My dog has a back problem??

maggiepip

Im sorry firstly if this is a bit long - its also difficult to summarise but Ill try...

I am desperately hoping someone can help me or maybe had a similar experience and could recommend an excellent vet.

2 years ago we adopted a beautiful collie who had been very badly treated, she is now 4 yrs old.

I am basically being told by 3 different vets at the same practice that they cannot see anything wrong with my dog and I am convinced she is having intermittent spells of back pain.

Firstly 2 years ago I requested x rays - as she has stiff back legs (she doesnt seem to bend her knees) - and all her joints knees hips spine etc came back clear. She has a stiff walk (I have been offered no explanation for this - they apparently dont know)

I have brought her to the vet on a few occasions since, when she didnt seem herself (she was not off her food) but didnt seem to want to do much, was uninterested in playing with the other dogs, seemed slower in her movements seemed distant - and I expressed concern that she was in some type of discomfort. Was told that they see nothing wrong with the dog - her back and her joints are all fine.

However 2 weeks ago she suddenly started yelping with certain movements , couldnt get upstairs, couldnt jump - was in obvious pain. Vet said there is no obvious source of pain - said her back seems fine to press, has no neurological symptoms - but maybe she pulled something in her back and is just not reacting to the examination. So I was given anti inflammatories (she is almost better but still not quite herself).

The thing is I am now certain she is getting milder flares of this back pain when she has those "off colour" spells - but vet is not entertaining it.

The problem is that the dog is showing no signs of discomfort when the vet pokes and prods on examination - so therefore conclusion is nothing is wrong-(now I know for a fact that dogs in the vets can be so pumped on adrenaline that they dont react)

I dont feel I am being listened to at all and I even feel sometimes the vets (all 3 of them) think I am exaggerating or neurotic or something. I would so appreciate some advice or experiences - the vets I am with have a good name and I have probably been slow to change as I have, in effect, got 3 different opinions. I am in meath.

(can I just add that overall the dog is a very happy girl and generally very well but has spells where she is just not herself - and it seems more than just a "bad mood day")

tk123

Have you taken her to an ortho specialist? My guy has a hock deformity and had his back legs straightened in Gilabbey Vets in Cork and they were brilliant. There's also one in Galway (I think), and a couple in Dublin- UCD and Billy McCartney in Malahide.
Also there was a post a while back where somebody took their dog to a bone setter and he sorted problems with it's back/spine?