related issues to keep them clean. If there is excessive plaque buildup, your Chi could develop dental problems.
If your Chihuahua starts bleeding out of its gums regularly or has particularly bad breath, you should take it to the vet.
But it is easy to avoid this issue by thoroughly cleaning your Chihuahua’s mouth regularly after meals and removing any left food between its teeth.
This hereditary disease makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood sufficiently through your dog’s body and often presents itself in heart murmurs. If discovered early, it can be treated quickly, and your dog will be able to live a relatively normal life.
If you want to avoid breaking the bank with vet treatments and expensive medication, pet insurance is always a good idea. However, be aware that most of the health problems described above are hereditary, and therefore some insurances might not insure your pet against these diseases.
The best way to see if the pet insurance is right for your Chihuahua, see what is covered in the basic policy and get several quotes from various insurances to see which offers the best service for the most affordable price.
See which diseases are exempt from the insurance and whether these would apply to anything you can expect your Chihuahua to develop at any stage of its life.
Usually, a healthy Chihuahua can live between 13 and 20 years, although many Chihuahuas are known to have lived longer than that, as they are quite durable pets if looked after correctly and if their pre-existing conditions get treated appropriately.
Chihuahuas are one of those small dog breeds that most people, have a soft spot for. If you are a Chihuahua owner, there are certain issues you have to watch out for with these small dogs, but luckily Chihuahuas are considered to be relatively healthy dogs in general, and most of the problems are treatable quite easily.
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