General description:

Chihuahua's are perfect apartment companions. They are small and easy to care of.  Having an average lifespan of approximately 17 years, they make perfect companions for old aged people too. they can be almost any colour, from jet black to marble white. However they are not recommended around very young children.

Common observation:

The smaller the dog, the more unfriendly they are to younger children and the more intolerant they are to noise. The basic idea behind this is self-defense. They prefer avoiding others taking advantage of their small size due to which they tend to snarl, growl and sometimes even snap when they feel a stranger is too close to them or if children start to play with them by pulling their hair or squeezing their muzzle.

Health concerns:

These dogs are quite healthy compared to other breeds. being a toy breed, daily walk are not a necessary requirement. Feeding too much can result in obesity. Patella luxation is another common health concern.

Patellar luxation:

 It is common knee problem that affects many toy breeds like Chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers, Boston terriers and others. Patella is a small bone which is located above the knee joint and connects the femur to the tibia. it protects the knee from injury. Furthermore, the under-side of the patella and the ends of the femur have a cartilage attached to it. This cartilage is called the articular cartilage which facilitates easy movement of the knee allowing the bones to glide smoothly. Sometimes, the patella gets fractured and can result in patellar luxation. in this case, the patella gets dislocated from the femoral groove either laterally or towards the medial region when the leg is flexed. this causes instant lameness which can last for varied periods. Though it is largely found to occur in smaller breeds, large dog victims have also increased in the recent years. It could take place because of an accident or a skeletal abnormality previously existing. Hence breeding dogs with such a disease is not advisable.

Patellar luxation in dogs

Symptoms

The clinical symptoms can vary from dog to dog as it largely depends on the severity of the displacement and the capacity to bear pain. however the most common clinical symptoms observed are

• Lameness of the affected limb
• Abdomen carriage on either both or one hind leg
• Resistance to walk, run or jump
• Range of motion of the affected limb reduced
• Swelling at or near the stifle
• Weakness and pain while moving the joint
• Not placing the limb on the ground while walking
• Pain when the joint of the affected limb is moved manually

 

 

Treatment:

Patellar luxation can be treated in both a surgical way and a non-surgical way. usually in minor cases, when the displacement is not too out of hand, non-surgical treatment can heal the patient. firstly, the patient is usually administered with NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) n order to minimize pain. apart from this small exercises to keep the affected joint mobile and strengthen the quadriceps muscles are also done. hydrotherapy and acupressure techniques are also sometimes beneficial for the patient. however in serious cases, surgical procedures are conducted. there are many surgical ways to deepen the femoral depression, where the patella should fit into rightly.