pomeranian about 23 years old

Question
I am waiting for the vet to open, in the meantime, if you have ever heard of such a thing, I would appreciate any info you might have.  I am sitting here alone with my little pom. Yesterday he was outside when I heard him yelping in agony. When  I got to him he was just lying there
screaming at the top of his lungs.  I thought he must have been stung or twisted his leg as he was holding it up.  He finally quit crying but continued shaking terribly.  Finally I thought he was back to normal when he was lying there asleep it happened again. Crying like he was hit by a mack truck.  Now he tries not to lie on his front legs at all.  He seems to walk ok but he definetaly is not the same, he just cant get comfortable, he will set up on his hind legs as if to take pressure off the front, but he cant get comfortable.  Anything that would give me some idea of what is happening or what I can do to help him till we get to the vet.  Thank you for your time.   Pamela

Answer
The only thing I've ever had that was similar was when one of our dogs dislocated her hip. We think she was broadsided by one of the larger males as she was standing up against the fence.

Unlike ours, a dog's shoulder blade is not actually joined to the skeleton, but held in place by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The ligaments hold the bones together, and the tendons attach the muscles to the bones. Your dog could have injured any one of those things, or at his age, possibly he even fractured a leg. He could have even injured some part of his foot, although I don't think the symptoms for that would have been quite as dramatic as what you are describing.

Gently feel around the front of the dog and see if you can find an area that feels warmer than the surrounding tissue. I would apply ice for twenty minutes. Baby aspirin might be helpful, but I would have no idea of the correct amount to give your dog; be careful with this if you don't know either.

Good luck with this!