what health problems can chihuahas have?

Question

Im interested in getting a chihuaha in the future, and im just wondering what kind of health issues are they prone to? Overall, are they a pretty healthy breed?

Answer 1

Hi, good to hear you want a chi huahua for pet.
I own 2 chi hua hua myself.1 is 12years old, the other is 1 1/2 years old.
Both is very active from the day i got them, they need very little of food and grooming to keep.They are also a small guard dog(that suprise me).

Chi hua hua are big dogs in little body.Bold and spirited,they are lively,and playful and devoted to their owners.They are also friendly to other,although naturally wary of boisterous children or dogs much larger than themself.They dislike the cold.

Character: Devoted, very Loyal by nature,clannish,kennly intelligent.Splendid miniture guard dog.

Exercise: Don't be misled into thinking that chi hua hua are just for carrying.they can be,but you would be suprised how much they enjoy a good walk.

Grooming: Brush with soft brush and rub down with velvet pad or chamois leather to make the coat gleam.Don't neglect tears staina around eyes.(use tissue to dap it to make it clean and be gentle,don't hurt their eyes)

Longevity: Can live well into the teens,but the particularly tiny specimens rarely do so.(Hope yours will.) my is 12 years still counting...

Feeding: Very little as 4 table spoon of dry food 2 time a day will do.(or you can cook food for them, that my Fav thing to do for them.) If you want to cook for them pls add detail,i will add detail for you.

Their named after the Mexican state where they were first obtained,these dogs are the likely descendants of a very old breed,known as the Techichi,which was kept here by the Toltec indians as far back as the 9th century.

This the thing you have to got to know:
They need alot of love,care,attention, at all time.
They will be by your side whenever you go, follow you around the house when you at home, going out with you all day & won't feeling tired at all.
Problem is,most of them will have breathing problem,for example: when my dog exercise too much and after that she will have difficulty in breathing, and also when they feel too cold at night they will also start to breath difficulty,sneezing & coughing.(old dog will have this problem more then the young one)
Because the muzzle is too small and also they have a very small body to fill in all the organs and this cause the sizes of their organs become unproportion and thus result in poor performance in the function.So for this problem their vet told me to put more blanket for them to cover their nose when they are sleeping to prevent any breathing problem.
And another problem will be the teeth.
As my old dog is now suffering from tooth decay,and we can't do anything about it,as she was too old for doing any dental cleaning as it need ''Anaesthesia'', her vet check her heart (blood test)and told us she can't have any opreation.
Now she having medication as long as she live, for tooth problem & heart problem.
As for the young one, he don't have any problem with it heart at all,but it have got difficulty in breathing only at night so i put more blanket for him when he sleep, and i have brush it teeth twice a day to prevent any tar tar or gum problem.


Overall i give them 8 out of 10, due to ,they need very little of maintenance fee, grooming,food and very little of space.My old dog do like to bark, but the young one does not like to bark, so hope you find one that does not like to bark to often.

Hope all this chi hua hua information will help you.
Pls check & choose a good veterinarian from all your friend or your neighborhood before buying any puppy, so your puppy will have a good body check-up by the first vet ,and it will also will help you to mantain your dog well.

Answer 2

They are one of the longest living breeds, and generally quite healthy. However, if you seek the undersized ones, you may be facing any of many problems.. A 4-6 pound Chihuahua is one of the healthiest little dogs.
The most common problem with Chi's of any size is the Luxating patella..That causes its hind legs to be spraddled as the dog matures, causes the hopping/skipping gait, and is a source of pain for the dog's whole life..It is a slipping knee cap...ouch!
So, if you get a Chihuahua, insist that the parents have been checked fo luxating pattela. My friend has raised Chihuahuas for several years,as a hobby.. and brought over her new little male for me to look at. I HATED to tell her that he wasn't fit for breeding, as he had the luxating patella! So, even 'nice' people can breed poor quality dogs, without even knowing it, or being aware of its problems.
Here is a list of other health concerns in the Chihuahua: http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/chihuahua-health-problems.aspx

Answer 3

Chihuahuas have only a few serious health problems. They can live up to 15 years old , if they are healthy & well cared for.
Hypoglecmia- (low blood sugar) can be caused by stress, missing a meal, or to much energy being used up at play for a longtime.
Collaping Trachea- systoms are coughing, shortness of breath, & exhaustion.
Subluxation of the Patella- loose kneecaps in the rear legs. Severe cases require surgery.

Answer 4

If you want some great advice, from someone who knows exactly, what she is talking about, listen to Chetco! She took the words right out of my mouth! Great answer Chetco!