Common Chihuahua Health Problems

Problems Common To Chihuahuas

While Chihuahuas tend to be healthy there are several Chihuahua specific health issues that you should know about before committing to one.  Some of the common genetic problems include Patellar Luxuation, eye problems, hypoglycaemia, heart disease and tooth and gum ailments.  Chihuahua health is a concern for all Chihuahua owners.

Luxation of the patella, is medical speak for dislocation of the kneecap.  It is a common hereditary health problem with Chihuahua that is also shared with other small breeds. Patellar luxation can occur in varying degrees – it can be minimal or debilitating. Young dogs are often able to compensate for this deformity, and you may not notice your dog has knee cap problems.  However,  the condition gets worse over time and will become obvious as the dog ages.

Checking your Chihuahua for Luxation of the Patella – The dislocation usually occurs on the inner side of the patella (knee cap). The ligaments stretch over time until the patella is not where it is supposed to be.  It then can “pop” in and out of place very easily.   Treating your puppy as soon as the problem occurs can save your older Chihuahua from being crippled.  Because Patellar luxation is an inherited trait dogs with the condition should not be bread.

Another common Chihuahua health is the “Reverse Sneeze.” If your Chihuahua sneezes, snorts, honks and wheezes it may well be afflicted by this deformity.  The condition is caused by an elongated soft palate that becomes temporarily misaligned. This deformity is especially common in toy breeds.  A reverse sneeze can occur in instances such as pulling hard on a leash, drinking too fast or getting overly excited.

Chihuahuas can also be prone to Hypoglycaemia.  Hypoglycaemia is where the Chihuahua’s blood sugar level drops to an extremely low level causing “sugar shock.” When levels of glucose drop quickly, the dog’s body and brain are deprived of essential nutrients. The symptoms of Hypoglycaemia are weakness, seizures, coma, and in severe cases, death.

Chihuahuas are prone to Hypoglycaemia because they are so small. Puppies are especially prone to Hypoglycaemia. Triggers for attacks include stress, illness, lack of food, or by using up stored energy without it being replenished.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is another ailment Chihuahua are prone to.  This is a collective term comprising a group of hereditary degenerative lesions of the retina. PRA is commonly characterized by night blindness. When both eyes are affected dogs eventually become totally blind.  Central PRA (also called RPE dystrophy) is characterized by accumulations of pigment in the layer of pigmented lining of the retina which eventually results in total blindness.

Chihuahua are also genetically predisposed to Cystinuria (crystals formed out of amino acid called cystine).  Traces can be found in the urine and eventually a build up will lead to stone formations in kidneys and bladder. The stones can result in irritation and infection.

Signs your Chihuahua has Cystinuria include blood in the urine, difficulty and pain in urinating, and small frequent amounts of urine. If a stone completely obstructs the urethra it prevents the passing of urine.  This is more common in male dogs than female, and may cause kidney failure, vomiting, depression, or loss of appetite.

If you are looking to purchase a Chihuahua you can have a vet check for signs of many of these health problems which will save you a lot of money and heart ache down the road.

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Canine Health from LifeVantage–Protandim by Any Other Name & Still No Real Evidence

I was recently asked to comment on yet another “kitchen sink” mélange of herbs and supplements promoted w/ claims of broad benefits for dogs: Canine Health from LifeVantage. This proved easier than I had expected since the product is identical to Protandim, except for a couple of additional ingredients.

You may recall that Protandim is a supplement which I have reviewed previously (1), and which Dr. Harriet Hall has discussed at Science-Based Medicine several times (2,3,4). The theoretical justification for the product rests on the supposed anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the ingredients. None of the ingredients have well-demonstrated benefits or clear evidence that there is negligible risk in using them, though several have interesting properties that warrant further study. It would not at all surprise me if compounds derived from some of these ingredients turned out to have therapeutic value, but that is a far cry from justifying the kind of claims made for this product.

In any case, there is growing doubt about the hypothesis that oxidative damage is a significant cause of many disorders or that anti-oxidants are necessarily safe and beneficial (5,6). And all well-studied anti-inflammatory medications have significant potential risks as well as benefits, so it is almost certain the same would be true for compounds like those in Protandim if these turned out to have significant anti-inflammatory effects.

Of course, it doesn’t appear that scientific research and evidence is necessarily the primary concern for the founder of the company that sells Protandim, based on his own explanation for why he has discovered a miraculous remedy the scientific community has overlooked:

I already mentioned this in Entry #1: Motivations, but it bears repeating here. All the details you’re about to read concerning the development of Protandim mean nothing – absolutely nothing at all – without acknowledging that God used me as a vessel in brining Protandim to fruition. For almost 35 years scientists were looking for this tool after Dr. Joe McCord and Dr. Irwin Fridovich discovered Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) in 1969. For almost 35 years the pharmaceutical industry failed. For almost 35 years the nutraceutical industry failed.

Then God intervened . . . and has taken us on this unlikely, exciting journey.

The bottom line for this supplement hasn’t changed since my original review:

The underlying theory used to promote this product, that anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects are always safe and beneficial, is highly doubtful. There is only weak in vitro and animal model research to indicate that the ingredients in Protandim, or the combination product, have potentially useful effects on cells or biochemical markers. There is absolutely no clinical trial evidence to indicate Protandim has any of the claimed benefits in humans or animals. While the absence of evidence is not proof the product is unsafe or ineffective, it is absolutely a reason to be skeptical of wild claims of miraculous benefits. At best, using this product is simply rolling the dice and hoping for the best.

Like Protandim, CanineHealth is said to prevent or improve a wide range of seemingly unrelated conditions, including problems in the joints, brain, heart, and eyes. It is purported to do so by reducing “oxidative stress.” The difference between the two products is the inclusion in Canine Health of omega-3 fatty acids” and “Type II chicken sternum collagen.” As with Protandim, no details or dosages of these ingredients is disclosed.

The most common source of omega-3 fatty acid supplements is fish oils. There is good evidence that these can improve symptoms of allergic skin disease (7), some weak evidence suggesting a benefit for arthritis treatment (8,9). It has been suggested that their inclusion in diets can improve signs of dementia in dogs, but the mmore specific evidence in human isn’t very supportive(10, 11). It isn’t clear if fish oil is even the source of essential fatty acids in Canine Health, but if it is it has only weak evidence to suggest a benefit, and there is no reason to mix it with all of the other untested stuff in the product.

With regard to Type II Collagen, despite a number of studies there is insufficient evidence to support any benefit of this supplement as a treatment of arthritis in humans (12, 13). There is also no convincing evidence supporting use in dogs.

As for the product itself, the company claims to have paid another organization to conduct a double-blind, placebo controlled clinical study showing “a reduction in oxidative stress, improvement in mobility and improved cognitive function.” Naturally, the results of this study have not been published and the details are not available to the public, so we have to take LifeVantage’s word for the results.

So we have another catchall, anti-oxidant based mixture of herbs and supplements claimed to have wide-ranging benefits but with no convincing scientific evidence supporting these claims. Numerous red flags of quackery are present, and there is heavy reliance on testimonials and celebrity endorsement rather than scientific research to promote the product. None of this is definitive proof that it doesn’t have some or all of the miraculous benefits claimed, only that there is currently no good reason to believe it does. Yet another roll of the dice with our pets’ health.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Speaking for Spot: Dog Health Care Tips & Veterinary Advice

Learn how to become a savvy medical advocate for your dog. With a sense of humor and explanations that are easy to understand, Dr. Nancy Kay provides a wealth of dog health care tips and teaches you how to navigate the expensive, complex, and often overwhelming world of veterinary medicine. Visits to your vet will never be the same!

DogAware.com Health: Kidney Disease in Dogs

Home > Health > Kidney Disease

Chicken jerky strips (and other treats?) from China may cause kidney failure in dogs

The FDA and the AVMA have been issuing warnings about chicken jerky treats from China being linked to kidney failure in dogs since 2007. The latest warning came in November, 2011. Dogs in Canada are also getting sick. The cause is still unknown.

Note that these products often appear to be made in the U.S., but if you search carefully, you’ll find “Made in China” in tiny print somewhere on the bag.

In April, 2012, reports started coming in about dried sweet potato treats, and possibly pig ears, causing the same problems.

In May 2009, researchers in Australia reported a possible link to Veggie Dents dental chews as well.

See Recalls for more information.

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Introduction

My interest in kidney disease stems from being involved with a breed, the Chinese Shar-Pei, that is prone to genetic kidney disease (renal amyloidosis), and belonging to a family that also has genetic kidney problems (my grandfather, father, uncle and sister all have had Polycystic Kidney Disease).

I have compiled information here on diet, supplements, and medical treatments for dogs with some degree of kidney disease. One of my main goals is to provide alternatives to feeding your dog k/d, which I believe is inappropriate for dogs with early-stage kidney disease. It is also a problem if your dog does not want to eat it, as many dogs do not.

The first section is about the Tests Used to Diagnose Kidney Disease. This information will help you to understand your dog’s diagnosis, and decide whether additional tests might be advisable. It is important to know the severity of your dog’s problem to best understand how to treat it, and it can also be meaningful to find the cause of the problem, especially in younger dogs, who may be suffering from Acute Renal Failure (ARF) rather than Chronic Renal Failure (CRF).

Next is Diet for Dogs with Kidney Disease. This section will not provide specific diets, but will give you the information you need to create your own diet that is right for your dog.

Is Feeding a Low Protein Diet Necessary or Desirable? provides links to and excerpts from a number of different articles and studies that show that feeding a low protein diet will not prolong your dog’s life or slow the progression of the disease.

A Table is provided that lists nutritional values for a number of different foods you may want to feed.

Sample Daily Diet provides specific diet diet guidelines, and Nattie’s diet talks about the diet and treatment that I used with my own dog.

I have also included information on Prescription Renal Diets and Non-Prescription Commercial Diets that may be able to be used for at least part of the diet for dogs with early-stage kidney disease.

Information on Supplements for dogs with kidney disease is also provided.

Last is information on Medical Treatment, including the use of Sub-Q Fluids.

Return to Top of Page

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Links to More Information

Diet Information

Web Sites with Current Information on Kidney Disease

Technical

Feline oriented

More Links

Glomerulonephritis

These sites are technical, but provide very good information:

Leptospirosis (Acute Renal Failure)

Email Groups

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If you have any questions or comments, please contact me. My name is Mary Straus and you can email me at either or

   

Canine health threat: acute renal failure

There is a term called the IRA in dogs is acute renal failure. IRA comes on quickly, and sometimes fatal. E ‘identified by the sudden interruption (or dramatic decrease) in renal function, renal blood flow and decreased glomerular filtration rate, called the GFR. IRA also includes health problems that are the direct result of the cessation of kidney function. ARF is the result of a toxin or ischemia, an insufficient blood supply. Causesare often linked to another illness or a surgical complication. There is a sudden increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine and phosphate. It can also cause metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia.

ARF may be reversed, but must be taken in the early stages and treated by a veterinarian. If the diagnosis and treatment is too late, the damage to the renal system is permanent, and can be fatal.

These are the symptoms to lookfor:

Lack of appetite
Vomiting and diarrhea
Depression and apathy
Bad breath
Sore mouth and gums discolored

The causes of ARF are sometimes difficult to detect, and includes:

Blood loss
Blocked urethra
Inadequate blood to the kidneys
Poisons

Pets are the most common accidental poisonings caused by frost. It ‘s almost entirely composed of ethylene glycol, a chemical that can destroy the kidneys of a dog. The reason why a product is dangerous for petsthat often goes into the ground under a car, and sweet tastes with animals. Antifreeze poison dog bicycle in the liver and changing the pH of the blood and causes the formation of calcium crystals in renal tubules. Unfortunately, most dogs do not go to the vet in time to save the kidney, because the symptoms are sudden it’s often too late, when no obvious signs of trouble. No evidence of antifreeze ingestion by a dog, it is likely that the smallopportunity to save it.

The only way to treat the IRA is to stop damage to the kidneys to go further. The organs are flushed with large amounts of IV fluids, and electrolytes such as potassium. Diuresis is the term for this type of treatment not only removes toxins from the kidneys, stimulates the body’s cells to resume their normal tasks of removing waste from the body. The remaining kidney can have enough cells to resume wasteand remove the body. Support measures are also performed when the dog is put umlauts, like medication to relieve diarrhea and vomiting, and get the nutrients into the dog’s system.

There are numerous outcomes that can occur with treatment. If diagnosed early, the kidney may start working normally and up to several years. They might not even work at all, or only works until the treatment is administered. It is important to take measures tothe kidneys to work as soon as possible. The longer the kidneys are not functioning, the greater the damage to the cells.

Dogs treated in the IRA can be given a strict diet to follow, one with a minimum amount of phosphorus and protein, and is not acidic. There is also a drug that may be because it controls the amount of calcium levels in the blood and parathyroid gland function. A phosphate-binding medication is sometimes prescribed. Thishelp to remove excess phosphorus that has begun to build in the blood (as a result of not being processed and excreted by the kidneys). There should be twice the blood calcium, phosphorus, and if not sufficient, and the parathyroid gland begins filtering needed extra calcium from the bones.

Treatment of the IRA can continue for weeks, and includes subcutaneous administration of fluids to increase the kidneys begin to fail more and more. This can happen everyday or every week depending on how badly the kidneys are damaged.

Unfortunately, while organ transplants and dialysis are now more readily available for dogs, the cost is often too high for the dog owner to pay. However, with proper treatment, there are a lot of dogs have suffered kidney failure and lived much longer in good health. It is very important to ensure that your dog is checked regularly, and take it to a veterinarian at the first sign of trouble. Theretests may indicate kidney failure in its early stages, before it is life-threatening problem. By the time may mean more of a happier life for your beloved pet.