Poor Zac.......

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merlinsquest

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Had to rush my mini schnauzer to the vets last night..... I thought he had been poisoned.... then thought he had hurt his back.....

He was sitting down, then trying to lie down and then having to get up as too painful.... then starting all over again. Then he started to tremble.... and whine.... and yelp if going up or down steps. When he was stood his back was hunched up like a cat when it is threatened!! and he couldn't walk properly..... the final straw came when he seemed to lose all co-ordination and look blankly into space.

Anyway at midnight I rushed him to vets A+E!! to be told deffo not poison as not vomiting, convulsing, bleeding etc...... and could be damaged back or tummy ache!!! Two jabs for pain relief and long muscle relaxer. £165 later!!!!!

So have kept him snug all day and bought some arnica...

Now couple of queries..... what is a long muscle!!! Is it likely to get worse??? The vet said to only go back if it gets much worse (it hasn't) and that arnica may not help but wont harm.

Sorry, fairly pointless post!!! Does anyone else have a schnauzer??? has it ever done its back in???
 
My little rescue Lhasa-apso has suffered bouts of this and he was x-ray'd he has suspected spondulitis- just the same as humans suffer, his spine looked a little curved on the x-ray.
He is quite long in the body and a hefty little thing, so could be something to do with the breed....obvs not the same as yours but the symptoms u describe are the symptoms he displayed, he was also given muscle relax inj and metacam for the pain, he has suffered about 3 bouts and only lasts about a day.......he screams in pain esp when moving, shakes, he alsio found it hard to pass faeces.

Obviously when we are in pain i.e back ache stomach ache we tense with the pain dogs are the same in that respect, making it 10xs worse and the muscle relaxant does as described, relaxes the muscles.
 
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Now couple of queries..... what is a long muscle!!!

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Could the vet have said 'long <u>lasting</u> muscle relaxer'?

He may have a weakness in his spine or a disc that has caused his muscles to tense in reaction a sudden jarring. I don't know a dog that's had it but I get it a lot!
 
Yep it does sound as though vet just meant he gave him a long lasting muscle relaxent
grin.gif
prof 48 hours worth or so!!
 
Update on Zac... He seemed fairly good all day yesterday, hubby stayed off work to look after him, so I could go to work and do horse, kids etc.

He spent the day laying on a duvet on the floor. Perky overnight, let him sleep in our room for the night, but he was restless and we kept getting woken up with him sitting by the bed staring at us..... unnerving or what!!

BUT when I got back at lunchtime today he was in a terrible state, just as bad as wed night..... crying, trembling, repeating the lay, sit, stand thing but now when lying down he sort of creeps backwards and then when on his side, he kind of paddles round in a circle!!! :-(

So took straight back to the vets and another injection of rymadryl (anti-inflamatory/painkiller) which will last another 24 hours and then tablets (rymadryl) for another week. If no better then he will have to have x-rays done.

I have also got to keep him quiet and confined to one room to reduce the amount of stairs, chairs and beds he can jump onto!!! As soon as he got home after the jab he seemed back to normal, but now I know he would be bad by sunday again if no tablets.

As for the long muscles, the vet was explaining the difference between long and short muscles ie biceps (human) and heart etc so dont think he meant the jab???
 
My in-laws Shitsu had something that sounds similar, it spent quite a few months in a child's playpen to keep it contained and was carried out to the garden to do its business. It did recover and lived happily for a few more years.
 
Hi,

Yes Cala he is weeing and pooing fine, in fact all is normal at the moment....... but the injection hasnt worn off yet :-(

I am sure by tomorrow morning he will be in agony again if he doesnt get the rymadryl talblet that he is due this evening.

I have him in a crate at the moment and let him out every hour or so to do what he likes, but with me watching him like a hawk. I think because he isnt in pain at the moment he will jump around as normal and do more damage.

I am going to give him the tablets for the next week to 10 days and then see how he is.

The only saving grace is that if he had done any real bad damage to his spine he would still be unsteady on his feet (although maybe not in actual pain because of the drugs) but as he is normal on the drugs I hope there is not any serious problems and that it is soft tissue or muscle damage.

Thanks for your help everyone, I will keep you posted.
 
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