So we did our pet store rounds yesterday, and stopped at one that had puppies, just to oogle at them. There was this little cream colored chihuahua in a crate, and one of the employees there offered to let us hold it. Natuarally, we couldn't resist. She was a real sweatheart; a little nervouse, but she curled right up in my lap and ended up falling asleep. But I noticed these weird 'snapping' sound coming from her, and I'm curiouse to what it might be. I can't really discribe it well - it was kind of like if you were to fill up the sink with water and dish washer soap, you could hear the bubbles popping if you listened real closely. Odd description, but that's what it sounded like, except it was one at a time every so often. I didn't hear anything in her lungs, though.

 It's a pretty infamouse puppy store, and we'd never get anything there, we just like to look at the puppies. The little girl I got to hold was sitting on a cloth in the corner of her crate to avoid the holes on the bottom. But I'm curiouse as to what this little girl might have had, or if it was nothing really. Any ideas?

Maybe it could be crepitus? That's what I thought when I read your description. Here's a description of crepitus..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crepitus

and then go google canine crepitus and see what you find. Sad.

Thanks, anacodia, that sounds a lot like what I heard, that sort of rice krispies popping sound. Looking at a few causes of crepitus, it might be Rales, which is a lung condition, because it sounded like she made the sound whenever she inhaled or exhaled. Apparently, it is caused by "The sounds are caused by the "popping open" of small airways and alveoli collapsed by fluid, exudate, or lack of aeration during expiration" but I'm not sure, because it doesn't say if you can hear Rales on the outside, and I didn't hear any popping in the lungs, although you probably need a stethiscope (or however you spell it) to hear it. I really hope it's not something seriouse...

 It is sad when you see a puppy in a place like that. You just want to whisk them away out of there and bring them home.

Severe dehydration will cause joints/bones to creak/snap.  Had a seriously ill dachshund once  who was staying so dehydrated for several days the vets had to keep IV'ing him.  Nearly lost him before they could determine what was wrong with him.  The night they let me bring him home (to see if he would eat for me, as he would not eat at the clinic & was getting very weak), his bones/joints would  make audible noises every time I picked him up!    Sounds like the pup was dehydrated, showing the signs of "crepitus" mentioned in  Erika's post.

How awful to not give the pup any water.  I know I've been in some pet stores and the hanging water bottles are empty.  They get busy with customers and forget to check them, I'm sure.  I'll bet that's what it was.