My Cocker Has A Pulled Muscle

by Whitney
(St Ccharkes, MO)

Maxamillion - aka Max - Owner's Cocker Spaniel

Maxamillion - aka Max - Owner's Cocker Spaniel

My 6 year old cocker spaniel started limping yesterday so I suspected he had gotten a thorn in his paw as he squealed when I tried looking at it. Today he is shaking/shivering, stiff, and lying around. I took him to the vet who suspected a pulled muscle and gave him pain killers.

He has always been in good health prior to this but the shaking is what has me nervous...is this normal for a pulled muscle?

Reply from Pauline (Web Owner)

Hi Whitney,

No, I've not heard of a dog shivering or shaking with a pulled muscle, but that's not to say it isn't true. Muscles often 'twitch' if they're overworked so I guess this could be normal in the circumstances.

Equally, your dog may be 'in slight shock' and that may be causing him to shake. It should settle down soon but if it doesn't and you're still worried, take him back to see the vet and let him know that you're concerned about your dog's shivering and shaking.

Ask him to explain to you exactly why your dog is shaking and what makes the vet believe it's only a pulled muscle. Perhaps a more detailed explanation from him will help to settle your mind.

Either way, it can't hurt.

As for being stiff and lying around that could well be the result of a pulled muscle as it will be painful for your dog to walk properly. And if it hurts him to walk all he'll want to do is lie quietly.

I hope your dog is better soon.

Kind regards,
Pauline

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starstarstarstarstar 		Pain Killers
by: Pauline (Website Owner)

Hi Barney, I'm so sorry your Cocker is in such pain, but I'm afraid I can't help you. I'm not a vet and certainly not licensed to give out meds.

Has your vet x-rayed your dog's leg to be certain that there isn't anything obviously wrong, such as a fracture or something embedded in the leg?

Did he check inside the pads of his feet? Stones etc. can get trapped in among the hair between the pads and can cause limping.

I'm grasping at straws here Barney.

My best advice would be to return to your vet and explain how concerned you are and that you need to have a stronger, but safe, pain killer for your dog. If this doesn't work, how about taking your Cocker to see another vet? It can't hurt, can it.

Another alternative would be to visit an holistic vet. There are more and more popping up every day and if you can find one near you, I'm sure it's worth a try.

Good luck.

PS: Giving your dog pain killers is only treating the symptom, not the cause. Your vet really needs to understand what's causing the pain and treat that.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Pain Killing Medicine
by: barney

My eight-year-old cocker has been limping on his front right leg. I first thought he may have got something stuck in it. I have been to my vet approx 6 times since May 15th and they have given me Metacam for pain relief, which seemed to work fairly well. They told me this week that this medicine can cause a problem with his liver.

He has just had blood tests for enzymes which are present and which has scared the crap out of me. He has also had X-rays on his paw which showed nothing. I find he is limping worse than ever and I don't know what to give him for relief. I am worried sick and feel so sad as I should be able to help him.

Please please try and help me to know what to give him. I massage his leg every day. I need to help my dog.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Pulled Muscle
by: Anonymous

Hi, sorry to hear your dog has pulled a muscle, that can be quite painful. I think it is possible for dogs to shake when they've pulled a muscle but if your dog is shaking all over I would go back to the vet and ask him or her why your dog is shaking and why they don't see that is a problem.

If your dog's shaking is confined to the area of the pulled muscle, then that might make a bit more sense and I don't think that would be too much to worry about. It should subside in a few days, but if it gets much worse (and I don't think it will) I'd be back off to the vets again. (Yes, more expense, but they're worth it).

Anyway, good luck to you both. I hope he's better soon.

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