Xoloitzcuintli health: what owners should know

Having developed largely through natural selection, the Xolo is generally robust and long-lived. Most breed-specific issues relate to the hairless trait: missing or crowded teeth and skin problems such as acne, sunburn and dryness. Some lines have hip dysplasia, slipping kneecaps or eye conditions, so responsible breeders screen hips and knees and have eyes examined. The hairless gene is fatal before birth when a puppy inherits two copies, which is why many breeders pair hairless dogs with coated ones.

Healthy habits are simple: shield the skin from sun and cold, keep teeth clean and keep your dog lean. See a vet if a patch of skin becomes red, hot, swollen or oozing, if spots spread quickly, if your dog shows mouth pain or reluctance to chew, or if sunburned skin blisters.