| First and foremost, your breeder should have sent | | | | liquid medicine from an eyedropper: Sometimes, |
| you home with your new pet and a bunch of health | | | | instead of the medicine, melt some icecream. This will |
| information in tow. Don't be afraid to contact them in | | | | make him more eager to take anything from the |
| any instance if you have questions about your pet's | | | | eyedropper. |
| health. They should be willing to help you, as they will | | | | 3. Collapsing trachea |
| want their pet's offspring to be well-looked after, | | | | This is a common problem for toy breeds. Symptoms |
| happy and healthy. | | | | can include wheezing/coughing, shortness of breath, |
| Chihuahua's seem to have fewer health-related issues | | | | and fatigue. Any time your dog is struggling to |
| than other breeds, mainly because of the diligence of | | | | breathe properly you should go to the vet |
| Chihuahua breeders: They have worked hard to | | | | immediately. This condition occurs when cartilage in |
| eliminate many health defects. Unfortunately, all pets | | | | the neck collapses, impairing breathing. This condition |
| can suffer at some stage from health problems, and | | | | is more common in dogs over the age of 5. It can be |
| Chi's are no exception. | | | | treated with medication, but the most influential |
| 1. Subluxation of the patella | | | | factor is whether or not your pet is being forced to |
| Basically, this translates as loose kneecaps. This can | | | | breathe in second-hand smoke. |
| be a common issue for toy breeds. The kneecaps on | | | | 4. Hydrocephalus |
| the rear legs can slip out of their grooves. This can | | | | This is also referred to as "water on the brain". The |
| happen often or hardly at all, depending on the | | | | dog may have an unusually large head, which is |
| severity of the problem. Your pet may require | | | | caused by swelling. This is a fatal condition, which will |
| surgery to fix this problem, but if it is a mild case | | | | result in the need to euthanise (or put down) the |
| then it is no cause for concern. | | | | dog. Other signs your pet is suffering from this |
| 2. Hypoglycemia | | | | condition include an unsteady gait, east-west eyes |
| This refers to low blood sugar levels, and is common | | | | (the opposite to cross eyes), frequent falling, |
| in young toy dogs. More often than not, Chi's with | | | | seizures, and a lot of white showing in the eyes. This |
| this issue will outgrow the problem before they leave | | | | is an extremely painful condition, and the most |
| the breeder. However this can impact upon some | | | | humane thing to do is to euthanise the dog. |
| dogs throughout their lives. Symptoms to look out | | | | 5. Molera |
| for are: glassy eyes, unsteady gait, and either | | | | Like a human baby, chihuahua's have a soft spot on |
| limpness or rigidity. If the pet doesn't receive | | | | the top of their head called the molera. This is |
| treatment he can have seizures, go into a coma or | | | | considered a characteristic of the breed, not a |
| even die. Treatment comes in the form of putting | | | | defect. Around 80 to 90% of chihuahua's have this. |
| something sugary into your pet's mouth and heading | | | | Unlike babies, chi's won't outgrow this. Be gentle |
| straight to the vet. Once your pet has been | | | | patting or stroking the pet's head. This can also be a |
| diagnosed, you will be given info about what foods | | | | sign of hydrocephalus, but don't panic as there are |
| are suitable for your pet to eat. Your vet will help | | | | many symptoms associated with that disease (as |
| you will this. You can even train your pet to take | | | | described above). |