• Please be sure to read the rules and adhere to them. Some banned members have complained that they are not spammers. But they spammed us. Some even tried to redirect our members to other forums. Duh. Be smart. Read the rules and adhere to them and we will all get along just fine. Cheers. :beer: Link to the rules: https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/forum-rules-info.2974/

Dog - dislocated shoulder???

Melensdad

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
Our little Maltese has been having some problems the last couple days.

Sometimes he is out running around, playing in the snow, bouncing across the floor. Other times he is curled in bed whimpering in pain. Seems the pain come mostly at night.

Last night about 8:30 pm he started crying, prior to that he was fine, running, etc. Extreme pain, cried when carried, whimpered when sitting, and he would hold up his front right foot off the ground and walk on 3 legs.

This morning pretty much the same when I carried him outside. I brought him back in, put him in his bed, and went about my business. Next thing I know the dog is dragging his blanket down the hallway, walking normally. Then runs back to his bed.

WTF is wrong?

Its like one moment he has a broken foot, the next he's fine. All I can think is a dislocated joint that randomly pops back into place???

I took him to the Vet yesterday but our snowstorm delayed all 3 vets from getting to the office. Of course I was there when they opened, the vets had no ETA as to when they would make it due to road closures! So I'm taking him in again this morning, but they don't open for a couple more hours.

Thoughts?
 
I don't believe a dislocated shoulder would go back in place with out some sort of bang (aka like Mel Gibson running into the wall). I did have a dog with similar symptoms, but I don't think the pain was extreme. Sometimes she'd limp then all the sudden no limp ...day or two later the limp was back.
Always thought it was a pulled / sore muscle. Never did find out for sure.
 
Could be any one of a lot of things. No use speculating but have you checked in between its toes for a sticker or something. If he's been biting on his foot it may be something that simple.

Either way, if you were complaining about the cost of tires for Melen's car, you're going to be bitching about the vet costs too. :)

Man, those guys aren't cheap. We had one old dog that was always at the vet. I swear that I personally paid for his wife's new Cadillac SUV.
 
Whoops, you were posting a reply while I was typing mine.

Good to know it's not too serious and can be treated with pills.

Backs can be expensive if it ever requires an operation. One of our old dogs had to have 2 discs fused together and I refuse to say what that cost because everyone will think that I'm absolutely stupid for spending that much on a dog that cost $10 from the pound. I still miss her.
 
The spine problem related to an infection he got last year. It cause a degeneration of some of the disks in his lower spinal column. They killed the infection, he felt better but his spine has a big curve in it. The infection came back early this winter, another course of anti-biotics cleared it up again, but there are lingering side effects. With the degeneration and curvature he has some issues. Somehow it got inflamed, which is pinching the nerves and causing the pain.

He is home now, resting comfortably.
 
Sounds like me with my cats. Good thing that I had pet insurance. As it is I still spent over a couple thousand trying to save my kitty.
 
Melensdad said:
Turns out its his spine. Its inflamed. Pinching a nerve.
Click to expand...

EastTexFrank said:
I'm glad to know that he's doing OK.

I'm a fool when it comes to my dogs.
Click to expand...
Indeed. It's more painful for me to watch the poor creatures suffer than the discomfort they're probably experiencing. The little $45 shelter dog I have now has cost $9,000 and going. Alas, what else are ya gonna do. That kind of unconditional loyalty knows no price.
 
Well he is now at the Vet's office. Probably to spend the night. He was sleeping and woke up crying. I carried him outside where he pee'd. Carried him back inside and the crying increased to screaming!!! He then pooped while screaming/crying. Meanwhile I was on the phone with the vet asking what to do, they said bring him in and they'd give him something for the pain and have him spend the night. He got back into his bed and I picked up the whole bed and put it in the car. He calmed down and eventually started climbing around acting normal.

I got him to the vet and he was fine.
 
I sure hope that you have pet insurance cause I can see surgery on the horizon. That must have been awful to your puppy in such pain.
 
Bob <
I kid around a lot , but I only hope the best for the little guy .
Our dog got bit in the back and it caused her to become paralyzed . The vet said to put her down cause she would never recover . I gave her a week . The next day she still could not move but did wiggle her tail when she saw me . Each day she did a bit better and on the 7th day she stool up on her own . She did fall over but never stopped trying . 10 years later she passed from old age .She was the fastest dog running sideways you ever saw . Sometimes her rear end would pass her front end but she did not care and was one of the best dogs we ever had .
 
I'll get an update in an hour or so.

Vet had him for observation overnight. X-Ray this morning. Hopefully he was not in to much pain, they gave him pain meds for the night.
 
OK, he is getting x-rays today, under mild sedation. We will hear more this afternoon.
 
SNOWBALL UPDATE:

I picked up Snowball from the Vet's office about 5:30 this afternoon. He is not allowed to jump, go up/down the stairs, etc. X-Rays showed that his spine is damaged up near his neck, its related to a severe infection the got that did the same thing to his lower spine. Its very rare, the vet only sees it a couple times a year in their practice. He is on Prednisone now, and if he shows any pain then he gets a 1/2 a tramidol.

He is sleeping on my lap now. Its nice to have him home again.

We will see how things go, he will be getting laser therapy a few times a week.
 
great to read that ur pup is faring well. btw- tramadol sux (imho); i'd pitch a bitch & get him a real narcotic. he has gone through so much. they could properly medicate him.
 
Bob, I'm glad that Snowball is doing better. Good drugs aways help Dogs are so stoic. They can handle pain a lot better than most humans.

I don't know how those lasers work but they seem to. One of our old dogs had to have laser treatment on one of her hind legs and it was very successful. After about a month, she was getting around almost like normal.
 
Yup, the laser does work. When our vet got her laser last year she used Snowball as a "no charge" test for about 8 weeks, 2 to 3 times a week. It works. I dunno how.

But I'm happy to pay for it now if it will help him.

He's been sitting in his dog bed, peacefully this morning. Not overly active. But he's gotten up several times to go outside, sat on my lap for a while. Even pushed the bathroom door open when he thought I got lost or fell in???
 
How is he doing now? Animals do not show pain or illness unless it is really bad. It's their wild instinct. Anyone who looks weak or injured is prey.
 
He had a good day, but I think he over did it.

He's resting comfortably now but we just came in from outside. He tried to run, made it about 30' then his front right foot came up and he hobbled. I went out to get him and carried him back in. Set him in bed, he squeaked a little in pain when lifted, but he got himself out of bed walked over for water, then went back into his bed.

I gave him a prednisone, that will help a lot. But its not yet taken effect.

We don't let him jump. Carry him on the stairs. Etc.
 
Be thankful that he is a little dog.

After ours had back surgery I had to carry her outside four times a day. She weighed just under 70 pounds. After a month of that I was the one that was needing back surgery. :yum:
 
Snowball had a good night last night. We were a bit worried because he was pretty uncomfortable during the evening. Just restless.

Much better than mine. I took him out one time, about midnight. Slept from midnight to morning. Never even a whimper.

Went back out a little while ago, he's limping a little bit, but no complaining or whimpering. Ate well, now curled up next to me resting comfortably.

Looks like the prednisone may be working, hopefully the 'cold laser' treatments work too.
 
He is a mean little shit, but I suppose that is a good sign because it means he's pretty much back to normal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top