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Tue 20 May, 2008 12:36 pm
Last night we went to our daughter's HS graduation and had to crate the puppy. When we got home, my son let her out, and she seemed fine at first (she was fine before we left). As a treat I let her clean a dish we'd made meatloaf in. She went at it with vigor but I noticed she had her tail tucked between her legs and was shaking. Just figured she was excited and unsure why I'd given her such a treat.
She slept in her crate all night long - never woke us up to take her out, for the first time in her life. When I went to get her this AM, she didn't come out, and whimpered in pain when I tried to help her.
It seems she has a stiff neck. We took her to the vet - X-rays negative. He's holding her for observation this afternoon. She isn't sick otherwise, and will eat.
It's really strange. I'm wondering if somehow she got her collar caught in her cage while we were gone, and struggled to free herself. The last time I had her on a leash, she was pulling like a crazed oxen, so it's also possible she just pulled a muscle.
Poor thing, I've been worried about her all day. She's a good puppy.
Could have been the collar. Never leave the collar on in a crate. The pup could hang herself.
Lecture aside....
I can't think of anything it could be. Hope she feels better soon.
Bella Dea wrote:Could have been the collar. Never leave the collar on in a crate. The pup could hang herself.
Lecture aside....
We were in a hurry, boy put the dog in the crate, he just forgot the collar. Still cannot be sure that's what it was though.
Is lyme disease present where you live? Is she up to date on vaccinations?
BBB
Did the vet check the puppy for an injured and/or collapsed trachea from collar pressure on the neck?
BBB
Dog eats - no collapsed trachea.
Hound slept in our bed last night - damn muscle relaxants gave her the killer farts. Still has a stiff neck but better than yesterday.
Lyme disease is present, yes. Didn't think of that, but I'm sure the vet did. Since you can't test for it (I don't think), that is a tough diagnosis.
Aw, glad she's feeling better...
We use a harness rather than a collar. (we call it her bra) They can't resist / pull back with the harness like they can with a collar. Works great because it gives more control with less tugging.
Congrats on the Grad!
Guess what, she has a new harness!
I had gotten her a Halti but it was too big and thus not in use.
I still think she must have gotten her collar caught in her cage.
cjhsa wrote:Dog eats - no collapsed trachea.
Hound slept in our bed last night - damn muscle relaxants gave her the killer farts. Still has a stiff neck but better than yesterday.
Lyme disease is present, yes. Didn't think of that, but I'm sure the vet did. Since you can't test for it (I don't think), that is a tough diagnosis.
You can, indeed, be tested for it. You can also be tested for complications from it, like kidney disease.
We refer to our dogs harness as "the emergency brake". Much easier to grab it than a collar and less stressful for all. It's also a good idea to get a "sit and stay" for the car. My husband was driving with our big dog in his truck when a deer jumped out in the road. My husband slammed the brake and everything in the truck went flying forward, if the dog had not been strapped in with his harness and seat strap (aka "sit and stay") he would have gone through the windshield.
Here's what they look like:
She's much better today. Wife thinks she now knows what happened.
On Monday, Graduation Day, wife went downstairs to the oldest's room and the dog followed. Wife noticed the dog choking on something, unsure what, but there was a stick next to her (apparently the pup brought the stick down the stairs).
Wife didn't think much of it at the time as the dog stopped choking and seemed OK, and she was so busy getting ready for graduation she forgot about it. Now she thinks the pup probably gored the far back of her throat with the stick. So far back the vet couldn't easily see it.
So, the muscle relaxants that helped her sleep but also helped her pee all over the place are done. Pain killers for a couple more days and watch her closely. Much, much happier puppy today.
cjhsa wrote:She's much better today. Wife thinks she now knows what happened.
On Monday, Graduation Day, wife went downstairs to the oldest's room and the dog followed. Wife noticed the dog choking on something, unsure what, but there was a stick next to her (apparently the pup brought the stick down the stairs).
Wife didn't think much of it at the time as the dog stopped choking and seemed OK, and she was so busy getting ready for graduation she forgot about it. Now she thinks the pup probably gored the far back of her throat with the stick. So far back the vet couldn't easily see it.
So, the muscle relaxants that helped her sleep but also helped her pee all over the place are done. Pain killers for a couple more days and watch her closely. Much, much happier puppy today.
you gonna finish those muscle relaxers?
Bi-Polar Bear wrote:you gonna finish those muscle relaxers?
Look for my eBay auction.
Yeah, she's just a baby, had everyone worried. Such a hound though, who knows where she got the stick from. She brings in things and hides them. She buried a rawhide bone in the garden the other day, spent an hour digging it up and burying it, over and over. Never had a dog that actually did that before.
Saturday we were sitting in the living room having a post-grad party conversation. The cat comes to the back door and meows - dog takes off running to see her "buddy". Runs full blast into the screen door, bounces off yelping in pain. Goes right back into the stiffneck routine...
I thought a couple women were gonna pee themselves they were laughing so hard...
poor puppy - maybe she needs her eyes checked.
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