Puppy First, Health First
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The big picture
Chihuahuas typically live 14–18 years.
The breed club describes the Chihuahua as generally healthy, and most problems are easier to manage when they are caught early.
A few everyday habits do a lot.
Chihuahuas are known to be prone to three conditions: slipping kneecaps, a leaky heart valve and a weak windpipe.
This page explains each one in plain words: what it is, what you might notice and what you can do.
Worth knowing
This list is not exhaustive or official. Keep asking your veterinarian as your puppy grows.
A slipping kneecap (patellar luxation) slides out of its groove, mostly toward the inside of the leg.
Most knee problems found in screened Chihuahuas are the mildest grade.
Your vet feels the knees at puppy visits and yearly checkups and grades any slipping. A formal knee check is possible once your dog turns 1.
In mitral valve disease, a valve on the left side of the heart wears and starts to leak.
A murmur your vet hears is often the first sign, usually from middle age.
Have the heart listened to at every yearly checkup, and mention any new cough.
In tracheal collapse, the windpipe softens and can narrow, most often in middle-aged or older dogs.
A new cough is the sign to watch for, and it can also come from the heart.
Walk your dog on a harness instead of a collar, so nothing presses on the windpipe.
Gum disease (periodontal disease) is common in Chihuahuas, and so are baby teeth that don't fall out.
Tartar on the teeth is a sign to mention to your vet.
Brush the teeth every day from puppyhood, and book a dental check every year. Ask your vet about any baby tooth still in once the adult teeth have come through.
Very small puppies can get low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) if they miss a meal, get chilled or are stressed.
A puppy that suddenly seems weak or listless needs a call to your vet.
Feed small meals often, keep the breeder's food at first and keep your puppy warm.
Less common
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, where the top of the thigh bone loses its blood supply, can cause a limp in a young dog.
A soft spot on the skull (molera) is common, and on its own it does not mean fluid on the brain (hydrocephalus).
Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia, where fluid pockets form in the spinal cord, have been seen in the breed, so signs of pain need a vet.
Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), eyelids that roll in (entropion) and a slipped lens (lens luxation) can affect the breed.
In some males a testicle does not drop (cryptorchidism), and the breeder's vet checks for this before travel.
Extra weight builds easily, so measure meals and keep treats tiny.
DNA tests
A cheek-swab DNA test works at any age and checks for several inherited conditions.
Each result is clear (no copies of the gene change), carrier (one copy) or at risk (two copies).
A carrier is healthy, and carrier status matters only for breeding.
An at-risk result means a higher chance, not a diagnosis, and some at-risk dogs never get the condition or get it late. Tests cover two forms of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a slow loss of sight from the back of the eye. Others look for a gene linked to back disc problems. A few more check for uncommon brain, nerve and blood conditions. Separate tests show coat length and merle color; they describe looks, not disease.
Checkups your dog will get
Care plan by life stage
Planning for Chihuahua vet costs
These are typical published costs for treating what a Chihuahua vet exam looks at and the conditions the breed is known to be prone to. Each range shows where it comes from and when, and your own vet's estimate will differ.
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist's first exam (consultation fee only) | $198–$350 | per visit | at US veterinary teaching hospitals (Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee) | 2023–2026 |
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist's first exam (consultation fee only) | $198–$350 | per visit | at US veterinary teaching hospitals (Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee) | 2023–2026 |
| Item | Typical cost | Per | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collapsing trachea workup (before a stent) | $2,000–$3,500 | per workup | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2023 |
| Tracheal stent placement | $3,200–$3,600 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2023 |
| Tracheal stent, workup and placement together | $5,900–$6,500 | per procedure | at one US veterinary teaching hospital (Missouri) | 2023 |
Planning for pet insurance
When you are ready to compare plans, here is one option for Pawrade buyers.
Only with Pawrade, you receive a pet insurance policy with no waiting period included for immediate accident or illness coverage, 1 month, with every puppy.† You activate it by calling MetLife; instructions arrive with your travel details. Continuing MetLife coverage after the first month is strongly recommended.
View the MetLife 30-day offer →†NH, NY, RI, SC and TN residents excluded. Activated by calling MetLife; coverage begins immediately following policy activation. See the offer for full terms.
Whichever plan you look at, read the policy before you buy. Check the waiting periods, how it defines a pre-existing condition, and its deductible, reimbursement percentage and annual limit.
A waiting period is how long after you buy a pet insurance policy before a claim counts.
| Policy | Accidents | Illness | Joints |
|---|---|---|---|
| MetLife policy included with your Pawrade puppy† | None | None | None |
| MetLife, bought directly | None | 14 days | Not listed |
| Industry standard | 0–14 days | 14–30 days | 6–12 months |
| Nationwide | 14 days | 14 days | Not listed |
| Trupanion | 5 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Embrace | 2 days | 14 days | 6 months |
| Figo | 1 day | 14 days | Not listed |
The breeder's licensed vet checks your puppy before it goes home. The vet follows PetPay's exam standards, and the results go in your puppy's Veterinary Health Report.
Focus
Heart
Heart murmur, and how loud it is (grade)
02
Breathing
How open the nostrils are · Coughing or congestion
03
Temperature, pulse and breathing rate
Temperature · Pulse · Breathing rate
04 Focus
Eyes
Discharge · Vision problems · Eyelash problems · Cherry eye
05
Ears and hearing
Debris or discharge · Ear mites · Signs of infection · Hearing
06 Focus
Mouth and bite
Teeth and jaw alignment · Bite (overbite or underbite)
07
Skin and coat
Fleas and ticks · Hair loss · Signs of infection
08 Focus
Kneecaps
Kneecaps that slip, and how much (grade)
09
Hips
Hip pain
10
Hernias
Belly-button (umbilical) hernia · Groin (inguinal) hernia
11 Focus
Soft spot on the skull
An open soft spot, and its size
12 Focus
Body condition and weight
Body condition score · Weight
13
Reproductive organs
Both testicles in place (males) · Extra skin folds around the vulva (females)
14
History of vomiting or diarrhea
Any history of vomiting or diarrhea (reported, not examined)
15
Stool test for parasites
Fecal flotation test, with any treatment given
16
Past surgery and notes
Any past surgery · The vet's explanation of anything abnormal
The vet listens with a stethoscope for a murmur, which can point to a heart problem present from birth.
A leaky heart valve (mitral valve disease) also runs in the breed but usually shows up later, so your own vet keeps listening at checkups.
The vet examines both eyes for obvious defects.
The vet checks the bite and the teeth.
The vet feels both knees and grades any kneecap that slips out of place (patellar luxation).
Slipping kneecaps run in Chihuahuas, so the knee check is a useful first look.
The vet feels the top of the skull and notes the size of any soft spot (molera).
A molera on its own is common in Chihuahuas and is not a diagnosis. Signs of a nervous-system problem matter more than the soft spot itself, so mention any to your own vet.
The vet checks the puppy's body condition and weight.
Low energy in a tiny puppy can be a sign of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), so call your vet if your puppy seems listless.
The vet listens with a stethoscope for a murmur, which can point to a heart problem present from birth.
A leaky heart valve (mitral valve disease) also runs in the breed but usually shows up later, so your own vet keeps listening at checkups.
The vet examines both eyes for obvious defects.
The vet checks the bite and the teeth.
The vet feels both knees and grades any kneecap that slips out of place (patellar luxation).
Slipping kneecaps run in Chihuahuas, so the knee check is a useful first look.
The vet feels the top of the skull and notes the size of any soft spot (molera).
A molera on its own is common in Chihuahuas and is not a diagnosis. Signs of a nervous-system problem matter more than the soft spot itself, so mention any to your own vet.
The vet checks the puppy's body condition and weight.
Low energy in a tiny puppy can be a sign of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), so call your vet if your puppy seems listless.
Puppies grow and change quickly, and their immune systems are still developing, so no exam can find everything. The Veterinary Health Report is a strong early look at your puppy and a written starting point that your own vet builds on.
Health guarantee
Every Pawrade puppy comes with a health guarantee administered by PetPay, independent of the seller. The terms are on the health guarantee page.
Customers Love Us!
Sadie Kate · Chihuahua“Thrilled with my new puppy. Very pleased with Pawrade. Things went extremely well and everyone at Pawrade kept me informed every step of the way. Sadie was hand delivered to my door and was healthy and happy.”
Chihuahua Puppies for Sale
Frequently asked questions
Most Chihuahuas live long, healthy lives, and the breed club describes the breed as generally healthy. Chihuahuas are known to be prone to slipping kneecaps (patellar luxation), a leaky heart valve (myxomatous mitral valve disease) and a weak windpipe (tracheal collapse). Gum disease and baby teeth that don't fall out are common too. Regular knee and heart checks, a harness instead of a collar and daily tooth brushing help you stay ahead of them.
Some do, and a leaky heart valve (myxomatous mitral valve disease) is the heart condition that runs in the breed. Murmurs usually appear from middle age, so a yearly heart check with your vet picks up changes early. A new cough is worth a vet visit too, since it can come from the heart or the windpipe.
A molera is a soft spot on top of the skull, and on its own it does not mean fluid on the brain (hydrocephalus). It often shrinks or closes as the dog matures, although many adults keep a small one.
Feed small meals often and keep the puppy warm, because very small puppies can develop low blood sugar when they miss meals, get chilled or are stressed. Treat listlessness as a possible sign of low blood sugar, and call your vet.
Cheek-swab DNA tests cover two forms of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), an inherited loss of sight, and a gene linked to disc disease in the back. Others cover neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, spinocerebellar ataxia and congenital macrothrombocytopenia, which are uncommon inherited conditions. A carrier is healthy, and an at-risk result is a higher chance, not a diagnosis.
A carrier has one copy of the gene change and is healthy, and carrier status matters only for breeding. An at-risk result means two copies and a higher chance of the condition, not a diagnosis, and some at-risk dogs never show signs.
Chihuahuas typically live 14–18 years. A yearly vet check, a lean weight and daily tooth brushing help them stay well into old age.
Older Chihuahuas need regular heart checks, because a leaking mitral valve (mitral regurgitation) is common from middle age. A new cough can point to the heart or a weak windpipe (tracheal collapse), so have it checked. Keep up dental care, and keep your dog warm.
Spaying or neutering is a decision to make with your own vet. The right timing depends on factors such as your dog's sex and expected adult size.
Measure meals, feed an adult twice a day and keep treats tiny. Small snacks add up quickly on a dog this size, so cut back on calories if the weight starts to creep up.
