The short answer
Brush the teeth, because dental disease is the most common Chihuahua problem. Walk on a harness, never pulling on a collar, to protect the windpipe. Watch for a skipping back leg (a slipping kneecap). Keep a glucose source handy for a young puppy, since low blood sugar is an emergency. And have the heart listened to at every checkup as the dog ages. Price pet insurance in your first week.
Dental disease
Small breeds are more prone to periodontal disease because their teeth are crowded into a small jaw, according to VCA Animal Hospitals. In Chihuahuas, tartar, gum disease and early tooth loss are common, and bad breath is usually the first sign.
Daily brushing with a dog toothpaste is the best prevention. Expect your vet to recommend professional cleanings under anaesthesia over the dog’s life; ask what pre-anaesthetic bloodwork they suggest for a senior Chihuahua.
Slipping kneecaps (patellar luxation)
VCA lists the Chihuahua among the toy breeds where the kneecap commonly slips toward the inside of the knee. The classic sign is a skip: the dog runs on three legs for a few steps, then carries on as if nothing happened.
Luxation is graded from I to IV. Mild cases may never need surgery, while frequent or higher-grade luxation is corrected surgically, and the higher the grade, the sooner surgery is advised. Keeping a Chihuahua lean and discouraging jumps from furniture helps.
Browse adoptable Chihuahuas
Foster notes often mention teeth, knees or a cough, which is exactly what to raise at your first vet visit.
See Available Chihuahuas →Collapsing trachea: always a harness
Tracheal collapse is a progressive weakening of the windpipe that usually shows in middle-aged and older small dogs, and VCA names the Chihuahua among the breeds affected. The hallmark is a dry, harsh “goose honk” cough, often worse with excitement, pulling or after drinking.
Walk a Chihuahua on a harness, not a collar, because collar pressure on the windpipe worsens the cough. Keep the dog lean and see your vet if the cough becomes frequent or breathing looks laboured.
Puppy low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
Toy-breed puppies, especially under three months old, can have their blood sugar drop dangerously, according to Purina Pro Club’s veterinary guidance. Missed meals, cold, stress and parasites can trigger it.
Signs include weakness, trembling, wobbliness, extreme sleepiness and, in severe cases, seizures. Rub a glucose source such as corn syrup on the gums and get to a vet immediately. If you adopt a very young Chihuahua, keep a glucose source at home and feed small, frequent meals.
Heart valve disease in older Chihuahuas
Mitral valve disease causes most heart disease in dogs and is more common in small breeds; VCA names the Chihuahua among them. The first sign is usually a murmur your vet hears, sometimes from middle age.
A murmur does not mean heart failure is near, but it does mean regular monitoring, and an echocardiogram helps your vet stage it. Later signs to report are a persistent cough, faster breathing at rest and tiring easily on walks.
The first vet visit after adoption
Ask for a dental exam, a knee check, a heart listen, a body condition score and baseline bloodwork. Some Chihuahuas keep a soft spot on top of the skull (a molera); point it out and ask what care it needs. Bring the rescue’s records.
Price pet insurance the same week. Every Canadian provider excludes conditions documented before enrolment, and knee surgery and dental work are common costs over a long Chihuahua life.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common Chihuahua health issues?
Dental disease, slipping kneecaps, collapsing trachea, low blood sugar in young puppies, and heart valve disease in older dogs.
Why does my Chihuahua make a honking cough?
A dry “goose honk” cough is the classic sign of tracheal collapse, common in small breeds. Switch to a harness, keep the dog lean and have your vet examine it.
My Chihuahua puppy is wobbly and sleepy. What do I do?
Treat it as possible low blood sugar: rub corn syrup or another glucose source on the gums and go to a vet right away. It is an emergency in toy puppies.
Why does my Chihuahua skip on a back leg?
That is the classic sign of a slipping kneecap. Mild cases are managed with weight control; frequent skipping or a higher grade may need surgery. Have your vet grade it.
How do I take care of a Chihuahua’s teeth?
Brush daily with a dog toothpaste, book regular dental checks and expect professional cleanings over the dog’s life. Small breeds are more prone to gum disease.
Should I get pet insurance for a rescue Chihuahua?
It is worth pricing in your first week. Canadian pet insurance excludes conditions documented before enrolment, and knee surgery and dental care are common costs.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Dental Disease in Dogs: small breeds more prone; daily brushing
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Luxating Patella: Chihuahua named; skipping sign; grades; surgery timing
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Tracheal Collapse: Chihuahua named; honking cough; harness not collar
- Purina Pro Club: Hypoglycemia in Toy Breeds: toy puppies under three months; signs; glucose response
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Mitral Valve Disease: Chihuahua named; murmur; echocardiogram
General information, not veterinary advice. Diagnosis and treatment decisions belong with your veterinarian.
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