injured? something else? worried.

[Briggs]

briggs is an 8.5 old standard golden doodle who up to today was really healthy and playful. he wouldnt get up and had a hard time standing. wouldnt eat. finally got him outside to pee and poo. but really not himself. took him to emergency vet and he couldnt go up stairs but seemed to be walking slow but alright. examined him and didnt feel anything broken. the vet said it could be he just pulled something or hip dysplasia or some other bone growth disease. we decided to treat with pain meds and see how he does and then go to our regular vet if he doesnt get better for xrays etc. anyone have experience? thoughts? he hasnt eaten all day and just been lying down. finally got him to eat some chicken and bacon drippings and rice. really worried.

[charlotte bednarsh]

I would take him to my regular vet asap. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh dear! Poor Briggs. Please up date us when you get more information. I haven't had this experience, but I am hoping Briggs is surprisingly better tomorrow!

[BG and Gavin]

What a concern.  Please keep us updated on how he does :(

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It sounds more like his back than his hips. JD was diagnosed with a ruptured lumbar disc in 2012, when he was just about 8 years old. No problems walking, but couldn't get up on a low sofa or bed, couldn't jump to catch a ball, and couldn't run. Getting up from a lying position was difficult, too. No idea how it happened, no fall, no injury, etc. You really do need Xrays done, and depending on what those show, maybe further testing. JD's Xrays showed something at the base of his spine, but he needed an MRI for an actual diagnosis.

I would take him to your regular vet tomorrow regardless of whether the pain meds make him feel better or not. They aren't curing anything, they're just masking it at best, and you need to know what is wrong. I hope it's nothing serious.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I just looked at your page and realized that Briggs is 8.5 months, not years. All the more reason to get him diagnosed; there are orthopedic conditions that are much easier to correct when the dog is so young than later on, and hopefully your breeder's health warranty would cover something like HD.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Are there no localizing signs like favoring a leg etc? Did they do blood work? I agree with the othèrs, he needs o be seen by your regular vet.

[Briggs]

they did all kinds of moving the hind legs feeling his back etc. he didn't snap or whine or anything when they checked him out. yes, 8.5 month, sorry about that. just nervous. i guess we were just hoping that he pulled a muscle or something playing.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And that might be the case, but there is no way of knowing without a vet visit and some testing to rule out more serious problems. 

[Briggs]

we will be going to our reg vet tomorrow if things don't improve. of course we are getting snow again tonight so hopefully they will open tomorrow since virginia shuts down when it snows.

[Briggs]

he doesnt seem to be favoring one side or another just having trouble in general.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so sorry.  Please keep us posted after your vet visit tomorrow.

[Briggs]

well he got up this morning and out of the crate and seems perfectly fine. was jumping around in the snow, sitting, laying down, without hesitation. so we are keeping an eye on it, but it seems that it must have been a pulled muscle. i know i have a hard time going down stairs and moving when i workout too hard! :) 

the only thing that i have noticed is that he still hasn't eaten today. i left him with my husband and son and am at work now, so hoping he will eat something this afternoon.