My Boxer

Question
QUESTION: Hello Jannie,
Can you please help me?  My boxer cries or pants when someone walks over him.  When observing him, I can see the he just stands for hours cause it hurts when he sits or lays down.  I see him trying but then eventually stands back up and walks around.  
I took him for a walk and he doens't have trouble walking or running at a slow pace.  There was a set of stairs with maybe three steps. He doens't have trounble stepping up with his front legs but I can see that it takes hime awhile to get his back legs up.  Samething going down the steps.  We went up and down the stairs three times and he reacted the same everytime.  I pulled all his legs but he doesn't react as if heis in pain.  
Last night I had to hand feed him.  He ate everything.  Today he won't eat.  I know it's Christmas eve so all the Vets are closed.    I few months ago OX displayed similar symptons and the Vet gave me two types of medicine and a $400 bill.  I still have a little medicine left so I've been giving it to him twice a day. I really don't have any money to take him to the vet again and my parents are broke as well.  Is there anything that I can do at home to make him feel better?    He stands different today. I think there might be something wrong with his spine.    I will check my email throughout the day.    Please help.        These are the 2 medicines that I've been giving him.  RIMADYL (carprofen) 100 mg  & Methocarbamol  500MG.       Thank you for your time and help.   Enrico Jr.

ANSWER: I need to know his age.

I need to know what the vet said.

Answer those, and maybe I can help.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your quick response.  He'll be 2 years old on Dec 28th.   The Vet told me that he might have an injured spine due to excessive jumping. The Vet said that he's never seen this before on a large dog but he see's it all the time on small dogs that jump a lot.  He gave me those to medicines to give OX.  He said that if OX is better after taking the medicine for 2 weeks then only bring OX back if he's throwing up or not eating for 2 or more days.    OX was back to normal after a few days so I only gave him medicine about 1.5 weeks and stopped.  That's why I have some left over.  OX was seen about 3.5 months ago.  He's been active and normal until the past 2 days.  
Thanks again,
Enrico Jr.

Answer
The lack of appetite could be due to the medicine.

Feed him some canned dog food to encourage his appetite and add whole plain (no flavors) yogurt to help his appetite and settle his stomach. He will love the whole plain yogurt.

You might want to offer him the clear (no flavors) Pediolte; a store generic brand is fine.


Do not allow him to jump and play anymore, and don't let him go up and down the stairs. If your bedroom is upstairs and he sleeps upstairs, then only at bedtime. I recommend putting up a baby gate at the foot of the stairs to prevent his access up and down until you can get him to the vet for further evaluation.

You must find out what is causing this; x-rays of his spine, whatever tests is necessary.

If it is his hips instead of his spine, sleeping on an orthopedic dog bed will help. In the meantime, make a bed for him that is cushioned as much as possible' like using bed padding, like an egg crate pad, etc. You don't want his hip bones or any bones (if it's arthritis) to touch a hard floor.

And yes, even younger dogs can have hip dysplasia and arthritis.