health of chihuahua - Page 1

My darling Patty,she is a beautiful chihuahua. she is an one-year-old deer head chihuahua that i got from a reputable chihuahua breeder.this is my first chihuahua. when i first brought her home, i thought she was sick as she was so timid and shy. And I don't know how to deal with it.So I search on the internet and want to learn some basic chihuahua health knowledge. Share with you all the most helpful article I have read, which is posted in http://chihuahua.dormitory.com/ , symptoms and signs of a sick chihuahua: see a vet!

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. indications of a “sick chihuahua” include: lethargy disorientation weakness weight loss seizure lack of appetite vomiting diarrhea unproductive retching, straining to urinate bloody urine difficulty or inability to walk bleeding, pale mucous membranes difficulty breathing and persistent cough you know your chihuahua best and can often notice subtle early warning signs that someone else may not detect. if you notice any of the mentioned symptoms or other signs, call your veterinary hospital immediately, do not wait! your chihuahua must be examined. 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? hav