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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Related: Chihuahua health problems
550 Comments.
i have a 7 year old female chihuahua she is about 15 lbs & she is going through the pains of having an infected anal gland. a little before she had this problem she would cry @ the door to go outside to go “peepee” i would let her out & she would go to the restroom & come inside like a good girl should, but now she crys @ the door & i take her out & she just stands there staring at me like im stupid i tell her ” go pee pee ! go pee pee !” but she continues to stand there & stare so i let her back inside. then a while later fater bringing her inside she goes pee on my carpet. is that an effect from having her infected anal gland ? i can understand her not wanting to poo because it hurts but i dont understand why she crys at the door to go pee & i take her out but she doesnt go. its getting quit annoying & very stressfull due to the fact im pregnant & i get easily frustrated with her. can some one help me please ? !
hi, i recently moved and my 4 yr old chihuahua mj will not stop whining. it has been a week now and should be adjusted to the new place. I live alone now and before i had a roommate and another dog. could he be whining because of being alone now?
my dog is only 8 months in way 4 and a half pound is it okay to mat her with a other dog
HElp me!!! my chihuahua had puppies and they are almost @ months now. the mom doesnt give them milk all the time she doesnt want to so we started to give them puppy milk mixed with dry dog food that we made soft. 3 of the puppies eat well and are playful but the 4th puppy doesnt eat much and sleeps most of the time. sometimes he plays but most of the time he sleeps and doesnt want to eat, is he sick? what should i do? someone please email me or something.
i’m really worried i have an apple head chihuahua took to the vet for ear mites and now his head is always shaking and always crying dont know what wrong he has meds for ears and antobtics and seroids please help me
On 1 feb 2012 our darling little son, Cookie passed away at 06.30 morning. on 31 jan 2012 night he was howling & i saw his tears down like he unable to be with us any longer. I look after him the whole night until morning at 06.00 am i wake up & heat up his milk. after he drank all the whole bottle of milk & a alittle of glucose as usual, he then blurp three time & one last breath he gone. wE LET HIS BODY GO TO THE SEA PEACEFULLY. i & MY HUSBAND FELT VERY SAD AS ONE OF THE FAMILY I SNO LONGER WITH US & THAT IS OUR DARLING, BELOVED SON, COOKIE. UNTIL TODAY IS ALRDY 21 DAYS & I STILL MISS HIM SO MUCH. SOMETIME WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL OF OUR SON SWEET PASS MEMORIES, MY TEARS FALL OUT. I ALWAYS THINK THAT HE IS AROUND IN THE HOUSE WHEN WE CAME BACK FROM WORK BUT NOTICE THAT HE IS NO LONGER WITH US. MY HUSBAND & I WILL ALWAYS PUT HIM IN OUR HEART & HOPEFULLY THAT HIS SOUL WILL COMES BACK IN ANOTHER ANY CHIWAHWAH’S BODY & BACK INTO OUR ARMS AGAIN. HE IS SUCH A LOVELY SON TO US & ALWAYS MAKE BOTH US HAPPY & JOYFUL & STILL WILL BE MISS BY BOTH OF US. EVEN NOW WHEN I’M WRITTING THIS, MY TEARS FALL OUT AGAIN WHICH I COULD NOT CONTROL ANYMORE. FOR NOW & EVER ME & MY HUSBAND WILL ALWAYS PRAY FOR HIS SOUL TO REST IN PEACE & WILL BE ALWAYS REMEMBER IN OUR HEART FOREVER. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU IN HEARING MY SADNESS & SORROW.
my chihuahua is squinting and can’t open her eyes unless she has to and when she does open her eyes it’s not for long. she has been doing this for almost 24hours. she doesn’t have anything running out of her eyes. is this like allergic reaction or is the a symptom of blindness?
Hello, please take your chihuahua to the vet as soon as possible!
For those of you with stress & stomach issues of course take your Chihuahua to the vet. But also here is a website to Probiotics AND enzymes to help with both these issues. When I picked up new puppies from the breeder she handed me some probiotic to sprinkle on their food to help with transition and their stools are nice & firm. The enzyme I’m buying on my own because one of my puppies vomited once (I am schedule to see a vet soon). Here is the website: http://nusentia.com/
my little dog ate bug spray
I just bought a chihuahua puppy. She is 7 weeks old and has a a swollen lower abandonment. The swelling is only on the right lower side. she doesn’t act like she is in pain but i’m concerned either way. can anyone tell me what this could be?
Hi my chihuahua is 4weeks old and his eyes are still not open would you wait a little longer or take him to the vet ASAP ? He did go for a checkup when he’s was 4days old due to me having to hand feed him from birth, he’s a happy little boy and great on his legs and seems to be hearing well 2 any help would be great and thanks x
my little chihuahua is so weak and just lays there and have to put water and food down him and i talked to the vet and they said he had low sugar but i bought the tube of medicine and gave it to him but it doesnt seem to help can someone help me thanks
i wonder will yall help us , my chichuahua dog mom’s born 6 child 2 out of 6 die, 4 alive boy n girl, so one girl hard breath and water mouth what we do? pls help us
mY CHIHUAHUA IS THROWING UP , AND HAS DIARHEA WITH ALOT OF BLOOD IN IT . sHE HAS HAD THIS BEFORE AND WE FOUND FOIL IN HER THROW UP , BUT SINCE THAT TIME ( A FEW MONTHS AGO ) IVE BEEN WATCHING HER CLOSELY AND MAKING SURE THERE ARE NO FOIL , WRAPPERS ETC THAT SHE CAN GET AHOLD OF . THE OTHER DAY SHE WAS EATING CAT LITTER ! i HAVE NEVER SEEN HER DO THIS BEFORE . iM THINKING THE CAT LITTER REOPENED THE SCAB INSIDE HER STOMACHE LEFT BY THE FOIL . hOWEVER MY BABYGIRL ALSO HAS A HISTORY OF SEIZURES & IS VERY OLD. Any ideas on what could be going on ? Please help !
my little darling son chihuahua, cookie recently loss weight alot, refuse to eat dog food. lately he being eating human food (chicken cooked meat). he getting very weak as day by day pass by.
he drinks water alot & pass urine alot too. after one week he did not pass motion, only yesterday he did once, that’s all. my husband & I felt very upset as our little son never ever fall sick before & this is the first time he fall very ill. I hv make an appointment tomorrow night to send him to see the vet & we really pray hard that he will be 100% ok. we always everyday praying for him to be a healthy & playful son. pls let me know that there is nothing serious regarding his sicknes, thanks in advance.
I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY 5 YEAR OLD MALE CHIHUAHUA. FOR THE PAST 5 DAYS HE HAS TAKEN TO HIDING IN THE BATHROOM LIKE HE IS IN TROUBLE. nOTHING HAS CHANGED AT ALL. hE IS GETTING MY 6 YEAR OLD FEMALE CHIHUAHUA SCARED TOO. wE SPEND A LOT OF TIME SITTING ON THE COUCH WATCHING TV OR ME PLAYING ON THE COMPUTER. aND NOW HE RUNS AND HIDS EVERYTIME i SIT ON THE COUCH. aNY OTHER TIME HE IS FINE. hE IS FINE EATING, GOING OUTSIDE TO POTTY. wHEN WE SNUGGLE UP IN BED. aLL THAT IS NORMAL AS USUAL. bUT WHEN i TRY TO SNUGGLE HIM ON THE COUCH HE RUNS AND HIDES. i DON’T UNDERSTAND. i HAVE CHECKED OUT HIS BODY ALL OVER. hE LOOKS FINE. DOESN’T ACT LIKE HE IS IN ANY KIND OF PAIN WHEN i TOUCH HIM. wHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THIS? dO YOU KNOW? iT REALLY HAS ME WORRIED. tHANKS aNGIE
she has loss of appitite and is just acting sick, i dont know what to do and cant afford to take her to the vet
my 3 year old chi has blood and clear jello type stuff in her poo, whats goin on
My chi was playing with his toy today and started to cry I looked at him right away looked in his mouth and could not find anything wrong but ever since then he has been laying down and not moving and at random times he will scream. It’s so loud it sounds like someone is breaking his bones. 🙁 I have felt his bones from top to bottom and compared both side to see if something is out of place I have looked in his mouth a few times as much as he let’s me and I can’t figure out what’s wrong. If anyone has any idea please msg me.
my dog brownie is 6 years old and has a red bump on the inside of his lip in his mouth i can not tell if it is his allergies or something else.
we just saved a 5 or 6 week old chihuahua she is active but she vomits every time she eats what could it be
I LOVE my dog kumar sooooo much! but recently my dad said he thinks hes losing his mind. he’s turning grey, but he’s only about 4 or 5 years old. I think its from stress because he is a chihuahua..lol. But we’ve been trying to get him to pee outside and he will, then come back inside and 15 minutes later he’ll pee again. Its driving my dad mad, and I’m afraid my dad will want to give kumar up, but i love him too much to give him away. (the LASt resort is taking him to the vet, we don’t have much money to spend on anything besides food and medicine right now) his symptoms are: screaming/yelping randomly or at the smallest or slightest things, barking sometimes when nothings there, and stupidity. Really though, he never learns to come to me instead of running waiting for me to chase him everywhere. Please someone let me know if this is normal behavior or if I really do need to get this checked out. thanks!
My chihuahua his recently passed away it was so devastating. One night she began throwing up this weird black color and had hairloss on her eye brow. I took her to the vet in the morning and they told me she had mites (the ones that aren’t contagious) they said from possible stress I took her home and that night she passed away, it all happened so fast she WAs sick one night and gone the next. Has anyone ever heard of this I just wish I knew why this happened.
my chi is 3 yrs she is in heat and she suddenly started screaming in pain her stomach was hard, 3 min later it was normal one minute she seems fine the next pain again. i will take her to the vet, but it is xmas, i live in a small town and i wont be able to get her in until the day after. i dont know what to do i am so afraid nothing like this has ever happened before. please if you can give me advice to help until my vet is back in town.
My poor 5 week old puppy cant walk properly and is having a lot of diarrhea. Is this normal?