My dog has a protruding spine. She is 5 years old and is a mixed breed. She is eating well, but screams if you touch on the spine in the middle or her hips. She also screams when she is turning while laying down. What would be best to assist her? Thank you.
How sad for you and your dog.
You do not say exactly what problem or if your pup is under a vet's care so it's difficult to offer any type of real help without knowing more. There are several things that can cause this other than an accident and most of these can be treated for pain relief even if there is no cure.
If she is seeing a vet and not getting much help then perhaps you need to find another vet.
If she is not seeing a vet and finances is one of the problems then you can ask for help from some of the many online sites that offer help with paying vet bills.
You can also visit your local Humane Society to see if they have any suggestions on how to get financial help for your dog's problem.
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Are there any home remedies for dog joint pain?
Glucosamine/chondroitin helped my dog right away. Walgreen's brand is one of the least expensive and comes in gelatin capsules (check the label), so you can just open it and sprinkle it on the dog's food.
What can I give a dog for pain? Can a dog take any people meds like Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen?
By Diane from OK
Your best bet is to talk to your veterinarian. Dogs can be very sensitive to human meds. In addition, what might work for your dog may not work on mine or another dog mostly based on breed/weight.
Your veterinarian knows your dog's health - I should hope - and the internet is not a substitute for caring for you or your animal's health.
FWIW, "Do not use aspirin products that contain other ingredients such as caffeine, codeine, or acetaminophen. These drugs can kill animals."
I wouldn't even give your pup aspirin until you consult with your vet.
This is the best online site I have found for pet health but just like any site, use caution and consult the vet with the degree:
I've given my dogs low dose aspirin. You have to research the pounds of your dog to the amount of aspirin you can give.
I give my dog Benadryl (bought on line $5.00 for 100 pills - PetMeds.com) to sedate him on trips (he throws up in the car). I wonder if this would help your dog? Please mention to your vet.
My friend's vet has her give her dogs (around 85 pounds) Ecotrin. It's aspirin with a coating on it so it's not harsh on the stomach.
My best recollection is that anything over the counter EXCEPT aspirin, is a big NO NO. Very toxic, and sometimes deadly. Depending on the size of your dog, as lorianna said, you could use small amounts of aspirin, if it is totally out of the question to go to the Vet.
My son works with injured animals. He says they give them liquid baby Advil, adjust dose as per weight.
Call your vet.
Why is your pet in pain? Treat the source of the pain-and that means going to the vet first. If he has arthritis there are dietary supplements that may help, as will making sure he is not overweight.
Linda had a great answer.
thinking of giving a drug (OTC or by a vet) is short term and may be harmful in the long run. The better approach is to begin now to work with an integrative veterinarian. This is a person trained in many different approaches, including using conventional drugs only when absolutely needed. Working with one can increase the chance that your cherished companion can live a long and healthy life after recovering from this current problem. that is one of the joys of holistic approaches - they can cure the pain so you never need to continue treatment. I could not do that when I merely had drugs to use. There are good ones and great ones, and a few homeopathic veterinarians will consult by phone or email. You can go to the web sites for each type of holistic practice and use their referral list to find one near to you. Many practitioners are members of only one or two of the organizations, so you do need to go to every site to find who is near you:
There are also many 100% safe ways to relieve pain that you can do at home (just not quite as reliable as an integrative vet).
Reiki, Tellington T Touch, Flower Essences, Essential oils, Massage, healing touch for animals and acupressure.
The cause of the scratching can be determined by a visit to the vet who can suggest treatments or medication. Sometimes, it can be the symptom of a much more serious problem.
