Chihuahua Health Guarantee: Our 1-Year Genetic Puppy Guarantee
Every puppy from Diamond Chihuahuas goes home with a written 1-year guarantee against life-threatening hereditary defects, plus a short window to have your own vet confirm the puppy is healthy.
We guarantee that your Chihuahua puppy is free of life-threatening congenital and hereditary defects for 1 years from the date it goes home. Before leaving us, every puppy is examined by our vet, is current on age-appropriate vaccines and deworming, and comes with a written health record. This guarantee is part of the puppy contract and terms of sale you sign at pickup.
Your First Vet Check Within [72 Hours]
Take your puppy to a licensed veterinarian of your choice within [72 hours] of pickup or delivery, not counting weekends and holidays. This visit is at your cost. If your vet finds a serious problem at that first exam, tell us the same day and send the written findings. We will then offer a full refund of the purchase price or a replacement puppy, your choice.
If the vet check is skipped or happens after the window, the genetic guarantee still applies, but this first-exam remedy does not.
What Our Chihuahua Health Guarantee Covers
The guarantee is for serious inherited conditions, the ones a breeder can actually influence through parent selection. It is not pet insurance, and we recommend every family buy a pet insurance policy on day one.
| Covered (life-threatening, hereditary or congenital) | Not covered |
|---|---|
| Portosystemic (liver) shunt | Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) after the puppy leaves us |
| Serious congenital heart defects, such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) | Injuries, falls, bites, or anything swallowed |
| Hydrocephalus confirmed by imaging | Intestinal parasites, fleas, ear mites |
| Luxating patella grade 3 or 4 diagnosed before 12 months of age | Coccidia or giardia flare-ups brought on by the stress of rehoming |
| Other congenital organ defects that are fatal or require major surgery, confirmed in writing by a licensed vet | Conditions caused by obesity, poor diet, neglect or rough handling |
| Luxating patella grade 1 or 2, which rarely needs treatment | |
| An open fontanel (molera), which is normal in many Chihuahuas | |
| Kennel cough, colds, allergies, retained baby teeth, hernias that can be fixed at spay or neuter |
Adult Size and Weight Are Not Guaranteed
The projected adult weight on every puppy listing, including our Teacup (3 to 4 lbs) and Toy (4 to 6 lbs) size tiers, is our best estimate from the parents' adult weights and the puppy's growth. It is not part of this guarantee. A puppy that finishes larger or smaller than projected is not a covered condition and does not qualify for a refund or replacement. Size estimates are explained on our Chihuahua weight chart.
Why Hypoglycemia Is Not Covered
This is the question we get most often, so here is our honest view. Low blood sugar is the number one reason a new Chihuahua owner rushes to an emergency vet in the first week, and in nearly every case it comes from a skipped meal, a cold puppy, or a long day of play with children. It is a care issue, not a genetic one. Feed small meals every [3 to 4] hours for the first weeks, keep the puppy warm, and keep honey or corn syrup in the kitchen. If your puppy turns limp, wobbly or glassy-eyed, rub a little on the gums and call your vet right away. Our Chihuahua puppy checklist lists the supplies to have ready, and our guide to hypoglycemia in teacup Chihuahuas covers feeding schedules for the smallest puppies.
What You Need to Do to Keep the Guarantee Valid
- Complete the vet check within [72 hours] and keep a copy of the exam notes.
- Keep the puppy on routine veterinary care: vaccines, deworming and yearly exams, with records you can send us on request.
- Feed a quality puppy food and keep the dog at a healthy weight. An overweight Chihuahua puts extra strain on knees and the heart.
- Do not schedule elective procedures that need general anesthesia before 6 months of age, other than spay or neuter at the age set in your contract, unless your vet says it is medically necessary.
- Do not breed the dog. This is a pet placement.
- Notify us in writing within 14 days of a diagnosis, with the vet's written report and any test results.
- If a puppy passes away from a suspected covered condition, a necropsy by a licensed vet is required for the claim.
We may ask for a second opinion from our own vet, at our expense.
How a Claim Works and What We Offer
Once a covered defect is confirmed in writing, you can choose one of the following:
- A replacement puppy of equal value from a current or future litter, when one is available.
- A partial refund of 50 percent of the purchase price.
Refunds do not include the deposit handling, delivery or travel costs, or vet bills. Our guarantee is limited to the original buyer and is not transferable to a new owner. Deposits are handled separately under our Chihuahua puppy deposit policy.
Ready to meet a puppy? See our Chihuahua puppies for sale, or call or text (646) 463-2052 with any question about this guarantee before you apply.
Chihuahua Puppy Health Guarantee Questions
What does a Chihuahua puppy health guarantee cover?
Our guarantee covers life-threatening congenital and hereditary defects diagnosed by a licensed vet within 1 years, such as a liver shunt, a serious heart defect or hydrocephalus. It does not cover illness picked up after the puppy leaves us, injuries, parasites, or problems caused by diet, obesity or neglect. The full covered and not covered list is in the table on this page.
Is hypoglycemia covered by a puppy health guarantee?
No. Low blood sugar after a toy puppy goes home is almost always caused by missed meals, stress, cold or too much play, not by genetics, so we do not cover it. It is preventable: feed small meals every few hours, keep the puppy warm, and keep honey or corn syrup on hand to rub on the gums while you call your vet.
How soon do I need to take my new Chihuahua puppy to the vet?
Within [72 hours] of pickup or delivery, not counting weekends and holidays. That first exam keeps the guarantee active and gives you a baseline record from your own vet. Bring the health record we send home with you so your vet can see every vaccine and deworming date, and email us a copy of the exam notes.
Do I have to return my sick puppy to get a replacement?
No. We do not ask families to give up a puppy they love in order to use the guarantee. If a covered defect is confirmed, you can keep your puppy and still choose a replacement puppy or the partial refund described above, as long as the claim steps on this page were followed.