Owners should exercise great care to avoid getting water in the dog s ears. Regular nail clippings are a good idea as well. Chihuahuas are basically pretty healthy as a breed but some may suffer from eye problems, heart disease, collapsed trachea, or dislocated kneecaps. They are very sensitive to cold weather and may enjoy the protection of a small sweater on cool days. Since their noses are short, Chihuahuas have a tendency to snore and wheeze at times.
Puppies are very vulnerable to fractures and accidents because they are so small and fragile.
In general most Chihuahuas can live up to 15 years or longer. These dogs are natives of Mexico, where they were discovered roughly 100 years ago. Little is known about their prior existence. Their name comes from the Mexican state of Chihuahua and is believed to have been sacred to Pre-Columbian Indian nations. The most famous Chihuahua dog is most likely the Taco Bell dog that became famous by appearing in the restaurant's advertising campaign in the late 1990s.