When you decide it is time to bring a Chihuahua into your family you are going to need to know what to expect in the way of common Chihuahua health problems so you know what to look out for and what symptoms to look for. Some problems the Chihuahua is born with and others are developed over time. But you should never hesitate to get your Chihuahua to the vet if you think something may be wrong or if you think emergency medical care for your Chihuahua is necessary.

As with any other situation involving the health of your pet one of the best places to get advice is your vet. Sit down with your vet and ask them about standard Chihuahua behavior and then have them tell you some of the tell tale signs that something may be wrong. You don’t need to be a vet but you should know what type of behavior indicates an issue. Your breeder will also supply you with a lot of helpful information that you should review and ask your breeder any questions you may have.

Many Chihuahua health problems are part of the breed’s character and are usually present at birth. Some of the problems develop over time but you should be able to identify the serious conditions right away. One common Chihuahua health problem is a floating kneecap. Sometimes their legs do not develop properly and the material that is supposed to hold the kneecap in place is weak and causes the kneecap to float in and out of place. This is very painful and needs medical attention right away.

A male Chihuahua will have its testicles drop from its abdomen almost right at birth. If it does not happen at birth then it will most certainly happen by the time they reach adulthood. If the testicles do not drop this is the sign of a serious medical problem and needs attention from your vet right away so this is something you should monitor if you notice any abnormality early in your male dog’s life.

Some Chihuahua health problems you can see coming and some you cannot. Some health issues are difficult to see yet can be very dangerous if they are left untreated. The brain in any animal constantly has fluid going to and from it and in a Chihuahua that flow of fluid can sometimes get blocked causing a swelling on the brain.

Your vet can usually detect this in a regular appointment but it is conditions like this that make monitoring your Chihuahua’s health so important.

A Chihuahua is like any other toy breed of dog in that it can sometimes develop crystal in their urine that can block up their system and cause major problems. Some conditions are exclusive to a Chihuahua and won’t show up in any other breed.

You never know and that is why regular vet appointments are so very important to the health of your dog.