Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 3/21/2010

Question
I was given Chihuahua a few weeks ago. They had told me they had had her about five months. She is about 8 months old supposedly. they said she has had all shots except for parvo and rabies. when I first got her she didn't act afraid at all. She was hyper and playful, even spoiled. She would beg for treats a lot. Suddenly about two days days ago she began acting very strange. It seems like she is very afraid of everyone. she isn't eating much or drinking unless you hold her or coach her. also she yelps very loud for no reason. it sounds like if you accidentally step on a dogs paw (witch no one has) and they yelp loudly. But when this happens no one is even near her. I thought it could be her leg that was broken when she was a baby but when she does walk she doesn't limp. but her tail has been between her legs. most of the time she huddles in a corner and acts like she is wanting to come out but after a few steps looks distressed and goes back to where she was. I' going to take her to the vet but won't have money until Wednesday. I also wonder if she could be pregnant she was in heat about three weeks ago right before she came to live with me. She was living with a male dog at the time. I just wondered if you had any ideal what could be happening. Thank you. her eating habits were fine until now. she ate about half a small bag of Purina puppy chow a day (she is about three lbs) and she ate about 1-2 small beggin strips a day. Thank you so much for reading this.

Answer
It's really hard to say Misty. She could have a gut ache (you are feeding her garbage basically) or she hurt her back or leg jumping off the couch (very common) or something in the house scared her.

Stop feeding her beggin strips and get her some good quality puppy food that isn't full of junk. Get her some Science Diet puppy growth for small breeds. And make an appointment to get her spayed as well.

She could have an infection from the breeding, she could be pregnant too. I wouldn't wait (9 weeks) to find out however. A three lb dog isn't going to have an easy birth, so get her spayed as soon as you can.

Sometimes a half of a baby aspirin will help them feel better until you can get her to the vet's on Wednesday.

But definitely take her then. Remember, just a half of an 81 mg aspirin. That might help her settle down some.

Get some of the SD at the vets on Wed, and mix it into the Purina until it's gone then don't go back to the purina. keep her on the puppy growth small bites until she is a year old, then get her on Science Diet Adult light small bites.

That way she won't get overweight. Nothing worse than an obese chihuahua!
Please let me know how she is after Wednesday.