Bringing a little Chihuahua into your family represents a lot of responsibility that you will have for the little dog. As a toy breed they are prone to many Chihuahua health problems and as a responsible owner it is up to you to familiarize yourself with potential symptoms as much as you can. You will need to know what is standard behavior for a Chihuahua and what classifies as a symptom to a Chihuahua health problem if you are going to truly care for your new pet.

As with any other situation involving the health of your pet one of the best places to get advice is your vet. Sit down with your vet and ask them about standard Chihuahua behavior and then have them tell you some of the tell tale signs that something may be wrong. You don't need to be a vet but you should know what type of behavior indicates an issue. Your breeder will also supply you with a lot of helpful information that you should review and ask your breeder any questions you may have.

Some Chihuahua health problems arise at birth and some develop over time but you should always be watching for any symptoms your dog may display. A common Chihuahua health problem is the inability of the material on the leg and around the knee to hold the kneecap in place. This causes the kneecap to float in and out of place and can become extremely painful for your dog. If you notice a problem with your dog's ability to walk get them to the vet right away.

Another common Chihuahua health problem is that for the males their testicles do not drop and they need a vet to look at them. A normal Chihuahua male will have their testicles drop from their abdomen almost from birth or certainly by the time they reach adulthood. If this has not happened then contact your vet right away, as your Chihuahua will need medical attention for this condition.

Some Chihuahua health problems you can easily see and others you cannot and it is the ones you cannot see that can sometimes be the most serious. The brain in any animal has fluid flowing to and from it at all times and in a Chihuahua one of the health issues is a blockage of this brain fluid causing swelling on the brain and major health issues.

Fluids go back and forth from the brain to the body in any animal and in the Chihuahua these fluids can sometimes get blocked causing a swelling around the brain and severe discomfort for the dog. This can usually be found with regular appointments to the vet but if you notice your dog behaving strangely then get it to the vet right away.

A Chihuahua has a series of health issues that are exclusive to it and then some that are common among toy breeds of dogs. For example, a Chihuahua shares a condition also found in breeds like a Basset Hound in that crystal can form in their urine causing blockages and major problems.

So keep an eye on your Chihuahua and make sure you take them to the vet on a regular basis.