Dogs get sick for many different reasons.
Your pet may have consumed food that did not agree with their stomach or they could have gotten into something that is fatal to their health. In any event, your Chihuahua cannot tell you what they are feeling or where they are hurting, so you need to be aware of the signs that your Chihuahua needs to be seen by a veterinarian.
12 Symptoms to Acknowledge
The signs that indicate your Chihuahua is sick include:
- Weakness
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Disorientation
- Bloody urine
- Bleeding
- Seizures
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty or inability to walk
- Difficulty breathing
Questions You Should be Ready to Answer
When you go to the vet, they will ask a series of questions to help pinpoint the cause of your dog’s sickness.
General Questions
How long have you owned your dog?
The length of time you’ve had your dog plays a significant role in what could be causing your dog’s sickness. The older a dog is, the more at risk they are for developing diseases including patellar luxation and tracheal collapse.
Patellar Luxation: the knees of a Chihuahua are a complex structure that requires ligaments and tendons to be properly aligned. Chihuahuas do not have many health problems, but this knee problem is common among this breed of puppies and dogs. Patellar luxation is often referred to as the “trick knee”. This condition occurs when the kneecap or patella is dislocated or moved out of place.
Tracheal Collapse: Chihuahuas have another common health condition known as tracheal collapse. Symptoms of this condition include coughing, wheezing, and gagging. This issue occurs while your dog is trying to breathe. While your pet is taking a breath, the trachea will partially collapse or close. This condition affects puppies and dogs of the Chihuahua breed.
Where Did You Get Your Chihuahua?
Your dog could be experiencing health issues due to where they grew up. Some pet owners get their dogs from adoption shelters, take in strays, or from a breeder. The chances of your dog having a health condition are higher if you took in a stray or got them from a shelter because adoption centers often lack a sufficient amount of staff members to give each pet the attention they require on a daily basis. You never know what kind of life a stray puppy or dog has lived before you took them in. Stray dogs are often abused, hungry, and dehydrated. Each of these factors could play a role in your Chihuahua’s overall health for the present and future.
Do You Have Other Pets That Are Ill?
If you have more than one sick pet, this is an indication there may be something in the household causing your pet’s sickness. If your pets ventures outdoors, they may have gotten into something outside the home that’s causing a specific illness.
Does Your Chihuahua Have Issues with Fleas?
Fleas are a problem whether you have one or more pets. Fleas bite and suck your dog’s blood, causing severe itching and rashes. Your pet will scratch continuously, causing fur loss, scabs, and bleeding.
Do You Give Your Dog Table Scraps?
It may be difficult to turn down your dog’s big, sad eyes and frowning face, but a lot of food humans enjoy should not be consumed by dogs. Many of these forbidden foods include onions, garlic, grapes, milk, raisins, avocado, and chocolate. These foods are toxic and can be fatal to your pet.
Are Your Dog’s Vaccines Current?
Vaccine’s are important for all pets. Without vaccines, your dog is exposed to many different illnesses and diseases, and some are fatal. A veterinarian can rule out certain diseases and conditions when your furry family member is current on their vaccines. If not, a diagnosis will take longer and prolong your pet’s suffering.
These questions are just a few you will be asked about your pet and its behavior. To help with a diagnosis, write down anything you notice that is different about your pet, including their diet, bathroom habits, and mood.
Photo Source: Rayya The Vet On Flickr
I also own a Chihuahua. He has been with me since January. This helps a lot, thank you!
I have a 13 year old chihuahua who only came into my family a few months ago. I don’t know his full history but he was poorly nourished and in poor dental health when I got him. I’ve taken care of the dental issues and he’s gained almost a pound since November but I am concerned with how to find a proper vet to care for him in his senior years. I was not comfortable with his last visit and I would love to know what to look for/ask of a vet to be sure they can handle a senior chi. Any suggestions?
Why aren’t you happy with your current vet? You may want to find a holistic veterinarian, especially because at this point, it might not be ideal for your senior to have too many vaccinations. Whether or not he has any signs of arthritis, probably good to start on a joint supplement, fish oil – ask your next vet about dosage though.
I got my Chihuahua 3 years ago from a shelter she’s over 8 years old now when I got her she would not let me touch her she bit me a few times do years later she would let me pet her give her treats and she’s doing tricks for me but now I let my relative washer for one day the dog is not the same the dog will not eat out of her Bowl only be fed by hand golden touch the dog it starts to Yap and she’s trying to bite me again could my dog be bipolar I am back to square one with my dog can somebody out there help me please thank you
I’ve had my chihuahua for a year now and she is a year old. She’s always been really sleepy but active when she is awake, but recently I’ve noticed that she doesn’t want to eat or drink as much and she’s been making this sound that kind of sounds like she’s choking or something. It usually stops when I lightly pat her back but this time it lasted for like 5 minutes. I’m getting worried about her. Does she have a cold or something? Should I bring her to the vet?
Kennel cough is a possibility, it’s usually not serious but your vet can help you make sure it doesn’t turn into a full-blown infection i.e. pneumonia. Vets can be expensive but it’s worth the peace of mind.
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Thank you. I’m gonna have her checked by the vet later today.
Nice post.
Like any healthcare decision, this one shouldn’t be taken lightly. Hopefully, you and your pet will have a long relationship with your veterinarian. If you take your time with the selection process and choose wisely, you can avoid feelings of disillusion or distrust down the road.
There are many private pet crematories. Your veterinarian may offer the option of taking care of pet remains.
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Early diagnosis and treatment of a disease can prevent unnecessary pain and suffering and help your pet recover quicker.
My Chihuahua is 4 years old. He has become weak from a couple of weeks. I took him to the vet, he diagnosed him but still, the situation is the same. I don’t know what should I do now. Please recommend me something.
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There are a lot of ways to find a good vet. One time-honored way is to ask your friends and neighbors. Talk to people whose opinions you respect who have pets.
These tips are really helpful in keeping pets in check for their health. Behavioral changes in pets are very common in some health problems.
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Great post, Thanks for sharing this post. Veterinarians are additionally chargeable for meals security and different issues associated to microbes, equivalent to organic warfare. This comes as a shock to many individuals, however makes good sense when one considers that many ailments are unfold by means of animal and that a lot of or meals comes from animals. Vet researchers research ailments transferred between people and animals. A lot of this analysis results in medicine to deal with people. Vets examine slaughterhouses, work for restaurant inspection companies and make sure that lifeless animals will not be diseased and are disposed of accurately.
As a veterinarian, I can confidently say that a dog breed such as Chihuahua is very susceptible to various diseases because it has weak immunity. This post is useful for owners of such dogs.
I have a Chihuahua that is 8 I believe and idk what she’s doing, idk if she’s having problems breathing but it’s like she gags and it seems like she’s trying to cough something back up but she never has anything come out of her mouth. Her mouth also looks like it locks up and she makes sounds with your throat and so on but I can’t really explain good enough to find the answer.
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Hi Isaiah. It could possibly be collapsed trachea, if she doesn’t do it constantly, you can take a video and show your vet when you go. Any ongoing breathing issue is something you should have checked out.
We gave a 10 year old Chihuahua with the following symptoms: listlessness, shivers, diaharia, tender stomach and lip smacking. All but the lip smacking are new. It has gon on for several months. Any thoughts?
Very useful post. Thank you!
It really helped when you said that my senior dog might be at risk and has higher chances of developing diseases. We adopted my pug a year ago but we were told that she’s past ten years old. I think it’s a good idea to visit a veterinary hospital for a quick check-up sometimes just to ensure that she’s healthy.
Thanks for the post! my friend has a dog of this breed. Her dog has good health and rarely gets sick. I know firsthand that Chihuahua diseases are often associated with improper care, maintenance, or nutrition. Chihuahuas should be given food rich in animal proteins and vitamins. If you do not follow the rules of nutrition, the dog may experience constipation, diarrhea, obesity with all the ensuing consequences.
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