Help!! Traveler is having pain episodes... UPDATE: HE'S FINE NOW--thanks so much for your help!!!

[Pat and Traveler]

Four times now, in the early morning, over about the last couple of weeks, Trav has just stood hunched, tail tucked, obviously in pain.  This lasts for maybe 10 minutes, then he licks his urethra for maybe five minutes.  Then he's fine--his usual playful, bouncing self.  He's eating fine and doesn't seem to have any problems with pee and poop.  His food hasn't changed recently.  He was at the vet's office yesterday for a Bordetella booster and his temperature was fine.  I asked the vet tech about these episodes, but sometimes its hard to explain what you mean by 'hunched' or whatever other terms I might have used.  She suggested taking pictures and just keeping an eye on him, and that's what I'm doing.  Here are a couple of pictures.  The second one is maybe unnecessary, but WTD.  I don't know how much I should worry about this, and any advice would be most welcome.

  

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Great news Pat!  Thanks for the update!

[BG and Gavin]

So glad Trav is feeling better.  Thank you for the update.

[Pat and Traveler]

Thanks so very much for the support and concern expressed for Trav while we worked through this scary time.  He is fine now--no more pain episodes and he's pretty much stopped licking himself.  I thought he was his usual energetic self when this started--but I think his energy level has increased by 30% in the last week!  The Clavamox did the trick.  Still don't know what was wrong with him, but it must have been some kind of infection.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Thanks for the update Pat!  Hopefully the Clavamox will take care of things! Poor little guy!  Give him a big hug for me!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

That's interesting. Just looked this up and the discharge is common and often does not indicate a problem.

[Pat and Traveler]

Thanks so much for the kind wishes heading Traveler's way!  I took him to the vet this afternoon, and they didn't really find much.  I got the urine sample this morning (with a ladle!) and they didn't find anything wrong in that.  He also had an X-ray, which is being sent to a specialist, but the vet couldn't see anything wrong.  I have a prescription for Clavamox to cover any bacterial infection, and he'll be taking that for a week.  The vet did find a little discharge from his penis.  Trav did another 'pain hunch' this morning, so I know SOMETHING isn't right!  His stools look fine, and he is his usual energetic and playful self, except for those troubling episodes.

I should get a call tomorrow afternoon to find out what the X-ray specialist says.   

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Pat I'm sorry to hear about Trav having pain episodes. I don't have any advice beyond what has been given but please keep us posted!

[Lauria Orr]

I think a UA is imperative.  Yes, he may have crystals or an infection.  Often the vet prefers to take their own specimen by needle. There is less contamination that way.  I am not sure why they didn't do that already...? Have his stools looked okay?

[Frannie & Callie]

I'm curious to hear the outcome on this (and of course hope that sweet Traveler isn't in pain). Callie's BFF Louie has been doing something similar, but it's been accompanied by erections that last 15-30 minutes. Louie got a full check at the vet, including urinalysis (his mom used the ladle trick!), x-rays (to make sure there weren't kidney stones), prostate exam, and penis inspection (that part seemed partiuclarly unpleasant).

 

Fortunately, there's nothing "wrong" with him, but he is still hunching, licking, and having extended erections.

[Pat and Traveler]

Hi, Jane.  It's not the licking that concerns me--I'm sure all dogs do that.  I was indicating that immediately after the hunching, what I think of as the 'pain posture,' he licks there, rather than somewhere else or not at all.  Yes, the hunching and standing completely still with tail tucked has only happened four times, three times just after he woke up, and once after he'd been up long enough to eat breakfast.  He hadn't even gone outside to pee yet.  Thanks for the input--I'll get a sample within the next couple of days and take it to the vet!