hurt....but where?

[hemingway]

Hi guys. We had a long night. Hemingway hurt himself, possibly while trying to pull himself up onto our stone wall to get to a neighbor's dog. The trouble is, we have NO idea WHERE he could be hurt. But we know he is because when he lies down, or tries to get up, he lets out a yelp....every time. And he couldn't get comfortable all night....so of course he kept getting up and down and letting out a sharp "ouch!" every time. He is walking fine- without a limp. Touching different parts of him gives no answers either. He does not seem to be favoring anything. Is pooping and peeing normal. But he gets down very slowly and with a lot of hesitation, and then inevitably cries out in pain.

I am one to rush to the vet or call the vet in a heartbeat....but with such few clues as to what is going on, I'm not sure my vet would provide me any answers. And our vet is notoriously expensive...and loose with "let's try this and give him this" without telling me it's going to cost hundreds of dollars.

I know I am not giving much...but this is all I have to work with. Any thoughts?

 

[NewfieMama]

Gah we went through something like this a couple of weeks ago. I recognized it as it was exactly what I'd done to MYSELF last winter. Cooper must have pinched a nerve in his neck on his walk one morning - he'd been off leash but no falls, collisions, jumps off/on walls, etc. so I was mystified but he was clearly very much in pain.

The night is miserable.

Something I did was I dumped a bag of rice in a pillowcase (I have since learned you can also use a very damp bath towel) and heated in the microwave, and set it on him where he lay. His muscles were so so tight that the heat helped to give him a tiny bit of relief.

I had Tramadol at home and tried that on the weekend (rather than the emergency vet) but it did not touch the pain.

We did go to the vet on Monday. They prescribed an NSAID which scares the #()$#)( out of me as we've had a bad reaction to Rimadyl before, but honestly it worked wonders. I kept him quiet for a week, gave the Metacam for 3 days, and he felt better.

I'm sorry - this is terribly heartwrenching to watch them in pain, I know. And maybe it's something different. But, being Thursday, I think I would call the vet, so you don't have to spend an awful weekend.

 

[R Taft]

Give him a nice massage all over, from neck to tail....it is easy with newf's, because their skin is so loose...it might relax him and help. If he is walking ( eating, drinking, pooping and peeing) OK, I would see how he goes for a couple of days.
If he has had Metacam before it might help to give a couple of doses. Same as I would tke a couple of Feldane after some increased effort. But if pain persists, see a vet
:hugs: for the boy....Ronnie

 

[hemingway]

gave him two tramadol last night and they did nothing. trying a deramaxx with his breakfast. he is very sensitive to deramaxx so I have to be careful. fingers crossed that it helps a little, and will get him through the day so that whatever it is can heal a bit. if there is no improvement today...I will bring him to the vet first thing tomorrow. Thanks guys.

 

[Joan Fisher]

If something like that happens to Tiika and it has several times, especially when she was young and more rambunctious when wrestling with her sister, I try the chiropractor first. They've always been able to help. and they're more effective and cheaper than the vet.

 

[hemingway]

If something like that happens to Tiika and it has several times, especially when she was young and more rambunctious when wrestling with her sister, I try the chiropractor first. They've always been able to help. and they're more effective and cheaper than the vet.

good to know. looking into a local one now...

 

[Angela]

That's a good suggestion, we go to the doggie chiropractor frequently. Hope you can find one in your area Stacey.

 

[Bucephalus]

Oh, no! I'm not sure what the problem could be, but I hope Hem gets better soon or that you're able to locate the tender spot. Poor guy! Keep us updated.

 

[Thehallk]

Oh, no! I'm not sure what the problem could be, but I hope Hem gets better soon or that you're able to locate the tender spot. Poor guy! Keep us updated.

Ditto!

 

[takemebacktotulsa]

Poor baby :-(

No advice to offer, but I hope the pain eases and he heals quickly.

 

[Jager's Mom]

We just had this happen to Bear a couple of weeks ago... He is completely better now...but initially we couldn't figure out what was hurting him either. Finally, we "think" it was was my hubby called a "pointer" on his right hip. We did give him a dose of previcox (which didn't help). We were like you...we didn't have anything to go on for the vet. He just yelped when he would try to get up or down.

Maybe give it a couple of days and some rest....if it doesn't get better, then you could try the vet.

 

[Alicia]

Something similar happened to Rocky a few months ago and someone suggested a chiropractor so we gave it a try and it was the best $75.00 we have spent. I think many larger vet clinics have vets trained in chiropractics so you should be able to find one. Good Luck! Let us know how you make out.

 

[hemingway]

Thanks everybody! Hemi must be feeling the love (or the NSAID) because when I got home this afternoon he was more relaxed...and laid down without a whimper. Keeping a close eye on him.....

 

[jane]

I wouldn't be surprised if he tweeked a neck muscle. I've seen it happen to Merlin when he's playing. I'll know because I will put my hand under his chin and try to raise his head as high as possible. He will yelp pretty quickly and that tells me "neck". I rest him and he's back to his nutty self in no time.

 

[new_2_newf]

I hope Hemi is feeling better!!

 

[Lori]

Hope he is feeling better. I'm betting like everyone else he hurt his neck. The Simplicef is an antibiotic that's why it didn't seem to help him. Hopefully the Deramaxx will give him some relief. Feel better Hemi!!

 

[luvmynwfy]

Aww geez just seeing this now. I really hope he's on the mend, sounds like he is.
To check for soft tissue damage, after you gently palpate all over, and watch their gait, you can also check natural movements with a lure. I get a treat or something I know she'll like and I put her in a sit, raise the treat up and down, from left to right - making sure its close enough that she'll follow it and do the motions rather quickly (this may indicate neck/shoulder issues). Then have them stand and lure them into doing a complete circle clock wise and counter clock wise directions (back/shoulder/hip issues). Lastly, ask them for a paw so that they have to balance on the other 3 legs. If they've pulled/strained or pinched something then it should show when you do these basic tests. Nothing is 100% but I've found this routine to be very helpful.
I agree with massage and chiro. You can also do some very basic hydrotherapy at home if you have a yard of fleece, soak it in my epsom salts dissloved in warm water and lay it around the body part, or put it in their crate and let them lay on it.
all the best, and I really hope the worst is past.
Marina

 

[hemingway]

Don't know why I wrote Simplicef...I meant Tramadol!!!!! It was a long night! But I did not give him an antibiotic. LOL. Going to edit that so as to not confuse anyone else!

 

[hemingway]

Aww geez just seeing this now. I really hope he's on the mend, sounds like he is.
To check for soft tissue damage, after you gently palpate all over, and watch their gait, you can also check natural movements with a lure. I get a treat or something I know she'll like and I put her in a sit, raise the treat up and down, from left to right - making sure its close enough that she'll follow it and do the motions rather quickly (this may indicate neck/shoulder issues). Then have them stand and lure them into doing a complete circle clock wise and counter clock wise directions (back/shoulder/hip issues). Lastly, ask them for a paw so that they have to balance on the other 3 legs. If they've pulled/strained or pinched something then it should show when you do these basic tests. Nothing is 100% but I've found this routine to be very helpful.
I agree with massage and chiro. You can also do some very basic hydrotherapy at home if you have a yard of fleece, soak it in my epsom salts dissloved in warm water and lay it around the body part, or put it in their crate and let them lay on it.
all the best, and I really hope the worst is past.
Marina

Thanks...this is very helpful. He is still moaning with certain movements....always when in a laying position or transitioning from up/down. He's walking no problem...eating...has energy....but just uncomfortable at times. I did a massage and detected nothing...but I'm too much of a softy to apply enough pressure to illicit response from him. Deramaxx seemed to help quite a bit. Here's hoping we can all get some sleep tonight.

 

[Angela]

Do you think it's the FCP leg? Evan who had the same surgery sometimes has a bit of stiffness and a yelp when moving, the xray showed some arthritis.
Just a thought.