patellar luxation: what you should know about this knee problem in chihuahuas

nadia chihuahua facts, chihuahua health concerns 32 Comments

the chihuahua breed is known to have the knee condition known as patellar luxation and is one of the most common health problems associated with chihuahuas.   the knee is a complex structure consisting of muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bones.  these components must align properly and interact harmoniously in order to function properly.  three bones are included in the knee: the femur, the tibia, and the patella (kneecap).

the lower front portion of the femur (thigh bone) in a normal chihuahua has two bony ridges that form a fairly deep groove in which the patella is supposed to slide up and down.  these structures limit the patella’s movement to one restricted place, and in doing so, control the activity of the quadriceps muscle.  the entire system is constantly lubricated by joint fluid.  it works so that there is total freedom of motion between the structures.

diagram of the anatomy of a normal knee cap

diagram of the anatomy of a normal knee cap

patellar luxation (or trick knee, subluxation of patella, or floating patella), occurs when the patella, or kneecap, dislocates or moves out of its normal location.

when the patella is luxated in a chihuahua, the ridges forming the patellar groove are not prominent, and a too-shallow groove is created.  in a chihuahua with shallow grooves, the patella will luxate (jump out of the groove) sideways, especially toward the inside.  this can causes the leg to ‘lock up’ with the foot held off the ground.

chihuahua with a luxating patella on both hind legs

chihuahua with a luxating patella on both hind legs
(like teaka the famous chihuahua has as seen in the video above)

when the patella luxates from the groove of the femur, it usually cannot return to its normal position until the quadriceps muscle relaxes and increases in length.  this is why a chihuahua may be forced to hold their leg up for a few minutes after this occurs because the muscles are contracted, the patella is luxated from its correct position and the joint is held in a flexed or bent position.  pain is caused by the knee cap sliding across the bony ridges of the femur.

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Why do Chihuahuas shiver or shake?

nadia chihuahua health concerns, chihuahua pictures

Chihuahuas are known to shiver or shake.  Shaking is so common in chihuahuas, that often people take it as a chihuahua breed characteristic.  Sometimes the shaking, shivering or trembling make owners so worried, they think there is something wrong with their chihuahua.  However, there’s nothing to be worried about.  It’s actually a common behavior in chihuahuas.  Not all Chihuahuas shake, but there are reasons for the ones that do.  Check out the video for what they might be!

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Tracheal collapse in chihuahuas: Quick tips from a veterinarian to identify it!

nadia chihuahua health concerns

Tracheal collapse is a serious issue in chihuahuas. Here are signs to look for in this condition.

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tips to keep your chihuahua safe, happy and healthy this halloween!

nadia chihuahua costumes, chihuahua health concerns, halloween 3 Comments

cute chihuahua cow

halloween is fast approaching and famous chihuahua® would like to ensure chihuahua owners keep their chihuahuas safe, happy and healthy by asking them to follow these simple safety tips:

select costumes carefully
if you dress up your chihuahua up for halloween, choose a costume that doesn’t limit their movement, hearing, sight or ability to breath or bark. check for any choking hazards also.

skip the sweets
avoid feeding your chihuahua halloween candy. many treats can be toxic to your chihuahua’s health and those that contain the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous. even small amounts can cause a drop in blood sugar and result in seizures. also avoid feeding them chocolate. dark chocolate and bakers chocolate can be especially dangerous.

throw away candy wrappers
ingesting aluminum or cellophane can cause intestinal blockage and induce vomiting. throw those candy wrappers in the garbage to avoid them becoming a play toy for your pet.

keep your chihuahua in another room during the trick-or-treating rush
halloween can bring many unexpected visitors to the door all at once. this can make your chihuahua nervous and likely to flee when the door opens. if they accidentally get loose, make sure your chihuahua is wearing an id tag.

avoid potentially harmful decorations
candles in jack-o-lanterns are easily knocked over. avoid using them as this can result in a fire and burns to your chihuahua. also, take preventative care with open wires, cords and potentially harmful products your chihuahua may try to ingest. do your best to keep them out of harms way.

playing it safe isn’t tricky, just play it smart!

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6 Health issues EVERY chihuahua owner needs to pay attention to!

nadia chihuahua health concerns

health indications in Chihuahuas you should pay attention to

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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The dangers of gum disease in Chihuahuas: What you need to know!

nadia chihuahua health concerns

healthy chihuahua teeth

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.

chihuahua back molars gum 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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