Extremely Inactive Dog (particularly Acute Inquiry).

[Tralee]

Hi All :)

From my last thread, some of you will be aware that I am currently nursing a six year old male Maremma.

He has a dislocated left 'wrist' (Palmar Luxation of the Antebraciocarpal Joint).

He is due for Arthrodesis and I am ready to schedule him now.

However, this dog is extremely inactive.

Some history.

Firstly, the dog has been carrying the trauma for 11 weeks.

He is a retired lady's dog who keeps him housebound where he lives under her desk.

The dog is a few too many kilo's underweight but not anorexic.

Apparently he has a habit of eating very little and he eats much less than my lot do (same age and same size).

He has been here for two weeks and the only activity I can see is his getting up to toilet at which time he may want to have an extended walk.

Compared to my four dogs, I find him extremely inactive.

Any experience or ideas please?

Thanks for your time

Edited July 18, 2012 by Tralee

[Salukifan]

All of this could be explained by chronic pain.

[Tralee]

All of this could be explained by chronic pain.

Thanks

How should I proceed then?

The dislocation doesn't appear to be painful unless he walks on it.

I keep it in a sling during his rare walks.

Would it be necessary to have a Vet examination for something else before or after the surgery to his right front leg?

Edited July 18, 2012 by Tralee

[Salukifan]

All of this could be explained by chronic pain.

Thanks

How should I proceed then?

The dislocation doesn't appear to be painful unless he walks on it.

I keep it in a sling during his rare walks.

Would it be necessary to have a Vet examination for something else before or after the surgery to his right front leg?

Have you ever had a dislocation? They hurt like buggery ALL the time until its fixed. Muscles and ligaments are stretched and torn.

Dogs are stoic buggers but my guess is that he is experiencing residual pain.

What would be interesting is to see if pain killers changed his demeanour. He sounds depressed and pain can do that.

Edited July 18, 2012 by Haredown Whippets

[Bullbreedlover]

The dog has had the injury for many weeks.

You have also said that he is very very underweight and very inactive.

And asking whether or not a vet examination for something else would be in order?

Given all the circumstances you have put forward surely a full bloods would be in order.

What has the dog been fed at his owners place?

[Tralee]

All of this could be explained by chronic pain.

Thanks

How should I proceed then?

The dislocation doesn't appear to be painful unless he walks on it.

I keep it in a sling during his rare walks.

Would it be necessary to have a Vet examination for something else before or after the surgery to his right front leg?

Have you ever had a dislocation?

They hurt like buggery ALL the time until its fixed.

Muscles and ligaments are stretched and torn.

Dogs are stoic buggers but my guess is that he is experiencing residual pain.

What would be interesting is to see if pain killers changed his demeanour.

He sounds depressed and pain can do that.

Thanks Haredown Whippets :)

Dogs are indeed stoic.

I didn't decide on painkillers as I elected to keep him off his foot by restricting it in a sling.

His morale is quite good.

If he is suffering in silence, as you suggest, it might explain his very docile temperament.

I might get him some pain killers, and watch him on those.

Thanks again.

[Salukifan]

All of this could be explained by chronic pain.

Thanks

How should I proceed then?

The dislocation doesn't appear to be painful unless he walks on it.

I keep it in a sling during his rare walks.

Would it be necessary to have a Vet examination for something else before or after the surgery to his right front leg?

Have you ever had a dislocation?

They hurt like buggery ALL the time until its fixed.

Muscles and ligaments are stretched and torn.

Dogs are stoic buggers but my guess is that he is experiencing residual pain.

What would be interesting is to see if pain killers changed his demeanour.

He sounds depressed and pain can do that.

Thanks Haredown Whippets :)

Dogs are indeed stoic.

I didn't decide on painkillers as I elected to keep him off his foot by restricting it in a sling.

His morale is quite good.

If he is suffering in silence, as you suggest, it might explain his very docile temperament.

I might get him some pain killers, and watch him on those.

Thanks again.

If the foot is hurting him, he'll get about on 3 legs. What happens when you take the sling off?

[persephone]

..not being rude.. but a sling is possibly also hurting .It would not hold the leg/foot in the same manner as his own muscle groups ..

I think a full vet check before surgery is in order ... just in case.

[Bullbreedlover]

All of this could be explained by chronic pain.

Thanks

How should I proceed then?

The dislocation doesn't appear to be painful unless he walks on it.

I keep it in a sling during his rare walks.

Would it be necessary to have a Vet examination for something else before or after the surgery to his right front leg?

Have you ever had a dislocation?

They hurt like buggery ALL the time until its fixed.

Muscles and ligaments are stretched and torn.

Dogs are stoic buggers but my guess is that he is experiencing residual pain.

What would be interesting is to see if pain killers changed his demeanour.

He sounds depressed and pain can do that.

Thanks Haredown Whippets :)

Dogs are indeed stoic.

I didn't decide on painkillers as I elected to keep him off his foot by restricting it in a sling.

His morale is quite good.

If he is suffering in silence, as you suggest, it might explain his very docile temperament.

I might get him some pain killers, and watch him on those.

Thanks again.

Tralee

Would you like painkillers if you did this kind of injury to yourself?

Do you think it would hurt?

Dogs may be stoic, but they are not bionic.

You might get him some pain killers.

He may thank you for that.

[Tralee]

If the foot is hurting him, he'll get about on 3 legs.

What happens when you take the sling off?

He hobbles.

There is a pronounced lameness, and considerable limp.

He will persist on walking on it if left unattended but eventually holds it of the ground.

He has been hard to keep up with on three legs.

Several days ago he was very fleet of 'paw' but seems to have lost interest in going out for a walk.

[Tralee]

The dog has had the injury for many weeks.

You have also said that he is very very underweight and very inactive.

And asking whether or not a vet examination for something else would be in order?

Given all the circumstances you have put forward surely a full bloods would be in order.

What has the dog been fed at his owners place?

Its not known what his previous diet was, sorry.

I can ask though.

[Bullbreedlover]

The dog has had the injury for many weeks.

You have also said that he is very very underweight and very inactive.

And asking whether or not a vet examination for something else would be in order?

Given all the circumstances you have put forward surely a full bloods would be in order.

What has the dog been fed at his owners place?

Its not known what his previous diet was, sorry.

I can ask though.

Gosh. if the dog is severly underweight and even with the injury, if you take on a dog for surgery and recovery then why didnt you ask what the dog was fed to gain a better insight of why he is so underweight.

Poor boy. Hope he recovers well. Sounds like he is going through hell.

[Tralee]

..not being rude.. but a sling is possibly also hurting.

It would not hold the leg/foot in the same manner as his own muscle groups ..

I think a full vet check before surgery is in order ... just in case.

Tralee

Would you like painkillers if you did this kind of injury to yourself?

Do you think it would hurt?

Dogs may be stoic, but they are not bionic.

You might get him some pain killers.

He may thank you for that.

Pers.

In the previous thread I have presented the diagnosis from 'my Vet' who was consulted initially.

Bullb.

They mentioned giving the dog painkillers when we arrived at the Vet, but we eventually went home without any.

[Jumabaar]

I would have the dog to the vet asap for pain relief (and not leaving without any) and doing a full blood work up before surgery. Perhaps also discuss some nutritional supplementation if they feel that the dog is indeed anorexic.

Edited July 18, 2012 by Jumabaar

[Bullbreedlover]

..not being rude.. but a sling is possibly also hurting.

It would not hold the leg/foot in the same manner as his own muscle groups ..

I think a full vet check before surgery is in order ... just in case.

Tralee

Would you like painkillers if you did this kind of injury to yourself?

Do you think it would hurt?

Dogs may be stoic, but they are not bionic.

You might get him some pain killers.

He may thank you for that.

Pers.

In the previous thread I have presented the diagnosis from 'my Vet' who was consulted initially.

Bullb.

They mentioned giving the dog painkillers when we arrived at the Vet, but we eventually went home without any.

OK I will be silly and ask....why did you go home without painkillers?

[Tralee]

Gosh.

If the dog is severly underweight and even with the injury, if you take on a dog for surgery and recovery then why didnt you ask what the dog was fed to gain a better insight of why he is so underweight.

Poor boy.

Hope he recovers well.

Sounds like he is going through hell.

I understand your concerns but I have the dog here with me because of my concerns for him.

About being underweight, he is Maremma and they can be deceptively bigger or smaller than they appear.

So I did not discover how lean he was until he had been here a few days.

My dogs are all heavy and are well fed so feeding a dog is not a major concern here.

[Tralee]

I would have the dog to the vet asap for pain relief (and not leaving without any) and doing a full blood work up before surgery.

Perhaps also discuss some nutritional supplementation if they feel that the dog is indeed anorexic.

Yep

A full blood work up sounds good.

The dog is not anorexic, just slightly too much rib and too much waste.

Having said that he does have narrow hips.

[Tralee]

OK I will be silly and ask....why did you go home without painkillers?

Well lets just say some Vets are meticulous and others aren't.

However, a rejoinder, this thread's not about comparing Vets though.

[Salukifan]

What did the vet say about leaving the leg unsupported?

I'd be worried about creating muscle wastage by immobilising the leg.

How was the injury caused?

[Jumabaar]

I would have the dog to the vet asap for pain relief (and not leaving without any) and doing a full blood work up before surgery.

Perhaps also discuss some nutritional supplementation if they feel that the dog is indeed anorexic.

Yep

A full blood work up sounds good.

The dog is not anorexic, just slightly too much rib and too much waste.

Having said that he does have narrow hips.

Anorexia is a loss of desire to eat which is what you described.

Anorexia is a loss of desire to eat which is what you described.

Nutrition is exceptionally important post surgery so if the dog is reluctant to eat you should bring this to your vets attention so you don't end up with a dog suffering from malnutrition due to the extra demands of healing post surgery. There are high calorie foods that can be used etc.

Edited to make sense

Edited July 18, 2012 by Jumabaar