Guest driser Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Our healthy happy gregarious taller than most 7 yr old 80lb male hesitated to come down for breakfast this morning. ODD. then had a hard time with the three stairs that lead to entry way. ODD. Then seemed a bit "stumbley" outside but hey I'm a little off at 5:15am too. But then at 8am he couldn't bend down to grab a squeaky toy though he clearly wanted to. Then at 1pm he couldn't come down stairs from our bedroom where his BIG bed is without a break on landing and could not do the stairs on front porch (I had to take him back in and down carpeted stairs to basement and go through garage). He could bend to stiff for a place to go so just picked a spot but the really red flag was his after potty break biscuit; he couldn't bend down to eat the crumby mess always makes. I hope I'm not panicking, but I made urgent care vet visit for 3:30 today. There was NOTHING wrong yesterday. We got home around 3 and he went bananas with a full body jump and wiggle ... maybe he just pulled a neck muscle?? God knows I've done that with a wrong move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeedlenoseJake Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Jake had similar symptoms once where he would let out a yelp anytime he tried to bend down. It lasted only a couple of days so we think it was a pulled muscle. I'm hoping it's the same for your boy! I think Jake injured himself playing with the lure pole outside. Quote Photographer in Phoenix, AZ www.northmountainphoto.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 It does sound like a neck issue. Since this morning is he walking less "stumbley"? Quote NoAh the podenco orito, Rita the podenco maneta, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 (edited) A little arthritis flaring up? A pulled muscle? Maybe a disc issue? Been there, done that. Vet probably will prescribe a pain killer and perhaps a muscle relaxer (like Robaxin). (And you might want to keep the relevant meds on hand. My boy had his worst flare-ups after vet hours on weekends. Having pills on hand was a big help. I got prescriptions I could fill/refill at the 24-hour Walgreens.) But get a video of him moving badly to show your vet. I took angel Sam to the vet with similar issues and he flopped down on the floor for the vet, let the vet move his legs around as if he was made of silly putty, and never let out a squeak. I wouldn't have believed it was possible. (When Silver had an arthritis flare, she behaved exactly the same. Stoic dogs.) If you have a harness you can use rather than attaching the leash to his collar, you might try that. Be prepared to have to help him into the car--but also out of it. When you park try to leave enough room for him to jump out from the car rather than trying to jump straight down (too steep). (Or lift him out, if you can.) Raise his food and water (at least temporarily) so he doesn't have to bend so far. (I used to give treats on a plate set on a footstool. He could reach his crumbs.) If a visit to a chiropractor seems like a good idea, I'd want a spinal x-ray first to be sure there's not a problem that could be made worse by an adjustment. Chiro helped one time for Sam, but a second visit was massively painful (first time he ever tried to hurt someone) and the benefits were very short-lived so we never went back. P.S. You're not panicking. He's in pain. There's no advantage to waiting and every reason to make him feel better as soon as possible. Edited September 21, 2015 by KF_in_Georgia Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest driser Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Thanks for your replies!! I'm glad we're going in today. I HATE seeing him in discomfort and "off" his usual game. Yes he seems less "stumbley" than this morning ... looking back I think the twinge of pain when he tried to bend down per usual to sniff caught him off guard and that caused the "stumble" as he caught himself and came upright again. This afternoon's potty outing he skipped trying to bend over all together. I have injured my neck and man can that hurt like a dickens. Can't wait to get him some relief! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Sounds a lot like when my girl tweaked her neck as well. Think she did it running in the park, but it wasn't an obvious incident. A quick trip the the vet and some meds (I think they gave her steroids) and she was good as new in a day or two. Hope that's all it is for your pup. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTRAWLD Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I concur with a tweak. If the vet clears him, and you are willing, I'd suggest a trip to chiro or massage therapy to help him out. Quote Proudly owned by:10 year old "Ryder" CR Redman Gotcha May 201012.5 year old Angel "Kasey" Goodbye Kasey Gotcha July 2005-Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Sounds like. Owie neck. Rest and meds will help---and no more collar-use a harness from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busderpuddle Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Let us know what the vet says today. Hope all is well soon. Quote Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenbo Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 How's he doing? Quote Camp Broodie with tuxedo Summer 11 and tuxedo Dio 6 Missing KC Kitty 2000-2016, Myka and part of my heart 2006-2020, and Saint 2014-2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeidisMum Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 My betty had a stiff neck a few weeks ago. It just came on and we have no idea what she did. Probably fell in the backyard or something. A few days of rest and she was good as new. I'm a collar maker, but I switched her to a harness from now on. I hope it is something similar for your boy. Let us know what the vet says. Quote Christine- Mum to Betty (Nitro Ugly Betty), Hannah (Rj Have I Told U) and missing Heidi (Sendahl Eve) 04/21/2005-06/19/2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest driser Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 They agreed we should treat with pain med and muscle relaxer. We're not big fans of drugs so trying half doses to start. He's always been super sensitive to meds. He's a dream on a leash .. NO pull but he did a very exaggerated full body jump and shimmy wiggle when we got home yesterday it was contortionist like ... I would have a pulled muscle from that move We gave him dinner and 50 mg of each med when we got home ... he's, of course, sleeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeidisMum Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I hope he had a good restful night. How is he doing today? Quote Christine- Mum to Betty (Nitro Ugly Betty), Hannah (Rj Have I Told U) and missing Heidi (Sendahl Eve) 04/21/2005-06/19/2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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