Growing Pains?

[Olivia D]

My apologies in advance if this was covered and I just wasn't able to find it on the board.

I have an 8-mo. male greyhound pup. He's going to be a big 'un; his feet and joints and muzzle are bigger than even the larger greys we've known. (the pic at left is at 4 mo.)

He'd been limping the past week (not unusual; when he tears around the yard he's not exactly cautious) and we figured he'd turned an ankle again. He tends to limp when he walks, fine when he runs. After a few days it was fine, then late Saturday afternoon he began to limp again and not want to run. He was also very listless and hadn't eaten. I'd been giving him an ibuprofen periodically (he's a stoic little guy) but by late Saturday night we were worried; he was crying and clearly distressed. By 1am he was yelping, writhing, and panting so much that I was seriously worried. t089 During the week we'd repeatedly prodded, squeezed, stretched and in every way palpated every inch of his limb and could not find anything swollen or sore or that even made him change expression, let alone flinch. But I was worried he'd perhaps fractured it or secretly eaten something dangerous (besides my new Rossiter system textbook!) and decided to take him to the emergency animal hospital and not wait to try to see our own vet Monday.

We were there for 5 hours, during which time they X-rayed the heck out of him, checked bloodwork and all his orifices and all they could find was that the growth plate on his shoulder looked a little "irregular" but not growing abnormally. Nothing was broken or fractured or amiss. Yes, the $700 diagnosis was "growing pains"!

While I'm relieved he's not injured, I am amazed this could be causing so much distress that he's lame and needs pain medication. He doesn't even feel well enough to harass us or play with his toys, though he's eating again. I know larger dogs take up to 18 months for these plates to fully fuse and the problem to go away, but for it to cause such obvious pain in a high-pain-threshold dog is worrisome to me.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do to help his shoulder feel better in the meantime? I've been running energy through it and working around the area with gentle friction, but I don't know if that's the most helpful thing I can do. Afterwards he sleeps awhile and then feels a bit better, but then gets listless again.

I'd really like to have my mischevious little "helper" back!

 

[decentg]

Growing Pains?

Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do to help his shoulder feel better in the meantime? I've been running energy through it and working around the area with gentle friction, but I don't know if that's the most helpful thing I can do. Afterwards he sleeps awhile and then feels a bit better, but then gets listless again.

Hi MRSkitten...I have a couple of suggestions (since we know that it is indeed growing pains, etc):

1. Really spend some time elongating those shoulder muscles with lots of effleurage (bilateral)...and maybe gentle some skin rolling to keep fascia loose.
2. Ice the area for 10 minutes at a time, a few times per day if possible.
3. After massaging/elongating, apply very light range of motion and stretching (bilateral).

Hope these techniques help him find a little relief (...maybe you are already doing them?). Over-applying these techniques might cause him discomfort, too.

Sorry to hear that he is down in the dumps and hurting. : ...he needs a Frosty Paws treat!

P.S. Will an x-ray show if there is a problem in the bone make-up, or only a bone scan?

 

[clade]

I am not an animal MT, but I do have greyhounds.
I often use "rescue remedy" in their water when I don't want to medicate them, but they need comfort or assistance. Its a Bach Flower remedy & is safe for animals. It doesn't make them loopy or lethargic or anything, but just addresses the stress. Your guy, although stoic, may have a fragile emotional side now and again - he might be a bit depressed that he's hurting.

Good luck.

Don't you just love these guys? My greyhound Kramer holds a very special place in my heart.

Jill/Sagetherapist

 

[Beth G]

I'd been giving him Rescue Remedy (which he sees as a real treat and eagerly takes right from the dropper) but after several hours when he was still crying and distressed I didn't want to risk there being something seriously wrong and took him in. I know I must sound silly, but I love the little guy so much that it was well worth the expense to know for sure. I've just never heard of this being such a problem for dogs!

You're right, Jill, they are happiest when they are running and whenever he can't do that he's a droopy, unhappy boy.

I used some Metacam we had on hand yesterday to help ease the pain because I wasn't sure the massage I was doing would help. I will add the skin rolling. I can't believe it never occoured to me.

My own vet left a message asking how he was doing, so when they call me back I'll ask if the X-rays were enough or does he need a scan to be sure his bone make-up is okay.

I just got home and---did you do something, Kindred? t051 He's inviting me to play with squeaky elephant (it only wheezes now) and though still gimpy he's getting around much better and seems more his old self (wriggling around on his back, trying to entice me!) The reason I ask is, Kaiser has been much more sociable and active since the day in question last week, and the change in Cupid from this morning to now is equally dramatic!

Thank you both so very much for your suggestions and concern. I'm going to play with my goofy-tooth before heading back to work!

 

[Vicki <3 my little chubba]

I just got home and---did you do something, Kindred? t051

...mmmmm, maaaaaybe... :wink:

He's inviting me to play with squeaky elephant (it only wheezes now) and though still gimpy he's getting around much better and seems more his old self (wriggling around on his back, trying to entice me!) The reason I ask is, Kaiser has been much more sociable and active since the day in question last week, and the change in Cupid from this morning to now is equally dramatic!

YAY...that's so great! t049 Hope he continues to feel better, too. Keep us posted (please ).

Thanks for the update on Kaiser...that's wonderful news.

I'm going to play with my goofy-tooth

t043

 

[Fasty]

Lordy, he IS a goofy-tooth, and I'm so glad for it. Thank you so much! Big hugs from me and leans and wriggling through your legs from Cupid.

My vet will check his x-rays and let me know. In the meantime, I'm to stop feeding him the IAMS large breed puppy food and give him Kaiser's. He already finishes off his own bowl and then eats up Kaiser's food now, so that's not much change! : We are to try to stop him from running (HA!) but take him for very short walks and medicate for pain as needed.

I know this isn't uncommon for big dawgs, but his level of distress seemed to be. Thank you for everything, you dear angel! t049 t050 t049

To celebrate I'm going to dust, Cupid's favorite thing to 'help' with. I think he calls it Bite-the-Swiffer. t106

 

[Pompal 09.]

Big hugs from me and leans and wriggling through your legs from Cupid.

Love it...what an awesome visual! Hugs back.

In the meantime, I'm to stop feeding him the IAMS large breed puppy food and give him Kaiser's.

I know this isn't uncommon for big dawgs, but his level of distress seemed to be. Thank you for everything, you dear angel! t049 t050 t049

For our Goldens, we stopped feeding large breed puppy at 6 months. Are you open to suggestions on different brands of food (more natural & holistic)? If not, and your very happy with IAMS, that's okay.

You're welcome, backatcha t050 .

To celebrate I'm going to dust, Cupid's favorite thing to 'help' with. I think he calls it Bite-the-Swiffer. t106

: C'mon...go fetch him a Frosty Paws, lol.


t060

 

[dadada]

I know you're supposed to quit feeding puppy food at a certain age with Great Danes, but honestly, I don't think of greys as LARGE so this never occoured to me. They're mostly legs and I see them as simply a convenient medium size. Maybe it's because truly large dogs surround me!

My youngest sister trains dogs for agility trials, feeds a BARF diet and always gets on me for not doing the same, as does my chiropractor (who feeds some kind of natural food you have to special-order and that costs more than the people groceries I buy!) I tried several special foods and with Kaiser but only Iams and (of all things) Purina didn't screw up his digestion. All the others were a real mess, even when introduced in tiny quantities. This from a dog who survived on fast-food garbage, other decomposing dogs and what birds or wildlife ventured into his miserable pen.

But if you have suggestions, I'd be willing to try them on Cupid-The-Cast-Iron-Tummy. Nothing has made him sick at either end, not even bamboo, literally pounds of dirt, a whole bottle of vitamins, or pampas grass. No, he doesn't get into the trash. But everything else...

 

[rockin JC]

But if you have suggestions, I'd be willing to try them on Cupid-The-Cast-Iron-Tummy.

Okay, I'll make my schpeel brief.

Wholistic/holistic natural pet food, primarliy means that the source of meat & other ingredients are fit for human consumption (no by-products), and are without growth hormones & pesticides, as well as, unhealthy or empty fillers (corn) & un-natural preservatives. Typically, these meat/protein ingredients will be among the very first few on the list.

With Cupid's condition, I wonder about the growth hormones and some other ingredients that may be contributing to his distress (?).

We feed Pinnacle (I'm not advocating that you or anyone else MUST feed this brand). There are a ton of high quality "natural" brands available. I like Pinnacle because - aside from its many great ingredients - it's also one of the only foods that has grapeseed (super antioxidant & anti-inflammatory) in it. I've considered a "raw" diet but am still researching (I've been looking at Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw).

Other ingredients that are usually found in natural dog food:
*joint support (gluc/chond, MSM)
*probiotics/enzymes for digestive support
*flax seed and fish oils (pure/middle swimmer) for support of coat & skin, etc
*vitamins, minerals, & antioxidants
*fruits & veggies (sweet potato is supposed to be really healthy for them)
*oats, instead of wheat
*sometimes organic ingredients
*less allergen causing ingredients (although any animal or human can be allergic to anything, even if it's natural, lol)

'Food Pets Die For' by Ann Martin, is a great book and resource, regarding the scary ingredients in commercial brand dog food.

Hope that was brief enough! :

 

[Whispers]

Kindred,
Thank you. Do you use the potato & duck Pinnacle formula? t017 I looked at all 3 and was trying to figure which one has the grapeseed oil for adult dogs. Mine eat only dry. Their teeth get gross fast enough without hastening it with canned stuff.

Vet saysCupid's bones are fine (he was horsing around & took a scary drop down onto concrete this morning on his 'good' shoulder, yelped for five solid minutes) but she looked him over when I picked up Kaiser and says he is okay. He's running around now like nothing happened, the goofus.:roll: It's greyHOUND, not grey HAIRS!

You were RIGHT. Kaiser had a cracked tooth, which they repaired. Now he eats cookies instead of burying them!

But I'm not sure which formula to buy. I don't like Petco but it seems that's the only place it can be found around here.

 

[loadedtomcat]

Hi...you're welcome! I use the Chicken & Oats Dry Formula. All the dry formulas contain grapeseed oil. I just checked and it looks like the canned formulas also contain grapeseed oil. I prefer to feed try, too, to help keep teeth sparkly. I may throw in some wet someday.

I am able to get Pinnacle at a small dog supply/gift store that carries many natural brands, although she special orders it for me. It wasn't something she initially carried but her rep/distributor was able to get it. To avoid Petco, maybe search out a small business that carries natural brands and see if a similar arrangement can be made. I can also recommend a few other brands, if you wish.

Wowee Zowee, about Kaiser's tooth, huh?!! I have been thinking about him for the past couple of days. Glad to hear he's back to eating cookies instead of burying them, lol.

Thanks for the update on Cupid. Puppys think they are indestructible (they are pretty rubbery but not invincible...like, SUUUUPER PUUPPPYYYYYYYY). : Thankfully, he is okay. Boy, oh boy! You've got your hands full with him I think.

BTW: Our dogs eat better than we do! It wasn't until I started picking apart their diet, that I started looking at my own.