So, after $500 in tests, imaging and blood work, the vet is about 80% sure my chiweenie has early arthritis in her back/spine. She’s only 7-8 and it seemed to set in rapidly. She responded positively to the pain medicine and steroids she was given while the vet was considering it to be a pulled leg muscle or something else. But her X-ray showed the signs in her back. We are getting ramps and stairs for her to ease her getting onto the couch’s and bed. The doc says our options are 1) pain management and 2) surgery which could help alleviate some of the pain. The 2nd isn’t a option financially sadly so, how affective and what will her quality of life be with pain management pills.