5 Chihuahua Puppies Health Concerns And How to Avoid Them?

It’s very exciting to get a new chihuahua dog. You’re setting yourself up for love, cuddles, and happy memories for years to come.

But whether you are new to the race or not, there are some things that you should know to keep your furry family members safe and healthy.
Lots of health problems can happen to chihuahua puppies, so it’s important to know what they are and how to spot them. Here, we’ll talk about the most common illnesses in chihuahua puppies and how to keep them from getting sick.

Kennel Cough

Infectious tracheobronchitis, which is what kennel cough used to be called, is caused by a bacterial illness or the canine parainfluenza virus. This lung disease is especially scary because it can spread quickly.

You should be careful about kennel cough if you board your dog or send a young dog to pet daycare. Kennel cough can spread through droplets in the air, direct touch, or dirty surfaces.
Even though kennel cough can be treated and your puppy can be immunized against it. It is especially dangerous for young pups.

The symptoms of Kennel cough are a loud cough, a runny nose, sneezing, being tired, losing your appetite, and having a low fever.

Canine Distemper

Canine distemper is another disease that chihuahua puppies can get. It is caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, digestive, and brain systems.

Wild animals like foxes, squirrels, and skunks can also have distemper. Most pups get distemper from being exposed to it in the air or from sneezing or coughing.

The virus can also spread if an affected animal shares a water bowl with your dog.
Wild animals can spread canine distemper, so it’s important to keep your chihuahua dog away from them. Distemper can happen to any dog, but it is more likely to happen to puppies smaller than four months old until they are fully vaccinated.
Canine distemper causes sneezing, watery eyes, fever, coughing, lethargy, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

Parvovirus

The parvovirus, which is more commonly called “parvo,”. It is a very contagious virus that spreads through direct contact with an infected animal or an item that has been contaminated with the virus.
Puppies are directly exposed to parvovirus when they sniff or lick infected feces. However, indirect exposure to an infected pet or item (like a dog bowl, collar, or leash) can also spread the virus.
Between the ages of six weeks and six months, puppies are most likely to get parvo, and they are still at risk until they have had all three shots in the parvovirus series.
Even though chihuahuas aren’t on the list of dogs more likely to get parvo, which includes rottweilers, labradors, and German shepherds, your chihuahua could still get this virus if they are introduced to it before they are fully vaccinated.
Signs of Parvovirus: fever, vomiting, diarrhea with blood, and being too thirsty.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a disease that can be passed from animals to people and back again. The bacteria Leptospira, which lives in dirt and water all over the world, causes this disease.
Dogs can get sick if infected urine, soil, water, food, or bedding touches their mucous surfaces or any open wounds.

Leptospirosis is more likely to happen to your chihuahua if they spend a lot of time around rivers, lakes, streams, rural land, or wild animals, even if it’s just in your backyard.
Leptospirosis’s symptoms are:

a fever, sore muscles, shivering, thirst, throwing up, and diarrhea.

Heartworm Disease

Worms that are a foot long and live in your dog’s heart, lungs, and blood vessels cause this dangerous disease that could kill him. Heartworm disease can hurt these organs and other organs in the body very badly.

The main cause of most heartworms is mosquito bites. Your dog is at risk all year long, but that risk is higher when mosquitos are busier.

Because the illness can be so bad, the most effective way to deal with it is to keep it from happening.
Knowing the signs of heartworms and giving your puppy a heartworm preventative from a young age can help keep your chi safe.

the signs of heartworm disease are a cough, tiredness, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

How to Prevent New Puppy Health Scares

Having a pet comes with a lot of tasks, and the most important one is making sure your chihuahua is healthy.

Here are some simple rules that will keep your dog healthy and help you avoid health scares:

• Find a good vet and make sure your pet gets regular checks.
• Get all the suggested shots and boosters. ( Sometimes small dogs have problems with shots, so don’t give them more than one at a time and make them wait a week or two before giving them the next one. My vet gives my dogs a shot of Benadryl before they get their vaccine to make it less likely that they will have a bad reaction.)
• Stay away from places with many people until your puppy gets all her vaccines.
• Start treating fleas, ticks, and heartworms as soon as possible.
• Consider getting protection for your pet to help with the costs.
• Get your dog or cat chipped.
• Your vet can help you choose the right food for your dog.
• Before you bring your new pet home, make sure your house is ready for it.
• Set up a care routine to keep your skin, hair, and nails in good shape.

Last Word

If you have or have had a chihuahua, did it ever make you worry about its health? Who were they? What did they do? Use the comments to talk. Your story could help or encourage other people who own pets.

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