8 mo GSD puppy with pain in back -- Help!

ColoradoGSD · 11-03-2012, 11:59 AM

Our lovely 8 mo old GSD puppy is wincing and flinching when he gets up or down, and when we touch the middle of his back. Then when we try to palpitate to see where the problem is--nothing. He actually seems to like the back massage--doesn't growl, yelp, or try to get away from it.

He did have a very active play time two days ago and he was extra energetic about it--he was in star athlete mode. We play fetch with a ball and he tugs at a 3 gal. empty water tub--always straight pulling--we don't shake his head or anything. But nothing extreme happened that we could tell.

He is not limping, dragging his legs, shaking or tremors, or having any problems with using the bathroom. He's eating like a horse. But he just seems super, super sore.

Ideas, anyone?

Jax08 · 11-03-2012, 12:02 PM

I would find a chiropractor. He probably pulled something or knocked a vertebrae out jumping.

huntergreen · 11-03-2012, 03:15 PM

may have pulled some musscles, if he is not better improving in 2 or 3 days, call your vet.

ColoradoGSD · 11-04-2012, 01:53 PM

Thanks. We're hoping that's it. He's still sore today, but not as much. Tumeric seems to help, so I'm thinking maybe just a pulled/torn muscle. He sprained his leg not long ago and we don't know how he did that either... maybe the squirrels... so we applied heat, tumeric, and within about 5 days he was back to new. There are a lot of muscles in the back, so again, we're hoping for the best and that he just overdid it. He's such a power house and he jumped high for the tub (haven't seen that before) and was in pain that night, so maybe he landed on it wrong.

The economy has hit us really hard as a family and we're just focused on making sure our big guy has enough to eat. Hoping we don't have to take him into the vet, which is $68 just to be seen (3 weeks of feed), and then naturally they want to do all kinds of other stuff, which I'm sure is advisable. In the "old days" we could accommodate with ease. Now? Not so much.

Thanks for the replies. We'll give it as long as his leg sprain and see what happens. We don't want the worse to have to happen, as major repairs won't be doable. We really love this animal.

Anyone who feels like it can pray for our good dog.

Thanks again.

Bear GSD · 11-04-2012, 02:13 PM

Sending healing thoughts and prayers from Colorado!

ColoradoGSD · 11-07-2012, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear GSD

Sending healing thoughts and prayers from Colorado!

Thanks for everyone's support. Back is totally better--might have sprained a muscle in a squirrel chase when we weren't looking or on the doggie door, which we've fastened shut for good. Responded well to massage. Doc said there are a lot of muscles on either side of the spine, so...

Then got an ear infection. Doc says yeast. He's being treated, but we're still out the money on THAT instead of the back,

lol.

Anyway, he's fine and back to his old self.

Thanks again. This forum is just terrific.

Saphire · 11-07-2012, 01:43 PM

This might not be helpful but many years ago, like you we were became tight for money when both my husband and I were in between jobs, I was pregnant etc. etc. We had 5 dogs at the time, our worst fears were if they needed trips to the vet. It was then that we started our emergency dog bank acct. It started very slow, $10 month....abit here and abit there. If we were given Birthday or Christmas money it also went into that account. We were fortunate that it grew to a decent amount before we had to cash some in for vet treatments.
Here in Ontario the average examination fees are $80-$100. Then comes testing or medications. Oh how it adds up quickly. A trip to the vet for a simple ear infection is easily $200 with taxes.

I guess what I am getting at is if you start an acct, even with small deposits......it will give you some peace of mind knowing you can make a trip to the vets without forgoing groceries for the week.

Glad your puppy is back to normal and all is good.

Cathy

Zeeva · 11-07-2012, 01:45 PM

Good health vibes and prayers to your pup...

Bear GSD · 11-07-2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColoradoGSD

Thanks for everyone's support. Back is totally better--might have sprained a muscle in a squirrel chase when we weren't looking or on the doggie door, which we've fastened shut for good. Responded well to massage. Doc said there are a lot of muscles on either side of the spine, so...

Then got an ear infection. Doc says yeast. He's being treated, but we're still out the money on THAT instead of the back,

lol.

Anyway, he's fine and back to his old self.

Thanks again. This forum is just terrific.

Yay! I'm so glad that he's doing better!
What's his name, BTW? Also please send photos for us to see your boy!

ColoradoGSD · 11-07-2012, 01:53 PM

Hi there in Boulder. Both my husband and I are Boulder natives. Our pup's name is Gantz. I'll try to upload a photo, but I am sadly lacking in computer skills. Hubby can do it in about a millisecond though, so if I can't I'll get him to. Most of the newer photos are on his phone, but I think I can roust a puppy pic. I'll give it a go.

That emergency account sounds good. We're always just so far behind, but it sure seems a MUST at this point. Ontario prices are a bit more than here, but not much more.

Thanks again everyone.

11-03-2012, 11:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
ColoradoGSD New Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 5	8 mo GSD puppy with pain in back -- Help! Our lovely 8 mo old GSD puppy is wincing and flinching when he gets up or down, and when we touch the middle of his back. Then when we try to palpitate to see where the problem is--nothing. He actually seems to like the back massage--doesn't growl, yelp, or try to get away from it. He did have a very active play time two days ago and he was extra energetic about it--he was in star athlete mode. We play fetch with a ball and he tugs at a 3 gal. empty water tub--always straight pulling--we don't shake his head or anything. But nothing extreme happened that we could tell. He is not limping, dragging his legs, shaking or tremors, or having any problems with using the bathroom. He's eating like a horse. But he just seems super, super sore. Ideas, anyone?

11-03-2012, 12:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 19,006	I would find a chiropractor. He probably pulled something or knocked a vertebrae out jumping. __________________ Michelle _________________________________________ Jax Von Monkeybutt, CGC Queen Banshee Boo Sierra the Undecided Cracker, The Great Shedder Rich N Handsome, "Red"

11-04-2012, 02:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bear GSD Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 1,930	Sending healing thoughts and prayers from Colorado! __________________ Bear GSD 10/16/11 Elsa GSD 12/23/03 - 11/10/11

11-07-2012, 01:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
Zeeva Knighted Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,261	Good health vibes and prayers to your pup... __________________ A dog's smile is on his butt! c:

11-03-2012, 03:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
huntergreen Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,197	may have pulled some musscles, if he is not better improving in 2 or 3 days, call your vet.

11-04-2012, 01:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
ColoradoGSD New Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 5	Thanks. We're hoping that's it. He's still sore today, but not as much. Tumeric seems to help, so I'm thinking maybe just a pulled/torn muscle. He sprained his leg not long ago and we don't know how he did that either... maybe the squirrels... so we applied heat, tumeric, and within about 5 days he was back to new. There are a lot of muscles in the back, so again, we're hoping for the best and that he just overdid it. He's such a power house and he jumped high for the tub (haven't seen that before) and was in pain that night, so maybe he landed on it wrong. The economy has hit us really hard as a family and we're just focused on making sure our big guy has enough to eat. Hoping we don't have to take him into the vet, which is $68 just to be seen (3 weeks of feed), and then naturally they want to do all kinds of other stuff, which I'm sure is advisable. In the "old days" we could accommodate with ease. Now? Not so much. Thanks for the replies. We'll give it as long as his leg sprain and see what happens. We don't want the worse to have to happen, as major repairs won't be doable. We really love this animal. Anyone who feels like it can pray for our good dog. Thanks again.

11-07-2012, 01:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
Saphire Master Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 959	This might not be helpful but many years ago, like you we were became tight for money when both my husband and I were in between jobs, I was pregnant etc. etc. We had 5 dogs at the time, our worst fears were if they needed trips to the vet. It was then that we started our emergency dog bank acct. It started very slow, $10 month....abit here and abit there. If we were given Birthday or Christmas money it also went into that account. We were fortunate that it grew to a decent amount before we had to cash some in for vet treatments. Here in Ontario the average examination fees are $80-$100. Then comes testing or medications. Oh how it adds up quickly. A trip to the vet for a simple ear infection is easily $200 with taxes. I guess what I am getting at is if you start an acct, even with small deposits......it will give you some peace of mind knowing you can make a trip to the vets without forgoing groceries for the week. Glad your puppy is back to normal and all is good. Cathy

11-07-2012, 01:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
ColoradoGSD New Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 5	Hi there in Boulder. Both my husband and I are Boulder natives. Our pup's name is Gantz. I'll try to upload a photo, but I am sadly lacking in computer skills. Hubby can do it in about a millisecond though, so if I can't I'll get him to. Most of the newer photos are on his phone, but I think I can roust a puppy pic. I'll give it a go. That emergency account sounds good. We're always just so far behind, but it sure seems a MUST at this point. Ontario prices are a bit more than here, but not much more. Thanks again everyone.

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