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Arthritis

Chihuahua Arthritis

Overview

By the time a Chihuahua reaches six years old or if your dog has had prior joint-related problems such as hip dysplasia and patella luxation, then you will want to know about arthritis in Chihuahua dogs. 

With canines, there are four main types of arthritis. The most common type is osteoarthritis which will be the one we’ll discuss here. 

This section will cover what osteoarthritis is, symptoms, prevention, and treatment options. 

What Happens 

You probably know that cartilage is the cushion between bones. Without it, you don't move fluidly or without pain. The same is true for other mammals, dogs included. 

Glucosamine and chondroitin keep cartilage healthy. As canines age, their bodies produce less and less of these compounds. The reduction causes cartilage to break down and thin out. Once it reaches a certain point, the joint becomes bone-on-bone. This causes a lot of pain, stiffness, and inflammation. If it keeps going unchecked, the bones themselves start to have damage.

In areas with previous injury, such as luxating patella (knees), sprains, or breaks, this wearing down of cartilage is prone to happen much sooner than it would otherwise. 

Causes

Aging is the most common cause. However, don't be fooled into thinking this is a disease only applicable to very old dogs. The majority of dogs, 80%, that are eight years or older are affected by some level of arthritis. If a dog has been on a low-quality kibble and/or has had joint-related issues, arthritis can develop as young as 4 or 5 years old. 

As with all health concerns, there can be some contributing factors. Dogs that already have hip, knee, or other joint issues are more prone to have arthritis. 

Something that makes it worse is being overweight. The more weight, the more work stress on the bones and surrounding areas to carry that additional weight. Thankfully, the Chihuahua, as a breed, aren’t easily overweight. That doesn't mean some older adults and seniors haven't put on a few extra pounds, especially if they are less mobile. 

Other contributing factors include poor nutrition and certain diseases such as tick-borne diseases and Cushing’s disease. 

Symptoms

  • Increasing weakness or favoring one or more legs.
  • ‘Slowing down’ – just generally not as spry. 
  • Lethargy - wearing out easily or quickly.
  • Joint stiffness. It can be hard to get up from lying down or being in a “down” position. It might hurt to go up and down the stairs. The stiffness is often worse in the morning and may improve as the day goes on. 
  • Discomfort – often shown by being depressed, or not wanting to do normal activities that require motion or fidgeting when resting because they just can’t get comfortable.
  • Disturbed sleep or insomnia - a dog may have trouble sleeping through the night; he may toss and turn or wake up every couple of hours.
  • Symptoms can be worse on rainy, damp, or cold days. 

Diagnosis

  • X-rays are the best way to evaluate the bones. In order to obtain clear images, a dog is usually given general anesthesia. 
  • Depending on the location and suspected severity, a contrast dye may be used to better highlight the area.
  • Some veterinary clinics have a special tool called a ‘force plate’ that is able to evaluate the gait of a dog while he walks over it. 
  • A sample of fluid from the affected joints may be analyzed.

Prevention

With so many dogs suffering from arthritis even before reaching what is considered the mid to late senior years, it’s best to be proactive about this. By taking steps throughout your Chihuahua’s life and especially by the time your Chihuahua reaches the 6-year mark, you can lessen the degree of osteoarthritis. 

Here is what you can do: 

If applicable, help your Chihuahua lose any extra weight. Though weight issues are not at all typical with this breed, even a pound or two adds stress onto the joints. If you have a larger Chihuahua, it may not be clear if your dog needs to lose weight or not; so, you can ask your veterinarian to evaluate your dog for this. If there is a need to lose a couple of pounds, switching to a low-calorie kibble and offering low-calorie snacks can help.  

Keep your Chihuahua on a daily exercise routine. Exercise, like walking, keeps surrounding muscles in good shape, strengthens bones, and works to relieve stiffness if there is any. 

A good goal to aim for is two 20 to 30-minute walks per day. If your Chihuahua has been rather sedentary, start off slow by taking short 10-minute walks, and work your way up. 

Limit actions that can cause injury. Any sort of injury or condition affecting the joints makes the area much more prone to arthritis. 

Some Chihuahua seem to think they wear superhero capes. While in our hearts they do, launching off sofas and chairs isn't joint-friendly. Adding steps or ramps for them to access their favorite places will help prevent the jarring that occurs with jumping and will limit possible injury when jumping from heights.  

It’s not all that uncommon for dogs to trip down steps, and this is especially so with young pups and older dogs. If needed, use gates to block off potentially dangerous staircases.  
Offer supplements. It's better to begin supplementing with glucosamine and chondroitin before your Chihuahua has developed arthritis. If you are feeding your Chihuahua a high-quality kibble like Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free for Small Breeds, these beneficial ingredients may already be added to the mix. However, starting at age 6, a dog’s body produces less of these elements, and production decreases as each year goes by. A daily glucosamine and chondroitin supplement can counteract this. If a Chihuahua already has c, MSM and Coenzyme (CoQ10) should be given (more details ahead). 

Treatment

At Home: There are some adjustments you can make to increase your Chihuahua’s comfortable level and to make motion easier. 

Steps and ramps. Walking up a ramp, even small steps, requires much less joint use than trying to jump or climb up to sofas, chairs, beds, or other furniture that your Chihuahua may regard as their comfy places. Something like the PetSafe Solvit PupSTEP Plus Pet Stairs is very easy to move into place, works against both couches and beds, and is sized for small dogs. 
Provide a memory foam or orthopedic canine bed. Lounging on a bad bed or substandard mattress adds up over time; joints become stiffer and a dog may have trouble sleeping. So, offering proper support for the body is a critical part of caring for a Chihuahua with arthritis. Look for an appropriately-sized quality memory-foam mattress. The PetFusion Ultimate Memory Foam Pet Bed is an excellent choice for this. As an added plus, it's waterproof as well. 
Don’t let your Chihuahua sleep in a draft. Cold drafts can exacerbate symptoms. While it may be warm where you stand or even sit on furniture, get down on your Chihuahua’s level to inspect the sleeping and resting areas for any drafts. If drafts cannot be resolved, move your Chihuahua’s bed to a warmer location. 

Prevent slipping. Four fast-moving little feet can skid in ways that two feet don't. Adding slipping resistant rugs on hardwood or other non-carpeted floors is a good idea. If you are using a paw wax like Musher's Secret, as is recommended for Chi of all ages to keep the paws healthy, this will help your Chihuahua have better traction on slick surfaces. Be sure to apply it regularly (once a week). 

Exercise. While arthritis can make walking difficult for dogs, lounging around the house can make things worse. Taking your Chi for walks will increase blood flow to the area and loosen up stiff joints. If the veterinarian approves, aim to take your Chihuahua for several 15 to 20 minute slow walks each day. 
Body manipulation. Did you know that certified canine massage therapists can show you how to massage your dog at home? This can be a huge help. They can also show you how gentle use of warm compresses may help some affected areas. Between their help and yours, you'll have some additional options. 

Use supplements daily. Supplements can't reverse bone damage; however, they can help the body to make some repairs. 

There are several supplements that can help a Chihuahua with arthritis: 

1. Glucosamine and chondroitin with MSM and Coenzyme (CoQ10) which promotes cartilage formation and repair. This does not work overnight; rather, there should be improvement over the course of weeks and months. Be sure that the one you choose has high-quality ingredients and is made in the USA. We recommend Doggie Dailies Advanced Hip and Joint Supplement . 
2. Omega-3 fatty fish oil (DHA and EPA) can assist with inflammation as well as pain. An added plus is that this keeps skin and coat super-healthy and boosts the immune system. We recommend Zesty Paw's Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs which comes in a handy pump, making it easy to add one dose (1/2 to 1 pump per day) to your Chihuahua's kibble (be sure to mix it in very well, so that your dog does not pick out just the pieces with the fish oil). 

3. Bone broth is another easy way to add an additional tasty dose of glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as hyaluronic acid (another element that helps with joint issues). It's easy to make this using a crock pot. Ask the butcher for beef marrow bones and chicken feet. Fill the pot with water and add 2 to 3 teaspoons of real lemon juice (it helps pull minerals out of the bones) and 3 tablespoons of vinegar (this helps it form into the right consistency). 

Cook this on high for 1 hour, then simmer for at least 12 and up to 24 hours. Then, strain this to remove all bones and bone fragments. You can leave it as is or add in extras like veggies (carrots, peas, green beans, kale). 

Next, this should go into the fridge. As it cools, a layer of fat will develop on the top. Once it's fully cooled, remove that fat and toss it. What you'll have left is a gelatin that has the consistency of thick jelly. Store this in the fridge. For each meal, add a heaping spoon of the cooled broth over the kibble and mix well. 

Veterinary Treatment Options

At some point, it will be time to offer more than what can be given at home. There are several treatments to speak to your vet about: 

• Adequan injections. This is an option some owners have found effective, with low side effects. Adequan is an injectable disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug (DMOAD) for canines that helps repair cartilage (it is FDA approved). The cost can be prohibitive and this typically needs to be injected twice per week, for up to 4 weeks. 

• NSAIDs. Medications like these are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Rimadyl. They can help with pain and inflammation in some cases. Dosing has to be carefully monitored due to possible side effects including organ damage. 

• Steroids. The down side of this method is that it tends to increase appetite, thus weight gain if you’re not careful, and it can be an infection risk. Steroids, such as prednisone are used short-term. It typically starts with a high dose and is then weaned down until it stops. NEVER stop a steroid suddenly. Doing so can have life threatening results. With any steroid and canines, follow your vet’s dosing, as he/she will help with the weaning element. 

• Analgesics are used for extreme cases with a great deal of pain. Tramadol (a synthetic opioid) is one such medication. Gabapentin, used to treat nerve pain, is used sometimes in severe cases. 

Alternative Treatments

• Class IV therapeutic laser isn’t a drug or medication and stimulates blood flow to the tissues. It also has some proven records of dramatically positive results with some dogs. It’s non-invasive, and is frequently a pleasant experience for canines. 

• Acupuncture. This Western treatment has been widely accepted. Canine acupuncturists use soft light, and relaxing scented oils, such as lavender to create a calm environment. Tiny needles are inserted just barely below the skin into key points of the body to trigger the body’s own ability to help repair itself. Most dogs don’t mind this, as it’s not like a vaccine injection. The needles are only in deep enough to trigger stimulation. Session are anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. 

• Prolotherapy. This is regular injection of dextrose, in order to stimulate cell growth and strengthen joints. It can also have lidocaine and/or vitamin B 12 in the injection.

• Glucosamine and chondroitin injections. A step up from oral supplements, this can be given via injections into the areas most affected by arthritis in order to speed up some regeneration and slow down or stop degeneration. These are typically needed on a monthly basis, but have no side effects and are typically affordable.
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