possible spine/neck injury - Page 1

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with a spine or neck injury with one of their dogs. About a week ago I was sitting outside with the dogs when my 6 year old male (Trigger) let out a fairly intense yelp and came running over by me like someone had just kicked the crap out of him. He had no external injuries and was not favoring any of his limbs. Over the course of the next several days he did the same at least 2-3 times per day for no apparent reason. Once walking from one room to the next, once simply reaching down to pick up a toy, etc. It appears to be a stabbling pain that is aggravated by movement.

I have been in contact with my vet and she suggested a spine or neck injury. She also recommended pain killers and keeping the dog as quiet as possibl which I have been doing. She said if he didn't get better by the end of this week to bring him in for x-rays.

Last night and today Trigger seems to be doing better. The yelps are now occasional "squeaks" and he seems more interested in his toys, although I'm still not allowing him to move around much except for eating and going out to do his business. The vet says these kinds of injuries are common with thr larger breeds, but this is a first for any of the dogs I have owned. Trigger did have hip x-rays a year ago February and they turned out fine. But I'm still worried and wondering if I should still have additional  x-rays even if his pain seems to be gone by the end of the week. Trigger was also diagnosed with Lyme disease last year. After several months of antibiotics the disease went into remission but I also worry if the Lyme Disease is affecting the problems he is having now. Poor dog. He's been looking so sad lately. Any input would be appreciated

Sue

I would not wait for X-rays.  Tell the vet to do them now.  If there is an injury he may be causing damage by it not being diagnosed and treated as early as possible.  My girl pinched a nerve in her back at 10 months and had to be given a steroid shot and anti inflammatory meds to get over it...along with not being allowed to run & jump...2 weeks on a leash, no free play.  It was tough but she is fine now.

DebSue, I was thinking the same thing that the x-rays should be done now. It was the vet who wanted to wait. Trigger has become very clingy the last week which is totally out of character. for him. I can't help but think he's telling me about the pain.

Triodegirl, I'm sorry to hear your boy is having problems.  I had a dog with a sudden onset neuro problem of some kind.  At the time, my husband was playing ball with him and there was the possibility that he jammed his head on the ground going for the ball.  The only thing was, x-rays showed no injury, only a "shadow" between two vertebrae in his neck.  It also could have been a stroke or FCE.  He was paralyzed, completely, and was put down a week later.  I, too, would get x-rays as soon as possible, if there is an injury, it could be exacerbated by normal exercise.  Please keep us updated on his condition and diagnosis.  Hoping it's not something serious and will be resolved in no time.

Sue,I am very sorry to hear your boy is going through this pain.The only thing I would like to add is that it could very well be something  else going on causing him this pain.Perhaps certain movement  brings it on making it seem that its neck or spine related when in fact its not.I would just have the vet check the usual suspects and then they may be able to narrow it down to the affected area.Hope everything goes well and its something minor.Good luck to you both.

Sorry, having glitch with system. (This is India) said with head nodding.

I had a dobermann a long time ago, he was a gentle soul, wonderful with my children and everyone else for that matter. When I was abroad (Army) the dog hurt his back and it turned out to be his spine. My wife took him to the vet and had the full examination done, and then she was told it would be better if he was 'put to sleep'.

However knowing how much I loved that dog, she took him home.

A week later my daughters  GSD (German Sausage Dog) went to take the dobermanns food and was killed on the spot.

My wife was not too bothered about the little dog but the thought of the Doberman turning on one of the children was just too much.

Please be careful, get the dog examined and accept the vetinarians advice. When animals are in great pain, they are not aware of what they are doing at the time.

Best of luck from me anyway and I hope the dog recovers.

A human friend of mine had a back injury, the doctor send her from some x-rays said take these pills and go to physical therapy. The x-rays didn't show much of anything. She did her physical therapy for 3 months and seemed to be getting worse instead of better. I urged her to get an MRI and every other image scan she could to find out what exactly was going on.

Well come to find out, she had a ruptured disk and after 3 months of waiting the disk tissue had fused with the spinal tissue and much of the damage was permanent! They operated on her manly to reduce pressure to the spinal cord, years later, she still has pain.

I had another friend that had a young stallion that tried to go through the planks of a fence and hurt his neck. The young horse exhibited intermittent pain and would stumble once in a while. They took him to a vet who did X-rays and said that he should be put down. I asked if I could have him and then sent him for MRI's. With a small surgery the horse recovered and grew into a magnificent stallion.

X-rays are not always enough when it comes to spinal injuries.......its serious stuff, the cause of pain needs to be found quickly before it becomes permanent.

Sue,

What have you found out?  I'm assuming you have gone to the vet and requested x-rays just to be on the safe side?  Please don't wait any longer.  If your dog is clingy that is a sign of intense pain.  Dogs are so stoic, what they exhibit is nothing compared to what they are feeling.  Get your buns in gear and get that dog to the vet.  Don't let the vet talk you out of it.  Take him somewhere else if need be.  It's been over a week and that is too long.  Please get him in. 

Deb

Saw this type of thing once and the problem was in the hind quarters. Hips were exellent but after manipulation of the lower spine the occurences started to lesson although never totally disappeared.