Please help me diagnose my dog.?

Question

Hello.

My 5 year old Shih Tzu seems to have fallen ill. My aunt baby-sat him on Saturday, and when she went to pick him up, he yelped and ran off. Then when he came back to her, he was shaking, she went to hug him and he yelped 10 times.

Then when my mother picked him up he screamed AGAIN. So she said him down. Later, whhen he went to jump on the couch with her, he acted fine. He lied there for 3 hours and my mom said he looked depressed. When she went to pick him up, he screamed.

He ran over to me and he was shaking. I wrapped him up in a blanket and he continued shaking until he fell asleep in my arms. About an hour later he went to get up, so I began unwrapping him. I touched his side/neck and he screamed! Then he put his tale in between his legs and is now moving very slow. He isn't coming when he's called anymore and he hasn't been eating.

Please help me diagnose him. I'm taking him to the Vet tomorrow, but I was just curious as to what we might be dealing with.

TIA!

BTW : He still has his tail tucked between his legs. (Its been a while.) He is also VERY tense.

We cannot take him to the vet until Monday morning, the vet here is closed.

When I said diagnose, I didn't actually think I could heal him! I just wondered what "strangers" thought. There is no emergency vet here. I live in a VERY small town.

Answer 1

It's impossible to diagnose over the internet. He definitely needs to be seen by a vet, but it sounds like a possible disc problem. Small, "long" breeds are prone to disc injuries. He should definitely be kept on cage rest until you can get him to a vet. I don't recommend picking him up or letting him jump on and off of furniture.

Answer 2

That is an fascinating query. The extra we be trained about mental issues in humans the more we discover that some of them have a genetic basis. There are definitely genetic character features in dogs. Some breeds were selectively bred for these traits; herding, guarding and searching are all traits which can be more developed in some breeds than others. But, authentic intellectual issues are in most cases rare in dogs for two causes. The brain of a canine will not be as totally developed as a human's so there's less capability for problems to develop or be expressed overtly. Also, any puppies displaying extreme undesirable behaviour would more commonly be eliminated from the gene pool and now not allowed to breed. We still have quite a few work to do unravelling the workings of the human intellect. Working out the viable physiological explanations of intellectual problems in puppies is a mostly untapped discipline. In view that of this all irregular dog behaviour is still regarded to be a training or environmental trouble. There may be recognition of senile dementia like signs in some getting old dogs, and there are now some medications coming on the market to reduce the symptoms of this . It's likely that the treatment of some canine irregular behaviours with drugs may just come to be more common in future as our working out of these problems develops.

Answer 3

Your dog from the sound of hat you have written without an exam or x-rays I would say somehow has been injured. He is in a lot of pain.
I'm sure there must be a vet or emergency place that can see him tonight. if not get him there very first thing tomorrow. In the meantime please put him in a room where he can be kept quite. DO NOT let him jump up on anything or jump down form anything.
I would not try to walk him not knowing what has been injured.
I do hope he will be ok but don't do anyhtig that may cause more damage.

Answer 4

Hello It is good you are going to the Vet but to me it sounds like he has a pinched Nerve
I have a 1.5 year old Pomeranian who has a habit of Jumping up for me to catch him and He has irritated a nerve in his lower spine and I know when he has Irritated it as he acts the same way
So keep him calm with little activity until you see the vet and Maybe a baby Aspirin to make him comfortable until the visit but only 1 and he will feel a bit better as that is what I do for mine
Good Luck and Cuddle him So he knows how much you love him
Sincerely
Anne

Answer 5

The vet is definitely a good idea. As far as what you're dealing with, it could be any range of things. Some of it depends on your dog's tolerance of pain. Some dogs only react like this when they are truly hurting. Others are big pansies!! (I happen to own such a dog :D) From what you describe, I tend to agree with Beth H, it could be a disc problem. Little dogs jumping on and off furniture and such could create such a problem. Since you describe pain on his side as well, maybe it could be something internal? Or possibly an injury to his ribs? I hope all goes well at his visit.

Answer 6

Well, it's a good this you are taking him to a vet. But I think you should probably take him to an animal hospital if it's that bad. He could have internal bleeding. Somebody at your aunt's house might have kicked him or something. Something could have fallen on him when nobody was watching. It could be poison. One time I had a little puppy that got into rat poisoning and even after we took her to the vet she died. And I'm pretty sure she yelped when we touched her, it was a lot time ago, but I'm pretty sure she did.

Answer 7

DIAGNOSE?! Only a VET can properly and legally diagnose your dog! Why in heaven's name would you ask unqualified strangers who not only have never seen your dog, but never examined him?!

Stop the crap and excuses. Take your dog to the emergency vet. He should have already gone. Emergency vets are open nights, weekends and holidays when regular vets are not. Of COURSE he doesn't come when he's called - every time you people pick him up he screams in PAIN! Would YOU come to someone who wasn't careful when they picked you up if you had an injury or illness?! He's not 'depressed,' he's in pain! DUH

Get that dog to the vet. It is his RIGHT by law to receive proper care and to deny it is abuse. I understand you are taking him tomorrow but he should have gone today. And don't force him to eat; he may have an internal problem. Just provide water if he needs it.

Answer 8

I am glad you are taking him to the vet, there are many things that could be wrong, something as simple as impacted anal glands to the worse, neck or back problems. My thoughts and prayers are with the little guy, best of luck.

Answer 9

He could have fallen off a bed or couch or got stuck in something, but regardless of how it happened, he is most likely injured in some way.

It is probably in his side/neck. It could be a nerve or a muscle pull.

Be gentle with him until you find out what is wrong.

Answer 10

Sounds like your dog has put a muscle or joint out, may have fallen akwardly off the sofa or slipped off a high chair. I would have taken him to the vet sooner my-self