Chihuahuas are a dog breed that became popular in the 50’s so many owners have acquired a small animal of this breed. Due to some physical characteristics some dogs can show their tongue out of their mouth. In this post we will present the main reasons for a dog to have its tongue out of its mouth, in addition to presenting the physical and behavioral characteristics of the Chihuahua breed.
Chihuahua tongue out
Some chihuahua dogs may stick their tongues out of their mouths. This type of behavior can be related to the following causes.
- Excitement;
- Wheezing;
- Tongue out syndrome;
- Missing teeth.
Excitement
Dogs when having fun, playing, walking or doing activities with their owners, they can get so excited that it makes them stick their tongue out. The euphoria of dogs can be shown in many ways and the tongue out can be a sign of contentment.
Wheezing
In the heat or when animals are subjected to stress. These start to present wheezing and often results in the tongue coming out of the mouth. Along with panting and the tongue out of the mouth, the animal may salivate more than normal.
Tongue out syndrome
This syndrome is an irreversible pathology where the animal’s tongue is out of the mouth all the time. This is a common pathology in small breed dogs and in brachycephalic dogs. This syndrome can be caused by the large size of the tongue of dogs and by pathologies that affect the mouth of dogs that prevent the tongue from being inside the mouth.
Missing teeth
When dogs have a generalized infection in the mouth, the teeth often need to be removed, so the tongue loses the support that kept it inside the mouth. The tongue sticks out and can usually be dry.
The main causes of tooth loss in dogs are old age and excessive accumulation of tartar on the teeth. Dogs with gingivitis caused by tartar should look for a veterinarian for the best treatment, avoiding sepsis and even animal death.
Tongue out may require some care from tutors as the tongue can suffer accidents and end up injuring itself, leading to bleeding. In addition, dogs with the tongue out can lose a little taste and some animals can even reduce food consumption. The tongue out can also increase the dog’s salivation, which increases the dirtiness in the owner’s house.
About the Chihuahua breed
One of the theories about the origin of the Chihuahua believes that these dogs lived wild in Mexico. These small dogs were captured and domesticated by the indigenous people of the region.
Physical characteristics
The head is very round and small, and the eyes are round. The ears are large and are always on alert. It is a dog with a compact body, short and muscular limbs, its tail is moderately long, carried high, arched or in a semicircle.
The Chihuahua’s coat can be short-haired or long-haired and can be found in many shades and combinations except for the merle color.
Behavior / Temperament
Chihuahuas have a strong personality. They are small dogs but agile, alert, restless and very courageous. It’s a dog that can bark a lot. They can react to any strange movement, always calling the tutor’s attention. Therefore, it is considered a good guard dog.
Breed health
Chihuahuas are very healthy animals, but they need to do physical activities such as playing and going for walks to burn off some energy. This breed can have some genetic diseases such as:
- Patellar deviation;
- Cryptorchidism;
- Hydrocephalus.
Patellar deviation is a disease where the animal may limp and feel local pain, as the patella leaves the anatomical place, which may lead to injuries from temptation and other complications.
Cryptorchidism is the disease present in males where one or both testicles are not observed in the scrotum. The puppies are born with the testicles in the cavity and until 8 months these testicles tend to be in the scrotum.
After 8 months of the absence of one or more testicles the animal is considered cryptorchid. In these cases, castration of the animal is indicated, since the testicle in the cavity has a greater predisposition to become a tumor that can worsen the health of the animal.
Hydrocephalus, on the other hand, has no well-described causes. It is the disease that happens in the intra uterine life where there is a large accumulation of liquids in the puppy’s skull. Thus, the bitch may have difficulties when giving birth to the animal in a natural way, being a necessary cesarean section. Puppies often die due to neuronal complications generated by hydrocephalus.
Dogs with these genetic disorders are discouraged from breeding. And there must be veterinary monitoring for better resolution of the cases.
These animals do not have so many reproductive problems, but gestational follow-up with a veterinarian is advised due to the high incidence of hydrocephalus, which can lead to dystocia, resulting in the mother and the offspring’s death.
Animals must have a routine of being vaccinated and dewormed. In addition to care with ectoparasites such as fleas and ticks. When these preventive cares are not applied, the animals can present health problems.
Illness, happiness, excitement, or fear can cause the animal to shiver, this same sign can be seen when they are cold. If constant tremors are observed, a veterinarian should be sought.
General Care
Short-haired dogs do not need clipping, while long-haired animals may need clipping. Bathing these animals must be done constantly and they must have their fur brushed at least twice a week.
Baths in this breed are indicated with specific shampoos for dogs and neutral shampoos. Bathing should be done very carefully, especially to avoid getting water into the ear. The animal must always be very dry after bathing to avoid the growth of microorganisms that can lead to dermatitis.
Brushing the dog’s teeth is necessary to prevent tartar buildup. Brushing the teeth should be done every 48 hours, using specific toothpaste for dogs. As for nail clipping, the nail should be cut once or twice a month. Cutting the nails prevents the animal from getting hurt or even hurting the tutor.
Conclusion
Dogs can stick their tongue out for several reasons, the main reasons are excitement and excess heat. In addition, some pathologies in the animal’s mouth can favor the tongue being exposed most of the time. Dogs with periodontal diseases or any pathology that affects their mouth should seek a veterinary doctor for proper treatment, avoiding health problems in chihuahua dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Chihuahua tongue out
How heavy is a chihuahua?
The Chihuahua’s weight should be between 1 and 3 kg.
How long does a chihuahua live?
Chihuahuas usually live between 12 and 20 years, depending on their genetics and general care.
Does the chihuahua bark a lot?
Yes, because they are dogs that have great hearing and any noise they find suspicious they will bark. Thus making them good dogs to guard.
Reference
CBKC – Brazilian Canine Confederation, 2015 Official Breed Standard: chihuahua. Available at: https://cbkc.org/application/views/docs/padroes/padrao-raca_187.pdf, accessed January 22, 2022.
Lazaretti, R. M. J., Oliveira, J. C. V. D., & Santos, J. M. G. D. (2011). Ocorrência de periodontopatias em cães atendidos no hospital veterinário do Cesumar.
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