Learn how to groom a long-haired chihuahua! What you need to know!

Unsurprisingly, being one the smallest purebred dogs, figuring out Chihuahuas isn’t an easy job. They have personalities; but sometimes, their unorthodox traits (that are positive in nature) get mingled with their unusual traits, and that’s when alarm bells start ringing. So, in the wake of that realization, we’re here to make the process of ‘figuring out’ a Chihuahua a little easier for you.

Here’s a list of 6 health issues in Chihuahuas you should pay attention to:

Movement

Celebrities around the world carry Chihuahuas as a part of their fashion statement. This chiefly is owing to their small size and adorable appearance. But, it is important to remember they are but dogs and dogs need to roam about freely no matter how fragile they are. Stagnation can be very problematic for Chihuahuas which can cause various health problems.

They need to play a game of tug or with toys or such other things as they are very agile. Moreover, their energies need to be channelized. Being sedentary makes them feel very gloomy, grumpy and old! Pet owners need to take care they have enough movement and look for the fact that the dog is happy.

Luxating Patella

The Chihuahua owners should keep in mind that these fragile, little dogs have very fragile legs. They need to be very carefully handled as a simple jump from a sofa or the owner’s arms, owing to its mischievous nature, might cause their bones to break or cause a luxating patella.

A luxating patella in a chihuahua occurs when the patella of the dog, which is normally positioned on the thigh bone groove, slips out of the synchronized arrangement. In such cases, you have to take serious note, as such chihuahua health ailments might affect your dog severely. It can occur in one or both hind limbs. In a breed like Chihuahuas, this de-synchronization occurs in a medial way or in a direction going to the interior of the affected limb.

Before you start delving deeper into diseases, it’s important to take note of a few points regarding how pet insurance works. In fact, pet insurance functions more in a way like property insurance than health insurance. So, the policyholder has to directly pay for the healthcare of the pet and only then get reimbursed by the insurance-providing firm.

It is very important to note these insurances never cover already existing diseases or abnormalities. It is financially beneficial when some serious accident or sudden illness occurs that have the ability to bring home very high bills from the vet.

Abnormalities in defecation

This is the hardest part! Agile as they are, defecation training to Chihuahuas becomes very difficult. They do not have a will to defecate almost always but the pet owners must keep in mind they are tiny beings with tiny digestive systems. It is natural they cannot hold on for long intervals.

So, if the owner cannot always cater to its needs, it should at least be trained on how to visit a litter box. This is a feasible measure making both contended. Asking it to hold for long forcefully might cause more serious troubles, adding on to more vet expenditure.

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chihuahua with strong and healthy teeth – model: bella the famous chihuahua

when gum disease starts, it’s usually goes unnoticed because there are no outward signs and symptoms.  however, once it begins to accelerate in growth, it can damage your chihuahua’s mouth resulting in eroded gums, teeth falling out, bone loss, internal pain, suffering and even death.

the good news is that gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, can be prevented.

why do chihuahuas get gum disease

after your chihuahua eats, bacteria mixed with saliva and food begins to create an unpleasant film over the teeth called plaque that’s recognized as foreign matter to the immune system.  this foreign matter triggers the immune system to react and it begins to assemble white blood cells to attack the foreign matter.

enzymes then released by the white blood cells fight to break down gum tissue resulting in inflamed gums, damaged tissue and bone loss.  in chihuahuas, it eventually leads to tooth loss if proper dental care is neglected.

because chihuahuas have a more alkaline environment in their mouths that propels plaque formation than humans do, they are five times more likely to get periodontal disease.

brushing the hidden back molars of your chihuahua’s teeth should not be overlooked

plaque-forming bacteria also multiplies if your chihuahua’s teeth are not brushed every day, which also includes lifting their lips and thoroughly cleaning their hidden and hard to get at back molars.

the dangers of gum disease in chihuahuas

if plaque and mineral deposits (dental calculus) on your chihuahua’s teeth is not cleaned with regular brushing and routine veterinary dental care, it will result in halitosis (bad breath), gingivitis (painful inflammation of the gums), tooth loss and full on periodontal disease.

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