Dog Community

Apollo injured his back-UPDATE!!!!

Posted : 7/21/2010 7:17:55 PM

I played fetch with Apollo this morning before it got too hot outside. We didn't do anything crazy or over the top. After a little bit I brought him inside, gave him water, put his Koolie Collar on, put him in the A/C, and I got ready for the day. Everything seemed OK. Then he started to seem a *little* stiff, but nothing too serious. So, I decided to let him take it easy today. As the day went on I noticed his back started to arch up (like a roach back), he carried his head down, and his tail was between his legs. Then, he stopped walking all together. DH and I rushed him into the emergency vet's. We had to carry him to my truck, into the hospital, and the tech's carried him into the back of the hospital to run tests on him. 2 hours later.... The vet could not come up with a diagnoses. Physical was nomal. Vitals were normal. Range of motion tests normal. They ran blood tests, but those won't be in until tomorrow morning. X-rays came up with nothing. He was eating and drinking and pooping and peeing normally. The vet said we could bring him home but he's on strict crate rest. Well, on the way home he STOOD up in my truck....then when I opened the door he JUMPED out of it and RAN up the stairs. WTF!?!?!?! What happened??? I cannot for the life of me figure this out. It seems like he got really bad (I was bawling at the vets because he couldn't even walk), then on the way home recovered- actually, IDK if he really recovered or what, so he's on crate rest until tomorrow morning when I bring him into his regular vets.

kpwlee

Posted : 7/21/2010 7:29:19 PM

Aw Steph I have no info but I am sending my best vibes that he remains fine! Can.not.imagine.how scary!

DougB

Posted : 7/21/2010 7:52:49 PM

Possibly a muscle spasm or a slipped disk that slipped back where it belongs. I've seen both in active field dogs, to the point where dogs were carried 1/4 mile back to the truck. If he's walking, the problem may have passed. When my brothers dog had this, dog tried to walk using only front legs. Responded well to cortisone and rest.

JackieG

Posted : 7/21/2010 8:20:29 PM

I have no idea either but I'm so glad he is obviously feeling better. I know you'll keep a close eye on him tonight. Sending good vibes for a clean report from the regular vet also. Give him some belly rubs from me.

willowchow

Posted : 7/21/2010 8:26:58 PM

Lyme flare up? Willow could almost not get up so it does get that bad sometimes. And, suddenly.

BlackLabbie

Posted : 7/21/2010 8:57:50 PM

willowchow
Lyme flare up? Willow could almost not get up so it does get that bad sometimes. And, suddenly.

I brought in all his records from out usual vet and told them he had Lyme and the e-vet didn't think this had anything to do with it but she said she couldn't rule it out until the blood work came back. Earlier I was so scared! And I couldn't stop crying- and if you knew me, I'm *NOT* a crier at all...I just couldn't stop; all the worst case scenarios were flashing through my head.

CoBuHe

Posted : 7/21/2010 9:15:56 PM

Of course they were...that must have been the most frightening thing you've ever experienced. Then, boom he's back. Maybe Doug is right and perhaps he had a slipped disc that somehow went back in place.

I'll be thinking of you guys...

calliecritturs

Posted : 7/21/2010 10:29:19 PM

I'm thinking pinched nerve -- one time Foxy did it in his SLEEP! Woke up and just plain couldn't get up. I carried him TO the vet, the vet gave him a shot of dex (which is a steroid) and 45 minutes later he was FINE.

He had a tiny lesion on his spine we discovered -- and it likely just somehow pinched a nerve inadvertently.

It happens. It's scarey as heck.

Honestly I'd rather NOT hope for a slipped disc because that will slip out again. A pinched nerve can be unbelievably sudden and may just plain evaporate.

Honestly? Ask the vet in the morning, but I would give him either some nsaid or something over the next couiple of days **WITH A RELAXANT**. Something like Valerian -- 2 caps 3 times a day if you can. Keep the nsaid absolutely minimal. (remember -- dogs can ***NOT*** take Tylenol or anything with Tylenol/acetaminaphen in it). Also do *not* give ibuprophen -- it's very tricky to dose

If it's very short term, the dose for aspirin is 5 - 15 mg given 2-3 times a day. Keep it at the 5 mg or less dose (it can cause stomach bleeding) But adding the relaxant will help the low dose of NSAID do more.

Now if the vet has given him a steroid (or a steroid shot) do NOT give the NSAID. But giving the body a little help to reduce whatever inflammation can help it not recur.

Like I said -- talk to the vet. But FOR SURE do not allow him to just do anything he wants. Because you don't want whatever it is to recur quickly.

EVEN IF you have to sedate him a bit (Hylands Calms Forte -- and even, to a lesser degree the valerian) but giving his body a chance to heal is a big deal.

ALSO -- if you can get to a health store that sells it -- get some Traumeel tablets -- Traumeel is awesome stuff. It's a homeopathic (and you can give it with anything else) but it is THE BEST THING ever to give **any** time there is a trauma emergecy. It's awesome stuff to reduce inflammation and pain without any side effects at all.

It's a homeopathic -- you let him chew them up ... do *not* give them "in" something. Don't give with food or immediately after food -- they *must* dissolve in his mouth. So if he won't chew them, then crush the tablets between a piece of folded paper.

iluvjamison

Posted : 7/22/2010 7:17:09 AM

How's Appollo this morning, Stephanie??? Back to his normal self I hope !!!

Deb W.

CoBuHe

Posted : 7/22/2010 8:08:39 AM

calliecritturs
Honestly I'd rather NOT hope for a slipped disc because that will slip out again.

Just to clarify Steph, I was NOT hoping for a slipped disc. I simply meant I hoped it wasn't anything more serious. How is he doing this morning?

shamrockmommy

Posted : 7/22/2010 12:07:19 PM

Is there an update on Apollo?

calliecritturs

Posted : 7/22/2010 1:00:58 PM

CoBuHe

calliecritturs
Honestly I'd rather NOT hope for a slipped disc because that will slip out again.

Just to clarify Steph, I was NOT hoping for a slipped disc. I simply meant I hoped it wasn't anything more serious. How is he doing this morning?

Nope I wasn't trying to be ratty at you *either* -- it was just the 2d post (at least-- I didn't check back) that suggested a disc problem and disc problems tend to make my hands shake *grin*.

I've been checking for updates too!

BlackLabbie

Posted : 7/22/2010 2:20:15 PM

I brought him into our regular vet at 8am, picked him up an hour ago. They watched him walk around and he looks very stiff but he's carrying his head and tail up again! He can also do stairs without a problem- though he is very slow. He's also been clingy and whiny....not normal. Our vet couldn't find anything wrong except him looking stiff. Bloodwork came in normal this morning.

JackieG

Posted : 7/22/2010 2:33:29 PM

Did the vet have an opinion of what might be wrong?

CoBuHe

Posted : 7/22/2010 2:45:14 PM

How about a chiropractor?