# Sick or Injured Dog- Need Advice **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 15, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571 "2023-06-15T14:56:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/1 "2023-06-15T14:56:22Z")
I have a 4 year old 90lb Giant Schnauzer. He was having really bad diarrhea and so I brought him in. They guessed (but did not test for) giardia and prescribed Metronidazole 500mg 2x per day. Medicine started yesterday. This morning I left the house at about 7am and everything seemed normal. I got back around 10:30am and he won’t put any weight on his back right leg. Poking around it seems like the issue is the hip. I read there can be some weird neurological side effects from the Metronidazole. It’s also possible that he fell while I was out. I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this I’m working to get a vet appointment now. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/2 "2023-06-15T15:16:15Z")
Way out in left field: have you checked him for ticks? Those varmints can induce paralysis while they’re holding on sucking blood from pooch. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/3 "2023-06-15T15:24:08Z")
No, I’ll look. Investigating a bit more, it seems like it hurts him most when I compress the shin, simulating weight on it by squeezing between the knee and the foot. The timing of this, 24h after starting the meds is what has me baffled. And I’ve never had a dog injure himself home alone. But I suppose anyone could fall down the stairs ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/4 "2023-06-15T16:06:56Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > Metronidazole You can ask the vet if you could try **fenbendazole** which doesn’t list neurotoxicity as a possible side effect but allergic reactions are possible with that. Maybe the leg is just bruised and he’ll be fine tomorrow. Giant Schnauzers are cool dogs. I hope he’s better soon. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/5 "2023-06-15T17:14:34Z")
Just an update: I’m pretty sure it’s the ankle. I can poke and prod his leg, but if I extend the ankle at all he yelps. Have a vet appointment. I’m no longer suspecting the meds. Still odd, though, that Monday he gets GI upset and now randomly on Thursday he gets this ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/6 "2023-06-15T17:29:02Z")
Vet may need X-rays to tell if it there’s a break or a sprain. If there’s no broken bone showing in an X-ray the vet may be able to put a splint on it so your bud won’t further injure it. I’m sure he injured it by accident while doing a good dog thing. I decided against a Giant Schnauzer when looking for a new friend about 4 years ago. My legs were in bad shape then so I knew I couldn’t take on a large highly active dog like that. I have even more physical limitations now and I’m sure the two guys staying with me now wish I would take them on more walks. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/7 "2023-06-15T17:32:56Z")
He’s one of the best dogs we’ve had. Insanely loving and happy. He’s a bit territorial when people he doesn’t know come over, but that doesn’t happen too often. ---
**Author:** ![Keith1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Keith1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith1)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/8 "2023-06-16T14:04:17Z")
There’s a little test you can perform to check for Neuropathic pain/damage. My dog is old and slipped on the vinyl floor last year. I thought he was a goner. Wouldn’t eat - not even treats. Couldn’t walk. Well he did manage but with great difficulty to get out to pee. Took him to the vet. Vet did this test and that was that. Diagnosed. I’ve located the test for you online. Vet prescribed Gabapentin. It’s human grade prescription that’s commonly used for these situations in dogs. It relaxes the nerves & helps with pain. It took nearly 2 weeks for the meds to kick in. All the while I’m thinking, he’s done. But eventually he came around. Now he’s gone & done it again. Back to the Gabapentin. I’ve put down carpet runners over the vinyl. Not saying this is your dogs problem but it’s a simple test you could try. My dog is Lab/Border Collie. Will be 15 next month. Hopefully he’ll pull through again for a bit more time together. Good luck! Hmmm. Problem. The URL wont post. Look up ‘Knuckling Test For Dogs’. There’s a You Tube video. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/9 "2023-06-16T14:14:58Z")
Is the foot on the affected leg as warm as his other feet? – if it’s hotter, there may be an infection. But if it’s cold, there may be an emergency level of a serious blood circulation problem. I’m glad you’ve got a vet. appointment. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/10 "2023-06-16T19:02:39Z")
> [@Keith1](#): > > Look up ‘Knuckling Test For Dogs’. We’ve always had dachshunds, so we know the knuckling test. It can help diagnose IVDD. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/11 "2023-06-16T19:29:54Z")
Update Went to my vet. He said he couldn’t do an X-Ray on such a large dog. He’s been my vet for 4 years, maybe mention that sometime before it’s needed? He suggested an emergency hospital. I went there, it was a zoo. They were doing triage, so a nurse came and gave an initial look. She said there’s no way it was broken, just based on her experience, and if I wanted X-Rays I’d be there several hours. She suggested give it a couple days and see if it improves. He’s definitely better today, and seems to be getting better as the day wears on. So probably just a sprain. So maybe I overreacted. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/12 "2023-06-16T20:50:29Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > He’s definitely better today, and seems to be getting better as the day wears on. So probably just a sprain. So maybe I overreacted. Many years ago I had an indoor-outdoor cat come home limping badly, staggering, barely able to stand up. No obvious injuries, but could he have internal injuries? Could he have been hit by a car? Quick, call the vet! (nearest vet at the time, from that house, a 40 minute drive.) Get the cat in the carrier, vet will see him, drive to vet, anxiously looking over at cat in carrier in the next seat, is he collapsing, is he breathing OK? Get to vet, get into exam room, open carrier. Out comes cat, sauntering along, no limp, looking like there’s nothing in the world wrong with him. Vet. couldn’t find anything wrong with him either; said they believed me, and that maybe he’d fallen and had the wind knocked out of him, but had recovered during the drive. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/13 "2023-06-16T21:03:56Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > He’s definitely better today, and seems to be getting better as the day wears on. So probably just a sprain. So maybe I overreacted. Many years ago I was out jogging with my dog (a Weimaraner puppy at the time) and he was goofy since he was just a puppy. He cut in front of me and I tripped on him and stepped right on his leg with my full weight. I’m a pretty big guy, and he just a puppy! He yelped and flopped over and I had to carry him all the way home. I was sure I had snapped his leg in half. I took him to our regular vet and they kind of felt him and told me pretty much what they told you. Not broken, just wait. He was indeed basically fine by the next day. Damn animals…literally almost impossible to tell whether something’s really wrong or not. I’ve miscalculated the other direction before, too ☹ Generally better safe than sorry. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/14 "2023-06-16T21:54:42Z")
> [@troub](#): > > I’ve miscalculated the other direction before, too ☹ Generally better safe than sorry. Yes, to both of those. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/15 "2023-06-16T23:08:27Z")
> [@troub](#): > > Damn animals…literally almost impossible to tell whether something’s really wrong or not. I You wouldn’t believe this frog I used to have. He would sing and dance, it was incredible, unless someone else was there and then he wouldn’t do anything. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-or-injured-dog-need-advice/985571/16 "2023-06-16T23:11:20Z")
Yeah, the way he freaked out, you’d have been sure it needed amputation. He’s not even keeping the weight off it now. Bastard. He’s lucky he’s so damn adorable.