your chihuahua can not explain its symptoms, so it’s your responsibility to keep him or her healthy and to determine whether or not they need veterinary care. chihuahuas tend to want to hide their illness, so it is up to you to check your chihuahua for abnormalities.
not knowing if your chihuahua is feeling sick or how to care for your chihuahua when they are sick can be VERY stressful! this article will help you determine if your chihuahua is showing signs and symptoms of being ill and when you need to take them to see a veterinarian.
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be prepared: questions your veterinarian may ask
your veterinarian may ask additional questions to help localize or diagnose the problem. it may help to be prepared to answer some of the following questions:
- how long have you owned your chihuahua?
- where did you get your chihuahua (adoption center, breeder, previous stray)?
- what other type of pets do you have?
- what is the age of your chihuahua?
- has your chihuahua experienced any previous illnesses?
- is your chihuahua currently under treatment for an illness or disease?
- what preventative medications is your chihuahua currently taking?
- does your chihuahua receive consistent flea treatment?
- are any other pets ill?
- has he/she been vaccinated? if so, when? which vaccines?
- have there been any recent pet acquisitions?
- have there been any recent activities such as boarding, grooming, trip to the park?
- is a majority of your chihuahua’s time spent indoors or outdoors?
- have there been any recent changes in diet or eating habits?
- what brand of food, how much and how frequently does your chihuahua eat?
- what type of table scraps are offered and how frequently?
- what type of treats are offered and how frequently?
- how much water does your chihuahua typically drink per day?
- have there been any recent changes in water consumption?
- have you noticed any coughing or sneezing?
- have you noticed any lumps or bumps on your chihuahua?
- is your chihuahua urinating normally?
- Is your dog having normal bowel movements?
- when is the last time he/she had a bowel movement?
- have you noticed any recent weight loss or weight gain?
after answering some general questions, more specific questions need to be answered. a brief cursory exam of your chihuahua at home can help you determine the answers. these questions are also commonly asked when chihuahua owners are seeking help over the phone.
be prepared to answer the following questions, depending on the problem with your chihuahua:
regarding the eyes
- have you noticed an increase or decrease in tear production?
- do the eyes appear cloudy or red?
- have you noticed any discharge coming from the eyes?
- do the eyes appear bloodshot?
- are the pupils the same size in both eyes?
- have you noticed your chihuahua rubbing or pawing at the eyes?
- is your chihuahua squinting?
- do the eyes appear to be sunken or excessively protruding?
regarding the ears
- do you notice any swelling or discharge from the ears?
- are the ears drooping when they normally stand erect?
- are the ears red and inflamed?
- do you notice any odor to the ears?
- is your chihuahua rubbing or pawing at the ears?
- have you noticed a lot of head shaking?
- have you noticed any pain or crying when you rub or scratch your chihuahua’s ears?
regarding the nose
- have you noticed any congestion, sneezing or coughing?
- have you noticed any blood coming from the nose?
- have you noticed any nasal discharge?
regarding the mouth
- have you noticed any swelling of the lips or tongue?
- have you noticed any bleeding from the mouth?
- what color are the gums – tissue just above the teeth?
looking inside the mouth
- are there any foreign objects such as bones or sticks stuck on the roof of the mouth or around the teeth?
- is your chihuahua able to open and close the mouth normally?
- is there any pain involved in opening or closing the mouth?
- have you noticed any excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth?
- is your chihuahua able swallow food normally?
regarding the chest
- is your chihuahua experiencing any difficulty breathing?
- have you noticed excessive panting?
- is there any pain when the chest area is petted?
- have you noticed any recent coughing?
- is the heartbeat steady and consistent?
- what is the heart rate?
place your hand or your ear on the left side of your chihuahua’s chest, just behind the elbow. you should be able to feel or hear the heartbeat. count how many beats the heart pumps in one minute.
regarding the abdomen/stomach area
- has your chihuahua been having any diarrhea or vomiting?
- is your chihuahua able to eat and drink normally?
- does the abdomen/stomach area appear swollen or distended?
- does your chihuahua appear to be in pain when the stomach area is petted?
- is your chihuahua known to chew on non-food items such as clothing, towels, rocks, or other items?
regarding the urinary and reproductive systems
- have you noticed any difference in urinating?
- does your chihuahua seem to strain to urinate or cry in pain?
- does your chihuahua repeatedly try to urinate with no urine produced?
- is there any blood in the urine?
- how frequently does your chihuahua urinate?
- is your female chihuahua spayed?
- has your female ever had puppies? if so, at what age?
- if your female is not spayed, when was her last heat cycle and was she bred?
- do you notice any discharge from the vaginal area?
- is your male chihuahua neutered? if so, at what age?
- do you notice any discharge from the penis?
- if your chihuahua is not neutered, do you notice any swelling of the testicles?
- have you noticed your chihuahua excessively licking or grooming the genital area?
regarding the musculoskeletal system – bones and joints
- have you noticed any limping?
- are any legs or joints swollen?
- has your chihuahua been excessively licking at one area of his/her legs?
- does your chihuahua show signs of pain when walking?
- is your chihuahua able to walk normally?
- does your chihuahua walk on his/her knuckles?
- does your chihuahua drag any legs when walking?
- does your chihuahua seem to be in pain when petting him or her?
by supplying the answers these questions, your veterinarian will be in a much better position to help your chihuahua. additional tests may be necessary to find out what the problem is, but the answers to the above questions can greatly narrow the area of concern.
please note that famous chihuahua is providing this information to chihuahua owners as a guide so you know when to take your chihuahua to see your veterinarian. if at any time your chihuahua is showing signs or symptoms of illness and discomfort, don’t wait, just go the vet!
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the amazing ebook, caring for chihuahuas made easy, breed information, health care and nutrition teaches you about common chihuahua health problems and how to properly care for your chihuahua! it also teaches you the secret to making your chihuahua live longer!
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Comments 550
My 7 month old chi seemed normal. Eating, pooping, peeing, playing. All of a sudden he acted strange. Seemed to be trying to tell us something. He was running around still playing, but he was breathing a little hard. Not panting. He’d be normal. After less than 48 hours his condition went to severe breathing as if his stomach hurt. He layed flat on his stomach with his head down & forward & both front legs flat with bended elbows at his sides. He would look up, yawn, then close his eyes as if he was sleepy. This went off and on for 3 hours, with times of him getting up appearing normal. Then all of a sudden he was on the floor & cried out loud. We immediately got ready to take him to the emergency vet. In the meantime he managed to jump on the bed & I noticed he had a normal poop on the floor, but he was crying. Once we got to the vet they hooked him up to oxygen. The vet would not perform any procedures until we gave money. We asked to just give the xray then we can determine the next step because we, did not have alot of money nor credit. Finally an hour later we paid they finally xrayed & called us in. All the while our poor baby laid by himself because they would not allow us, with him. The xray showed his left lung was 95% filled with fluid,. As we looked at it, the nurse came rushing in and we heard our baby cry loud. They came in & told us he was dieing. They finally brought him to us & blood was pouring from his nose. They immediately took him away to euthanize him. We left there with our beautiful baby boy Bingo dead, in a white box with his name on it. They gave no explanation , rhyme or reason. Just sorry. We’re devastated. A perfectly healthy baby dead in 5 hours. If your baby has anything, I mean anything differently wrong, especially with his breathing, don’t wait, go to the vet & get xray, blood tests & pray! God forbid they suffer one second. I’ll never forgive myself for this unexpected tragic event. Get pet insurance & regular check ups. I wish I would have. I miss him so much.
Valerie, I have been having the same problems with my chi. He is almost two yrs, old. He came to us very ill. He has been to the vets more than once and has had all the blood work and nothing. I did some research and read that toy breeds commonly are hypoglycemic. I started giving him a tsp of honey when he seemed lethargic. IT WORKED!! So Happy. He finally started putting weight on and was acting like a normal dog finally. He doubled his weight in 2 months time. I am not a vet. This is just my experience, but it doesn’t hurt to try. Unfortunately, my baby is sick again, one vet is telling me possible liver disease. Who knows?? The sugar I believe is still an issue, but I do think he has other ailments as well.
He is
My chihuahua is five yrs. doesn’t drink enough water always licking his lips Yet he go’s out side and eats the grass when he won’t eat his food dry or the wet.Then he act so disoriented and start hiding getting too himself, He is fine when he gets to the Vet.
I like that you touched on how the dog’s mouth should work. It makes sense that if the dog is having trouble opening and closing its mouth normally, there could be a serious problem. My chihuahua has been chewing very oddly and I think taking him to the vet to have his mouth inspected would be good.
Jules get a pancreatitis test sounds like what happens to my boy. If it’s positive it’ll require overnight stays at a vet hospital. So make sure your vet does overnights.
My 8 year old female Guchi has been sick for about 3 weeks… Getting progressively worse…
After more than half a dozen vet trips I am at my wit’s end as to how to help her…
Blood work came back
Red cell count normal
White cell count normal
Platelet normal
Liver function normal
Renal function normal
X-ray showed no abnormalities…
Symptoms include
Lathargic
Lack of enthusiasm
Little appetite
Shivering and spasms
She moans when I pick her up
She is progressively becoming less able to stand and walk…
The vet here (I live in Thailand) has no answers…
Does anybody have any suggestions
Please
Valarie Wadkins, my Angel is experiencing the same symptoms. Were you able to get any answers on your baby?
My chi is a six yr. old male, had him to the vet, blood test taken numbers perfect, urine sample ok, became constipated gave ennama cleared out bowels ok,started running and hiding throwing head side to side. He seems to want to find whats bothering him in his rear end any answers ?
My Deer head chi is about 9 years old, and today I noticed a lump has appeared on his chest. What could this be please?
Patty spauldind said her puppy acts like its been doing speed or something and my little guy acts the same way sometimes and i dont know why he keeps crying and just wants constant attention and is super jittery could this be a neorologic disorder please help me i dont have money for a vet and a bunch of tests
My chihuahua is about 20 months olds he throws up a lot and he’s not eating he’s like ok one day and the next he’s sick do any no what’s wrong I take him to the vet he does good for about 3 days
My 5 month old baby girl chihuahua was letargic and wobbly last night, she would run, and then fall over. Brought her to the emergency vet, over $200 , and still no answers. I started readind these comments and alot of them matched exactly how she was acting. Like a burst of energy running, and then she would fall over snd go limp, I am so worried about her. Can someone please let me know whats going on with this!
may have unsubscribed,,,not sure. would love to contiue to recieve traing and helpful info thanks cassy lora
My chi is around 2 years old and when I got home my son was sitting by her and she started screaming. I thought it was something my son did but she was sitting in the living room by herself and started doing it again with he tail between her legs so I picked her up and she was fine for a min then did it again.. please someone tell me what is wrong with her
I don’t know what’s wrong with her she won’t lay still keeps throwing her head around you think she did speed but you didn’t there’s none of that around here what do I do
My Chihuahua is bloated and shaken alot trying to find nearby vet or advice please help
Author
Please consider reviewing this page https://www.famouschihuahua.com/book/ This book has the answers.
Author
Check out https://www.famouschihuahua.com/book/
My chi is doing the samething was fine yesterday and the last night we notice vomiting and she not eating she went outside for a few then came in thats when she wasnt herself my husband gave her milk she vomit and started feeling better but still not eating.
We have a 4 yr old Chihuahua and all of a sudden yesterday he started panting when we didn’t hear a noise or anything and every few hours he does it again??? Any idea of what this could be???
Yes Val Wadkins!
My 18 yo Chi started with those same symptoms as of Monday night…
wobbly head, teary eyes, barely eating won’t poop with gas
Have they figured-out anything on your Chi yet?
My chi just ate something while we was walking and now he feel kinda drowsy should I be worried
My 3 yo chi has been to the vet numerous times so I’m not asking for advice.. I am asking if any other chi owners have experienced the same that we are. She went from being a totally normal healthy full of life and energy little girl to sleepy wobbly barely eating won’t poop on her own little girl. It is breaking our hearts and racking our brains and the vets trying to figure out what is wrong with her. 2 blood panels. 1 stool sample. Multiple enemas. Just looking to see if anyone else has had some experience with this. Please let me know.
Our blue Chihuahua has upset stomach her chest seems extended also. We just moved but her poo is liquid and she struggled to get it out.