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chihauhua with arthritis
Sent to Pet Experts September 26 07:34 PM

hello, I have a 13 year old chihuahua. Shes just been dignosied with arthritis. Does it affect there appitite? shes not eating much? Thank u

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on September 28 2004 at 3:22 AM

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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September 26 7:36 PM (1 minute and 47 seconds later)
         
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It may affect her appitite, but most often it does not. Was she
put on medication for the arthritis? Have you taken her
tempature?

Lindsay Bryson
Allegro Beagles
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lcbryson -- Pet owner/trainer/breeder -- 100% Positive Feedback on 65 Pet Accepts
I have spent 8 years in the dog world, studying health, behavior, and training, esp aggression.
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September 26 10:31 PM (2 hours and 55 minutes and 14 seconds later)
         
Response to lcbryson's Post: She was put on an antiflamitory medication. As of yesterday she had no temp and according to the vet she was in escellent health, except for this arthritis.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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September 27 12:27 AM (1 hour and 56 minutes and 8 seconds later)
         
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Hi There,

You don't mention the dog's diet, if she drinks normal amounts of water, the medication/dose that was prescribed, and if the anorexia ocurred before the medication was started or after.

Her 'arthritis' condition didn't 'just happen', it was 'just diagnosed', so unless it's the medication, I would be concerned that something else may be brewing.

Yes, lack of appetite can be due to pain, but there are many other problems: liver/kidney disease; tumors, urinary tract infections etc, all of which can cause inapptetite.  I don't know, but maybe you just went to the vet for a routine physical exam/vaccinations, or maybe for the arthritis............but, now, your dog is trying to tell you something and I would think that a minimium data base should include: a urinalysis; lab work; +/- a whole body radiogragh, (you have a small dog; a split view can be done a a single film).  A 13-yr-old dog is a geriatric and annual bloodwork should be performed routinely, as part of good preventative health care.  For instance, if her kidneys were showing signs of disese you could switch to a prescription diet before the disease progressed.

I would take her back to your vet.

Good Luck.

Dr. Katie -- Dr. Katie -- 100% Positive Feedback on 51 Pet Accepts
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September 27 12:28 AM (20 seconds later)
         
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Dr. Katie -- Dr. Katie -- 100% Positive Feedback on 51 Pet Accepts
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September 27 9:23 AM (8 hours and 55 minutes and 33 seconds later)
         
She had just been to the vet in July for her shots and check up. Her loss of appetite is why I took her last week its not from the medication she just started Sat. he told me to bring her back in a week for lab work. She has always had arthritis, but hasnt needed treatment til now.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Reply
September 28 3:24 AM (18 hours and 29 seconds later)
         
can arthritis pain be so bad it takes your dogs appitite?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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September 28 10:37 AM (7 hours and 13 minutes and 28 seconds later)
         
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 I have a lhaso also with arthritis.She responded within 7 days to synflex.Its liquid glucosamine .You can get it from active america.com.Its about thirty dollars,pets get around 28 drops,its according to weight.You can ask them,how much to put on her food or give it to her in a syringe.My dog was a different dog.Ask your vet first.
Karel1 -- Have had dogs over 30 years.Most of -- 100% Positive Feedback on 7 Pet Accepts
my dogs suffered from bladder stones,eye infections,stomach upset.
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