Hi, I am new to this forum and would like some advice please. My bitch was mated 43days ago but 2nights ago she started limping. It got worse yesterday and she could hardly weight bear. Then last night she lay down in one place and wouldn't move. We had a worrying night with her but took her to the vets today. We explained to the vet that she could possibly be pregnant. The vet said that it could be a trapped nerve and she needed to be treated with steroids but that could cause an abortion if she was pregnant, but that without treatment she could get worse. We had her scanned and the vet said that she couldn't see any puppies but she had a full bladder. The medicine she prescribed is predno leucotropin. She said if it is a trapped nerve we should see a difference in 48 hrs otherwise it could be something with her spine and she would need to be referred to a specialist. She said her breed are prone to bloodclots on the spine. She isn't eating or drinking and now is just lay down panting with no interest in anything. Would the vet Definatly know there were no puppies at a 43day scan and would the steroids definatly cause her to abort or just maybe?. I would appreciate any advice as we are very worried about her general condition.

How about finding a canine Osteopath in your area and seeing if she could be seen as an emergency? I had a 3 week old pup who was screaming in pain whenever another pup much as looked at him. The vet told me it was a trapped nerve and gave him a steroid injection. It got worse and poor pup was in so much pain I was in tears as I couldn't bear to see him like it and felt helpless as I couldn't even comfort him as any interaction sent him into a screaming fit and he would fall on his side with all 4 legs out stiff and would lay like that screaming for 30 - 40 seconds. I phoned an osteopath who had helped one of my gundogs and she saw him. It turned out it wasn't a trapped nerve at all, turned out it was a joint sprain with capsulitis. He was treated over 3-4 weeks and although he had to be isolated he is now a very fit and healthy 11 month old with no problems at all. It is amazing what they can feel and what they can do. With my gundog she was reluctant to swim, jump and then went lame, the vet wanted to do full x-rays strait up but I insisted on seeing the Osteopath, turned out she had tight Hamstrings, 2 treatments and 3 years later at the age of 12 she is still doing a full days work!

Hope all goes well with your girl if she is in Whelp, at 43 days the vet should have seen pups but it depends on how experienced she is at scanning and sometimes a small litter can hide.

Update. After an emotional 3wks my poor girl was diagnosed with leukaemia and had to be pts. She went downhill so quickly. She was such a beautiful dog and is so sadly missed.

Oh how very sad, so sorry to hear of your sudden and tragic loss. :(

Thank you. It is extra sad that we lost her on the weekend that her puppies would have been due if she was pregnant.

I am so very, very sorry for your loss.  What a terrible shock, and such a great shame.

Sleep tight pretty girl, and wait for your owner at the bridge until you meet again.  RIP

How utterly heartbreaking. I am so sorry.

Oh I'm so very very sorry x x x

Jab, I am very sorry to hear this but thank you very much for coming back and updating us. We really appreciate the fact that you did so and under such heartbreaking circumstances.

That is so very, very sad -I really feel for you.

I'm so sorry. What a terrible tragedy for you. :-(

Thank you all for your kind thoughts.