7 Reasons Why Your Chihuahua Was Born With Knees That Need Extra Help
It's not something you did. It comes with the breed. Here's what is really happening when she skips, waits at the edge of the couch or looks up at you to be carried, and the simple daily routine that helps her keep up with you for years.
She follows you from room to room. She sleeps pressed against your legs. She greets you at the door like you've been gone a year, even when it was five minutes.
Then one day on a walk, she lifts a back leg and hops for a few steps. A second later she's fine, so you laugh it off. But it happens again. And again.
In a study of more than 210,000 dogs, Chihuahuas were 5.9 times more likely than mixed-breed dogs to have a slipping kneecap. I'm a veterinary surgeon, and I've seen where this story can go. Here is what is happening inside her knees, and what you can do for her, starting today.
Her Kneecap Sits in a Groove That's Too Shallow
Inside her back knee, the kneecap is meant to glide up and down in a small groove, like a train on its track. Every step, every jump, every burst of zoomies.
In many Chihuahuas, that track is too shallow. So the kneecap can slip off to the side, then pop back in. Vets call it a slipping kneecap.
It's why the Chihuahua, the Pomeranian and the Yorkie all sit at the top of the list. It comes from how tiny dogs are built. It is not something you did, and nothing you could have seen coming. But it does mean her knees need a little more from you than a bigger dog's would.
What exactly is a slipping kneecap?
The kneecap sits in a groove at the end of the thigh bone. When the groove is shallow, the kneecap can slide out of it, and it often pops back on its own after a few steps. Your vet can usually feel it during a normal exam and will give it a grade from 1 (mild) to 4 (severe).
That Cute Little "Skip" Is Her Way of Telling You Something
Does any of this sound like her?
- 🚩 She suddenly hops on three legs for a few steps on a walk.
- 🚩 She kicks a back leg out to the side, then carries on.
- 🚩 She holds one back leg up for a moment, then runs like nothing happened.
- 🚩 She stops at the edge of the couch and looks at you to lift her down.
Almost every week, an owner holds out her phone in my exam room and says, "Look, she does this funny little hop." Most of them are smiling when they show me the video.
But your Chihuahua can't tell you her knee just slipped. She can't say it feels strange. She just hops, shakes it off, and keeps trying to keep up with you. The skip is how she tells you.
She only skips sometimes. Should I worry?
Skipping that comes and goes is exactly how a slipping kneecap usually shows up. Mention it to your vet at her next visit, even if she seems fine the rest of the time, and bring a short video of it on your phone. A limp that doesn't go away needs a vet visit soon.
Every Slip Wears Her Knee Down a Little More
Each time her kneecap slides out and back, it rubs the smooth cushion inside her knee. Once is nothing. Thousands of times over the years add up. In one study, about half of the dogs who needed knee surgery already had a worn cushion.
Last year I operated on a 5-year-old Chihuahua whose owner had been "keeping an eye on it" since she was a puppy. When I came out to tell her the surgery had gone well, she was in tears, and she asked me one question:
"Could I have done something?"
That question is why I wrote this page.
Because the slip is only the start. Her knee feels stiff, so she moves a little less. Moving less weakens the muscles that hold the knee steady. And little by little, the dog who used to race you to the door starts waiting to be carried.
Can a supplement fix the kneecap?
No, and I'll be honest about it, because a lot of brands aren't. No chew puts a kneecap back in its groove, and only your vet can tell you whether surgery is needed. What daily support can do is give her body what her cartilage and joint fluid use every day.
She Has 15 Years of Couches, Beds and Stairs Ahead of Her
A Great Dane is old at 8. Your Chihuahua will often still be by your side at 15. That's 15 years of jumping off the couch to greet you, 15 years of stairs, beds and car seats, all on knees no bigger than your fingertip.
To you, the couch is knee height. To her, it's a jump two or three times her own height. For you, that would be jumping off the roof of a house. Every single day.
And the wear often starts years before you see a limp. In one study, vets found joint changes in nearly 4 in 10 young dogs under the age of 4. Knees that have to carry her this long can't wait for the first limp.
What you can do at home, starting tonight:
- ✅ Put pet steps or a ramp by the couch and the bed.
- ✅ Lay rugs or runners on slippery floors.
- ✅ Keep her lean: on a 6-pound dog, one extra pound is like 25 pounds on you.
- ✅ Give her joints daily support. That is what the rest of this page is about.
Is she too young, or too old, to start?
Neither. Supporting joints while they are still healthy is the whole point of a daily routine, and senior dogs need it as much as young ones. Ask your vet what is right for her age and health.
Most Joint Chews Do One Job. Her Knees Need Three.
Her vet sees her knees once or twice a year. Her knees work the other 364 days. That's where you come in.
Most joint chews are built around glucosamine and little else. That helps one part of the knee. But a knee that lets her run, jump and climb comfortably needs three things, and Little Joints gives her all three in one chew:
Glucosamine, chondroitin and eggshell membrane: the building blocks of the cushion inside her knee.
Support for the joint fluid, so her kneecap glides instead of grinding.
MSM and other actives for a normal inflammatory response, so she stays comfortable on her walks.
It's a chicken-flavored soft chew, with every amount printed on the label. Two a day with her meal. No pills to hide in cheese, and no fight.
"I'd tried fish oil, glucosamine tablets, powders, pills hidden in cheese, you name it. This is the only thing that actually made a difference in how she moves around, and it's the simplest of all of them. She jumps on and off the furniture with less hesitation and seems more comfortable on walks. They smell like chicken treats so she's at my feet when it's time. Already on our third tub and got my sister hooked for her Pom too."
Side by Side, It Does More Than a Typical Joint Chew
If there is already a joint chew in your cupboard, here is how Little Joints compares:
| Little Joints | Typical joint chew | |
|---|---|---|
| Cartilage support (glucosamine + chondroitin) | ✅ 1,000 mg | ✅ Usually |
| Joint fluid support (hyaluronic acid) | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Not always |
| Comfort support (MSM, turmeric, green-lipped mussel, omega-3) | ✅ All four | ⚠️ Not always |
| Every amount printed on the label | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Not always |
| Chicken-flavored soft chew, no pills | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Varies |
| Money-back guarantee | ✅ 90 days | ⚠️ Varies |
| Subscription you can cancel in 2 clicks | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Varies |
You Get 90 Days to See the Difference for Yourself
Picture her a few months from now. She hears the leash and she's first at the door. She hops down from the couch on her own. On walks she trots out in front, tail up, instead of lagging behind you.
That's what daily support is for. It builds over weeks, not days, so give it a fair chance: most owners notice the first small changes after a few weeks, and the clearest ones after 8 to 12 weeks.
And you don't take any risk. Give Pupsy a fair 90 days. Not happy? You get your money back. If you choose the subscription, you can pause or cancel it anytime, in 2 clicks, from your account.
🎁 Good to know: Pupsy is currently offering 45% off. If you've been meaning to start her on something for her knees, now is an easy time to try it.
What should I watch for in the first weeks?
Weeks 1 to 2 are about building the habit, so don't look for changes yet. From weeks 4 to 8, watch the moments that matter: getting up after a nap, the couch, the stairs, the whole walk. Weeks 8 to 12 are the real check.
Your Chihuahua didn't choose her knees, and neither did you. She can't tell you when something feels wrong. She just trusts you to notice.
What you do get to choose is what happens every day: the steps by the couch, the treats you count, and whether her joints get daily support. For years, the owners I saw left my office with a list but no plan for the daily part. Little Joints is the daily part.
No supplement replaces your vet, and none puts a kneecap back in place. But for a dog born with knees like hers, a simple daily routine started now is what I would want for my own dog.
Dr. Garner works with Pupsy.
What Owners Are Saying
Joint support doesn't change a dog overnight. What owners notice first are small, everyday moments: she takes the stairs without stopping, she jumps off the couch without that little pause, and she's at the door before you even reach for the leash.
"Several months in. Her little hesitations before jumping off the couch are gone & Pip is acting like herself again. She thinks it's a treat."
"Going on 4 months and noticeably smoother on the stairs and hopping on and off the couch."
"Less than a month in, her loving the flavor is the reason we're finally consistent. Every other joint chew got sniffed and left on the floor, he actually runs over for these."
"My old girl has always been fussy about anything new. No more trying to hide a tablet in dinner, which is a relief."
"honestly he keeps up with me all day now 🥰"
"She's waiting by the cabinet every morning when it's chew time. 💗"
- ✅ Cartilage, cushion and comfort in one chew
- ✅ Chicken-flavored soft chew, no pills to hide
- ✅ Every amount printed on the label
- ✅ Pause or cancel anytime, in 2 clicks
- ✅ Currently 45% off
Quick Answers to Your Most Important Questions
How do I give it?
Give 2 chews a day, with or after a meal. One tub holds 60 chews, so it lasts one month.
My dog is picky. Will she eat it?
Most dogs love them: they're soft chews with a natural chicken flavor, so there are no pills to hide. If your dog is fussy, do what a lot of owners do: crumble or cut the chews into small pieces and mix them into her food. Most of the time, that's the easiest way, and she won't even notice. If your dog is allergic to chicken, check with your vet first.
How long until I see a difference?
Joint support builds up slowly, so give it time. Some owners notice small changes after 3 to 4 weeks, and the clearest changes usually come after 8 to 12 weeks of daily use. Every dog is different, which is why our guarantee lasts a full 90 days.
At what age can my dog start?
From 1 year old. You don't have to wait for a limp: in small dogs, joint wear can start before age 4, and it's easier to support the joints early than to catch up later. For a puppy under 1 year, ask your vet first.
My dog has a sensitive stomach. Is that OK?
Yes. Give the chews with a meal, never on an empty stomach. If you want to go slowly, start with 1 chew a day for the first week, then move to 2.
Can Pupsy replace my vet's treatment?
No. Pupsy is a daily supplement, not a medicine. Never stop or change your dog's medication without your vet. If your dog is limping or in pain, see your vet first. Many owners show their vet the label and add Pupsy to the daily routine. Ask your vet before use if your dog is pregnant, nursing or on medication.
How long does shipping take?
Orders ship within 1 to 2 business days. Delivery across the US usually takes 7 to 12 days.
Can I cancel my subscription?
Yes, anytime. You can skip, change the date or cancel from your account in 2 clicks. No calls. No emails.
What if I don't see results?
Then it's on us. Give it a fair run, and if you're not happy, email us within 90 days for a full refund.