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!
“Get solutions to chihuahua health problems in an eBook delivered right to your inbox!”
The amazing eBook, Caring For Chihuahuas Made Easy, Breed Information, Health Care and Nutrition teaches you about common chihuahua health problems and how to properly care for your chihuahua! It also teaches you the secret to making your chihuahua live longer!
Stay informed! Sign up for the Famous Chihuahua Newsletter!
Related: Chihuahua health problems
550 Comments.
Any fluid “built up” inside your chi is bad! My dog bandit that i wrote about above started out with a little bit of fluid in his lungs. Despite medication and veterinarian care for 3 days, the next day he died.
Hello my name is Chay loustalot, i have a chihuahua and the vet said that she has fuild build up and that her heart is to big for her….Is that a good thing or a bad thing???
hello, if you are unsure if this is a good or bad thing, please call your vet back and ask for clarification on this.
also, he wont even jump on the couch anymore
My chi is two years old. He is usually very energetic and barks alot. He also usually eats a lot of food. Lately he has been getting weaker. He wont eat his usual dog food. He will only eat human food. He acts like it hurts to pick him up. He does not get excited to go outside like he used to. The last symptom i noticed is his bark has gotten very weak. The vet gave me antibiotics for him, but they make him vomit and eat even less. Can someone please help. Im scared for my chi.
take your chihuahua back to the vet for another check up or go see another vet for a second opinion ASAP
My little Jazzy is 10 months old and is going through her first heat cycle, currently her female parts are going down but her breast are still swollen and I’m wondering if I should be concerned or will they go down too. She’s been in heat for about maybe a month.
Hello! My 1-year-old chi, Bianca, got really sick this evening and I just want an opinion. ..And don’t worry, I already took her to an emergency vet and she is doing better now. Ok, so this is what happened – I gave her some water and probably about 2 minutes later she started to vomit (alot). It looks like she threw up her puppy treat and food (she eats in the morning and had a treat at about 4pm – she got sick about 6pm). Right after that she went from bad to worse. Within probably 2 minutes after that she was laying on the ground and very lethargic. I put her on the bed and looked at her gums and they were white. I knew instantly she was in trouble. I picked her up and she could barely hold her little head up. While in the car she laid in my lap and was not responsive to her name. I could barely feel her heart beat and her breathing. The vet told me it could be because she threw up and lost so much fluid or that she could be having an allergic reaction. She said her blood pressure was really low and her blood count was high. She also gave her an IV for fluids. She monitered her for about 2 1/2 hours and then said I could take her home. She appears to be a lot better, she’s alert and seems to be rehydrated. Does anyone have any idea of what happened to her? She’s never been sick and it scares me because she got so sick so fast. Please help…any advice would be helpful. The vet really couldn’t explain it.
My chihuahua is 4 years old. when i touch his chest and belly area he yelps…like it hurts him or somthing…what could be wrong with him? help!
Hi, I just bought a 6 week old chihuahua. When I picked her up sh seemed fine. The first night was ok, she ate and slept. I had to mouth feed her water because she’s not drinking on her own. The next day I saw a little blood in her stool. I took her to the vet and they gave her something for diarrhea. When we left the vet, she was lethargic and did not want to eat, so I contacted by breeder and let her keep her for a couple days just to see how she will do? Once we placed her down with the other puppies, immediately, she started playing eating the dry food and drinking on her own. Should I worry? Was she just home sick? Should I return to the vet? Please help me…
I have a 8 year old female chi and she has begun to just sit down in a strange way and acts like she is having problems… she gets very upset with her legs and or bottom. i have had her to the vet twice and the first time he thought she needed expressed so he did that.. when the symptoms did not go away, he thought she might be having allergic reactions to the season changes and was having itchy problems. he prescribed hydroxyzine pills. At first they seemed to be helping but now she does it all the time. She eats ok and goes to the bathroom ok…and doesn’t seem to be in pain… put this condition seems to be much more frequent and you can tell it is bothering her. has anybody experienced this with their dogs and what can be done? I have had her to the vet twice and they found nothing wrong with her joints and legs… she can run …then all of a sudden she sits with her hind legs in the air and seems like she can’t get up, then she does get up… Help!
My chihuahua is acting a little sick today. How do I take her temperature?
Taking Your Dog’s Temperature
When your dog is ill, you may have to determine whether or not he has a fever by taking your dog’s temperature. It’s relatively easy and all you need is a thermometer. Learning how to take your dog’s temperature properly can help determine if immediate veterinary care is needed.
Your dog’s normal rectal temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures may necessitate a trip to your veterinarian, depending on other symptoms. Feeling the ears, nose or head is not considered a reliable method; you have to determine your dog’s internal temperature to find out for certain. This is done using an oral or rectal thermometer, either digital or mercury. Ear thermometers can also be used in dogs. They are generally fast and easy but it is essential to use a proper technique to obtain an accurate temperature reading.
Instructions for Rectal Temperatures
Some dogs will allow you to take their temperature, but others don’t like it at all. It might be easier if you get another person to assist by holding your dog. Then do the following:
# If using a mercury thermometer, remember to shake it with a quick flick of the wrist until the mercury is below 94 degrees. Then lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly, KY jelly or other water-based lubricant.
# Have your helper hold the head and front part of the body by tightly hugging your dog.
# Lift the tail and insert the thermometer slowly and carefully into the rectum, located just below the base of the tail. Insert the thermometer about 1 inch and hold in place – two minutes for mercury thermometers or until the digital thermometer
beeps.
# Remove the thermometer and read the temperature.
Instructions for Ear Temperatures
The normal Ear temperature in dogs is between 100.0 degrees and 103.0 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees and 39.4 degrees Celsius). The ear thermometer works by measuring infrared heat waves that come from the ear drum area. The ear drum is considered to be a good indicator of body temperature as it measures brain blood temperature. It is important to place the thermometer deep into the horizontal ear canal to obtain an accurate reading. An ear thermometer such as the Pet-Temp® designed for cats and dogs works best due to a longer arm that allows for the probe to be placed deeper into the ear canal. The first few times you use it, take both an ear and rectal temperature and compare. The results should be very close if you are using the proper ear technique.
If your dog has a body temperature less than 99 degrees or over 104 degrees, contact your veterinarianor local emergency facility immediately. A high temperature could mean your dog has an infection or heat-related illness. A temperature below normal can be just as serious, indicating other problems such as shock.
source: petplace.com/dogs/how-to-take-your-dog-s-temperature/page1.aspx
Can I give my chihuahua pepcid acid for excess bile production? He has been vomiting yellow fluid. I know you can give it to larger dogs. My chi is 7 lbs.
please call or take your chihuahua to the vet ASAP, you need to find out why he is vomiting as he could be ill.
my 8 week old chi. wont eat or drink, diarhea and vomiting,ive talked to the vet. everyday since i got her and shes been checked twice and he says shes fine….. help?
Took my two female Chi’s in to get spayed. They are sisters from dif litters. Same parents. Oldest 2 years youngest 4mo. Older had a cyst on her female parts. Vet said more common on small breeds and he has seen it on Chi’s and Terriors more than once. If ignored or unknown it can be fatal. We wondered why her heats (3) wore her out so much, etc. She lost a bit over a pound after being spayed. I don’t recall the exact name of the ailment, but we got it in nick of time. Just a heads up and both girls are fine.
I switched the food of my 5 year old chi to a no byproduct, organic brand a few months after we got him from the breeder 5 years ago. Thank God he’s healthy. I NEVER by the popular brand name foods with by-products because they always made him sick.
Every once in a while I treat him to fresh apples and organic carrots. And I am no longer going to give him tap water; purified from here on out.
I eat healthy, fresh organic food, and never get sick! So naturally I want the same for my little doggie. I feel there is so much crap in dog food that affects their nervous and digestive system. A good diet for anyone is the key — both humans and animals.
My chihuahua is experiencing chest pain when we pick her up. She makes a shrill cry. We had her inspected at the vet and he didn’t know what this was. He put her on vitamin B, antibiotics, and fish oil. Her hair loss is due to dry skin and scratching. She also has lost one pound. Can anyone tell me what she may have?
She still eats, drinks, plays, and goes to the bathroom normally.
Why are people asking for medical advice here? Take your dogs to a vet asap. It’s really startling the amount of people saying their puppies or dogs are vomiting, not eating, or worse and they come to a site to ask for help. No one here is a vet take your Chi to an animal hospital use common sense!
my chihuahua is 11 months old, he threw up 4 times, has barely any energy and is shivering. should i take him to the vet immediately or let him rest?
take him to the vet ASAP
umm, i’ve had my chihuahua since july 2001. she’s been acting not quite herself lately. she’s usually super playful, chasing after things, running up to me and pouncing the heck out of me when i come home from school.
but latley somethings different. we noticed it on saturday when she yelped really loud for no reason. she did it again sunday and today (tuesday). My mom tried throwing a tennis ball, and instead of chasing it like usual, she just watched it go. today when i came home from school, she didn’t pounce as much. she just wagged her tail and i had to lift up her front paws to my knee so i could pet her and talk to her when i sat down. she’s lost a bit of weight and she sleeps lots.
what could be the problem? i’m really scared for her and we’re taking her to the vet friday.
I have a 7 month old chihuahua that has all her shots. We give her a heart dewormer chewable and a flea prevention medicine monthly. Lately, she has been itching alot and we just noticed a bump right above her shoulder that has a little scab on top. Everytime I pick her up, I’m becoming itchy as well. Is there something I can buy over the counter or do we need to take her to the vet?
i have a 3 year old chihuahua mix that has been sick for the last 2 days, i ‘ve tried feeding her mosit food and water and she just pushes them out of her way. And i called very vet hositpal near me and they are not open! what should i do please help thank you.
Cathy, the hacking might be trachea issues. the rest I have no experience with. As far as the trachea, there is medication.
Irene,
I have NEVER had a female dog in heat, before or after cry out like you describe. You MUST get her to a vet! She could have Pyometra or anything. Please take her to a vet NOW, she is acting very badly.
Patricia from midwestchihuahuas.com
I have a one year old male. Yesterday, I noticed he had a whitish color discharge on his penis and one side was slightly red and looked irritated. Today I noticed a small scab on the side. I have cleaned it twice. He is not having problems urinating and he is not acting like he is in pain or in discomfort. Does this happen to males from time to time? I am uncertain. Thanks.
My one year old male chi weighs about 4 pounds. Two days ago he began exhibiting very peculiar symptoms/problems.
When he gets into a deep sleep (this is NOT having bad dreams) his mouth starts smacking like he’s trying to clear his throat. His head turns to the side as if he’s chewing something on one side of his mouth. Then he starts twitching – as it gets worse it almost looks as if he’s trying to run to the point to where he flips himself off the couch into the floor. He sometimes barks and/or moans. This is all in his sleep. We thought it may be seizures, but wouldn’t he have seizures awake as well as asleep? He has also started hacking numerous times throughout the day. On top of that when he is awake he makes a hacking noise trying to cough something up or swallow something back down. And he starts smacking his mouth and turning his head to the side as if he’s chewing on something.
All of these symptoms are new!! Seizures? Sleep apnea? Trachea issues?
Thanks,
Cathy
I have a five month old chihuahua and since last night he was throwing up hes been really weak and i think he has a fever.He’s been given all shots already and antirabies last week.what should i do? im really worried