Ben the dog and his Spinal Injury

Important - The following is a list of common symptoms of Spinal Injury, however displaying any of these symptoms does not mean your dog is definitely suffering from a spinal injury.

I have listed these "signs" as when looking for information I found it very difficult to find easy to read clear information, this is possibly due to the fact that Spinal Injuries are complex with many symtoms and many causes.

 Please CONSULT A VETERINARY SURGEON if you are at all worried about any aspect of your dog's health.

Symptoms displayed by Ben

Disinterest in play or walks

Very Lethargic

Seeking refuge in a safe place - his cage

Very unstable on back legs - walking as if he was drunk

Back paws slightly colder than front paws

No reaction when tickling between the pads on his back legs

Rapid deterioration to complete loss of use of back legs 

Rapid deterioration to loss of ability to wag tail

Rapid deterioration to loss of ability of urination

Symptoms I now know to look for

Lack of reflex action eg turning paw under (as depicted in the picture contained within the blog writings) - Please note - I do not recommend you do this unless you have been shown, however you can insist your vet carries out this test .

No response to pain - again, to be tested ONLY by a vet

Arching of back - this is done as the stomach muscles tighten to try to protect the injured portion of the back

Inability to comfortably eat or drink, especially from bowls placed on the floor, as this causes discomfort in the back.

Some dogs will cry in pain when not being touched or handled and when there is no obvious cause of distress

As previously stated, please seek urgent vet advice if you are at all concerned