Health issues of Chihuahuas and the best food for them

Common Chihuahua health issues

Chihuahuas can live long lives, up to 20 years, which is impressive for such a small dog. They are considered a healthy breed but like all breeds there are some health issues that they may develop, including: 

Luxating Patellae

This is where the kneecap moves out of its normal position, which can lead to limping, pain, and arthritis. Limping may present as hopping on one back leg until the knee extends and the kneecap pops back into line, at which point they may resume a normal gait. 

Treatment 

Treatment will depend on the severity and may include physical therapy, supplements, medication, and/or surgery. Appropriate treatments and management should be discussed with your vet.

How a complete and balanced raw diet can support a Chihuahua with Luxating Patella 

A species-appropriate raw food diet provides natural glucosamine, chondroitin, and collagen to support healthy joint structures. Higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids have a natural anti-inflammatory effect if optimised against a reduced ratio of omega-6 fatty acids found in plant oils. Added to this, more collagen protein assimilation from raw, aids connective tissue repair. 

Disc Disease (IVDD)

Chihuahuas can be prone to developing spinal disc disease, this is because many of the breeds with shorter noses or domed skulls also show up with half (hemi) vertebral formation in the spine of the chest. This can increase the risk of disc damage which happens when one of the fluid ‘cushions’ inside the discs of the spine either slips out of place or ruptures. This allows the muscles to pull the bones of the vertebral column together to trap nerves flowing out or the disc material to press on the spinal cord, which can cause severe pain, weakness or even paralysis. The disease can occur gradually, over a period of time, or suddenly. 

Symptoms can include:

• Back pain
• Unusual gait
• Appearing hunched
• Weak legs and wobbliness
• Difficulty getting up
• Holding the head low
• Dragging feet
• Shaking 
• And in severe cases, paralysis. 

Some dogs may yelp when you pick them up or when they try jumping on furniture.

Treatment 

Treatment is usually crate rest and pain medication, along with muscle relaxants, antiinflammatory drugs, and nerve pain medications. Many dogs, particularly those who have experienced paralysis, will need surgery followed by a period of strict crate rest. 

How a complete and balanced raw diet can support a Chihuahua with Disc Disease (IVDD) 

A raw diet provides natural glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which help to support joint health and reduce inflammation, as well as aid in connective tissue repair. Weight management is simple on a raw food diet, and managing weight well may help prevent disc issues from developing.

Heart Disease

Chihuahuas can be prone to several heart conditions, including Mitral Valve Disease (MVD), patent ductus arteriosus, and cardiomyopathy. 

Symptoms that might indicate that your Chihuahua has an issue with their heart are:

• Coughing, particularly following exercise or when they’re excited
• Breathing difficulties 
• Excessive panting
• Fainting or collapsing after exercise
• Poor appetite and weight loss
• Lethargy

Heart disease is seen in older Chihuahuas, but younger dogs may also be affected due to genetic conditions or other health problems. Dogs who are overweight or obese are at higher risk of developing heart disease and other risk factors include hypothyroidism, diabetes, anaemia, and dental problems

If your Chihuahua is coughing repeatedly this could be because of heart disease but there are other possibilities such as infections, tracheal weakness and sensitivity, parasites, or growths within the chest. So we advise you to visit your vet for more help especially if the cough is persistent or recurrent.

If you are still unsure, allow your Chihuahua to settle beside you . Once calmed, count the number of breaths they take in 15 seconds. Multiply this by 4 to give you breaths per minute. If the number of breaths per minute (bpm) is less than 20 don’t panic, but continue to monitor and contact your veterinary surgery if any other symptoms persist. 

If the number of breaths per minute (bpm) is between 20 – 40 and they are off colour or persistently coughing then contact your vet to arrange further check up. If they are not distressed but have a high respiratory rate of 20 – 40 bpm then recheck in 10-15 minutes. If it drops then continue to monitor. If it persists, yes you guessed it, contact your veterinary surgery. 

Lastly if the number of breaths per minute is more than 40 at rest then contact your emergency vets whilst you continue to monitor and ask for advice. There are apps like Cardalis apple store or google play that can help measure respiratory rates.

How a complete and balanced raw diet can support a Chihuahua with Heart Disease 

Raw is high in good-quality, easily digested protein that provides Chihuahuas with all the amino acids, including taurine, and important vitamins and minerals they need to keep their hearts as healthy as possible. 

Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, and feeding a healthy, species-appropriate diet makes managing your Chihuahua’s weight easy. Controlling their weight and keeping them lean is also important once heart disease has been diagnosed to help keep your beloved pet as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Keeping your dog as lean as possible can also help prevent diabetes, another risk factor for heart disease. 

Dental health issues and dental disease are other risk factors for heart disease, and a diet that is low in carbohydrates may help to reduce plaque buildup and decay, helping to keep your dog’s teeth and heart as healthy as possible. 

Raw food is an excellent source of high-quality heme iron. This is the most bioavailable form of this important mineral, meaning that your Chihuahua’s body is easily able to recognise and use it. A varied raw diet, supplying plenty of heme iron, may help prevent your dog from developing anaemia, another risk factor for heart disease. 

Dental Disease

Like many small breed dogs, Chihuahuas can be prone to dental disease, including plaque buildup, gum disease, and decay. This is because their relatively large teeth can become crowded in their small mouth, creating crevices and surfaces where plaque can build up. This build can eventually lead to periodontal disease. As bacteria can enter the bloodstream through damaged gums, dental disease has also been implicated in other serious health problems, such as heart disease. 

It’s best to prevent dental disease. If you notice plaque buildup or sore gums, deal with it as early as possible. While a vet can carry out dental cleaning, if required, this is usually done under general anaesthetic, which carries its own risks.

Treatment 

Smaller, more crowded mouths can be more difficult to clean at home with brushing, so it’s best to get your Chihuahua used to a dental hygiene routine as a young puppy to help prevent issues in later life. There are also some excellent probiotic dental sprays now available, which are quick and easy to use and work by using friendly bacteria to crowd out the bad bacteria that cause plaque buildup, decay, and gum disease. 

How a complete and balanced raw diet can support a Chihuahua with Dental Disease 

A raw diet, which is lower in carbohydrates, is naturally low in the sugars that unhealthy mouth bacteria thrive on. This unhealthy mouth bacteria causes plaque to build up and also causes gum disease, which has a downstream health impact on the pancreas, heart, and brain. A healthier oral microbiome is associated with lower inflammation in your pet. 

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Legg-Calve-Perthe Disease is a debilitating disease of the hip joint that occurs when the blood supply to the ‘ball’ at the head of the femur (leg bone) is disrupted, causing the bone to die and become deformed. In the initial stage, as the bone dies, the condition is extremely painful. Severe arthritis can then quickly develop around the deformed bone, leading to chronic hip pain. Legg-Calve-Perthes can be caused by trauma to the hip, but it is most commonly genetic. 

Symptoms usually appear between 3 and 8 months, and include:

• Irritability as a result of pain
• Licking and worrying at the hip area
• Signs of pain; yelping when you pick them up or touch their hip 
• Trouble getting up

As time goes on, symptoms can include:

• Lameness due to difficulty bearing weight on the affected leg
• A pronounced limp or not able to put the leg down at all
• Muscles on the affected leg waste due to lack of use, and, eventually, the affected leg will appear shorter

Treatment

Usually, surgery involves removing the affected femoral head, but a hip replacement is rarely performed. The surgery produces excellent results in most cases. For dogs who have surgery before arthritis sets in, the outlook is excellent, and most will go on to live normal, pain-free lives.  

Cage rest may be an alternative in some cases where the femoral head isn’t yet deformed, but it does require strict cage rest for four to six months, which is difficult and heartbreaking for growing puppies. Your dog will be given pain medication, both before and after surgery, to make them more comfortable and they will likely also receive physiotherapy to help rebuild the wasted muscle, and get them using the leg again.

How a complete and balanced raw diet can support a Chihuahua with Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease 

A raw food diet contains high-quality, easily digested proteins which provide your Chihuahua with all of the amino acids they need to rebuild strong muscles. The bone in a raw diet also provides high-quality, natural calcium, helping to rebuild strong bones after surgery. 

Raw food is also a great source of glucosamine, chondroitin, and collagen, which help rebuild strong joints and connective tissue. Dogs who have had Legg-Calve-Perthes disease may be more susceptible to arthritis in later life. Feeding a high-quality raw diet may help reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis, and the high-quality omega-3 oils that raw food provides can help delay the onset and slow the progression of arthritis.

Hypoglycemia

A condition where blood sugar levels drop below normal, which can lead to confusion, seizures and collapse. Toy breeds, like Chihuahuas, can be particularly at risk as their smaller size means that it’s more difficult for them to maintain their blood sugar levels. 

Hypoglycemia can also be caused by serious conditions such as diabetes (including insulin overdose) and xylitol poisoning.

How a complete and balanced raw diet can support a Chihuahua with Hypoglycemia

A healthy raw diet provides your Chihuahua with good quality and easily digested nutrition without the spikes and troughs in blood sugar that accompany high carbohydrate foods. This makes blood sugar levels easier to manage and control. A Chihuahua may need several small meals throughout the day to maintain their blood sugar levels. 

Eye problems

Chihuahuas can suffer from a number of eye issues: 

Cataracts

Cataracts are among the most common causes of sight loss in Chihuahuas and are commonly seen in older dogs. You may notice cloudiness in the eye, which leads to blurred vision. 

There are various causes of cataracts, including old age, but they may also be caused by conditions such as diabetes and some hereditary conditions.

Treatment 

While cataract surgery is available, it is expensive and may not suit your Chihuahua. Treatment often involves learning to adapt to and support your dog to cope with their reduced vision. Dogs don’t rely on their eyesight to the same extent that we do and most are able to adjust and live a full life with limited sight.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) 

This degenerative eye condition affects the photoreceptor cells in the eyes, causing them to deteriorate and eventually leading to blindness. The condition isn’t painful for your Chihuahua, but you might notice that they appear to have trouble seeing things in low light, at night, and in bright conditions. You may become aware that they’re bumping into things, especially in unfamiliar areas and when familiar objects have been moved. 

Treatment

There is no cure, but your vet may recommend some vitamins and antioxidants to help reduce the stress on your dog’s lens. You can manage your dog’s condition by keeping them on a lead in unfamiliar areas, using your voice to let them know when you’re close so as not to startle them, avoiding moving furniture as much as possible, and using a ‘halo collar’ (a flexible collar that extends round the head to avoid bumps). 

Tear Staining 

Tear staining happens when watery eyes cause an overflow of tears onto the fur around the eyes. Causes can include tear duct blockage, eyelid abnormalities, eyelash infections, allergies, and eye infections. It can also happen due to teething and reactions to ingredients in food. 

If you notice tear staining it’s important to have a vet check their eyes and to treat any infection. It may help to keep fur around your dog’s eyes as short as possible.

How a complete and balanced raw diet can support a Chihuahua with eye problems

As some of the eye conditions affecting Chihuahuas are genetic, diet can only do so much if your dog is affected. However, for conditions that can be caused or exacerbated by food intolerances and allergies, feeding a fresh food diet can help. Feeding raw food eliminates allergens such as storage mites and, in the case of food intolerances, makes it easier to identify and eliminate your individual dog’s triggers. 

A raw diet doesn’t contain inflammatory ingredients, and reducing inflammation may benefit some eye conditions. Easily digested and highly bioavailable vitamins are important for overall eye health and are found in abundance in raw food. Vegetables and berries in complete raw meals provide antioxidants, which are also important for eye health. Some of our raw meals contain additional antioxidant-rich superfoods, such as spirulina.

Bladder & Kidney Stones

Bladder stones are hard mineral deposits that form in the bladder and kidneys and can vary in size from tiny crystals to larger, more solid stones. They’re primarily made up of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphate (struvite) or mineralized amino acids such as urate or oxalate and can obstruct urine flow. 

Bladder stones can cause discomfort and pain, and symptoms include: 

• Frequent attempts to urinate possibly only producing small amounts
• Blood in the urine
• Straining to urinate
• Accidents with previously house-trained dogs. 

Kidney stones are similar mineral deposits that form within the kidneys, causing similar symptoms. 

How a complete and balanced raw diet can support a Chihuahua with bladder and kidney stones 

It’s important that dogs with bladder and kidney stones eat a diet that’s high in moisture, to help keep the bladder well flushed and to help keep the pH of the urine neutral. A raw food diet naturally provides these high levels of moisture.

A raw diet is naturally high in ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids that may reduce inflammation. Inflammation in the bladder can contribute to infections, a primary cause of struvite crystals. 

Raw fed dogs appear to have a more appropriate gut microbiome, which may also aid in the control and reduction of inflammation and, therefore,  the management of bladder stones. Depending on the type of crystals present, you may also wish to include a bladder support supplement. 

Please note, that if your Chihuahua suffers from Urate stones they may require a low purine diet low in liver and rich organ meats.

When to seek vet advice

Bella+Duke works proactively with the veterinary professions to support pet-centred wellness and recommend discussing any health concerns with your vet.

The healthiest diet for Chihuahuas

The best diet for your Chihuahua is based around a menu that is complete and full of nutritional goodness. A raw diet may also help prevent common health issues for Chihuahuas by ensuring that they are eating a balanced diet with purposeful ingredients.

Adding variety to their diet with novel proteins and seasonal fruits and vegetables will not only keep them interested and excited for meal times, but it will also ensure that they are less likely to develop allergies and intolerances to certain meats, and make sure that they are receiving a wide range of beneficial ingredients.

Adding things like oils, bone broth can also provide extra nourishment and flavour to their meals, while incorporating turmeric and ginger can aid things like inflammation, digestion and skin health.

The best food for Chihuahuas

The best food for Chihuahua puppies is one that’s slightly higher in protein and fat than adults, this is because they need that little extra support and energy to grow healthy bones, joints and muscles. Finished with vegetables and fruits for extra vitamins that are easy for them to digest. Check out our range of complete puppy meals. 

Just like puppies, a diet high in protein is key for adult Chihuahuas. Their meals should consist of a blend of meat, offal and bone, finished with carefully selected vegetables and 100% natural additives like omega rich oils and bone broth. Our raw dog food meals are complete and extra delicious.

Raw feeding amount and cost calculator

Do Chihuahuas have a big appetite? Let’s see. This table gives an estimate of how much Bella & Duke food a Chihuahua needs each day, based on their age in months and weight range.

Age (months)	Weight range (kilos)	Raw food per day
1	0.255 – 0.566	< 100g
2	0.453 – 0.907	< 100g
3	0.68 – 1.133	< 100g
4	0.907 – 1.814	< 100g
5	0.907 – 1.814	< 100g
6	1.133 – 2.041	100g approx.
7	1.133 – 2.041	100g approx.
8	1.133 – 2.041	100g approx.
9	1.133 – 2.041	100g approx.
10	1.133 – 2.041	100g approx.
11	1.133 – 3.175	100 – 135g
12	1.133 – 3.175	100 – 135g
12 +	1.133 – 3.175	100 – 135g

Interested in feeding your Chihuahua raw food. Use our puppy calculator and adult dog calculator to see how much they need.

Foods to avoid for Chihuahuas 

Chihuahuas should be fed a complete and balanced diet to support their overall health, but, like with all breeds, there are foods they shouldn’t be fed, because they are either toxic to them or they cause digestive issues. 

Some of these foods are:

• Chocolate
• Foods containing xylitol (artificial sweeteners)
• Onions
• Large amounts of garlic
• Citrus fruits 
• Alcohol
• Coffee
• Grapes

References

1. Why do small dogs live longer than large dogs, American Kennel Club: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/why-do-small-dogs-live-longer/
2. Chihuahua lifespan, Pet Chi Dog: https://www.petchidog.com/chihuahua-life-span