|
|
Post by Jennifer on Oct 8, 2010 12:40:37 GMT 10
Please help! I have a 4 year old male AKC grey (approx 80lbs) who is in serious pain and I can't figure out what is wrong!
The first of Aug he broke his outside left front toe. The vet set it in a splint, which he soon broke. Then a second splint was taped to it. After about 5 weeks he got a serious pressure sore and we took the splints off. I tried to keep him as inactive as possible to allow it to finish healing.
Earlier this week he zoomed around the back yard and has seemed to be in pain since. He is walking on the paw and it is weight bearing. I don't think it is the cause right now. He started getting better, then last night when he squatted to pee, I heard another yelp. He has been absolutely miserable since. Whining while laying on his bed, can't even get on the couch. Yelps when getting up off the bed or lays on his size. I'm thinking muscle injury...maybe in the shoulder or neck??
Any ideas?? I'm so lost and worried about my "baby" and my vet seems about useless here.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom Meulman on Oct 8, 2010 13:32:36 GMT 10
Hi Jennifer, The poor boy, it certainly sounds like he is in a lot of pain! One of the problems that greyhounds over the age of three years do suffer with is that they still tend to act as if they are still puppies, and particularly after being inactive because of an injury such as your boy with the broken toe, are inclined to overdo the zipping around the backyard bit. This unfortunately does cause painful muscle spasms both at the base of the neck and saddle area, as well as around the lower back pelvis area. Firstly to relieve the worst of the pain it would be good idea if your Vet could provide some anti-inflammatory tablets for him for at least a week or ten days. In the between time you can relieve a lot of the pain yourself for him by using a hot pack or hot towel both at the base of the neck and between the shoulder blades, as well as between the hip bones and just onto the lower spine. Just five minutes morning and night for three or four days will relieve a lot of the muscle spasms that are making it difficult and painful for him to move. You can also do some gentle massaging in both those areas after using the hot towels. Hope your boy comes good real soon.  Cheers, Tom |
|
|
|
Post by Jennifer on Oct 9, 2010 0:19:25 GMT 10
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I'm sure that is exactly what happened. He is 100% goofy boy and at times plays way too hard. I will definitely try the heat and massage. I also found this last night after I posted here: Neck pain:
I included this here because neck strains can make a dog very uncomfortable and can
result in the dog having difficulty walking. The cause of a painful neck in a greyhound
can be from a repetitive motion, such as digging up your flowerbed, or any motion
where the dog turns his head quickly, such as jumping up or playing with another dog.
Dogs that have strained their neck muscles will be reluctant to raise or lower their
head and will walk stiffly. They may not eat because they cannot put their head down
to the bowl. When we examine these dogs, we find that manipulation of the neck is
extremely painful for the dog, while radiographs are normal. The best treatment for
relief is a muscle relaxant, methocarbamol. Dogs will respond twenty-four to fortyeight
hours after starting the medication. Anti-inflammatory drugs may also help, but
the key is the muscle relaxant. If you suspect that your dog may have this problem, be
careful about trying to examine him—even the best dog may snap when he has this
condition and his neck touched!
written B Y D R . M A R Y S U E L U XI will print both of these out and take them to our vet when we go today. Thanks again!! I really appreciate it and am so glad I found this site! Jennifer  |
|
|
|
Post by joe on Oct 10, 2010 12:02:14 GMT 10
|
|
|
|
Post by Jennifer on Oct 11, 2010 11:08:18 GMT 10
Thanks again. We went to see the vet and he agreed that it appears to be a neck injury. He is on the muscle relaxant someone suggested above and is doing much better. He still yelps on occasion, but is nice and relaxed. Thanks again for all your help!
|
|
