#8. Chihuahua: Collapsing Trachea
Does your Chihuahua make a honking noise when she gets excited? She may have a collapsed trachea — a common problem in toy breeds. With collapsed trachea, the cartilage that normally holds the trachea open is weak, so the trachea flattens. Some dogs go their whole lives with collapsing trachea and have no problems from it; others require medication. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to prop the trachea open.
#9. Maltese: Little White Shaker Syndrome
This funny-named condition is just what it sounds like: tremors in small dogs that are white (although dogs with other coat colors can get it, too). It’s caused by inflammation in the cerebellum, which causes shaking that can be so bad the dog can barely walk. But the good news is that it’s treatable with corticosteroids, it’s not painful for the dog, and it usually subsides after a few weeks.