My 9 year old yellow Labrador is a diabetic, therefore, he developed cataracts in both eyes. He can now only see light and dark. Anyway, just a little less than an hour ago, I let him in from outside and gave him his daily shot of insulin. He was about to jet through the kitchen to get upstairs to his food bowls. However, a friend was going downstairs into the basement, and he made the mistake of turning down into that stairwell. Well, he completely fell down all of the basement stairs (because he couldn't see where he was going). He simply got up and went looking for his food, though. I'm worried maybe he was just in such shock that he fell down the stairs, that he can't feel if anything is wrong yet. I brought him upstairs to get his food, and he wasn't limping or anything. Still, I'm worried that he may have hurt his hip while falling down the stairs. How can I check his hips with my hands? I don't want to take him for an unnecessary vet visit and have to pay, when I can check.
2007-03-09 01:57:20 · 3 answers · asked by sarah820w 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
If every dog that fell down the stairs injuried themselves then vet surgeries would be really really busy!
Don't panic if he is walking ok and not whinging / shivering and ate his food then it would be a great sign that he is ok.
As for you checking yourself, get him to lie on his side and gently feel up his leg pressing on his joints (ankle / knee / hip / back) get someone to hold his head incase he IS in pain and response by biting.
After this gently manipulate his joints by moving them back and forward eg ankle hold foot and move forward and back and watch for his response.
I would take him to a vet soon for a checkup as he is old and a fall like that could cause him to be stiff and sore in muscles or joints and he may need some pain relief. However if all else seems fine then its probably not an emergency
2007-03-09 02:23:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If my dog just fell down a flight of stairs I'd be on the phone to the vet! At least call them to ask what you should be looking for. He could have internal injuries!
I'd get him the vets as soon as you could!
2007-03-09 02:03:35 · answer #2 · answered by ♥Golden gal♥ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unless you are a veterinarian you can't check. Take him to the vet and let them X-Ray him.
2007-03-09 03:55:36 · answer #3 · answered by kat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋