I have a 15-week old cavalier king charles puppy and when we go for walks, he yelps as if it hurts him.?

Question

His collar is not too tight, his leash is the kind that extends. I can't see anything that's hurting him. We don't walk all that long where he'd be too tired. In fact, he hasn't always done this--just in the past week or so. What's up?

Answer 1

Check his toe nails, are they too long?

Check the between the pads of his feet. Check for foreign objects and matts.

Check for cuts on the pads of his feet.

Check for matts up under his arm pits or in the groin area.

Working your way up from the feet apply light pressure on your dogs body... trying to seek out a pressure point.

Could it be stomach cramps because you are exercising him right after eating?

If this continues, you may want to take him to the vet. Try to investigate the source of the pain first though.

Answer 2

I truly hope that the problem with your pooch isn't this -- but King Charles Spaniels are prone to something called patella luxation or luxating patella. Here is some information:

Patellar Luxation in Cavaliers: Genetic and Degenerative

The Cavalier as a breed suffers from a recurring hereditary condition which causes luxating patellas. The disorder is believed to affect 20% to 30% of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. The patella is the knee cap of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It should be located in its groove in the center of the stifle (knee joint) of the femur (upper leg bone). A luxating patella is a knee cap that moves out of its groove. Genetic conditions which cause patellar luxation are a shallow groove, weak ligaments, and misalignment of the muscles and ligaments between the femur, patella, and tibia (lower leg bone).

If the condition is not corrected, it will degenerate: the patella's ridges will wear, its groove will become shallower, and the Cavalier will become progressively more lame. Arthritis will prematurely affect the joint, causing a permanently swollen knee with poor mobility.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Veterinarians can check for patellar luxation by manipulating it. The dog is examined awake and the veterinarian classifies its degree of luxation. Adult Cavaliers should be evaluated annually, and puppies should be examined at 6-8 weeks of age prior to their release to the new owners.

There are four grades of severity of patellar luxation, and they usually progress:

Grade 1: The patella is nearly normal and can be only dislocated if the stifle (knee joint) is expanded and digital pressure is applied.

Grade 2: The patella can be dislocated in extension and remains out of place when the stifle is flexed (Cavaliers with this condition may suffer from joint cartilage and secondary osteoarthritis due to the patella constantly dislocating). Luxation occurs when there is occasional spontaneous lameness, but the patella returns to normal positioning easily, and the dog usually does not indicate pain. This dog typically occasionally carries a rear leg for two or three steps but then puts it back down as if nothing was wrong.

Grade 3: The patella is dislocated most of the time; it can be manually repositioned, but it slips out easily again (Cavaliers with this degree can also be a high risk for rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee joint). Luxation is to the extent that the dog begins to have a loss of function. It has more frequent "skipping" episodes and may not want to jump up; it may have pain, and the patella does not always return to normal positioning when it is pushed out of its groove during a physical exam.

Grade 4: The patella is dislocated all of the time. The dog's legs are painful enough that it tries not to use them, when the leg can not be fully straightened manually, and the dog shows evidence of chronic pain or disability, including poor or no ability to jump up.

Treatment

Veterinary orthopedic surgery usually is required to correct the condition, especially if Grade 3 or 4. The groove may be surgically deepened to better contain the patella. The patella itself may be tied down laterally (on its outside), to prevent it from deviating medially (toward the inside). The bony protuberance at the point the quadriceps tendon attaches to the tibia may be cut off and then re-attached in a more lateral position.

Breeders' Responsibilities

The Canine Inherited Disorders Database (www.upei.ca/~cidd/intro.htm) recommends that any dogs with patellar luxation not be bred, nor should their parents or littermates. Because of the strong hereditary relationship, all Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeding stock should be examined by qualified veterinarians at least annually and cleared for patellar luxation, the closer the examination to the breeding the better.

Answer 3

I would take him to the vet, if he does not have a visible injury, he may have a muscle pull or strain or he may have a tiny cut on one of his pads, which may be bothering him. Any behavior in a young animal which changes is generally an indication of something being wrong. He may have a torn ligament, this can happen to young animals very easily, and you may not have noticed anything that you would have thought would have hurt him. It is worth the visit to the vet, just to be sure that it is not something more serious.

Answer 4

I think that hes just not quite used to being on the leash or walking long distances mabey you should try walking him with out the leash to see what he dose. I have the same problem with my pit bull mix. Her collar is on just enough and theirs no jerking while walking mabey when you are walking your dog you are pulling and its choking him or his throat is the soft spot.

Answer 5

Check the pads on the bottom of his feet. Make sure there isn't anything stuck there or between his toes.

Answer 6

what surface are you walking on maybe the sun has made it hot puppy paws are yet able to withstand hot surface.

Answer 7

Have his heart checked.

http://www.cavalierhealth.org/mitral_valve_disease.htm