Chihuahua Health Issues

Before you decide to bring a Chihuahua into your family, there are some Chihuahua Health Issues that you should be aware of. While this breed tends to be healthy, it does have specific issues you should know about. For instance, while the breed tends to be long lived, some common genetic problems include Patellar Luxuation, eye problems, hypoglycemia, heart disease and tooth and gum ailments. Chihuahua health is a concern for all Chihuahua owners.

Luxation of the patella, is the dislocation of the kneecap. It is a common Chihuhua health hereditary problem shared with other small breeds. Patellar luxation can occur in varying degrees – it can be minimal or debilitating. Young dogs may be able to compensate for this deformity, but the condition gets worse over time. Most of the time, you will not notice the condition when the dog is young as symptoms of patellar luxation become obvious only as the dog ages.

The dislocation is usually on the inner side of the patella. The ligaments stretch over time until the patella is not where it is supposed to be. It then can "pop" in and out of place very easily. Immediate treatment is recommended when the Chihuahua is a puppy, rather then waiting until the dislocation has crippled the dog. The Chihuahua health can depend on strengthening the muscular sections. Patellar luxation is an inherited trait and dogs with the condition should not be bread.

Another issue with Chihuahua health is the “Reverse Sneeze.” This is where the dog sneezes, snorts, honks and wheezes. The condition is caused by a elongated soft palate that becomes temporarily misaligned. It is most common in toy breeds. There are may events that may trigger a reverse sneeze including pulling hard on a leash, drinking too fast or getting overly excited.

Like in humans, Chihuahua health can be affected by Hypoglycemia. This is a condition where the Chihuahua’s blood sugar level drops to an extremely low level, which causes "sugar shock." When levels of glucose drop quickly, the dog's body and brain are deprived of essential nutrients. Hypoglycemia can cause weakness, seizures, coma, and in severe cases, death.

Chihuahua health is affected by hypoglycemia because they are so small. They are especially prone to when they are very young. Hypoglycemia is can be caused by stress, illness, lack of food, or by using up stored energy without it being replenished.

Another Chihuahua health issue is progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). This is a collective term comprising a group of hereditary degenerative lesions of the retina. Generally PRA is characterized by night blindness. When both eyes are affected dogs eventually become totally blind. Central PRA (also called RPE dystrophy) is characterized by accumulations of pigment in the layer of pigmented lining of the retina. This results in day blindness and eventually terminates in total blindness.

Some dog breeds, including the Chihuahua, are genetically predisposed to formation of cystine crystals which are crystals formed out of amino acid called cystine. This is usually found in the urine and can eventually lead to stone formations in kidneys and bladder. These stones can cause irritation and infection.
Signs of Cystinuria usually include blood in the urine, difficulty and pain in urinating, and small frequent amounts of urine. If a stone completely obstructs the urethra, it blocks the outflow of urine. This is more common in male dogs than female, and may cause kidney failure, vomiting, depression, or loss of appetite.
If you have this breed of dog, Chihuahua health should be a prime concern for you.

How To Groom Long Haired Chihuahuas

There are two breeds of Chihuahuas. Long haired Chihuahuas are recognized in the United States as a separate category from their short haired cousins. You should know, however, that both of these kinds of dogs are considered the same in both Canadian and British kennel clubs.

You should know that long haired Chihuahuas need more grooming than their short haired companions, but they still are not difficult to manage. They shed much less than you would imagine.

Long haired Chihuahuas have soft, fine guard hairs. These are smoother to touch than short haired dogs. While he short haired Chihuahuas don’t require much grooming, longer haired ones should be brushed once a day.

It can take 2 years for a long haired Chihuahua to develop its full coat. During this time, you should prepare your house to collect the hair when they do shed. Most importantly, you should keep your house clean and clutter free. This is especially important if you have people in the house that are either sensitive to dog hair, or who have breathing ailments like asthma. It is also a good idea to purchase a small vacuum cleaner to use near the dog’s hang out in the house.

it is a good idea to buy a small pair of scissors because long haired Chihuahuas are known for their irregular grooming. They can shed at different times. For owners, who want to keep their dogs looking good, hand a small pair of relatively sharp trimming scissors can do the trick.

These long haired Chihuahuas also can get a lot of lice in their coats. A good anti lice soap or shampoo is essential. Getting rid of lice keeps the dogs happy and healthy, and stops them scratching all over the place. This stops them from damaging their coats and scratching themselves. It also stops lice from getting all over the furniture, which is be a nasty byproduct of the long haired Chihuahuas’ shiny fur coat.

You don't need a lot of special products to keep long haired Chihuahuas groomed well. Shampoo and a good comb will do. Also, get an anti lice and mite comb, which can help scrape away excess dry skin which prevents lice. Taking care of long haired Chihuahuas is actually quite easy compared with other kinds of dogs. Their long fur coats are not the longest in the dog world, even though they are longer than the short haired variety.

Because Chihuahuas are small (under 6 pounds), they can be groomed pretty easily and quickly, so it doesn't take up much of your time. A veterinarian can give you some more tips to groom long haired Chihuahua puppies.

Grooming Chihuahuas is important for their overall health as well as for the safety and comfort of your home. In addition, it is not difficult. In fact, long haired Chihuahuas are some of the easiest dogs to take care of in terms of grooming. Just remember that they need to be brushed daily and shampooed every couple of weeks. Take care of any lice problems immediately.

And that is how to take care of long haired Chihuahuas.

How to Train Chihuahuas With Praise And Affection

You don’t have to go to an obedience class to start training Chihuahuas. In fact, Chihuahuas are some of the easiest dogs to train. Classes for big, out of control dogs aren’t appropriate for this breed. You don’t need to dominate and force this dog to obey. In fact, training Chihuahuas should either be done on your own or in classes with other small dogs.

Chihuahuas respond best to gentle training techniques. Here are some things to keep in mind when training Chihuahuas.

1. You should guide, not force your dog. Chihuahuas want to please their human companions. If you show them what pleases you, they will be quick to comply. But if you force them, a stubborn streak comes out.
2. Training Chihuahuas does not require punishment. Gentle correction is almost always sufficient for getting the dog to do what you want.
3. Reward the dog when he or she pleases you. This will let him know what he should do. Always accent the positive when training Chihuahuas.
4. Chihuahuas respond well to food based reinforcement. Don’t start a Chihuahua training session when the dog has just eaten. Working on an empty stomach tends to get the best results.
5. You should keep training sessions short and fun. A Chihuahua training experience should be no more than 10 minutes at a time. You should also begin and end the session with something the dog already does well.
6. Avoid training when you are already tired and angry. Chihuahuas need your love and patience.

Potty training must be one of the first areas that you teach your dog. You should find a place for them to pee and poo and then consistently reinforce this behavior. This is especially important if your Chihuahua is going to be a house dog.

Chihuahuas are intelligent dogs. They don’t hunt, herd, or guard so they can’t “show off” the way other breeds do. But this doesn’t mean that they don’t like to do tricks. In fact, they often show what they can do through obedience and agility trials. Even if you don’t compete in formal competitions with your dog, you can enjoy training Chihuahuas.

One way of training Chihuahuas is with a ticker. You teach your pet that a “click” means a reward is coming. Then, over time, you only click when your dog has done something you want it to do. This reinforces the behavior.

In training Chihuahuas you should always be gentle with them. Don’t try to use choke collars because their necks can get hurt easily. Instead, use the flat buckle collar or harness to protect its trachea.

Exercise must be done on a daily basis. But, your Chihuahua may not need long walks because it has an energetic nature so running around an apartment is enough exercise for the dog.

In summary, you should always stretch your patience when training Chihuahuas. Consistency is vital if you want to ensure that your little dog obeys and remains loyal to you.

10 Things You Should Know About Chihuahuas

Here are 10 things you should know about Chihuahuas before you buy one. Chihuahuas have entered the realm of popular culture. Celebrities carry them around in their purses and movies are made about them. But before you buy a dog, here are some things to know about Chihuahuas.

1. The first thing you should know about Chihuahuas is that they need lots of attention. You should be prepared to play games, interact, and talk to your dog. Chihuahuas are a highly social dog and they bond strongly with their owners. They are not dogs that enjoy being alone at home all day.

2. If you have young children, the Chihuahua will compete with them for attention. The dogs don’t have a lot of tolerance for noise, though they make a racket themselves. You should also know about Chihuahuas that they can be biters. While they do not inflict serious damage most of the time, it is not a breed that makes sense if you have young children.

3. Chihuahuas don’t like changing residences. They are happy living their lives in one place. So, if you are a highly mobile family, you should consider a different breed. If you do move homes, you should be prepared for an upset dog at first.

4. Another thing you should know about Chihuahuas is that they don’t like for there to be other pets in the home. Sure, you can have a goldfish, but if there are other animals competing for your attention, your Chihuahua will not be happy. Chihuahuas often stand up to dogs twice their size and there can be a lot of fights if you have other pets in the home.

5. Contrary to the images that celebrities project with their “pocket pets,” Chihuahuas don’t like to be carried around. They enjoy running, walking, and playing, not being a fashion accessory.

6. Chihuahuas are not good travelers. If you are going across country in either a car or airplane, be prepared for problems from your pooch as they do not like being confined in a carrier.

7. About Chihuahuas, they like their personal space. The dog is very territorial and can dominate its space. You should expect the breed to be quite aggressive if a family member intrudes on what the dog has defined as his or her space.

8. Chihuahuas are jumpers. You will be surprised at just how much trouble a Chihuahua can get into in your kitchen! They can jump more than two feet from a standing position. Keep this in mind when you are stocking shelves.

9. They get cold easily. One thing every owner should know about Chihuahuas is that their short hair and bony frame means that they don’t retain heat well. If you live in a cold climate, buy sweaters and coats to keep them warm. Also, give them a warm bed with blankets if needed. If they’re cold, they can throw a tantrum.

10. Your Chihuahua is high strung. To keep him or her in line, it is important to keep their most common personality traits in mind when making training decisions. Before buying a Chihuahua, know as much about the dog’s background as possible.

So, those are 10 things you should know about Chihuahuas before you make the decision to buy one.