Earlier in the week, hubby noticed at work that our 2 year old terrier was moving rather stiffly when she first got up from sitting or laying at work....not much, just a stiff little waddle for a few steps. I noticed it that evening too - she was hesitant about jumping up on the bed, and when she did gave a little grunt of effort.

She has been grunting and groaning a bit when getting comfortable, and since Thurs, she has been quite subdued. We thought she was a bit down after a traumatic collision with a wasps nest that day (she was checked over by the vet that afternoon), but she has been particularly quiet today. Just now she followed me up the stairs, and as I glanced behind me I saw that she was virtually "dragging" one of her back legs. I paused on the stairs watching her and she looked up, gave me a feeble wag then hopped up the last few steps fairly normally.

She wouldn't jump up on the sofa just now either, she pawed at it and waited for me to lift her.

And I've noticed she has been doing an awful lot of stretching, front and back legs - more so than when just getting up from a lie down, she's doing it at random.

She's been off her food for a couple of days but she has eaten a huge dinner tonight. She's drinking, peeing, pooing, and isn't dehydrated. We went for a 40 minute walk today - I cut it short because she wasn't her usual high energy self, but she ran along happily enough and scaled a few banks looking for squirrels.

The dog is in and out of the vets on a seemingly monthly basis, I'm sure they think I'm addicted to visiting them - she was only in on Thurs after the wasps, so I am reluctant to go back there for a bit of muscle stiffness.......if thats what it is, of course.

Any thoughts?  Alternative remedies I can try to ease her discomfort, until I know if this is a minor strain/sprain or something more?

Thanks :)

Poor thing. I do think I'd really limit her exercise to just a quick 5-10 lead walk until you've seen a vet. My dog is having ongoing treatment for a bad shoulder and is often limping and in pain - however, take him out and let him off the lead and his pain suddenly disappears, I guess adrenalin kicks in and he forgets the pain. This happened a couple of times and we were so pleased, thinking he was better, but unfortunately we were causing more harm than good so we have to be cruel to be kind.

sounds like your dog may well of pulled something, so lots of rest is the answer but also i'm affraid a trip to the vets is needed as they will be able to check your dog over properly. 

I would hazard a guess at a disc out or sciatic nerve trapped. A friend with a Cavalier had a disc out. Dog looked miserable, wouldn't jump on their knees and dragged the leg slightly. Our Vet gave anti inflammatories and told her to go to a chap we have around here that is an Oesteopath. Instant relief.

One of BT's done this, she tried to jump on a round bale!! She couldnt move the next day, and was very stiff and sore, she was given a course of anti flammatories and rest for a week, and lead exercise only, she had pulled a muscle in back, when jumping up.

HI had you thought of taking him to a chiropractor.?

I would want an Osteopath to check this out if this happened to one of mine.  Stuart McGregor trains qualified human Osteopaths to work on animals all over the country.  He could tell you where the nearest qualified person was to you.  01235 768033.

Wow, thank you everyone...haven't logged on for a couple of days!

Yes I have thought about a chiropractor or osteopathy, although availability seems a bit limited in my area.... and it seems I also need a referral from the vet. :(  Thanks for the tel number WestCoast!

Maybe I should try a second opinion from another surgery?  With the permission of our insurers, I guess?  Our vets are wonderful and extremely reasonable cost wise - but possibly as a direct result of the latter, they don't always "think outside the box".  I don't want to offend them.

Hubby took her to work today, and insisted she seemed fine - he said she jumped up into the truck at work with only a seconds hesitation.  I did make exactly the point someone else did, that the adrenaline of being out for a walk or out at work was covering up her pain, but of course he just thinks I'm fussing. :(

He admitted later that a visitor at work ruffled her lower back playfully, and she yelped. :(  He is still convinced that its a lingering wasp sting from last week......

I still feel very uneasy and want to be very careful.  But we've been down this road before, in fact I think I posted about it.....earlier this year, she suddenly became reluctant to jump up, or even walk or move around.  She showed signs of continuous pain, panting heavily etc.  We saw the vet 4 times in 3 weeks, and they said she had pain in her back - she had anti-inflammatories and 2 courses of steroids, x-rays of the pelvis and spine and routine bloods plus blood tests for disorders causing generalised muscular pain, all negative or inconclusive.  She just gradually got better on her own, after 3 weeks off work....we never found out what caused it.

Pity you don't live near us. Our chap is sooo cheap.

Yes it is a shame. :(

Do you need a referral?

No referral needed. But my Vet suggests people go to him.