Logan suddenly started screaming in pain yesterday morning while I was getting ready for work. It scared me to death because he laid down and was passing out and his gums were pale. When he wasn't laying there screaming he was panting, obviously in a lot of pain and distress. I didn't know what was going on, thinking something horrible like a heart attack or blood clot.

It turns out it was because severe pain coming from his neck. They didn't think it's a disc or bone cancer...but I didn't have the funds for an MRI or x-rays to be 100% certain.

It just figures that this week our regular chiro would be out of town and all the other ones booked to the max. So he has to wait until monday for an adjustment. The tramadol is taking the edge off, but he isn't feeling good.

I borrowed this neck massager from my mom to try on him...I will try to get the tightness to relax.

I suspect the bark collar is at least contributing to it because its on the side that the prongs are always on and I know e-collars cause the muscles to contract when they stimulate and his has to be turned all the way up. No more bark collar and no collar at all for now. His neck has bothered him this way before a few times but no where near as bad...so its been an issue for a long time.

Strap a heating pad around it?

Neck spasms really suck.

Oh wow. Poor guy Heating pads are not a good idea. Animals can get pretty serious burns from them. Maybe ask you vet if magnesium would be safe to give? I know it can help people with muscle cramps/spasms

I'll ask them about the magnesium tomorrow...I have some. The massager really helped, he liked it! I'll do it again in the morning. The only thing that I could use to apply heat would be heavy...they said not to even put a collar on him. He's been naked. I ordered a sensation harness from LB.

Fill a bag with warm water, a Ziploc bag.

Put it on him when he's lying down watching TV so he doesn't have to hold weight.

You can also use a heat lamp, but he might not like that, might be afraid of the brightness.

Thanks Betty...I'll try the water bag, don't have a heat lamp.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

Heating pads are not a good idea. Animals can get pretty serious burns from them.

I've had pads that I wonder what the heck the manufacturer was thinking allowing it to get that hot so I can certainly understand your warning.

I currently have an electric one that doesn't get hot enough to burn and is even designed to be able to get wet. It has been very reliable.

He is feeling better today...I reduced his dose by half. He loves the massager...I'll just keep doing that.

Glad to hear that he's feeling better. Maybe some doggy massage techniques would help prevent more spasms?

Update....

He has been to the chiro two times and after she examined him the first time she said the only way that could have happened to him was if during the night he got his bark collar hung on the kennel and injured it in his struggle to get free (which he would do). The only place he could have got caught that I know of is on the bottom of the fence, there is a small gap where the chain link ends hang down. He likes to lay there sometimes and I'm thinking his collar got hooked on there and he panicked.

No more bark collar for now at least...I think I need one of those bungee collars for him in his run.

He is doing much better now. I'm still not using collar, I just got a sensation harness for him. I just started him back in nosework, been a long long time. I think its his favorite thing of all because he barks excitedly when he is searching...doesn't do that for anything else! Even with his neck hurting he was happy to search LOL.