7yo lurcher sore back end after exercise

tobiano1984

tobiano1984

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My 7yo lurcher bitch seems to get very sore after lots of exercise and just wanted to see if anyone has experienced similar. Typical lurcher, she does things to excess! Most days she has fairly quiet walks on her own and hangs around at the yard, but sometimes she has heavier exercise - usually when other dogs are involved or children encouraging etc.

It's happened for probably nearly a year and each time I think I need to take her to the vet but then it improves so I don't. It's happened again having a puppy friend over Xmas - yelped jumping into the car, stiff and sore getting up out of bed the evening of a day of playing.

I also feel now that in her non-sore phases she is holding her back up a bit, but I might just be looking too hard (in my first year of Vet Physio course so learning to observe but without much knowledge to back up yet..!)
Her gaits, stance etc is all pretty ok, never any lameness.

I'd say her soreness lasts 2 days after heavy exercise.

I'm going to take her to the vets probably next week, hopefully they'll just prescribe physio or similar and not want to X-ray - she is insured but never like putting them through it!

Just be interested to hear if anyone has had similar experiences or thoughts.
 
Sorry, I'd want an x ray, it I'm a paranoid owner, last time I wanted an x ray, it turned out the dog had a serious issue. If it's a persistent, long term issue, surely it's worth putting the dog through it? Some vets don't fully put them under for x rays, just light sedation.
 
I've found over the years that many lurchers, as they age, can often have spinal issues (is that the right term? Not sure!). Before I went to the trouble of x/rays, I think that I'd find myself a 'competent' (important, the odd crack-pot exists!) McTimmoney (sp) practitioner. Sometimes, I feel sure, it's a case of spinal or skeletal alignment and your description of your dog's back being a little arched, would have me think that it could well be where the problem lays. A competent practitioner, and it's always that I've seen, been non-invasive, would advise further medical exploration should they be unable to help.

With any spinal issues for dogs or horses, we always go to a local girl, before we involve ourselves with colossal vet's bills, and she has so far anyway always managed to correct what's wrong. If you do end up going to a vet, and even though we understand that 'a dog is a dog', if you're able to, I'd suggest that you try and find one with a specific interest in greyhounds.

Alec.
 
Thanks Alec - I tried to take her to the osteopath but the vets wouldn't give permission so I have to take her their first. I will happily have her x rayed if required but often find with horse vets that once they know they're insured all sorts of tests suddenly become necessary only to find out they've torn something and need rest and physio! Maybe just me being cynical..but the dog vets are lovely so I'm sure won't over do it. When she's had x Rays there before (for foot injury that was nothing) they fully sedated her.
 
I had a milder but similar version in my middle aged whippet/collie. My vets thought I was mad and couldn't see an issue but I knew there was. 4 sessions with a McTimoney who did some massage work as well and shes fine. It must have been horribly painful and we had to muzzle her the first time as she just couldnt bear to be worked on and was reacting violently so it had to be done very slowly and gently.

I think the amount of full on crashes/rotational falls/near misses they have, its surprising that they dont get injured more! She did look at my other dog at the same time and said he had incredible muscle tone and was an out an out athlete, and didnt need anything doing.

I wonder as they get older and a bit less physically fit, they lose some muscle tone and become more prone to muscular stuff? My bitch has been fine since, but shes an old bat now so she does less, and we keep a check on how much she does.

Hope its good news for yours T1984 :)
 
I think as when they run the sacroiliac 'bends' so far they can strain it. My lurcher tended not to have a problem as she hunted 24/7 pretty much (free range - don't ask!) but my frends lurcher who didn't do a lot of high pressure running on a day to day basis used to get stiff through the back after a hunt. I would put her on a good joint supplement and moniter it.
 
Take her to see a vet- could be arthritis or muscle spasm or similar, but since so repetitive better to book her in when she is sore rather than when she is better
 
Thanks everyone - good to hear of other similar experiences. Today she seems absolutely fine despite being really sore last night! I will book her for a vet check and give her a good run before so they see her at her worst.
 
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