Common Chihuahua Health Problems

Deciding on a Chihuahua as your family pet is a great move and one of the first things you are going to want to do is familiarize yourself with Chihuahua health problems so that you know what to look for and you know what is healthy behavior and what is unhealthy behavior for your Chihuahua. It takes time to get to understand what they mean with their body language and when they are showing symptoms of something serious, so get to know these symptoms so you can identify them if they come up.

Before you bring your Chihuahua home have a long talk with your vet about what health issues to expect from your new dog and also discuss identifying the symptoms. If you have normal behavior explained to you and then you are given the warning signs to look for you are better equipped to help your dog should something happen. Your breeder should also send you home with a great deal of information about what to watch for with your new dog and how to identify any prospective health issues.

Many Chihuahua health problems are part of the breed’s character and are usually present at birth. Some of the problems develop over time but you should be able to identify the serious conditions right away. One common Chihuahua health problem is a floating kneecap. Sometimes their legs do not develop properly and the material that is supposed to hold the kneecap in place is weak and causes the kneecap to float in and out of place. This is very painful and needs medical attention right away.

When male Chihuahua pups are born their testicles are up in their abdomen. Almost right after birth a healthy male Chihuahua will have its testicles drop from the abdomen and if it doesn’t happen at birth then it needs to happen by the time they reach adulthood. If you notice that this trait is lacking in your Chihuahua then you will want to get them to the vet right away, as this is the sign of a very serious health issue that your vet will want to take care of as soon as possible.

Some Chihuahua health problems you can easily see and others you cannot and it is the ones you cannot see that can sometimes be the most serious. The brain in any animal has fluid flowing to and from it at all times and in a Chihuahua one of the health issues is a blockage of this brain fluid causing swelling on the brain and major health issues.

Fluids go back and forth from the brain to the body in any animal and in the Chihuahua these fluids can sometimes get blocked causing a swelling around the brain and severe discomfort for the dog. This can usually be found with regular appointments to the vet but if you notice your dog behaving strangely then get it to the vet right away.

Many toy breeds of dog can get crystal in their urine and this can cause a blockage and major health issues. A Chihuahua shares this potential condition with the other toy breeds but some health issues are exclusive to the Chihuahua.

Either way it is important to monitor your Chihuahua’s health at all times as you never know what could happen and you should always make sure you get your dog to regular vet appointments.

About the Author:

Sandra Dean is a passionate lover of the Chihuahua and owns a popular website that can show you how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Chihuahua. Among other topics there, you will find out more about Chihuahua Health Problems plus a whole lot more.