Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “chihuahua health concerns”
what exactly are merle chihuahuas?
merle chihuahuas are said to be the latest ‘style’ or ‘designer color’ to gain popularity within chihuahua breeding during the past 15 years, but due to potential health problems, merle chihuahuas are rarely mentioned in credible books about genetic coloring patterns of the breed.
the chihuahua puppy in this video is experiencing a classic episode of reverse sneezing. it might look and sound concerning, but it’s usually harmless and often seen in small breed dogs.
what is reverse sneezing?
reverse sneezing is quite common in chihuahuas. it is also known as mechanosensitive aspiration reflex, inspiratory paroxysmal respiration, and pharyngeal gag reflex. it is caused by a spasm of the throat and soft palate that is triggered by an irritation to the throat, pharynx, or laryngeal area.
in a regular sneeze, air is pushed out through the nose. in a reverse sneeze, air is pulled rapidly and noisily in through the nose. you might think your chihuahua is choking or having a respiratory attack as the sound that occurs with reverse sneezing is sudden and startling. don’t panic, your chihuahua will be okay.
however, if you are concerned that your chihuahua has a health problem, you can review these common signs and symptoms of a sick chihuahua.
typically, a chihuahua will stand still with its elbows spread apart, head extended and eyes bulging as it makes a loud snorting sound that can last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes.
what are common triggers of reverse sneezing?
your chihuahua’s teeth should be brushed everyday. it will help to keep your chihuahua’s teeth and gums clean, healthy and free of periodontal gum disease.
start brushing your chihuahua’s teeth early, so it becomes routine they willingly become accustomed to. early brushing will also prevent the likelihood of other chihuahua health problems.
(photo: minnie pearl by lauren quinn)
what should you use to brush your chihuahua’s teeth?
use a child’s soft-bristle toothbrush, a finger toothbrush, gauze around a finger or a cotton swab.
““teaka the famous chihuahua is a very healthy 16 years old because of this!”
did you know chihuahuas can live up to 18 years old if you do two things?
here’s what you need to do to help your chihuahua live a long and healthy life:
shaking puppy syndrome is a disease that effects the central or peripheral nervous system of the brain and is medically termed hypomyelination. the good news is that your puppy can grow out of it and still grow up to live a happy and healthy life.
at birth, often puppies that develop the syndrome are normal. they later develop symptoms at 1 – 2 weeks old. typically they begin to tremor and it’s predominantly more noticeable in the hind legs.
if you have a newborn puppy that isn’t able to nurse because it’s too small, too weak, or has too much competition from the other siblings in it’s litter, you can feed them formula by using a syringe.
did you know that a popular pet food label myth is that “meat first” on the ingredient list means more and better-quality meat?
it’s a fact, consumers tend to focus on the ingredients in pet food rather than on the nutrient value and digestibility of the food. this occurs because people can’t understand pet food labels, so they look for anything that relates to human food labels.
what information should you look for?
what pet owners should look at is the nutrient value and whether it meets the daily requirements their pets need and how well those essential nutrients will be absorbed during digestion.
because the ingredient list provides little information on the nutritional value or overall quality of a pet food, look for one of these three statements on the packaging that must answer these important questions:
clearly, the need to improve and simplify pet food labels is necessary
people want the best for their pets as they are often seen as family members, so to help consumers make better and more informed decisions, data label specialists and ethical dog food companies are creating info graphics that show:
the must-read article, calls for clearer labeling on pet food, educates and shows the consumer these very helpful info graphics.
for chihuahua owners specifically, the ebook, caring for chihuahuas made easy: breed information, health care and nutrition also provides you with helpful information on pet food labeling.
start now. do the research. educate yourself on the importance of understanding pet food labels. your pet will thank you for it!
reference: important-information-you-could-be-misreading-on-the-pet-food-label
