Chihuahua Health
A Look Into Chihuahua Health
On the whole and for the better part of the time, Chihuahua health tends to be generally good. There are a few ailments and issues that are more prominent with this breed, and a couple of them can cause trauma right from the time of birth, so being knowledgeable and on the ready will do you and your tiny pooch a world of good. Chihuahua health can be affected during the birthing process, as the skull of an infant chi can be far too large to pass through the birth canal. In most cases, a c-section delivery is in order for the expectant mother, who could easily die during a complicated birth, taking her unborn pups with her. There are certain cases where a chi pup will have many openings in the skull, rather than the one which is necessary, and this condition is always fatal. Be sure to have your pups vet checked just after birth for this and other potentially hazardous developmental issues.
Chihuahua health exams often have to do with a loose knee syndrome, and the medical explanation for this condition is really quite simply when laid out properly. Patellar luxation occurs when the kneecap, attached to a weak or loose muscle, slips from beneath the tendon and then slips back into place. This can cause great pain to your dog, and episodes can last anywhere from minutes to days. There is no cure for this condition, and it is classified on a scale from 1 to 4, 1 being the least painful and disruptive severity and 4 being the most imposing. Lameness will almost always be visible with this problem, and you will need to take care of his pain and discomfort during each episode.
Progressive retinal atrophy is another common discourse with Chihuahua health, and there is nothing that can be done for this issue, either. Over time, sometimes before the chi has reached one year of age, degenerative legions will form on the retina of the eyes, causing severe night blindness at the beginning and escalating eventually into full blindness in one or both eyes.
Chihuahua health may also be negatively affected when the testicles of the male do no fully descend into the scrotum. Should one or both remain in the abdomen, a greater risk of health issues and the development of cancer will loom. Hydrocephalus is also common in Chihuahuas, as are mitral valve disease, cystinuria, and hemophilia. Regular vet checkups are essential to the health of your tiny dog, so be sure to have him seen on a scheduled basis as well as during times when appetite, normal habits, temperature, and behavioral patterns experience changes that you don’t understand.