Signs of a Healthy Chihuahua

Daily Check List

Temperature:  Changes in body temperature can make a dog ill.  Check the body temperature of your
Chihuahua; it should remain between 101 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 to 38.8 Celsius).   Any abnormal changes in your Chihuahua can be a sign of illness and you should take your dog to the veterinary doctor right away. 
Eyes:  The eyes of a Chihuahua dog are very important and can show you that something is wrong.  A slight, watery discharge is normal.  However, if your Chihuahua has a very thick discharge, this is usually a sign of illness and should be taken care of by a veterinarian as soon as possible.  If your  Chihuahua has an unusual reddish color in his/her eyes that is also a sign of illness.  When a dog ages it develops a cloudiness of its lens, which unfortunately can lead to blindness, but can be avoided with proper care and treatment to any early stage problems.
Mammary tissue (females): Check for swelling and report this to a vet
Testicles (males): Check for swelling and report this to a vet
Nose: Check for abnormal discharge from the nose.  An older Chihuahua can develop crust and/or cracks on its nose and you should seek treatment for this.  It is normal for the color of a dog's nose to change over a period of time. 
Ears:  Odor coming from your pet Chihuahua ears is a major sign of sickness.
Breathing:  Bad breath from a dog can be a sign of looming illness and you should have it checked out by your vet.  Normal breathing is very important; this assures you that your pet is in normal condition.  Abnormal breathing is a sign of illness.  Breathing problems become more regular as dogs age, so check for unnecessary panting or wheezing.   



Rare Health Issues

The following Chihuahua health problems and conditions are rare, but do have a higher rate than with other breeds.  Remember that it is not just the Chihuahua breed that can be prone to specific health problems.  All breeds carry certain DNA that makes them susceptible to a number of varying diseases.  The following Chihuahua health issues and problems are not meant to dissuade you from having a Chihuahua.  These are just rudiments to keep in mind, so that if your Chihuahua shows any early signs, you can have your vet check him or her out right away.  We strongly recommend taking your Chihuahua for regular vet visits, as it is imperative to the quality of life and overall health of your dog.

Luxating Patellas  A Chihuahua  health issue that you will want to be conscious of is the chance of  luxating patellas, this is a circumstance in which the knee cap of the Chihuahua slips out of its place.  Sometimes, it is not severe enough to need surgical treatment and sometimes it is.  Your vet will tell you what steps to take.  If you observe your Chihuahua limping, be sure to find out what may be wrong. If you purchased your Chihuahua from a breeder, they should have on record if the parents had this condition; it can be hereditary.

SHLS  Sometimes a Chihuahua will lose his or her hair because of a SHLS Chihuahua health issue.  This stands for Severe Hair Loss Syndrome.  Do not worry, your Chihuahua will not be in pain, although the fur may or may not grow back.

Low Thyroid  This can be a Chihuahua health concern, it is also known as hypothyroidism and it is the same type of low thyroid condition that humans can get.  No need to be alarmed, but certainly it is a time to bring your Chihuahua to the vet.  Symptoms will be baffling weight gain, excessive sleeping and lack of energy.

Trachea Issues  If your Chihuahua is coughing and does not seem able to stop, this could be a serious issue. This is a very rare Chihuahua health concern, however there is a chance it means that his or her trachea may have collapsed and a vet must do surgery to save the life of your Chihuahua. 

Sudden Death Syndrome in Dogs

Sudden Death Syndrome in a puppy is never a fault of the dog owner.  This is a very occurrence and it is as much of a mystery as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome with babies.  While studies have been done one this happening, there is still a lot to be understood.  Some elderly dogs have suddenly died from things such as Cholelithiasis and the Paragonimus Kellicotti infection.  If you are owner of the mother of a puppy who has been the victim of this sudden death, keep in mind that the mother dog is having deep feelings of loss.   She may seem very distant and most likely, this has nothing to do with the dog's health and once she recovers from this loss and you feel ready, you may wish to breed her again.  If this sad event should occur a second time, it is then that you would take the mother dog to the vet to have a complete and meticulous checkup and evaluation. 

                                                                                                      
Limping:

When a dog begins to limp,  this could be something as straightforward as a torn muscle or a pinching nerve and can go away.  Conversely, keep in mind that there are some Chihuahua health problems that small toy dogs such as a Chihuahua are prone to. One possible reason for a coming & going limp:  Chihuahuas are prone to having dislocating kneecaps. It is caused by the sideways movement of the kneecap. When the kneecap slips out of its normal position, it becomes like a wedge and squeezes the ligaments near the knee so that the dog cannot bend its leg. Then kneecap slides back into position and the dog can walk normally again. 

Another condition of small toy dogs that will cause limping is Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease or Femoral Head Necrosis. This is often a condition a Chihuahua can inherit from their parents.  It happens because of a failure of adequate blood supply to the top of the femur (the 'ball' part of the hip) the femur decays and a fracture occurs.  

Sometimes, lameness in the hind legs has nothing to do with the legs at all. It can be caused by decay of the discs in the spine and those discs then push into the spinal cord.  This is known as a slipped disc.  This can occur at the neck or the spine.   When it happens,  the disc affects the relay of signals down the nerves and if the nerve affected goes to the legs, limping can happen.  If your Chihuahua is limping, bring these 3 issues up to your vet.  If your vet does not seem concerned, find a new vet.