Since Chihuahuas are very small they often need more trips to the vets than most dogs. They often need assistance when they are giving birth because they are so small. Genetic problems are very common in Chihuahuas. They can be born with Epilepsy and they could also suffer from seizure disorders as well. Also common are collapsing tracheas and luxating patella. Collapsing tracheas happens when the dog’s throat closes when trying to eat and the luxating patella is when the knee caps sometimes dislocates almost like a human version of the trick knee.
Chihuahua can also be born with hydocephalus, which in layman’s terms called water on the brain. You see this happen in mostly young puppies and unfortunately it can result in death usually before the dog is 6 months old. This occurs because the dog is so small that the skull is not formed all the way, they call it patchy skull. A vet can diagnose it but there really isn’t anything that you can do about it.
The dog also has what is called a molera, which is the soft spot on the skull, almost like a newborn. Like a newborn, this will fill in with age. You have to be careful if you do decide to take the dog to the vet because you think he had hydrocephalus but he may just have molera. A study done among veterinarians show that they are not very versed in taking care of Chihuahuas because they are so small and they have a many genetic defects.
The dogs are also high susceptible to eye infections because of the eyes and the fact that the dog itself is low to ground where a lot of dirt and other eye irritants are. Even though the Chihuahua can be born with some genetic problems, they actually have a life span of between eight and eighteen years.
