 Your
Online Guide to Common Health Conditions Affecting Chihuahua Dogs
and Puppies
Like any purebred or designer breed of dog, the
Chihuahua dog breed can
inherit certain canine disorders from it's ancestors. We've provided
information about common Chihuahua health problems below.
Please note that while these health issues can occur in the breed,
buying a puppy from a highly reputable, knowledgeable
Chihuahua
breeder who is knowledgeable about health issues in the breed, and actively
screens for these disorders can go a long way towards having a healthy,
long lived and joyful Chihuahua companion. Choose your breeder carefully
- and NEVER buy a Chihuahua puppy from a pet store or newspaper ad.
The Chihuahua has several health concerns related to its size. To begin with, Chihuahuas picky eating habits can lead to malnutrition. The old adage that children and pets will eat if they are hungry simply isn’t true for a Chihuahua. Their diets will need some coddling and you will need to have fresh, tasty morsels available several times daily. Leaving food to slowly crust over in a dish on the kitchen floor will simply not do. And, this is not just a matter of stubborn dog versus increasingly frustrated owner. A Chihuahua can suffer from hypoglycaemia and malnutrition if they refuse food for too long.
Patellar luxation is a condition that can be mostly prevented if you prevent your Chihuahua from jumping onto beds, couches and the like. Because they are so small, Chihuahuas joints have difficulty absorbing the impact weight of its body. Try using doggy steps or some contraption designed for this purpose. Again, you will need to train your Chihuahua to use this apparatus.
Interesting, some Chihuahuas have gluttonous tendencies and will gain weight quickly with high fat, and sugary foods (who can’t empathize with that?). Excess weight in Chihuahuas can lead to joint problems along with breathing difficulties and shortened life spans.
Other health concerns in Chihuahuas: pulmonic stenosis, hydrocephalus, patellar luxation, and KCS
Chihuahua Health Resources Online
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