j Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 (edited) When I got home from work yesterday, I went out to see the dogs, and my usually bouncy little dog just looked at me, and didn't get up to come and say hello. My son said he had been lying outside the back door pretty much all afternoon, and hadn't moved. When he did get up, it was very gingerly. He yelped when he stood, yelped when he sat down again, yelped when my other dog went anywhere near him. He was sitting with his back hunched, and was breathing quite rapidly, though more because he had been in the sun for a while I think. He seemed to be holding his front left leg a little, but actually touching it didn't make him yelp or wince. I took him to the vet last night. No temperature or other signs of illness. He was a little reluctant when she was stretching his leg out and moving it around, but didn't yelp at all. He had some stiffness in his neck, and didn't like having his head moved to either side. He was given a painkiller injection last night, and I have to go back again this afternoon to see how he is. She is thinking it may be a disc problem, and depending on how he presents this afternoon, she may do xrays. She didn't really know what else it might be? He slept well last night, but this morning he appears stiff again, and was yelping as he moved around. I don't actually know how old he is. I got him in 2002 from the RSPCA, and he was an adult dog then. They estimated his age at about 4? Because the onset was so rapid though, I don't think it is likely to be arthritis. He has had surgery at some stage on that shoulder, as when I got him, his hair was long and matted. When I clipped him off, there was a line of stitches all around that shoulder that had never been removed, and the skin had grown over them. (RSPCA obviously didn't do a very thorough examination, or they would have found them) I don't know what that surgery was for. Any idea what it is likely to be? He hasn't been involved in any accidents, and I'm not aware that he has collided with anything while playing in the yard. Edited March 28, 2008 by j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I would get the dog to a chiropractor as soon as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucknow Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Get the x rays done and if there is anything abnormal enquire re a specialist, CT scan etc. Spines are too crucial and tricky to mess around with. If he appears unwell in any other way don't ignore it, problems such as Meningits are unlikely but cannot be ignored until diagnosis is made and there is a response to treatment. If all appears OK then go the chiro,or you could try acupuncture, bowen etc. I hope your little guy is OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 (edited) Thanks Guys. He has stayed at the vets tonight, and is being xrayed in the morning. Aside from the obvious that he has done something to his leg, she is concerned that there may be a disc problem, or (very slight concern) that there may be a tumour, or possibly something neurological happening. He didn't improve today, and was still complaining when she stretched or flexed his leg. He also has pain halfway down his back, and doesn't want to turn his head to the side She was pretty sure that if it was just a muscular problem, the injection he had yesterday should have shown a decent improvement in him by today. His front left foot was buckling under when he was trying to sit down or stand up, and if he tried to have a general body shake (like when they get out of water), he would fall over. They will be getting the xrays examined immediately, and phoning me as soon as they know anything, to discuss how to proceed. She said they usually have a specialist look at the xrays as well, as it is too easy to miss things. He is having his leg and spine done (though I think it will probably end up being most of him, he's pretty little, not quite 5kgs) If they don't find any reason for it, I will explore the possibility of a chiropractor. Until the xrays are done, I don't really know what else to think Poor little thing Edited March 19, 2008 by j Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I hope it's something simple to treat, poor little guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucknow Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 It sounds as though you have a great vet who is very on top of things. I hope they come back to you with good news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 I hope it's something simple to treat, poor little guy Thanks. I do too. Of course, we have prepaid two nights non refundable accommodation so that we could go away for Easter. Here's hoping he won't need surgery, or the hubby will be taking the kids away by himself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 It sounds as though you have a great vet who is very on top of things. I hope they come back to you with good news! I don't know how to do multiple quotes This isn't a vet I have seen before. I've been going to the surgery for a long time, but haven't met this vet before. I think she's only been there a short while. She certainly seems to be covering all bases. Hopefully she will come through with a diagnosis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 If you are looking for a chiro at any point, Sandra Hassett at Phillip is both a vet and dog physio. I've used her for my dogs with good results. There are also animal chiros around that a lot of local people use, but I find if I'm not sure if something is just injury related it's reassuring to use someone who is also a vet. (And in case anyone is wondering, I have no vested interest, it's a genuine recommendation based on my own experience as a client.) Good luck, I hope it's nothing too serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 If you are looking for a chiro at any point, Sandra Hassett at Phillip is both a vet and dog physio. I've used her for my dogs with good results. There are also animal chiros around that a lot of local people use, but I find if I'm not sure if something is just injury related it's reassuring to use someone who is also a vet. (And in case anyone is wondering, I have no vested interest, it's a genuine recommendation based on my own experience as a client.)Good luck, I hope it's nothing too serious. Thanks Diva If it comes to that, I'll look her up. Haven't heard from my vet yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I hope you have some good news soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooper Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Fingers crossed for some good news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flaves Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Heard anything yet? Fingers crossed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 I just phoned "You can take him home tonight, but the vet would like to talk to you" No idea what they are going to tell me, but I'm not really looking forward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Libertybrook Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 (edited) sounds similar to what my son's Rottie bitch had a few months ago, sore when she lied down and sore to get up, she would yelp and whine, and she couldnt move her neck properly, the vets immediately x-rayed her to make sure there were no fractures etc, it was thankfully just soft tissue damage, a trip to the chiroprator with the x-rays and a good massages etc later she was good in a few weeks, she is really clumsy when she chases the ball, as she is so focussed on it ,does not look where she is running, we think as we have thrown the ball she has cut the corner and run into either the tank stand or had a tumble with one of the other dogs, all we heard was the big yelp, until we got around the corner of the house to see her staggering very sore and sorry with her self, but she is all better now thankfully. oh I forgot to add she was anti imflammatories for a couple of weeks or so. Edited March 20, 2008 by Libertybrook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shekhina Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I hope it's something simple and easy to treat J, fingers crossed for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooper Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Still crossing my fingers ... I'm glad he's coming home tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 Thanks everyone for the wishes. Xrays showed that Occy has a very old ruptured disc in his neck. There is quite a bit of bone regrowth on the two vertebrae either side of the disc, so the vet thinks it is a long standing (years old) injury. Given that he had had some form of surgery prior to us getting him, it is quite possible that the disc injury occurred at the same time. For whatever reason, it has flared up at the moment, and seems to be putting pressure on his spinal cord, causing the pain and unco-ordinated movement. He is on steroids at the moment, and totally confined, no exercise, jumping etc. Back to the vets in a week for a review. Hopefully the tablets will reduce the swelling, and give him some relief. She said the surgery is a big deal, and very expensive. They don't do it there, he would need to go to another surgery with more specialist equipment, and vets that specialise in that surgery. She also said that unless he is beginning to show signs of paralysis in his front leg, it wasn't something that they just do as a matter of course. Bless my neighbour, she knew that we have prepaid for our accommodation over Easter, and she is going to have him in her laundry for the two nights we are away, take him in and out to the loo, and give him his medicine. She will also bring my other dog over into her yard, as he is missing Occy dreadfully, and for the first time ever, she heard him barking for no reason today (Max howls at Sirens, or gives a couple of woofs if there is something worth barking at. If you hear him bark, you investigate. He isn't an alarmist or nuisance barker, so she was very suprised to hear him barking today. ) He has laid next to the door ever since we brought Occy home, and doesn't understand why he can't play with him. They are sitting on either side of the door with noses touching through the wire. It's very sweet. Thanks again everyone, hopefully the medication and confinement will bring it under control, and he will be his happy waggy little self again soon. It will be something that we need to keep an eye on in the future obviously, and manage as best we can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooper Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Poor Occy, hiding this from you for so long! Try to have a good Easter break. Your neighbour sounds wonderful :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j Posted March 23, 2008 Author Share Posted March 23, 2008 Well, he has shown a very little sign of improvement so far. He isn't quite as stiff in his movement but he still yelps when he moves a certain way, or when we pick him up to carry him down the stairs for toileting Hopefully the next few days will show more improvement. We're back to the vets on Thursday for another assessment She didn't really say much about what would happen beyond this Thursday, apart from the discussion about the surgery, and that seemed to be real last choice type treatment. I don't know how long I'll have to confine him, but I may have to block off our back stairs when he is able to go back out, as we have about 9 and the vet was quite emphatic about no stairs Poor Max is very down in the dumps. He doesn't understand why he can't play with his mate, and is very whiney and sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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