The Chihuahua, like all purebred breeds, is more likely than the general canine population to acquire a variety of serious illnesses and diseases. Responsible, quality breeders work hard to reduce the possibility that a puppy would inherit a genetically based ailment; nonetheless, many disorders do not yet have a known hereditary basis. Whether or not you got your Chi from a reputable breeder, all Chi owners should be aware of the breed\\\\\\\’s most deadly disorders.
Protecting your Chihuahua
You cannot change your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s genetic predisposition to develop a specific inherited sickness or condition; however, if you can detect the disease in its early stages, you can significantly improve her chances of survival or recovery. Most Chihuahua owners do not plan more than one veterinary wellness checkup per year for a healthy adult dog, therefore the owner is the dog\\\\\\\’s first line of defence against disease eleven months out of twelve. If you are well-versed in your dog\\\\\\\’s typical behaviours, temperament, activity level, appetite, and overall personality, you are significantly more likely to notice small changes that may suggest the early stages of sickness than a more distant owner. Veterinary professionals agree that the earlier an illness is diagnosed, the better chance the practitioner has of successfully treating it. Even for diseases that do not have a cure, early detection and therapy can significantly decrease or stop the progression of the disease and/or improve the Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s quality of life.
Luxating patellas.
If you\\\\\\\’ve ever had a knee ailment, you can relate to a Chihuahua with luxating patellas. When the dog\\\\\\\’s patella, or kneecap, does not fit snugly in a track with the femur, or thighbone, the out-of-place or misaligned patella can luxate, or literally drop off to the side of the joint, causing the knee to dislocate. A dog\\\\\\\’s patella may be misplaced as a result of trauma or a deformed kneecap. A luxating patella, regardless of the reason for the incorrect tracking of the kneecap, is exceedingly uncomfortable. The patella tends to correct itself—or \\\\\\\”pop\\\\\\\” back in—but the process leaves the entire joint painful, sensitive, and inflamed. If you catch your Chihuahua as she dislocates her knee, you may watch her slip and then hop a few feet before cautiously reintroducing weight to the rear limb. In more severe cases, the patella does not correct itself, causing the Chi\\\\\\\’s back leg to lock and stiffen. When the patella stays misaligned, your veterinarian must return it to its proper position. Regardless of the cause, when the knee dislocates, the supporting tendons and ligaments stretch and strain, making them less capable of holding the kneecap in place. With everything loose in the joint, the Chi is likely to dislocate her knee on an occasional basis—or, if the patella is significantly misplaced, the problem may be permanent. With a joint condition like this, arthritis is more prone to develop at a younger age. In addition to hopping (temporary dislocation) or a stiff rear leg (requiring veterinary assistance to realign), symptoms of a dislocation in your Chihuahua include stiffness in one or both rear legs, difficulty rising from the floor, limping, knee tenderness, and reluctance to exercise. The severity of the condition usually determines what therapies are recommended, but surgery is highly beneficial in moderate-to-severe cases.
Upper respiratory issues.
Chihuahuas suffer from a range of upper respiratory issues, not all of which are medical disorders. The sections that follow detail some of the most prevalent occurrences in your Chi.
Collapsed trachea
This ailment is virtually solely observed in toy and small breeds, particularly in the Chihuahua. It is thought to have a genetic component; nonetheless, it can be difficult to remove because symptoms often develop after the Chihuahua has reached middle age and has been bred (possibly) several times. Tracheal collapse occurs when the inner rings of the trachea (the air tube from the mouth to the lungs) are unable to maintain their circular shape, causing the trachea to narrow greatly or collapse when the dog is breathing. This causes the Chihuahua to cough harshly and honk.
Obesity, heart problems, and persistent respiratory infections are known to contribute to the severity of a dog\\\\\\\’s tracheal collapse. All of these circumstances might increase strain on the trachea, causing the defective cartilage to collapse even further.
Coughing occurs in fits, growing more frequent and debilitating over time. Exercise, excitement, pulling on a leash while walking (placing pressure on the trachea), drinking, and feeding are common triggers for coughing fits. There is currently no known cure for trachea collapse; however, it can be controlled well using bronchodilators, nebulisers, and vaporisers. Corticosteroids can be used as a quick-acting anti- inflammatory) and sedatives may be needed. In all circumstances, Chihuahuas with this ailment should be walked with a halter or harness to prevent direct pressure on the trachea.
Reverse Sneezing.
Chihuahuas are known for backward sneezing, which might be misinterpreted for a collapsing trachea. Reverse sneezing is triggered by excitement and exertion, and the sound produced by a Chimakes is rather terrifying. Rest assured, however, that this illness is neither associated with trachea collapse nor harmful. When a Chihuahua begins reverse sneezing, she usually stops moving and gets slightly bent as she begins sucking air in deep through her nostrils, producing a horrible wheezing sound. The episodes last hardly more than a minute at most. If you wish to help your Chi stop sneezing, obstruct her nostrils with your fingers or encourage her to swallow some sweets.
Snoring
Many new Chihuahua owners are taken aback when they hear the lovely sounds of a Chi sleeping soundly. In other words, Chihuahuas snore. Snoring has nothing to do with a collapsing trachea; it occurs because their muzzles are shorter. It\\\\\\\’s just a cute little thing Chihuahuas do when they\\\\\\\’re feeling relaxed and comfortable. Smile and enjoy.
Eye Injuries & Diseases
The Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s huge, brilliant eyes, which are so charming and gorgeous, are unfortunately more prone to injury. Chihuahuas are also more susceptible to a variety of eye problems. Here\\\\\\\’s how to identify common eye disorders and what to do about them.
If a Chi is in great agony, she will close her eyes firmly. Any attempts to determine why she is closing her eyes will be greeted with strong resistance. Do not force the issue! Get her to your veterinarian right away.
Injuries
The appearance of the third eyelid, ornictitans, indicates that something is in your Chi\\\\\\\’s eye or that something has scratched or damaged the eye. When a dog is awake and has this third eyelid, it signals that she is in discomfort in her eye. If you suspect that something has gotten into her eye or that she has been exposed to an irritant, you might try giving her eyes a saline wash using excessive amounts of the solution. Whether or not this appears to be helpful, you should take your Chi to your veterinarian right away for a more thorough assessment and treatment.
Diseases
The Chihuahua is prone to a variety of eye illnesses, with the most common being corneal dystrophy, glaucoma, and progressive retinal Atrophy (PRA). Corneal dystrophy takes three main kinds. The Chihuahua is prone towards one form, endothelial dystrophy, which causes a build-up of fluid in the dog\\\\\\\’s cornea, making the cornea appear cloudy or bluish and significantly decreasing the Chi\\\\\\\’s vision. Additionally, this type of corneal dystrophy can cause painful waterblisters to develop, which then burst and cause erosions on the dog\\\\\\\’s eye. There is no cure for this disease; however, your veterinarian can prescribe medications to limit or control the development. Glaucoma is a condition characterised by elevated fluid pressure within the eye, which causes damage to the retina and the optic nerve. It is the major cause of blindness among Chihuahuas and dogs in general. If the increase in fluid pressure is sudden, the dog may become permanently blind within a few hours. A steady rise in fluid pressure can cause blindness over a period of several weeks or months. Symptoms of increased fluid pressure in your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s eyes include redness, pawing or rubbing, sensitivity to light, cloudiness in the eye, and enlargement or protrusion of the eye itself. Glaucoma is an emergency. If not treated soon, blindness is a near certainty. PRA, another eye ailment discovered in the Chihuahua, is commonly referred to as night blindness. The sickness mainly affects adult Chis between the ages of two and five years or older. The condition progresses slowly, and it begins with the Chihuahua having difficulty navigating at night or in darkness. The Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s vision gradually deteriorates, and he eventually loses the ability to see in bright light. There is currently no cure for this condition; nevertheless, genetic testing available for any type of PRA is the only guarantee that the disease\\\\\\\’s genetics will not be passed down to future generations.
Heart Conditions: Grave and Chronic.
It seems odd that a species capable of such love and loyalty should suffer from ailments of the generous heart. Heart disease is not uncommon in Chihuahuas. Furthermore, some types of cardiac disease are reported to be three to six times more common in Chihuahuas than in most other breeds. Since ill luck seems to come in threes, it\\\\\\\’s not surprising that the Chi has three heart diseases: patentductus arteriosus (PDA), pulmonic stenosis, and chronic valvular disease, often known as endocardiosis.
PDA
This illness develops when blood flows improperly through a shunt from the left to the right side of the Chi\\\\\\\’s heart, resulting in increased blood flow to the lungs. This causes fluid buildup and strain on the left side of the heart. Coughing, weight loss, activity intolerance, and (eventually) congestive heart failure are signs that a Chihuahua has a severe case of PDA. If a Chihuahua is diagnosed with a more serious form of PDA and the disease is discovered within the first two years of the puppy\\\\\\\’s life, surgery can correct the shunting of blood from one side of the heart to the other. If PDA is discovered later in life, surgery is less effective.
Is it possible to have PDA and not become very ill?
Yes. Some Chihuahuas have an imperfect shunt, allowing only a trickle of blood from left to right. In certain situations, aChi may survive without symptoms or serious health consequences.
Pulmonary Stenosis
This cardiac condition is caused by a deformity that causes a blockage in the right side of the heart, preventing blood from flowing freely into the lungs. The extent of this obstruction determines how dangerously ill your Chihuahua may get. If blood flow is restricted to the point where the heart must work extremely hard to operate, this work overload will cause congestive heart failure. On the other hand, a minor impediment may go completely undiscovered. In severe cases, surgery is frequently recommended to improve the situation.
Endocardiosis
Chronic mitral valvular disease (CMVD), also known as endocardiosis, is an acquired heart disease caused by the degeneration or lack of flexibility of the heart valves. Male Chis are more likely than females to be impacted, as are elderly Chis than young adults. When the edges of the heart valves deteriorate, they lose their perfect seal, allowing blood to flow back into the heart, which is heard as an amurmur. When there are leaks, the dog\\\\\\\’s circulation is impaired, and the Chi eventually develops signs of heart failure. The symptoms include the following:
Lethargy
Loss of appetite and depression
Coughing, trouble breathing, and weakness
Dizziness, confusion, and fainting. Distended abdomen.
There is currently no cure for heart valve issues; however, there are various medications available to assist alleviate the Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s discomfort and, in some circumstances, significantly increase the length and quality of life.
Potential Risks for Puppies
Your Chihuahua is also at a higher risk of contracting additional diseases or ailments that can seriously harm her health. Several conditions are unusual in that they develop throughout the puppy\\\\\\\’s first year. The most common health issues that Chi puppies are prone to are water on the brain (hydrocephalus), juvenile hypoglycemia (a sharp drop in blood sugar levels), cryptorchidism (one or both testicles do not descend) and shark teeth (puppy\\\\\\\’s milk teeth do not fall out and adult teeth erupt and grow in beside them). Hydrocephalus and juvenile hypoglycemia are both life-threatening disorders that require rapid treatment. All Chihuahua owners should be aware of these conditions and be prepared to deal with an emergency while on their approach to the veterinarian for more vital care.
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is frequently confused with the presence of a molera, or soft patch, on the Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s skull. The two are not connected. Hydrocephalus is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds the puppy\\\\\\\’s brain). As fluid accumulates, more pressure is given on the brain. In severe circumstances, the puppy dies within a few days. In moderate cases, fluid collection can take months before symptoms manifest, and in very mild cases, the pup may not exhibit any signs of the disease until much later in life. Symptoms of hydrocephalus include:
Domed skull that becomes more apparent with time. Failure to thrive.
Abnormal movements or odd behaviours
Vision impairment and seizures
Difficulties learning (difficult to housetrain, delayed compliance, and so on)
Most Chihuahuas\\\\\\\’ conditions stabilise by the age of two if the fluid pressure on the brain is immediately reduced, either through surgery (installation of a permanent drainage shunt) or drugs (corticosteroids). However, these Chis almost invariably suffer from brain damage, and in some circumstances, your veterinarian may prescribe euthanasia.
Hypoglycemia Puppies of all toy breeds may have difficulty maintaining a sufficient quantity of sugar in their blood. The Chi\\\\\\\’s body responds to low blood sugar in much the same way that a diabetic would: anxiety, dizziness, confusion, shaking, a racing heartbeat, seizures, and collapse.
Adult Chihuahuas that are very little, have recently been ill, or are now ill, may suffer from hypoglycemia.
To assist prevent a puppy from becoming hypoglycemic, feed her several little meals throughout the day and ensure that she has eaten what you have given her. Also, keep a little container of honey at home to put on her gums if she appears to be suffering from low blood sugar. As always, seek guidance from your veterinarian. The signs of hypoglycemia are similar to those of other disorders, and the issue may not be with your puppy\\\\\\\’s food.
An Example of Too Little or Too Much
Two more puppy issues are too many teeth and insufficient private parts. Chihuahua puppies occasionally keep their deciduous, or baby, teeth. The mature teeth develop and grow in, giving the Chi a sharklike look. In addition to looking weird, the baby teeth need be removed by your veterinarian. Retention of these teeth causes problems, not the least of which being food getting lodged between two sets of teeth, increasing a Chi\\\\\\\’s risk of acquiring tooth and gum disease. Cryptorchidism refers to undescended testicles. All male puppies have testicles in their body cavity at birth, which normally fall out by the age of six to eight weeks. This process can take up to 12 weeks in some situations. If a male Chi puppy has one or both testicles that refuse to descend, you must have the puppy neutered and the testicles removed. Male Chis with undescended testicles have a much higher risk of cancer. This characteristic is genetic, hence these dogs should never be bred.
If your Chi shows any indications of illness, take them to the vet right away before the problem worsens.
Adult Ailments:
Chis can suffer from two internal conditions: bladder stones and pancreatitis. Bladder stones are hard, rock-like aggregates of minerals that have become trapped together in the bladder. These stones can form as a result of germs (a bladder infection) or aberrant mineral levels caused by the dog\\\\\\\’s diet and inability to metabolise the contents. Symptoms are similar to those of a bladder infection, such as straining while peeing, frequent urination, blood in the urine, and expressions of pain. Bladder stones can be surgically removed or treated over time with a specialised diet. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, an organ positioned to the left of the stomach that generates hormones such as insulin and digestive enzymes to aid in food metabolism. The inflammation causes an early release of digesting enzymes, which are supposed to travel into the stomach but instead remain in the pancreas, thus eating away at this organ. Pancreatitis symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, and diarrhoea. Chi\\\\\\\’sabdomens might be uncomfortable and sensitive to touch. In severe circumstances, the Chican will go into shock and maybe die. Seek veterinary assistance immediately.
Skin issues.
The Chihuahua is more susceptible to a variety of skin disorders than many other breeds. These include demodicosis, pattern baldness, and colour dilution alopecia.
Demodicosis Demodicosis causes ugly, crusty infectious lesions on the Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s head, legs, and body. The culprit is a mite that is normally found on the skin surface of all dogs; nevertheless, in some dogs, the population of this mite nearly explodes, wreaking havoc on a Chi\\\\\\\’s health. This illness is curable, and even the most severe cases may usually be controlled with medicine.
Pattern Baldness Pattern baldness typically begins with hair thinning beneath the dog\\\\\\\’s neck, in the temple area, and on the chest, stomach, and back of the thighs. The thinning continues until some places are completely devoid of hair. The skin in these regions may eventually discolour and become scaly. The good news is that the condition doesn\\\\\\\’t appear to bother the dog in any way; the bad news is that there\\\\\\\’s nothing you can do to prevent or regenerate the dog\\\\\\\’s hair.
Colour Dilution Alopecia Colour dilution alopecia is an inherited coat loss that most commonly affects Chihuahuas with fawn or blue colouring (light to dark grey). AChi with this condition typically has little breakouts of diseased hair follicles (appearing as small lumps) on her back. As the condition advances, the Chi\\\\\\\’s coat thins until she is two to three years old, at which point she is completely bald on all light-colored regions of her body. The exposed skin is vulnerable to sunburn (use sunscreen!) and Can have a scaly look. There is no method to regenerate the lost hair; nevertheless, like with pattern baldness, the condition does not appear to give the Chi any difficulty.
The \\\\\\\”C\\\\\\\” Word.
It\\\\\\\’s the phrase no one likes to hear; but, as our beloved dogs\\\\\\\’ lifespans expand, so does their danger of contracting cancer. The Chihuahua is not at higher risk for any specific malignancy. Still, it is always a good idea to recognise the ten warning symptoms of cancer and seek veterinary medical assistance right away. A trip to the veterinarian is needed if your Chi shows one or more of the following signs:
Abnormal swellings that persist or increase
Sores that are not healing
Weight loss.
Loss of appetite
Bleeding or discharge through any bodily hole
Offensive smell
Difficulty eating and swallowing
Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina.
persistent limp or stiffness.
Having difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating
Reprinted courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Methods, methods, drugs, and therapies to help slow, halt, or cure many malignancies are becoming more widely available, and many are well within the financial reach of even the most frugal pet owner.
If your Chihuahua is diagnosed with cancer, see your veterinarian, explore your alternatives, and make informed decisions. Cancer is no longer a death sentence. However, it is critical to keep things in perspective and select the care plan that is most likely to ensure your Chi\\\\\\\’s great quality of life.