Is it normal to see my chihuahua's spine sticking out a bit in the middle?

80% Normal
3 Comments

I'm worried about my teacup chihuahua, Lucky for the past month or so. I've noticed for quite a while you can slightly see is spine in the middle sticking out. And when you pet his back, you could feel it too. My mom blames me for not feeding him, but I do. I feed him 3 times a day and he drinks a good amount of water. Sometimes I even feed him to much and he has some food leftover he can't finish. XD You can only see his spine, but not his ribs. Before asking this, I read online about other chihuahuas with the same problem and people have said maybe they could be dropping some puppy fat? Because my dog Lucky was born last year and is already a year old. So could that be the case? I would take him to the vet for an exam but I don't really have the money because my local vet costs 30 dollars for a checkup. So, is that normal?

Voting Results
80% Normal
Based on 30 votes (24 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 3 )
  • NeuroNeptunian
    9 years ago

    I accidentally voted no. I meant yes.

    My family has four Chihuahuas, one is a teacup. Yes, it's normal to see their spine. This is due to the curvature of their back being the way it is. One dog is not a teacup, and you can see her full spine. She is healthy but she is also very lean. You can also even see the lining of the bottom of her rib cage.

    As always, keep an eye on her weight and if it appears to suddenly drop, take her in. Otherwise, it's nothing to be worried about.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • Owly
    9 years ago

    Our beagle mix has this if you catch her at the right angle; it's normal for the leaner breeds. I also study dogs and RARELY see non-exposed spines in Chihuahuas. I've probably only seen 5-6 Chihuahuas ever (as I study Collies) and they've all had this.

    Monitor weight and keep calm. If he drops more than a tiny bit of weight, go see a vet. Otherwise, the spine is fine!

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • Pika-girl
    9 years ago

    Aw, poor Chihuahua! I don't think this ever happened ro my Chihuahuas before! It should be related to eating, fat, and weight, though.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0