Help! Ruby's seriously unwell

Hi Foks,
Came home from work today - Ruby didn't appear as expected - Dad told me that Ruby had hurt her paw and wasn't herself.
It turns out it's much more serious.
She yelps like mad (worse than I've ever heard her before) when she moves. At all.
She's fine when she's resting and comfortable.

It's not her paws or feet - I've felt over all of them, felt her pads and nails, extended her legs - all is fine.
It's not her ribs - again, left them all then she was resting - not a yelp.

The time when I got the biggest yelp was when I touched her back/back left paw - probably because I moved the trouble-spot.
But again, her back appears to be fine, and her back left paw - I can extend with no discomfort.

But when I try to lift her - she's gone into her pain again.
What's worse is when she feels the pain, she tries to jump up to me for comfort - inducing more pain, rather than resting.
Right now, she's lying behind me with her head in her paws, trembling. Like human shivering - she'll be fine for 3 seconds, then tremble for 2 seconds.

What can it be?!
I have an appointment with the vet for tomorrow at 2pm.

I'm thinking three things - either:
She's ate something stupid, and it's got stuck.
She's pulled a muscle.
She broken something (in her back)?

Anyhelp would be appreciated.

Steve.

Ruby a few days ago:

That sounds serious. Wouldn't you want to take her to the vet right away instead?

hi there--- ruby is gorgeous and i'm sorry to hear that she's poorly. i went through this with indy last week and it turned out that he had strained a muscle. it was very scary and upsetting to see him in pain. here is the link to my post: good advice there:
http://board.cavaliertalk.com/showthread.php?t=23008

please keep us updated on ruby and i hope that she feels much better soon. yes, if you are very worried you could take her to the emergency vet or see if they could squeeze you in early in the morning. again, good advice regarding this decision is in my post.

thinking of you two...
kim

Did you tell the vet all the symptoms? Sounds serious to me as well. Has she been eating/drinking normally throughout the day? Has she been peeing/pooing normally?

Do go to the vet , but don't upset yourself by fearing the worst. I had something similar with Joly, a couple of years ago, but with his front leg. Feeling the whole limb did not make him flinch, even when the vet tried, but eventually she found the spot; a sore muscle right in his armpit.

Ruby is such a beautiful girl!

Try not to worry too much (I know this is easier said than done).
My guess would be that it is something along the lines of a strain or pull.
-Let us know what your Vet says.

NB regarding earlier posts -- this post was made by Steve at 2:15 in the morning our (Irish) time, so 'tomorrow' would likely have been as fast as Ruby could get to the vet.

If the vet cannot find any other possible reason for her pain by exam, xray, etc, they do need to consider syringomyelia as another possibility. If you go to www.smcavalier.com I have a suggested group of documents you can print out for the vet.

SM can come on suddenly, can manifest as a painful limb or weak limb, and as localised or all over neuropathic pain making it uncomfortable for the dog to be handled. The episode can then also go away.

Hopefully you will be able to source the problem very quickly but your vet does need to have this in mind as a possibility.

Be sure to let us know what you hear back as soon as you are able to take her in!

If you think she has injured her back, you might want to try to get her to move herself into her dog bed - you could move it next to her, and then slide a small board, crate tray, or even a cookie sheet under the dog bed to lift and transport the bed with her in it.

I once had a little dog who injured her lower back, and I had to transport her to the vet in her little bed on a cookie sheet.

Oh Cathy, I am just picturing that!

It is 2pm our time so Ruby should be at the vets right now. :flwr:

How did you get on today ? Is Ruby okay?

Hi Folks,
The Vet felt her over and think that it's something to do with the base of her spine.
She have her an anti-inflamatory injection, and I have further pills to give her.
She is also a little constipatied, so I've liquid paraffin for that.

Going to take her back again on Tuesday if the situation doesn't improve.

Funny thing is though - went she was at the vet, she constantly whined and trembled, but even stranger, when she was on the table, she didn't yelp and all - not matter what you did to her! Typical!

sinecurea said:

Hi Folks,
The Vet felt her over and think that it's something to do with the base of her spine.
She have her an anti-inflamatory injection, and I have further pills to give her.
She is also a little constipatied, so I've liquid paraffin for that.

Going to take her back again on Tuesday if the situation doesn't improve.

Funny thing is though - went she was at the vet, she constantly whined and trembled, but even stranger, when she was on the table, she didn't yelp and all - not matter what you did to her! Typical!

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Hopefully its just constipation - I remember Merls having it once and he was very concerned about his back end - but he wouldn't eat - that's what made me go to the vets - they are very peculiar in the way they tray to communicate sometimes......

Another photo for good measure:


Steve.

Please do be sure that your vet has the information on syringomyelia, to be safe. These are possible symptoms, and just in case, your vet needs to also be aware of this. If Ruby is on steroids (I am guessing this is the tablets and the injection), they would also improve the situation temporarily if it is SM as SM responds to steroids. Hopefully this is not the issue, but given what you are describing, it really needs to at least be part of the overall considerations in case the problem recurs awhile after she comes off the pills. Many vets are not aware of the incidence in the breed so won;t really think of considering this as a possibility.

Thanks Karlin. I'll being info on Tuesday.
Does anybody know of a King Charles "specialist" in Northern Ireland?
She's still in the same state tonight, but not trembling as much - I think she's got used to the sensation of the pain.
I have 5 anti-inflamatory tablets and a bottle of liquid paraffin.

For syringomyelia though, can the symptoms appears to quicly as overnight?
It's like she's jumped awkwardly and damadged something, not a long-term condition.

Poor thing. Hope you get this resolved soon.

Hopefully its just constipation:biggrin:

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I had totally forgotten (until I read this!) about the time I took Jake in for "unresolved pain". He was yelping and just didn't seem right. Turned out he had gas. My vet said that after a good "movement" she betted he'd be better. Sure enough....by the next day he was okay (stinky but okay). I had completely forgotten.

Hoping your situation is as easily solved. :xfngr:

I hope she feels better soon!

It's so upsetting when they are in pain. Though Bella does think that it is extremely painful when she gives me a static shock...

Hi Folks,
It's 1am here now, Ruby has serious diarrhea and is scratching at the door looking down to the bedrooms - she was on anti-inflamatory tablets for 5 days - she came off them 4 days ago.
I hate hearing her scratch and I can't stay with her all night.

Does she have blood in her stool? When was the last time she ate/drank? Is she vomiting? How is her activity level? And last but not least, how old is she?

Cathy Moon said:

Does she have blood in her stool? When was the last time she ate/drank? Is she vomiting? How is her activity level? And last but not least, how old is she?

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No. She's been eating fine. She isn't vomiting. Her activity is fine. She is 18 months.