Symptoms and signs of a sick chihuahua often can go unnoticed. Your chihuahua can not explain its symptoms, so it’s your responsibility to keep him or her healthy and to determine whether or not they need veterinary care. Chihuahuas tend to want to hide their illness, so it is up to you to check your chihuahua for abnormalities.
Not knowing if your chihuahua is feeling sick or how to care for your chihuahua when they are sick can be VERY stressful! This article will help you determine if your chihuahua is showing signs and symptoms of being ill and when you need to take them to see a veterinarian.
Be Prepared: Questions Your Veterinarian May Ask
Your veterinarian may ask additional questions to help localize or diagnose the problem. It may help to be prepared to answer some of the following questions:
- How long have you owned your chihuahua?
- Where did you get your chihuahua (adoption center, breeder, previous stray)?
- What other type of pets do you have?
- What is the age of your chihuahua?
- Has your chihuahua experienced any previous illnesses?
- Is your chihuahua currently under treatment for an illness or disease?
- What preventative medications is your chihuahua currently taking?
- Does your chihuahua receive consistent flea treatment?
- Are any other pets ill?
- Has he/she been vaccinated? if so, when? which vaccines?
- Have there been any recent pet acquisitions?
- Have there been any recent activities such as boarding, grooming, trip to the park?
- Is a majority of your chihuahua’s time spent indoors or outdoors?
- Have there been any recent changes in diet or eating habits?
- What brand of food, how much and how frequently does your chihuahua eat?
- What type of table scraps are offered and how frequently?
- What type of treats are offered and how frequently?
- How much water does your chihuahua typically drink per day?
- Have there been any recent changes in water consumption?
- Have you noticed any coughing or sneezing?
- Have you noticed any lumps or bumps on your chihuahua?
- Is your chihuahua urinating normally?
- Is your dog having normal bowel movements?
- When is the last time he/she had a bowel movement?
- Have you noticed any recent weight loss or weight gain?
After answering some general questions, more specific questions need to be answered. A brief cursory exam of your chihuahua at home can help you determine the answers. These questions are also commonly asked when chihuahua owners are seeking help over the phone.
Be prepared to answer the following questions, depending on the problem with your chihuahua:
Regarding the eyes
- Have you noticed an increase or decrease in tear production?
- Do the eyes appear cloudy or red?
- Have you noticed any discharge coming from the eyes?
- Do the eyes appear bloodshot?
- Are the pupils the same size in both eyes?
- Have you noticed your chihuahua rubbing or pawing at the eyes?
- Is your chihuahua squinting?
- Do the eyes appear to be sunken or excessively protruding?
Regarding the ears
- Do you notice any swelling or discharge from the ears?
- Are the ears drooping when they normally stand erect?
- Are the ears red and inflamed?
- Do you notice any odor to the ears?
- Is your chihuahua rubbing or pawing at the ears?
- Have you noticed a lot of head shaking?
- Have you noticed any pain or crying when you rub or scratch your chihuahua’s ears?
Regarding the nose
- Have you noticed any congestion, sneezing or coughing?
- Have you noticed any blood coming from the nose?
- Have you noticed any nasal discharge?
Regarding the mouth
- Have you noticed any swelling of the lips or tongue?
- Have you noticed any bleeding from the mouth?
- What color are the gums – tissue just above the teeth?
Looking inside the mouth
- Are there any foreign objects such as bones or sticks stuck on the roof of the mouth or around the teeth?
- Is your chihuahua able to open and close the mouth normally?
- Is there any pain involved in opening or closing the mouth?
- Have you noticed any excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth?
- Is your chihuahua able swallow food normally?
Regarding the chest
- Is your chihuahua experiencing any difficulty breathing?
- Have you noticed excessive panting?
- Is there any pain when the chest area is petted?
- Have you noticed any recent coughing?
- Is the heartbeat steady and consistent?
- What is the heart rate?
Healthcare Tip: How to check your chihuahua’s heart rate:
Place your hand or your ear on the left side of your chihuahua’s chest, just behind the elbow. You should be able to feel or hear the heartbeat. Count how many beats the heart pumps in one minute.
Regarding the abdomen/stomach area
- Has your chihuahua been having any diarrhea or vomiting?
- Is your chihuahua able to eat and drink normally?
- Does the abdomen/stomach area appear swollen or distended?
- Does your chihuahua appear to be in pain when the stomach area is petted?
- iIs your chihuahua known to chew on non-food items such as clothing, towels, rocks, or other items?
Regarding the urinary and reproductive systems
- Have you noticed any difference in urinating?
- Does your chihuahua seem to strain to urinate or cry in pain?
- Does your chihuahua repeatedly try to urinate with no urine produced?
- Is there any blood in the urine?
- How frequently does your chihuahua urinate?
- Is your female chihuahua spayed?
- Has your female ever had puppies? if so, at what age?
- If your female is not spayed, when was her last heat cycle and was she bred?
- Do you notice any discharge from the vaginal area?
- Is your male chihuahua neutered? if so, at what age?
- Do you notice any discharge from the penis?
- If your chihuahua is not neutered, do you notice any swelling of the testicles?
- Have you noticed your chihuahua excessively licking or grooming the genital area?
Regarding the musculoskeletal system – bones and joints
- Have you noticed any limping?
- Are any legs or joints swollen?
- Has your chihuahua been excessively licking at one area of his/her legs?
- Does your chihuahua show signs of pain when walking?
- Is your chihuahua able to walk normally?
- Does your chihuahua walk on his/her knuckles?
- Does your chihuahua drag any legs when walking?
- Does your chihuahua seem to be in pain when petting him or her?
By supplying the answers these questions, your veterinarian will be in a much better position to help your chihuahua. Additional tests may be necessary to find out what the problem is, but the answers to the above questions can greatly narrow the area of concern.
Please note: famous chihuahua is providing this information to chihuahua owners as a guide so you know when to take your chihuahua to see your veterinarian. If at any time your chihuahua is showing signs or symptoms of illness and discomfort, don’t wait! Just go the vet!
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550 Comments.
Mu chi is 10 yrs old and he is going blind. he wasn’t eating and very hot and i took him to the vet. he was checked out inside and out and was put on two types of meds. he doesn’t eat, fever and breathes very deeply and sometimes shieves. the vet can not figure out what is cause this fever. has anyone ever gone through this with their little chi. plz help me out? I keep trying to give llittle bit of food that he likes to eat and he eats what he likes but he never wants to eat. my heart is breaking for my little guy.
My chihuahua is 6 yrs old and we recently bought a sheltie as a companion they both have gotten along perfect for nearly 5 months. All of a sudden the chihuahuas demeanor had completely changed shes completely changed shes mean and hateful to the sheltie and to all if us. None of us can play with
her anymore. Whats happened to my living
my puppy age of 3 months old and shes been feeling sick for over two days already. shes been throwing up white stuff and she doesnt want to eat anything but drink water. shes real energized, she doesnt stop playing with her brother but she throws up once in a while. what can she possibly have????
what can she have?? i am really worried.?
my pup has been throwing up everything she eats. She has all her shots and stays inside most of the time cuz of the heat.
OMG PEOPLE!! tAKE YOUR PET TO THE VET!!!!!!!!!! IF THEY DONT HELP GO TO ANOTHER VET!!!!!!!!! There are vets that let you pay it off!!!!! or the animal welfare league does payment plans
Hello. My 2 year old Chihuahua fell off my bed 2 weeks ago. Lately she has been crying when I pick her up or touch her. I haven’t given her anything. I’m afraid if I touch her I’ll hurt her even more. She’s the love of my life, I don’t want her to die. I don’t have money to take her to the vet. Has anything like this happened to anyone before? Please help me.
You MUST take her to the vet! They will set up a payment plan so you can pay in small segments. Bring her to the vet ASAP! Ask someone like a friend or relative to help!
breaks my heart to see so many posts of sick chihuahuas, please bring them to the vet! Many places take payments if you can’t pay up front, or try financing. Never give your pet advil tylenol or asprin. those strong medications are made for humans, they’re too strong for their small bodies. they could possibly overdose from it.
Our baby Carly is not feeling good. She its not her normal spunky dog. She is eating and drinking. She is very sensitive when we pick her up. She gti we ls and screaches. She even bit my son. I don’t know what is going on. She seems to be week from her hind legs. Been giving pedialite every 3 hrs. I just can’t imagine anything happening to her. My boys would b so devastated. Should I take her in.
YES TAKE HER TO THE VET ASAP
MY BABY “MONTU” WAS BORN DEC.20 1996, HE’S NOT WELL , HIS TIME WITH US ISALMOST OVER…….
I have a 1 yeard old male chihuahua. He is genreally very active and wants to play all the time. HE IS ALSO VERY JEALOUS SINCE MY FEMALE HAD PUPS. yOU USUALLY CAN’T PET THE BABES WITHOUT HIM COMING TO TRY AND CLIMB ONTO YOUR LAP AND GET ATTENTION FOR HIMSELF. lATELY, HE HAS NOT BEEN DOING THAT, HE IS TIRED ALL THE TIME AND DOESN’T EAT TOO MUCH ANYMORE. I CAN GET HIM TO DRINK BUT THAT USUALLY ENDS IN HIM VOMITING THE FLUIDS BACK UP. TOTALLY DIFFERENT AT EVERY ANGLE THAN HIS TYPICAL BEHAVIOR. I AM GOING TO TAKE HIM TO THE VET. BUT THEY CAN NOT SEE HIM UNTIL MONDAY. WHAT MIGHT THIS BE AND DO I NEED TO WORRY THAT HE MIGHT NOT MAKE IT TILL MONDAY? I AM VERY SCARED. I LOVE MY DOGS VERY MUCH AND COULDN’T BARE IT IF HE PASSED. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
my chihuahua died last night in her sleep she was only a year old no signs of anything wrong she was completely normal. what would cause this to happen?
my 1 yr old chi just threw up and i massaged her stomach and looked around in her mouth but nothing was in there. now she’s sleeping but should i take her to a vet? btw i’m only 12 13 in july so what should i do? please help sandy . she’s the best thing that happened to me since i was 7. thanks
THIS IS FOR SHERYL #2. RIMADYL KILLED MY DOG. DO NOT GIVE THIS TO YOUR DOG ANYMORE. STARTED BY NOT EATING, NOT DRINKING AND GOT WORSE INCLUDING DEATH. YOU CAN E-MAIL IF YOU NEED TO. RIMADYL IS A POST OPERATIVE & ARTHRITIS DRUG. RESEARCH IT, YOU WILL FIND MANY ANIMALS DIED. RIMADYL IS DEADLY!!!!!!!!
Hello my little chi has been not feelin well since yesterday,, the vet cant see him til thursday hes havkng trouble laying down his appeitite decreased he just walks around he shivers this is not his behavour somethings goin on w my baby he just looks at me soo sad, i wish he could talk, could someone please help me?
On March 20th I took my 7 mos. old chi in to get neutered, which they also gave him a meria rabies shot and pulled 2 puppy teeth. Before this he was frisky, happy, energetic little guy. thy gave him a pain injection – elective buprenex and they sent me home with rimadyl 25 mg, and said to give 1/2 pill twice a day.
the next day after giving him this rimadyl dose I noticed he was breathing fast and seemed to be in pain, he was just laying there in my lap not very happy at this point. so the next dose I gave him a quarter of the dose, and he seemed to be ok.
3 days later on March 23rd, his is lethargic, running a fever 104, not eating or drinking well. I took him back to vet who gave him fluids and convenia antibiotic, that evening he seemed to be doing better, eating/ drinking
On the 24th I took him back, his temp was 103, to try to get more fluids in him, and was told it was too stressful on him, and to just wait it out. they gave me a 3ml syringe and some canned dog food to give him food and water with.
So, every hour I am giving him water, 9 ml each hour. I have been trying to feed him a bit of solid food also, he nibbled on some spaghetti noodles with hamburger, a piece of his chewable dog biscuit, a tsp or two of the canned food. some canned chicken, some brown rice. he still has fever ranging from 101 to 103
I took him back on the 26th and they did another check for external pain areas, nothing was found, so they did a CBC t4 blood test on him, which came back with an elevated white blood count of 23000, vet said indicating there is an infection. but gave nothing more for treatment and sent me home with more rymadil.
that evening he ate some, about two tbs of round steak and a spoonful of chicken with brown rice and apple sauce.
today on the 27th his fever is still 102, he is still lethargic, seems to be having chills and stomach cramping. his bm is still solid
I checked online about rabies shot given while under anesthsia, (which i know now should not have been done) and side effects of the meria dead rabies vaccine, the antibiotic they gave him and the rymadil. they also told me to try giving him prilosec for stomach discomfort. which I did not give him yet
After reading all about these drugs, i am about ready to take time off the rymadil
I am filing an adverse vaccine report to the manufacturer and the agricultural board.
I am wondering how long a pup can have a fever for without brain damage, I just feel awful for him and am trying to see if anyone has had anything problems like this.
hi am really shocked by some of the posts, and the problems some people are having with there chihuahuas, I HAVE A 1 YR OLD CHIHUAHUA SHE IS HOUSE TRAINED SLEEPS IN MY BED, IS TAKEN OUT 3TIMES A DAY FOR WALKS WICH SHE LOVES AND IS IN THE BEST OF HEALTH, SHE ALSO COMES IN THE CAR WITH US, MY 3 YR OLD SON CARRIES HER UNDER HIS ARM LIKE A TEDDY, THERE IS A FIGHT AT NITE TIME AS TO WHO WILL GET HER, WHICH ONE OF THE 3 KIDS, SO EVERYONE TAKES TURNS, COULDNT ASK FOR A BETTER WEE DOG SHE IS SO GENTLE AND LAID BACK, THE CHIHUAHUA I HAD BEFORE HAND WAS WAY TO ACTIVE NEVER SETTLED ALWAYS BARKED AND WOULD SNAP AT STRANGERS, FUNNY HOW THEY ARE ALL DIFFRESNT, BUT SHE IS MY BABY SPOILES AND IS ONE OF THE FAMILY, ITS HER BIRTHDSAY AT THE WEEKEND SO SHE WILL BE GETTING A NEW COSY BED
YOU COULD ALSO CONTACT ME VIA MY E-MAIL IF ANY OF YOU PREFER TO. MAHALO..
I have a chihuahua I got her from homeless girls about 5 1/2 years ago she was about 5 weeks old when I got her and she has become my everything and has been very healthy and for the past week she is listless walks around the house kind of soft grunting like she is in pain does not wanna be held or touched she eats and drinks just fine goes to the bathroom just fine too and seems her back legs are sore she does not wanna lay down I have given her tums and 1/2 of an advil because we are living on a very fixed income and CANNOT AFFORD A VET SO WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE COULD HELP ME OUT HERE. I AM DISABLED AND SHE IS MY SERVICE DOG AND IT BREAKS MY HEART KNOWING I CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR HER SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME. I LIVE ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAI’I IN KAILUA-KONA.. MAHALO (THANK YOU)..
same thing been through my chihuahua before, the unexperience vet, will do nothing just leave it there, she cannot eat, cannot drink for 4 days, kept vomiting every 15 mins, being hydrated, i drove 200 miles finding other vet, in 2 days, she fully recovered. in my case, is the worm issue. the vet deworm her, gv her antibiotic, some vitamin and keep her hydra.
My chi is 3 yrs old, He was vomiting for 2 days (First it was yellow then turned into grinded coffee beans looking then into green) and hasnt eaten. we took him to the vet, they said here’s some antibiotics for his fever go him he’s fine. He didn’t get better! So we took him to the “emergency” They said he was hydrated because he hasn’t eaten and treated that. Then took blood from him and saw nothing and then scanned him and saw nothing! So they sent him home saying he should eat and he’s good because he might have gas pockets?? paid so much money for nothing!! He’s still not eating today and he’s so weak! PLEASE if anyone can suggest something!
my chiweenie is trembling her tail is tucked in she seems to be drooling because her fur under her mouth is wet and her appetite is off shes walking along the walls too but not all the time what could be wrong im poor but i love her is there anything i can do at home to help her
Too Brigette March 6th posting. SOUNDS LIKE YOUR CHIHUAHUA HAS WORMS. wHEN A DOG GOES OUT AND DOES NOT DO THE JOB BUT SEEMS TO WANT TOO, THE FIRST THING THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IS WORMS.
MY 7 YEAR OLD tINKER BELL IS LIKE MY CHILD. i HAVE HAD HER SINCE SHE WAS 3DAYS OLD.SHE IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME.RECENTLY SHE HAS BEEN ACTING STRANGE.HER TUMMY IS HARD,AND SHE CANT SEEM TO MAKE IT UP THE STAIRS OR THE BED WITHOUT SOME HELP. WHEN I LIFT HER UP SHE CRYS OUT A LITTLE. WE WALK EVERY DAY AND SHE GOES POTTY FINE. I AM SO WORRIED ABOUT HER. IM ON A LIMITED INCOME AND CANT REALLY AFFORD A VET . IS THIS JUST OLD AGE SETTING IN? USUALLY ON OUR WALKS SHE IS WAY AHEAD OF ME BUT NOW SHE IS SO SLOW I HAVE TO STOP AND WAIT FOR HER TO CATCH UP, I TRIED TO CXARRY HER BUT SHE DOESNT LIKE ME TO DO THAT, SHE IS A PROUD GIRL,AND HAS OFTEN TRIEN TO HIDE AILMENTS FROM ME.BUT I KNOW WHEN SHE IS NOT HER SELF.PLEASE ANYONE, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT MY EMAIL ADDRESS. IWILL APPRECIATE ANY SUGGESTIONS. THANK YOU ………LONESTAR
My husbands chi is about 7 or 8 months old.. we recently got him from an elderly couple..He was fine for a few weeks then all of the sudden he started having black dierrea stools and then clear like jello stools then he started throwing up and foaming at the mouth and is not active at all but sits in his spot and will not move.. he will not even drink water or even eat..he makes this grunting sound and looks very weak..i cant go to the vet as of right now so i was wondering what i can do at home to help and what might be wrong with him?? someone please help bc he doesnt deserve to suffer…IM TRYING EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO HELP HIM..
i have an apple-head chihuahua and i just noticed today after i came home from school that he had these loose red bumps on the sides of hsi heas. He is acting normal but on this website http://www.clubchi.com/showthread.php?10637-Puppy-Chihuahua-has-bumps-on-her…&s=5a7dc0c9c1c2e4d15b50a90f1e149322&p=162441
that i was looking at, it really concerned me because it looked a little similar to what that other guys chihuhua had. Please help! i really love my dog and he means the world to me!