Overall the Chihuahua breed is relatively healthy. They live the longest of all the dog breeds and often make it into their twenties!
But like all dog breeds, there are some common genetic health issues in Chihuahuas that you need to be aware of.
This post will update you on all the chihuahua health problems you need to be aware of.
Eye Problems
It’s not hard to imagine why Chihuahuas may have eye problems with their large protruding eyes. Their eyes can easily get injured or get infected.
Dry eyes or Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca is another eye issue.
You may also notice tear staining under your dog’s eyes. This is normal unless you notice an odor.
An odor is a sign of infection which needs to be treated by your veterinarian.
Click the link for more about eye problems.
GME ( Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis)
This condition affects mostly small dogs and can cause a multitude of neurological problems including death. It’s caused by over-vaccination.
You can read more about it here: Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis.
Hydrocephalus
This is a condition some Chihuahuas are born with. It is often fatal but it it’s a mild case, the Chihuahua can live a somewhat normal life.
It is a fluid build up on the brain. Read it about it here: Hydrocephalus.
Hypoglycemia
You have probably heard of this condition before since some people suffer from it. What it is, is low blood sugar.
It is most common in younger Chihuahuas and Chihuahua puppies. Basically it’s caused by the high metabolism of the young dog. It’s important to make sure your Chi eats at regular intervals.
Symptoms include muscle weakness, staggering, listlessness and in extreme cases, seizures, coma and death.
If you suspect your dog is suffering from this, rub a little honey or jelly on his gums and see if that helps. You can read more about it here: Hypoglycemia in Chihuahuas.
Kennel Cough
All dogs can get kennel cough but it’s more dangerous in small dogs like chihuahuas.
It’s highly contagious and is usually caused by the Bordetella bacteria but can also be caused by a virus too. To read more about this disease, click here: Kennel Cough.
Patella Luxation
Many dog breeds suffer from this. This condition in layman terms is simply loose knee caps. The cause of this can be genetic or can be caused by injury.
Be sure to keep you dog at a healthy weight as obesity can aggravate the condition. To read more about this condition, click here: Patella Luxation.
Reverse Sneezing
This condition is very common among small breeds. Although it sounds scary, kind of like honking. It’s usually not serious. You can read more about it here: Reverse Sneezing In Chihuahuas.
Seizures
Seizures can be serious and frightening. I have an in-depth article on them here: Seizure Disorders
Shivering
Chihuahuas tend to shiver a lot. It can be caused by several different things. The most common reason is because they are cold.
Being that their breed comes from a hot climate, they have trouble dealing with chilly temperatures.
Chihuahuas also shiver when they are stressed, excited or frightened.
Hypoglycemia can cause shivering too.
You can read more about shivering here: Chihuahua Shaking
Teeth Problems
Chihuahuas have very small mouths, which often causes dental problems with overcrowding with their teeth.
The overcrowding causes food build up in their teeth which causes decay and tooth loss.
Congestive Heart Failure
CHF isn’t known to be a hereditary disease in chihuahuas like it is in other breeds BUT I hear of more and more cases of it from chihuahua owners.
Congestive Heart Failure is when the heart can’t pump the blood needed to the rest of the body.
This causes the blood to become congested in the dog’s lungs, abdomen, or limbs.
There are different conditions that can cause CHF . It’s not curable and eventually it leads to death.
With proper treatment though, a dog with CHF can live for years and have a relatively normal life.
Find out more about it here: Congestive Heart Failure
Tracheal Collapse
In this condition, the dog’s windpipe weakens and collapses, causing the dog to chronically cough and wheeze. It can be quite serious. You can read more about it here Tracheal Collapse
Hopefully, your Chihuahua will stay healthy through out his or her life and never have any of these problems. Veterinary care is vital in keeping your fur baby healthy and happy.
Debbie says
Hi, I am a little worried about my Chihuahua. She started to get heavy and I have been trying to be careful what I feed her. I made her dog food. I get the ground turkey and boil it. Then I puree corn, peas, greenbeans, and sometime spinach. I then add mashed up boiled egg. I also add a little dry food (for over weight dogs) and give her a supplement to be sure she gets everything she needs. She has regular visits to her Vet. Any tips that might help me. She isn’t really a big eater. I also give her occasional treats. Thanks for your time.
Debbie
Sallie says
I would suggest eliminating the corn and using only grain free treats. My little Annie Beck eats about 1/4 to 1/2 cup total per day. She weighs 3.5 pounds. She has dry food for small breed available to her 24/7.
kilosmom says
Good advice Sallie.
Wanda says
I have the same issue, my girls are on hills science diet , metabolic..1/2 cup per day…broken down into 3 meals..with a quarter cup cheerios for bed time snack…they do well..try it. They get weighed every Saturday…weight fluctuates only by a few ounces. This diet was set for us by my vet.
Anonymous says
I ve been cooking for my Chi since I Heard about the dogs dying from the canned dog food. I give her sweet potato she gets meat usually a good piece of sirloin or even filet mignon because I can make smaller pieces and cook as I need she gets vegetable string beans, broccoli, no corn unless it’s creamed corn she gets beans she gets, Potatoes pasta I mix of a righty of different things for her as needed but a small little half a teaspoon of pumpkin every day to keep her bowels regular she is now 15 and doctors are amazed how healthy her blood work is and how great she looks she’s not overweight at all she does get nutritional chow for neuro aging. It doesn’t take long to make things for them and keep in the fridge and the coolest place so doesn’t go bad I have a little container where I keep all her food separate they have a little compartments she needs three times a day. Hope this helps but the best thing you can do is feed her and cook for her or him as more nutrient value in it anyway then the canned crap nu
Nushka
Cathy says
I’ve been doing that a little more lately too. I split an egg among the 3 of them. And they do get a little bit of kibble too. And I take a serving of food from The Farmer’s Dog (home delivered human grade meat and veggies) and split that among the 3 of them. They love it and are doing very well on it.
Anonymous says
Talk to your vet..they’ll put you on a good diet for your dog. I don’t do grain free, heard to much about that, I do stay away from corn. Ingredients should start with meat first.. I don’t google anything as that can be deceiving..
kilosmom says
Hi Debbie, Are you over feeding her? Chis only need 35 calories per pound of body weight a day. And that’s if they are getting some exercise too. I know for me with the dry food I feed my dog, it works out to 1/4 cup in the morning and 1/4 cup in the evening. That’s not much.
Also I think I would skip the corn and peas. They are high in carbohydrates with not a whole lot of nutrition compared to the other stuff.
Pamela Gottling says
Ozzy is a 4.5 pound Chi and Pom mix. I worry about his teeth. As a puppy, he had 7 teeth removed, As a 3 year old adult, his teeth are crooked and spaced unevenly. My concern is tooth decay and gum problems. He will not let me brush and his breath does not smell pretty. He eats only Wellness Core food and treats (no table food) and I use V-Oratene Drinking Water Additive (Enzymatic brushless oral solution).. He also goes for a yearly dental cleaning / exam. Is there anything else I can do to ensure he keeps his teeth (products, etc.)?
kilosmom says
It sounds like you are doing everything you can Pamela. Does Ozzy like to chew? If so, I’d suggest getting him some chew toys and treats like Greenies, Nylabones and antlers
Mary Hegeman says
I have all four of my Chis’ teeth cleaned once a year. It’s expensive but they’re worth it! (They won’t tolerate me brushing them either, and they all use chew bones daily. It’s a breed thing.)
Jen says
Give them raw carrots and dry dog food, things that are crunchy. No dog needs teeth cleaning each year❗
Olga McGuire says
My concern is my 12 years old 2.5 pound Chihuahua has ALWAYS had a dripping/running nose. Her Vet has told me to use Children’s Benadryl, Which did work but I had noticed she just stands around a lot. So I took some and wow I was in la-la land. She has had this problem from the first day I got her which was when she was 6 months old. Her vet says her breathing is good. But now that I have stopped giving her the Benadryl she is so playful and so full of life I am wondering if I can just keep wiping her nose. When she sneezes a lot of mucus comes out. Her diet is hard food and I do cook for her, sometime ground sirloin, chicken, turkey and all with a lot of veggies. She does love her veggies. Any input would be appreciated. And I thank you for your time.
kilosmom says
I take Benadryl when I can’t sleep so I know why your Chi is in la-la land. Yeah you should be able to keep wiping her nose but if you notice it getting too dry, you might want to put a little coconut oil on it.
One thing that may be messing with her allergies is the dry food. Check to see if there are any grains in it. Dogs were never meant to eat grains and some are sensitive to it.
Debbie says
My 10 yr old chihuahua has had a drippy nose for about 5 yrs, just watery drips. I have taken him to several doctors and they think I’m nuts because it doesn’t drip when I am there. They prescribed benadryl but I know that is strong. I give him another antihistamine when it is especially bad, mostly just at night.
Cathy says
I wonder if he’s allergic to something in your house? It sounds like it since his nose doesn’t drip when he is at the vet’s.
Debbie says
Hi, Thanks! I never saw your response… His nose does drip other times when we are out. Just the few times i have taken him to the vet to explain and try to get input, it doesn´t drip.
Jen says
Dogs pick up our problems if they get into our kleenex or lick us. Sometimes they get those things from us, or family.
Janet welch says
my chi has started to get sick,vomiting, but when he does it’s just a small bit and its yellow. I changed his food and only give him sugar snap peas and carrots foe treats. He was fine for about a week, but was sick again during the night..just one time..what would be the next step..he has had X-rays and blood work. Everything came back ok.
kilosmom says
What did your vet say to do Janet? Something is upsetting his tummy. If it was just one time after you changed his food, maybe he’s ok now. If it continues, you may want to experiment with his food again or make his food at home where you can monitor what’s going in it.
amy fisher says
Hey I’m concerned about my 9 month old Chihuahua she is 9 lbs and 9oz hey belly keeps swelling the vet had her on antibiotics and it worked for a couple of days and then her belly started to swell back up and I know she’s not pregnant because she’s a inside dog and I don’t have any male dogs so what could be wrong
kilosmom says
Does she act like she’s in any pain Amy? I can’t imagine what could be wrong but maybe it’s time for another trip to the vet.
Anonymous says
My male chihuahua had the same problem, the vet says his liver and heart are enlarged. Please have you baby seen by a vet.
Alison says
Grain free foods can make a dogs heart and liver swell. I’ve read a lot about this on line.
Amy says
Amy, I am Amy too! My chi was 6 months old when she started getting fat in her belly. At 9 months I took her to the vet. They thought maybe a liver shunt. Before she was 2 years old she was diagnosed with cushings disease. She drinks a ton of water and has a large belly. She is on medicine but she won’t live too much longer. She has a lot of issues. She is the youngest dog my vet has ever diagnosed. Her skin is flaky and cracking and she has lost most of her fur. She eats a lot but has lost so much weight, except in her belly, that she has no muscle mass and I can feel every bone in her back and ribs. I love her to death though. She has also lost the use of her back legs. She did have an osteotomy on her hip and she still never could walk right. Now she wears diapers. But, she is my honey and I will always take care of her. In July she will be 3 years old. Have your vet check for cushings disease.
Tony says
My bobby has massive belly he’d 10 .just had him to vet’s x-ray scan blood results inconclusive.he will not poo. Doesn’t like walking.eats like he is possessed.drinks too much stands staring into space. His stomach is solid all the time.lies down and won’t move unless motivated
Cathy says
OMG, poor little Bobby. He definitely sounds like something major is wrong with him physically.
Ramona Rogers says
Hi, my name is Mona and my Chiquaqua, Queenie, has a swollen eye. She keeps it closed. When I try to clean it, she is in a lot of pain. What do you think it is?
kilosmom says
She could have an injury or infection Ramona. Either way she needs to see a vet as soon as possible.
Ramona Rogers says
Ok, thank you so much
Christina says
Hi i have a 12 year old chihuahua she getting up in age. How can you tell if a tooth is loose or going to fall out.
kilosmom says
You can feel if they are loose if your dog will let you put your finger in her mouth Christina. But really getting checked by a vet is the best way. They know what they are doing.
Joyce says
My 5 year old long coat Chi still has his upper baby teeth. He has regular vet visits. She says she has never seen this before. Have you? What causes this ?? He has two sets of teeth on the top.One up in the gums.
patty says
This is common with Chihuahuas. Those baby teeth need to be removed. They will destroy the adult teeth by being to close and keeping food in between the two teeth. I cant believe the vet had never seen this! Both of my chis had this and their parents and siblings had this!!
Lorrie says
My 1 year old Chi Charlie is always shivering …..I have a doggie shirt that I put on him but he still seems to still be cold ….what can I do to help him ?
Also I feed him dog food but I also give him some people food too like for example …. cooked chicken , white rice , and the crust off my sandwich but I don’t know what the foods are that I can’t or shouldn’t feed him ….can you give me a list of the things he can’t have ?
kilosmom says
Lorrie, read this article on things to keep away from your Chi. It losts a lot of the foods and other things too that are dangerous: https://ilovemychi.com/20-dangerous-things-to-keep-away-from-your-chihuahua/
I also have an article about Chi shivering here: https://ilovemychi.com/why-do-chihuahuas-shiver/
cheryl says
I have a 9 year old female chi that has a large tumor on her left breast ,it is hard ,but opened under ,she cleans it continually, tender,I can’t afford a vet.,so been using tumeric, tea tree oil, Epson salt soaks,any suggestions would be helpful sesi,s mom
kilosmom says
Cheryl, my terri-poo had that and it was cancerous. She really needs to see a vet. See if you can work out a payment plan with them or try Care credit but please get her to a vet before it’s too late. We have an article on what you can do if you can’t afford vet care here: https://ilovemychi.com/what-to-do-when-you-cant-afford-vet-care/
Anonymous says
Please Cheryl try to save money or call and ask vets in your area maybe pro bono work on your baby it is cancer . its very uncomfortable to you little one .
Hengie McInnes says
Hi
I have 3 chi’s, one of which suffers more than the others from sinus, I manage this with homeopathic sinus tablets and it works a charm. I put one or two, depending how bad it is at the time, into a bit of peanut butter and he gobbles it up.
Another issue I have is my other chi has doubled in weight since being sterilised. I know this is common but managing her weight is really difficult especially with other dogs around. I give her 20g of pellets twice a day and add gem squash (a low calorie vegetable found in South Africa) just to fill her up. She isn’t putting on any weight but she certainly isn’t losing any. Any dieting tips for her please?
Thanks so much
kilosmom says
Hi Hengie, Your chubby girl sounds like me. I don’t eat much and I can go on very low calorie diets but won’t lose anything until I add exercise to it. So since you really don’t want to cut her calories any lower, you might want to add some more play time and walks to her routine. If you need ideas on playtime games, here is an article: https://ilovemychi.com/indoor-games-to-play-with-your-chihuahua/
Shelly Blake says
I have an around 2yr old 6lb white chiwawa whose red part of his wewe that keeps coming out often then swelling and is painfully stuck. What experience or advice does anyone have to help my little boy with his swollen private?
Cathy says
Shelley check out this post on this problem: https://www.prouddogmom.com/dogs-penis-stuck/
Shelly Blake says
Jack is such a proid boy lol😁
Shelly Blake says
He is so proud😁.
Esperanza "Espy's" Mommy says
I’m happy to see so many Chihuahua being loved dearly . My little girl had surgery yestersay shes 21 years old . I got her when I was young and didnt know the extreme importance of having her spayed regretfully she had mammery tumors and she will need one more surgery . Ive cooked for her for many years chicken boiled or baked but shes terribly picky its chicken or nothing Ive offered her almost every vegtable but shes stubborn and spoiled . Other than the tumors she has had a few teeth removed but hey shes 21 give the old girl a break . She is still spunky and playful and looks to have a grin on her face at all times . I always say if you do not know her youd never believe the sweet spirit she holds in a tiny body so much personality .I dread the day she gains her wings . Shes my heart .
Cathy says
Wow, 21 years old! You must be doing something right. I’m glad she got through the surgery okay.
Shyloe says
I am scouring the web in search of answers to what is wrong with my little Sadie. Sadie is my 6 year old 4lb Chi. Well, she is a boney 3.5lb at the moment. She has lost a full pound in the last month or so. She eats just as ferociously as always and I’ve been as liberal with her treats as I can, but no change. This sudden weight loss with seemingly no explanation catapulted me to the vet. Other symptoms include sporadic lethargy, upset stomach, extra nervousness with yawning, stretching and paw licking. She sometimes will press her head into my hand as if it relieves some pain or indicates something I don’t understand. All of the symptoms above have been happening on and off for about a year aside from the weight loss which is recent. Also a lot of extra reverse sneezing and coughing. First vet visit we received a prescription for anxiety. This helped a little but I knew did not fix whatever was causing the trouble. Next trip (different vet) blood work revieled mild anemia and a possible infection. As finances are a concern, we treated her with an antibiotic but did not locate the source of infection. She responded beautifully and seemed back to her old self until about a month ago . We returned to the vet and found she lost 1 pound since her vusit 9 months ago. Physical exam is good and blood work shows a slightly elevated white count but did not concern the vet. They gave her an antienflamatory which doesnt seem to be helping. I can’t bare to see her sad and so thin but I also can’t afford to keep going to the vet for nothing. I am hoping someone might be able to shed some light on these strange and concerning symptoms.
Cathy says
Sadie is such a cute little girl!
I can understand your frustration and worry. She sure has a lot of different symptoms. I wish I had the answers for you.
One thing really concerning is the head pressing. That can indicate a neural problem or some kind of toxic poisoning. Does your vet know about the head pressing?
Midge says
My chi is very overweight. She gets same food as mama. Mama is 9lbs. Baby is 20 lbs. Biggest problem is that Bella (baby) leaves balls of round, hard feces all around the house. I try to watch when she goes out but can never catch her using bathroom. What could be wrong?
Cathy says
Has her poop always been hard or is this a recent development?
It sounds like she may have a thyroid issue. Get it checked by a vet. If it is hypothyroidism, it’s a relatively inexpensive pill they take once or twice a day to get it under control.
Jean says
My 14 year old Chihuahua, Toby, has been diagnosed with “Old Dog Distibular” syndrome (or disease). He’s been on small dosages of steroids for 10 day increments, plus an anti-inflamitory from his Vet! There’s nothing more can be done right now, but provide love and care for him.😪 Bless his heart, it’s just one day at a time. I’ve had him since he was eight weeks old!💓🐂
Cathy says
Poor little guy! What a great pet parent you are for doing what you can to keep him comfortable.
Kristin says
Hey there, my sweet old lady Chi is 13 years old and 2.2 lbs. Here recently she has started yelping or like a quick, screeching cry, randomly in the middle of her sleep. At first I thought it might be bad dreams but the more I researched it, seems like maybe she is having a seizure. I always go right over to her and comfort her softly when it happens. It is happening more frequently these days. Is there anything I can do for her?
Cathy says
I’d try some CBD oil before bed. It’s been shown to help with some seizure cases. I give my elderly dog the King Kanine brand but there are some other good brands out there.
Doris says
I have a 16 year Chihuahua. I give her to eat dry food but I mix with water to make it soft as it has few teeth.. She is satisfied of the food but I wish to make some homemade treats which it can be made soft. Can you send me recipe please. I will be very happy to make it as my little chi has a very sensitive stomach.
Thanks
And regards Doris
Cathy says
I don’t have any soft treat recipes Doris but that sounds like a great blog post idea. I’ll do some research and write an article about it.
Strugler says
Hi. I was wondering if anyone knew about the problem I’m having with my teacup chi. Any help would be appreciated!!
Cathy says
What’s the problem?
Strugler says
This is a side view. Idk if my other comment went thru. She has trouble getting around. Her toes are like they have no muscle in them. She looks like she is walking on her ankles. So to speak.
Cathy says
Has she always been like that? If so it’s probably a deformity she was born with. If it’s something recent you need to get her to a vet as soon as possible.
Anonymous says
She has trouble walking. Her toes don’t seem like they have any muscles in them. It looks like she is walking on her ankles so to speak.
Anonymous says
This is a side view
Debi Dee says
I rescued my little Ollie in October 2019 and they told me he was 10 yrs old. He plays like a puppy and loves to be chased by my larger wirehaired terrier. He never asks to come up on the furniture or tries himself which I thot was due to his being tiny. After one round of chasing, he started limping and then I noticed he was holding his back left leg up and had difficulty going up the one step to get outside. Sounds like patellar luxation according to the description given.
The rescue didn’t observe this problem in the 2 wks they had him in foster care. But I don’t want him to be in pain so guess a visit to the vet is required. The first time it happened about a month ago, he was lying down that evening but was fine without limping the next morning. Does it sometimes slip back and forth on it’s own? Since it’s the weekend, I’m just observing him for signs of pain and not letting him out the steps. Will call the vet’s office Monday.
Cathy says
Yeah it can slip back and forth and be fine one day and not so good the next.
Let us know what the vet says.