They took X-Rays and blood tests found nothing wrong and sent me home with pain pills. That was two days ago. Brought him back this morning having had another episode. They are doing more tests, ultrasound, X-Rays and more blood work, still find nothing except he has a few discs in the back that are a little close together. They also found a bruise on his belly and asked me if we have rat poison anywhere in our house. NO! I have no poisons. They are checking his platelets now. I am so frustrated!!!!! It's Friday and no answers. I pick him up at 5:00. What if he has another episode over the weekend and I still have no answers??!!!

I've had dogs all my life but never have I witnessed something like this before. I'm at my wits end. I'm a basket case.

He hadn't had a bowel movement for two days. When he did this morning was normal and then the next one has runny. The Vet thinks maybe he's in pain from his back when he tries to pass stool but I don't think that's it. I know my dog and this is not back pain. This is a pain that comes from nowhere and his stomach tightens and he starts panting heavy. Almost like a seizer without having a seizure.

I wish you the best.

He also may have a pinched nerve in his spine - we don't know. He's on anti-inflammatory just in case. X-Ray shows a few vertebrae that are close together which indicate a swollen disk. Have to keep him quiet for 5 days which is not an easy thing to do with a dog that was a mountain goat in his past life.

I've been seeing this Vet for over 25 years. The practice has grown so much and it's often hard to get in for an appointment. Vet's don't always know the reasons why an animal is sick. They don't make that much money considering all they do. If it was a human the prices would be so much higher. Most of the time they have to read a creatures mind. It's just frustrating when no answers can be found.

Otherwise, I am not much help. As I'm sure you know, dogs can be in pain for so very many reasons. Maybe the bruise was caused by his thrashing around in pain?

I am so sorry, I really hope you can get an answer. Is there an emergency vet or one that works weekends that you can go to if need be this weekend?

Sending all good thoughts your way.

We also had a dog that had back and neck problems. Your original post sounds like what our old gal went through. With disc disease the pain does come and go suddenly. The pain involved is very intense. The first time she had problems, there was no doubt that surgery was our only option as she was just 8 y/o and she had ruptured. The surgery gave her another 7 pain free years.

Good luck,
Linda

If the practice has grown so large that you have trouble getting the same vet, or the vet that you prefer, you might speak to someone about that.

I tell you, I was so freaked out. As I said, I've been through just about everything but not this. I think what bothered me the most was the vet giving me a prescription for pain pills without any sort of diagnosis. I just thought that was so odd.

His platelet count came back okay. They did do an ultrasound. No signs of anything funny in his bazillion blood tests. The vet has called everyday to check on him. So far he's acting normal. I took him off the pain pills but he's still on the anti-inflammatory. Today he was shaking his stuffed chicken like he wanted to rip it's head off so that's a good sign he's on the road to recovery.

I have a strong feeling he got up on the table to look out the window and fell off hurting his back and bruising his belly ... what else could it be? Anyway the table has been moved from the window and there are things on it to prevent his jumping on it.

Ruari is 4 years old and I pray it's not disc problems. If it is, we will cross that bridge hand in paw and I will be sure he gets the best treatment. I will be posting and asking for lots of advise should that be the case.

I wonder if there are dog chiropractors near by? Maybe that's something I should look into???

I do think it's time to shop around for a new vet. Mine has grown larger that they can accommodate and I believe the patient care is suffering because of it.

Again, thank you all so so much!!!

Edna

ps... you don't realize how much you love them until something like this happens.

the vitamin K is going to help with blood clotting issues which could be related to a lot of differnt things. Did they do an ultra sound? And was the stomach/abdomen swollen?
Instead of me writing a bunch of stuff check out the link below. Disc pain can be horrible but the bruising on the belly makes me think it possibly may be something else

They checked his anal glands and they are okay.

The vet did check him head to toe. They ran every test available. So far he's doing really good and no more episodes ... knock on wood.

I'm going to monitor his back closely as well.

Ruari thanks you all too.