Reluctance to jump into car & onto bed/sofa after tumble

[barkyhound]

Hi everyone,



My OH's parents have a field where we take Gunner for a good run around with a tennis ball every day. On Monday, he went round a corner a bit too fast and did a complete somersault at the edge of the field. He got up immediately – no crying or yelping – and ran back to us at full tilt, seemingly fine apart from a tiny cut on his lip which has healed now, and wanted to carry on playing, so once we'd got over the shock of seeing him tumble like that we didn't think much more of it.



In the last couple of days, though, he's been increasingly reluctant to jump into the car, or onto the bed in the mornings for his cuddles, and is even hesitant to get on the sofa although it's quite low. Apart from that, he's completely and utterly his normal self – eating/drinking/toileting as usual, using the stairs as usual, belting up the garden at top speed when we let him out (and he has to jump up a step to do that), playing, no limping, no guarding or crying out in pain when he moves, and getting up and down from his own beds just fine. I can't see any swelling or feel any hot spots, and he doesn't flinch if you touch him anywhere.

But this reluctance to get onto the bed/sofa is so unlike him that I'm worried he might have hurt his neck or back and not be showing any signs for some reason.

I'm trying to keep him quiet (NOT easy!) and we're going to our vet tonight to get him checked over, but I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about this in the meantime, or if there's anything we should be asking the vet? He's only a young dog (4) and has never raced, so I don't think it's arthritis or anything like that. Hoping it's just soreness/stiffness that's coming out a few days after his fall, like it does with humans, but I'm a bit worried! 

[kamkay]

Oh my goodness, Gunner really does keep you on your toes , doesn't he? No advice, but think it's a good idea to let the vet look him over. Am sooo looking forward to meeting this hound:-)

[barkyhound]

Thanks, Kay. He certainly does. He does everything at a million miles an hour and last year we ended up at the vet after he skidded in a puddle and skinned his bum – he was fine, just needed a cone of shame to keep him from licking it, but now has a fetching bald spot near his tail about the size of a 50p piece. Sigh.

He did spring onto the sofa this afternoon instead of gingerly climbing up, so I'm hoping that's a good sign!

[barkyhound]

Update – poor Gunner has the equivalent of a bruised coccyx, but vet says she doesn't think he's in a lot of pain so we just need to keep him quiet - no running about for a week. Which is going to be easier said than done…

[kamkay]

Pain in the ....... OK I'll get my coat

[sharonhigh45]

Poor Gunner hope he feels better soon (know how he feels).x

[barkyhound]

Apr 18, 2014 2:07:46 GMT -5 kamkay said:

Pain in the ....... OK I'll get my coat

 

Thanks, Sharon! And me too… ouch…

[julies]

Try Arnica 30c to help the bruising come out and heal ... you should be able to get it from Boots, leave at least 15 mins before or after you feed when you give it and tip the pillules into the lid, then into his mouth so you don't touch it ...I have to give these tabs twice or three times a day when they first do something daft then reduce to twice a day and once a day when they are healing A check by a McTimoney chiropractor wold be good as well to make sure there's nothing tweaked ...

Julie

[barkyhound]

Thanks, Julie! He still seems to be having a bit of trouble jumping up and just started crying when he got up from his bed, although he recovered quickly and hopped on the sofa as if nothing had happened. If he's still doing that on Thursday (the vet said to give it a week) we will take him back and ask about a chiropractor.