Shippo Feeling Under the Weather

[Cheetah]

I guess I am just posting this for emotional support. I think we overdid it yesterday. I took both dogs for a walk around this lake that I usually only take Eevee (my Border Collie mix) to. I figured that since Shippo is over a year old now that he'd also enjoy it. And he really did! We walked around the lake, and had a couple games of fetch in between in this grassy area, and then we came home. Both dogs were tired of course, so we all went to bed early (I was tired too).

When I woke up this morning and let Shippo out of his crate, I had to coax him out. He walked out very slowly. I took both dogs potty, and saw nothing out of the ordinary there, and fed them like normal. Shippo spent most of the day lying around. He has been hesitant to go up and down stairs, is walking around slower than normal, and he hasn't played all day, but he will follow me around when I get up to do something.

I felt around on his body to see if anything is painful. His legs are all fine, but when I put pressure on the middle of his back, he twitches his back muscles and tenses up a bit, so I think he may have pulled some back muscles. I've been told that if it were anything major, he'd probably be yelping or at least whining. Either way, if he hasn't improved by tomorrow, I'll be taking him to a vet (I'm totally broke now, still no job, so I'll have to put it on my credit card). >X.x;<

I feel like crap for letting him over-exert himself. I sure hope he gets better by tomorrow. >;.;<

[Mvons]

Oh my dear, we all live and learn including Shippo!

Try a light massage on his back and see if he twitches or relaxes.

Be sure he has good padding for his sleep tonight. Just like a human, I love solid foam couch when I'm sore but would never sleep on something that squishy every night.

I do hope he hops out of his crate tomorrow and gives you that look of "what is all the concern mom?"

When mine hurt her back, she yelped when I touched one spot. When she strained a muscle we could rotate the leg and hip. But when she got arthritis in the hip, she would give us that look when we'd rotate the leg.

Yes mine followed me around when ill. I had to put a little bed in front of the kitchen so she would stay immobile. They know we are the ones who take care of them so take it as a compliment. He's not feeling good, so a break from play is smart, but wants to stay near you because you are mom, nurse, caretaker, etc. Help him take it easy and limit your activity or moving around too!

I'll send you a PM on something else.

Merrie

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Cheetah

I've been told that if it were anything major, he'd probably be yelping or at least whining.

Not necessarily. Corgis are very stoic and many don't show pain unless they are really in a lot of pain.

Does he have any weakness in his rear legs? Trouble standing? Standing kind of hunched up? If so take him to the vet NOW as it could be a disk problem and if so needs to be started on treatment right away. If he's not doing any of those things but isn't better in the morning (meaning his old self) I'd have him looked at tomorrow (Saturday)

Good luck and let us know how he is!

Peggy

[Mvons]

Originally Posted by Cheetah

He has been hesitant to go up and down stairs,

Then consider being his elevator. Stairs are a strain when they hurt. Course as they recover, you have to block the stairs so you can give the extra day to heal!

Mine as a senior learned to wait for me to lift her up, but we had to block the stairs for a week until she learned. Our stairs are slick and it wasn't worth the risk for another back injury. We also stopped throwing the frisbee above her so she wouldn't jump. But she had an injury as a pup that set the basis for future problems.

When she went on a walk too long, she would sleep the whole next day. She did better after getting better foam in her beds. Hey, we sleep half the day after splitting wood.

Corgis are also known to walk in fine into the Vets! Pepper's sister was paralyzed and the Vet said to just watch her another day. In the parking lot to go home, she was running circles around the car! They are amazing animals. When I told the Vet I was Pepper's elevator, he gave me and Pepper a look of "Pepper has you trained". She did.

Merrie

[Cheetah]

I forgot to mention that I am able to pick him up without causing him any pain, so I have been carrying him up and down stairs today. He is trained to not run up or down the stairs without me going first, so it is easy. >^^;<

Now he is sleeping on a blanket next to me.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Cheetah

I forgot to mention that I am able to pick him up without causing him any pain, so I have been carrying him up and down stairs today. He is trained to not run up or down the stairs without me going first, so it is easy. >^^;<

Now he is sleeping on a blanket next to me.

Like I said he could still have pain but not be showing it. I've found that dogs as a rule seem to handle pain better than we do.

Watch for weakness in his rear, trouble standing or standing/walking hunched up. All are signs of a disk problem. A disk problem is an emergency.

You are wise to limit his activity right now and carry him up and down stairs.

Hope he's better soon!

Peggy

[Michael Romanos]

You poor things both of you. Shippo will be concerned and he looks to you for the answers. Needless to say, he is not to exert himself for several days until you notice a return back to normal or you have had him sussed out by a vet. It will probably be just a strained muscle or a strained back. I wouldn't allow him to even climb steps or do any jumping. Just a extended toilet walk daily. Certainly no agility type stuff at this stage. Maybe that was the cause of it.

Taylor has a contack allergy at the moment which has affected one of his feet and causes him to limp occasionally. It is the first time he has had a contact allergy for three years. And it has been going a week. The usual cause of contact allergy is wandering willy ( also called wandering jew). There is none on my property but a friend has a little in remote areas of hers.

[Dillydoodle]

Cheetah, I am so sorry to hear that Shippo is hurting. Poor baby... I would agree with peggy here to just keep an eye on him closely and if he is not back to normal today, that you get him to a vet, better safe than sorry...and if it is just a pulled muscle, the vet might be able to prescribe something for him to help his muslces relax a little- I have had back spasms before after a car accident and the doc gave me a muscle relaxer and for two days i took that it it allowed my back to relax enough to start to do some healing... I hope shippo is feeling good as new this morning... give him a little gentle hug from me and corgi kisses from my Dillon and Gus...

Emilie

[darci]

Awww poor Shippo, Please give him a scratch from us.
Sending healing vibes your way.
Hope he feels better soon.

[tandemgal]

hope Shippo is feeling better soon! Huggs from Em and Chloe

[Jespah]

Hopefully he just needs a couple of days to re-coup! We are sending our best healing vibes too here they come: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!

[behinderhereyes]

Originally Posted by Cheetah

I guess I am just posting this for emotional support. I think we overdid it yesterday. I took both dogs for a walk around this lake that I usually only take Eevee (my Border Collie mix) to. I figured that since Shippo is over a year old now that he'd also enjoy it. And he really did! We walked around the lake, and had a couple games of fetch in between in this grassy area, and then we came home. Both dogs were tired of course, so we all went to bed early (I was tired too).

When I woke up this morning and let Shippo out of his crate, I had to coax him out. He walked out very slowly. I took both dogs potty, and saw nothing out of the ordinary there, and fed them like normal. Shippo spent most of the day lying around. He has been hesitant to go up and down stairs, is walking around slower than normal, and he hasn't played all day, but he will follow me around when I get up to do something.

I felt around on his body to see if anything is painful. His legs are all fine, but when I put pressure on the middle of his back, he twitches his back muscles and tenses up a bit, so I think he may have pulled some back muscles. I've been told that if it were anything major, he'd probably be yelping or at least whining. Either way, if he hasn't improved by tomorrow, I'll be taking him to a vet (I'm totally broke now, still no job, so I'll have to put it on my credit card). >X.x;<

I feel like crap for letting him over-exert himself. I sure hope he gets better by tomorrow. >;.;<

He is probably just soar. I would be from all the unusual execize if I were him too. Try a heating pad or some ice.

[Cheetah]

He is not any better today, and now he's got toxic waste diarrhea. It was so bad I had to bathe his back end to get it out!! I am looking for an affordable vet as we speak - this is the worst time for this to happen... I'm unemployed still, and my bank account is empty... *cries*

Michael, we haven't done any agility stuff in about a week, so it couldn't be that. All we've done this week is just more walking than usual.

[corgimom]

Originally Posted by Cheetah

He is not any better today, and now he's got toxic waste diarrhea. It was so bad I had to bathe his back end to get it out!! I am looking for an affordable vet as we speak - this is the worst time for this to happen... I'm unemployed still, and my bank account is empty... *cries*

Michael, we haven't done any agility stuff in about a week, so it couldn't be that. All we've done this week is just more walking than usual.

Cheetah,

I am sorry to hear all this about Shippo. Do you have a family member that would loan you some money that would wait until you could pay them back?
I am sorry that you are in this situation and I hope that the both of you will be okay.

[corgimom]

Cheetah,

Maybe you could contact your Local Humane Society. Often they work with vets that give reduced prices; maybe they could direct you to someone who could help you.