Unknown Back Pain

[tr4head]

My dog Roy (8 yr old Beagle mix) went in to the vet to get his anal sacs
expelled.    The vet assistant picked him up wrong (by the belly) to raise
him to the vet table and the dog yelped, then sat stoically while the anal
sacs were drained.  Next day, his tail was between his legs and he was in
pain.   I took him to the vet who kind of complained that I suggested that
something went wrong with the anal sac procedure that might have cause a
rear end problem.  He did x-ray (no charge) and said he saw some
degeneration of vertebrae and thinks this is it, no final diagnosis tho.
Roy has had times over the last year when he simply would not want to go on
any walks, I thought it was just lazyness (since he always perked up/tail
wagging when we met other dogs), now not sure at all.

Vet said just tokeep him away from furniture and make sure no jumping or any strenous
excercise with the 100mg of Rimadyl daily.    

Roy has been on the Rimadyl this week, but still yelps on occassion and does not jump into
bed, still has tail between legs.  He yelped bigtime tonight and did not want to
move after he lifted his leg to urinate this evening.   Any help you can give would be
appreciated. I don't know what to do and am afraid of some paralysis setting
in.  Anyway to tell if disc, muscle or rectal/anal issue???  I am afraid of a disc problem.

[Dan Sims, DVM]

Disc disease in general is painful but cervical discs in particular are one of the few things that can make a dog cry out in pain,so I would check Roy's range of motion of his neck to see if this elicits pain.
Your Veterinarian was very kind to work up Roy's back pain at no charge but the problem may be chronic.
Rest is as important as the Rimadyl.
Most back and neck problems are muscular in origin so I would ask your doctor to add diazepam to his regimen as a muscle relaxant.
Cortisone should be used if the problem does not resolve.

[tr4head]

Thanks so much Dan!   I took him to a friends vet for second opinion today.   They looked at the xray and saw the same thing - a little opaque area in the lower disc, a few vertabrae up from tail.    I asked if he should get a mylography or MRI but after they checked his neuroligical responses thought that pregnasone would be stronger medicine and might help, going conservative route, but I am not sure.  He has not relieved himself today since noon when he yelped again when urinated and quit about half way thru.   He does not lift leg, squats and the back goes a little concave, apparently putting pressure on the disc and screams!  He walks a little and can just  get up and move (barely), but still tail between legs - this has been going on for a few days now.  I start the pregnasone tomorrow - hopefully this will help.  Apparently they don't think surgery is needed.   It kills me to hear him scream in pain when he urinates - has not done #2 today at all, so likely will be constipated tomorrow.   He would not go out after dinner tonight, just lays quietly on the bean bag.   Poor guy.