Chihuahuas are some of the widespread canine breeds for a number of causes. They’re lovely, loving, trustworthy and inquisitive. Their small type makes them the proper lap canines, but they can be taken in every single place simply. While they’re identified for being sassy, their temperament typically comes right down to how a lot socialization they obtain as puppies.

When researching if a Chihuahua is best for you, you’ll need to study in regards to the canine’s widespread well being points. While the breed isn’t identified to have extra medical issues than others, Chihuahuas do have some points you must think about.

Common Health Issues for Chihuahuas

An grownup Chihuahua ought to be taken to the vet at least once a year. You might must go extra typically in case your Chihuahua has well being circumstances otherwise you dwell in an space with a excessive danger of sure pests, corresponding to ticks.

Chihuahuas might be stricken with quite a lot of well being issues, from again and knee accidents to coronary heart illness. Some are genetic ailments or beginning defects, however some might be prevented. By understanding these six typical Chihuahua medical points, you’ll be able to assist your Chi dwell an extended, wholesome life.

1. Periodontal Disease

Periodontal illness is a progressive illness brought on by micro organism that impacts the gums and bones surrounding the enamel. It’s prevalent in not less than 80% of canines over 3 years previous, in response to Frontiers in Veterinary Science. But extra-small canine breeds like Chihuahuas are as much as 5 occasions extra more likely to develop periodontal illness, says a 2021 evaluation revealed in The Veterinary Journal.

Although Chihuahuas are at larger danger, preemptive steps might be taken.

Matthew Wheaton, DVM, of Alicia Pet Care Center in Mission Viejo, California, says giving a pup’s enamel a great every day brushing can considerably decrease the probabilities of periodontal illness.

“Get the dog used to [brushing] as early in their life as possible,” says Wheaton, who says a “finger brush” and chicken-flavored toothpaste ought to be your go-tos.

Other strategies of enamel cleansing—corresponding to chews, toys and rinses—shouldn’t exchange every day brushing, Wheaton notes. Taking your pup in for normal dental cleanings is important in the event that they gained’t allow you to brush their enamel every day.

For most canines, a once-a-year cleansing is ok, however as a result of Chihuahuas are predisposed to periodontal illness, six-month cleanings could also be a wiser selection, according to the American Kennel Club.

Dental cleanings is probably not low cost—the fee varies primarily based on many elements, with $500 to $1,000 being the standard worth vary—however they’re a significant a part of guaranteeing your Chi stays in good well being. Most pet insurance coverage gained’t cowl dental cleanings, however some provide dental add-ons, so test together with your particular pet insurance coverage firm.

Chihuahuas are unlikely to indicate clear indicators of periodontal illness and the discomfort it causes, so look out for proof of gingivitis. You might discover crimson or puffy gums, dangerous breath or bleeding gums. As the illness progresses, you may even see receding gums, unfastened enamel or, in a extreme case, lacking enamel. You can also detect your canine’s reluctance to play with chew toys, or they could start to chew their meals in another way.

If the illness is severely uncared for, your Chi might be put at larger danger of creating liver or coronary heart illness. In a foul case of periodontal illness, your canine might want to have any affected enamel extracted. But the Chihuahua will go on to “live a perfectly normal life,” Wheaton says.

2. Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)

Intervertebral disc illness is typically often known as a slipped or herniated disc. Each particular person vertebra in a canine’s vertebral column is protected against the adjoining one by mushy discs that soak up shock. IVDD occurs when the discs protrude and press towards the spinal wire.

This neurological situation can happen because of age, however probably the most odd trigger is a sudden rupture of a disc. IVDD is widespread amongst small canines, together with Chihuahuas, dachshunds, beagles and French bulldogs.

“The main issue here is [being] a little dog in a big world,” explains Wheaton. “Being a little dog, there’s a lot of jumping involved…they typically will launch themselves off [furniture] with reckless abandon—and that’s a lot of impact on their back.”

In gentle circumstances, your pup will expertise ache and will stroll with a limp, arch their higher again or have issue lifting their head. They can also exhibit anxiousness by way of panting or shivering. In excessive circumstances, the illness may cause slight or full paralysis.

Treatment for the milder types of IVDD contains ache drugs, anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants. Occasionally, the vet can also recommend laser remedy or acupuncture. For extra critical circumstances, surgical procedure could also be required to permit the canine to stroll and performance usually once more.

3. Patellar Luxation

Patellar luxation is a scientific time period for a slipped kneecap; it usually exhibits up as a beginning defect that affects nearly 1 in 4 Chihuahuas. The kneecap will slip out of the grove, and your Chi can have instability of their leg.

One of the principle signs is what Wheaton describes as a “hitch in their giddy-up”: A Chihuahua will sometimes decide up and put down their again leg as they stroll.

“If the dog is not really negatively affected by the problem, it doesn’t mean that the problem needs to be fixed,” Wheaton says. However, in case your Chi is limping or appears to have bother working or enjoying, a vet go to is so as.

A luxating patella may cause the knee to be vulnerable to different accidents and result in arthritis. Surgery could also be required in excessive circumstances.

4. Valvular Disease

Valvular illness sometimes begins with a leaky mitral valve, one among 4 valves within the coronary heart. Chihuahuas and different small canine breeds corresponding to miniature poodles and Pomeranians are susceptible to this leaky valve illness, however, sadly, no preventive measures might be taken.

In middle-aged to older canines (often older than age 8), one of many coronary heart’s valves will all of a sudden expertise regurgitation, a situation that enables blood to leak backward into the left atrium. This can result in the event of a coronary heart murmur.

Valvular illness have to be monitored by a heart specialist as a result of it could actually advance to congestive coronary heart failure, the No. 1 reason for dying in Chihuahuas. Congestive coronary heart failure causes a buildup of fluid within the lungs that may result in an incapacity to breathe and might be deadly. Valvular illness is behind 80% of congestive coronary heart failure circumstances in Chihuahuas, in response to the American Kennel Club.

Not to worry, although. If you’re taking your Chi for normal checkups, the vet ought to be capable to detect a coronary heart murmur and the presence of valvular illness. When it evolves from a gentle to a reasonable case, your Chihuahua will likely be positioned on coronary heart drugs to maintain the illness from progressing quickly.

If congestive coronary heart failure develops, your canine might want to take diuretics to assist take away fluid from the lungs. Sadly, this therapy shouldn’t be healing however palliative.

If you haven’t taken your Chi to the vet shortly and are questioning if the canine might have a reasonable case of valvular coronary heart illness, search for coughing, weight reduction, fainting or issue exercising and respiration. If a Chihuahua is exhibiting these signs, make an appointment with the vet as quickly as potential.

5. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or Chronic Bronchitis

Chis and different small canine breeds usually tend to develop continual obstructive pulmonary illness, or continual bronchitis—additionally known as bronchial asthma. This is a progressive illness that begins with irritation within the small airways of the decrease respiratory tract. As it progresses, the illness may cause scarring within the lungs and dilation of the airways.

The important symptom of continual bronchitis is persistent coughing. “There is no normal cough for a dog to do,” Wheaton stresses. “Every single time a dog coughs, it’s them raising their paw and saying, ‘I’m not normal.’”

In the later phases of the illness, a Chihuahua might wheeze when exhaling, faint or battle to breathe.

Once a canine has continual bronchitis, it’s a lifelong situation. However, there are steps an proprietor can take to forestall this from taking place.

“Minimize airborne allergens [by] … not doing a fireplace or smoking around the dog,” Wheaton advises. He additionally recommends avoiding using different potential lung irritants, corresponding to carpet deodorizers, candles and important oils.

Treatments for gentle to reasonable continual bronchitis can embody inhalers, medication to assist dilate the airways and cough suppressants. If there appears to be an an infection within the lungs, antibiotics could also be prescribed. In extreme circumstances, oxygen remedy or intravenous treatment could also be required.

6. Collapsed Trachea

A respiratory situation that Chihuahuas are liable to creating later in life is a collapsed trachea. The trachea—a versatile tube with rings of cartilage—is important to regular respiration. When its rings weaken, it turns into a collapsed trachea, a respiratory situation that progresses over time. The situation is regarded as genetic, which means nothing might be performed to forestall it.

Symptoms of a collapsed trachea in canines embody issue respiration, a harsh cough typically adopted by gagging or vomiting, wheezing, and episodes when the gums and tongue seem to show blue.

You can deal with a collapsed trachea with drugs to ease coughing and irritation, however there’s no treatment. You’ll be suggested to maintain your Chihuahua away from air pollution that may additional irritate the animal’s situation. If the case is critical, surgical procedure could also be advisable, however that’s dangerous.

“The surgery is not 100% guaranteed and has to be done by someone very knowledgeable and experienced… some dogs actually die because of the procedure,” Wheaton warns.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Common Health Issues for Chihuahuas?

Many of the best pet insurance firms often cowl the widespread well being points for chihuahuas. A typical pet insurance coverage coverage pays for prices associated to:

• Accidents and accidents.
• Chronic sicknesses, corresponding to congestive coronary heart failure and continual bronchitis.
• Common sicknesses, corresponding to ear infections.
• Serious sicknesses like valvular illness or most cancers.
• Hereditary circumstances like IVDD.
• Testing and diagnostics corresponding to X-rays or MRIs.
• Medical procedures like hospitalizations or surgical procedures.
• Holistic and various procedures corresponding to acupuncture or laser remedy.
• Wellness procedures like neutering and routine wellness exams.
• Behavioral remedy to assist with aggression and socialization.
• Prescription drugs.
• Prescription meals and dietary supplements.
• Microchip implantation.

However, preexisting conditions, experimental therapy, grooming, dental cleanings, meals and dietary dietary supplements and non-veterinary bills corresponding to a canine license sometimes aren’t coated.

It’s sensible to have an energetic pet insurance coverage coverage in place nicely earlier than your canine runs into any well being issues, Wheaton says.

“It’s kind of like if you just got in a car crash with a noninsured car and you’re on the side of the road… calling an insurance company to get insurance—they’re not going to cover you,” he says.

While you’re investigating which pet insurance coverage coverage is greatest on your Chi, make sure to double-check what the various companies and plans cover.

Are Chihuahuas the Right Breed for Me?

Chihuahuas could also be a sensible choice for you in case you’re a fan of small canines with numerous love to offer. A Chi’s temperament tends to be loyal, curious, affectionate and feisty.

“Chihuahuas are capable of being great pets for almost every lifestyle,” Wheaton says.

Although Chihuahuas are sometimes perceived as fragile, they will maintain their very own if positioned in a home with greater canines. You’ll simply need to practice your bigger animals to be light with them. And regardless that Chis have a status for being aggressive, they are often nice with children and different pets corresponding to cats.

If your Chihuahua isn’t appropriately socialized when it’s younger, the canine might be anxious in social conditions when it’s older and may appear aggressive. (This is the place the feisty Chihuahua stereotype is available in.) But socialize them nicely after they’re pups, and so they can dwell fortunately with their roomies.

As for train, Chihuahuas don’t want a lot—as much as half-hour per day is adequate, in response to the U.Okay.’s The Kennel Club—however you’ll discover your canine will likely be pleased to go on runs with you or go to canine parks.

Chihuahuas might be difficult to coach. They’re loads sensible and are quick learners, however as a result of they’re so teeny their pet mother and father “tend to [let them] get away with stuff,” says Wheaton. So be agency together with your fur child, and the coaching ought to go simply superb.

One different necessary level about Chihuahuas is that they favor heat climate. If you reside someplace tropical, Chis will thrive in that setting. If you reside someplace that experiences chilly temperatures, you’ll have to purchase winter coats, sweaters and even booties to assist your canine keep heat.

Chihuahua Health Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)