I have a little Chihuahua around 5 yeas old and is 4 pounds. She started acting different about 5 days ago when she stopped playing, making high pitched yelps when she was picked up at certain times in different ways, but not always. She has been eating and has had normal bowel movements. She has been shivering a lot, whimpering at times, and when she goes to shake off like a lot of dogs do it seems as if she is doing it extra gentle because it appears she doesn't want to hurt herself. Her neck seems a little puffy and she seems to get somewhat more sensitive around her neck. She has been taken to two vets. One did a range of motion tests with her to make sure of pain in her joints or neck and she never yelped when the vet checked each extremity. They also did an urinalysis on her and everything was normal. The vet figured it was muscular pain and gave her a pain medication to take/anti inflammatory Metacam, and she seemed to respond well to medication. The second vet couldn't find aything wrong ither and just gave her B-12 to boost her immune system. Her temperature was normal at both vets. She is getting a dark discharge coming out of her eyes and they are watering more than usual, she still isn't playing and doesn't seem to be sleeping much, but she still gets up and will walk around and will wag her tail at times and is eating and drinking water. Any help would be a great help because our vets don't seem to know what is wrong with her and this is one chihuahua that doesn't ever yelp unless something is wrong, in fact she hardly ever makes any noises at all.

Thank You!

Stephanie

Now my dog seems to be yelping every time we pick her up. Usually around the neck and stomach area. I am wondering if it is an inflamed disk in her neck, but i have no idea if it would have this kind of effect on her? I no longer have any anti inflamatory medicine left and I don't believe the vet will give me anymore. I have no clue what is going on ad she just lays there and shakes and I wish I was made of money so she could keep having vet visits! Ultimately she probably will end up back at the vet.

Did the vets ever check her teeth? It is estimated that most dogs over 5 have some level of periodontal disease. When there is an abscess in a tooth, dogs may develop neck swelling. Clogged salivary glands may also cause neck swelling when the affected one is under the tongue. The swelling in this case would be right under the jaw in the chin area. You may notice some swelling if looking under the tongue. Also check for any teeth in bad shape in the lower jaw. Dental issues have been known also to cause eye discharge.
Other causes of neck swelling would be enlarged lymp nodes. Also if possible check the neck area for any splinters causing possible swelling and infection.

For the shivering, have you ever tried to apply some pancake syrup on the gums? Some toy breeds get easily hypoglycemia (low sugar levels) and the pancake syrup may perk them up.

It is very frustrating when vets cannot pinpoint a cause, looking at the teeth though can be a good starting point. However, the pain and the neck swelling are not normal and should be further investigated.

When I first starting reading, I thought I had the answer for sure. But, it looks like you've done quite a bit of research.

Our little girl starting doing the exact same thing one evening. Crying loudly and sharply out of the blue and when we would touch or try to pick her up.

We had x-rays done and it was clear that she had a slightly herniated disc in her neck. Nothing really to do but give her some steriods and an anti-inflammatory.

Vet said it would calm down quickly (it did) but could come back at any time. So far (several months) it hasn't.

Sorry I can't help more.

My chihuahua Gizzy girl gets this way once in a while. She has normal poops but sometimes she gets constipated. take her to the vet and they x ray her and find out that she has poop literally from asophagus to rectum. so they give her some cat lax and a mild pain reliever. then I give her the cat lax two more times and she is fine.

I however never notice her neck swelling. she does pee on herself and when she poops they are normal. guess she only pushes out so much at a time.

Gizzy girl never whines at the dr's she is all tough and brave. it is home when she does the whining and shaking and in the car and in the vet office. but, when the vet comes in nothing. she is so tough.

hope all turns out well. I never thought it could be teeth but makes perfect sense in your case

[cortsie]

My dog does the same thing as well! But she is a bit older i think. She was a rescue dog and we got her quite old, about six they estimated. So recently she started yelping when being picked up or when its really cold out. She also gets down and doesn't seem to be as enthusiastic about eating treats like she normally does. We have a vet appt soon. But what i found works out well is to put a blanket in the dryer and warm it up a bit and let your dog lay in it after. It seems to help soothe the joints. Also you can give joint supplements in the food you feed your dog to help strengthen the joints. Hope this helps a bit. It was interesting to read that our dog goes through the same thing and it really does make you worry.I don't blame you!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by cortsie

My dog does the same thing as well! But she is a bit older i think. She was a rescue dog and we got her quite old, about six they estimated. So recently she started yelping when being picked up or when its really cold out. She also gets down and doesn't seem to be as enthusiastic about eating treats like she normally does. We have a vet appt soon. But what i found works out well is to put a blanket in the dryer and warm it up a bit and let your dog lay in it after. It seems to help soothe the joints. Also you can give joint supplements in the food you feed your dog to help strengthen the joints. Hope this helps a bit. It was interesting to read that our dog goes through the same thing and it really does make you worry.I don't blame you!

What breed is he? sounds like joint issues or possible hip displacia. Get X rays from the vet. Surgery is an option as well as supplementation with glucosamine/chondroitin and the addition of Omega fatty Acids such as fish oil which acts as a lubricant. What you dog currently eating? Higher quality kibble or homemade/raw diets have been known to improve joint issues tremendously!

Consider magnetic therapy;

Magnetic Therapy