Small dogs have their own unique set of issues. They have smaller blood vessels and smaller tracheas and they also tend to have weaker cartilage muscles, ligaments and tendons. Also, their conformation tends to be more straight than angular, which means that they tend to have more common issues such as collapsing tracheas, patella subluxation. In short, little dogs have smaller frames and are much lighter on their feet.
So how does this impact your dog? Well, small dogs also have smaller stomachs so that they may eat or drink until they vomit. Dogs who have had physical issues while young, such as lyme disease or other autoimmune conditions, may have semipermanent or permanent effects. They may also have diabetes. When small dogs become ill, their little bodies do not have the reserves of fat and are sometimes not able to fight off illnesses as effectively as dogs, who are larger and more robust. If your dog has ever been sick or came from a less than stellar breeding stock or conditions, he may be more likely to have physical or behavioural issues that continue into adulthood. Sometimes small dogs have big issues.
Issues such as overeating or even the way in which a dog eats or drink,s can cause issues later in life. When a dog drinks excessive amounts of water they simply ma have came from situation where they had no water. In time, many of these dogs can return to more normal drinking habits. For a dog who is hoarding water be sure not to keep refilling the bowl over and over again since the dog can potentially bloat or become nauseous and vomit. Although excessive drinking could be a sign of something more serious so you may want to consult your veterinarian.
