Jenna has sprained her lower back...
 

And the vet prescribed .15 ml metacam once a day for three days. And two weeks of limited activity.
Has anyone had experience with something like this? The vet said it's unusual to see an injury like this in a 4 year old Yorkie.
All she was doing was running around on the snowy driveway after a wee. :(
She did a big spin at my feet and took off for about twenty feet and then sat down and hunched over in pain. No fall, no visible slip, no other kind of accident...just running.

How does something like this happen? :(

I have LOTS of experience with this & I take all my rescues with back injuries to see a Chiropractor after x-rays done by vet. It is usually an instant fix & no meds or confinement. Most likely she didn't injure it when you think she did, it's most likely been coming on for some time & she just moved wrong & her disc went out. Does she jump on & off your furniture or go up & down stairs ? if yes that's most likely how it started. You can read about Chiropractic for dogs rite here on YT in the library it's called VOM & it's basically the same thing & the exact same tool is used, called an Activator. Also a slipped disc does not usually show on x-ray.

I advise against chiropractic in dogs and feel it can be a very risky undertaking. Listen to your vet regarding crate rest and medications which are medically sound options.

How does it happen? Who knows? I had a neurosurgeon tell me once that a person can herniate a disc while watching TV. So much for trying to figure it out!

I would follow your vet's advice....if there is no improvement after, I am sure your vet will suggest a neurological consult. Most likely she will be fine after rest. I have had this happen with pups. One of my fosters had an issue like this during the past year...she was around 2 years of age. She was fine after anti inflammatory meds and crate rest. I personally would never do any type of treatment on a spine without a CTscan or MRI. There are too many things that don't show up on xrays.

A back sprain and herniated disks are different. I would follow vets advice. I would not use s chiropractor

Yes, they are quite different. I was merely saying that back issues can come out of nowhere. The OP wanted to know how these things happen and that is why I said what I did.
This dog has not really been diagnosed...is merely being treated for symptoms. She could have a herniated disc .. no real way of knowing without further diagnostics. And, with that in mind, I would not go to a chiropractor either.

It was my vet's opinion that if Jenna had a herniated disc that she would've shown significantly more distress than she did. Having spondylosis myself I was thinking he was right. So is he? Do I wait and see if meds and rest work or do I take her back and have them do ultrasound? (MRI is only available at high cost and likely means I'd have to fly her to Anchorage...neither of which I can afford. :( )

Are meds like metacam absolutely necessary or can she recover without them? The side effects are of concern because we live so far from town should she have a reaction. Are there alternative meds? What should I expect while she is taking them?

I have never had a problem with Metacam. It should be given with food. I would say to follow what your vet recommends for the best success for Jenna.
Good luck.

I have never had a problem with Metacam. You only give it once a day. Just make sure to give with food.
Metacam is actually the only thing I will use. I have never had any side effects with it.

Thanks everyone.
She was still walking pretty well yesterday but today she is in further distress, to the point she can barely stand. I got her to eat a little steak and gave her the metacam. Fingers crossed it does the job.
If she continues to not be able to walk we'll be going back. I guess since she spent most of the evening lying on a heating pad/electric blanket last night she is more than a bit stiff. But I don't want to ignore any warning signs of possible complications.
How long does it usually take for a dog to recover from a bad sprain? And what's the best way to manage things like toileting? She won't use a puppy pad but I loathe to take her outdoors to walk around in the slippery snow and single digit cold.
The vet also said she probably shouldn't use her little snow booties unless temps are very low because she may have lost enough traction to have injured herself.

She's asleep in her cuddly cup now, the poor baby. I wonder if that's really the best support for her back though. She was in bed with me all last night on my pillow.

Any other suggestions for making her comfortable and taking care of daily business like meals and eliminating would be most welcome, thank you. :)

i hope she fully recovers. my dh has had major back issues since ive known him and at times it would take him weeks sometimes to recover just turning incorrectly. i would just give her time to rest as your vet suggested. not that they have the same make up but an example of ... as hard as rest is that usually does help. metacam works well with food. i have used it on lola and cedric both. i hope your girl feels better real soon with no major disc issues.

Talked to her vet by phone to relay her progress. He wants me to give her another .15 ml metacam tonight before bed since she didn't receive any last night (she had a very empty tummy and couldn't be encouraged to eat much) so that's two doses in a twelve hour period. She is moving a bit better this afternoon and has peed twice, walking a little way this time and even scratching herself with her hind foot. (Put a stop to that.)
Is this too much metacam for an 8 pound Yorkie? I don't want to further mess up her appetite.

I don't give out dosages, but will only say that if I trusted my vet I would give what she suggested and not ask people on a forum if it was correct. If I did not trust the vet, time for another one.
As for Metacam, again, I have never had any issues with it at all. It is a very good anti inflammatory.
Good luck.

Thanks ladyjane :) I know that we don't give doses out in forums I was just wondering if that was akin to anyone else's experience.
Well she ate a bit of baked Cornish hen this afternoon (she was so eager for it she moved too fast and yelped, poor thing...keeping her still is going to be hard!) But I have to syringe water, she won't drink from a bowl.
She also had a tablespoon of plain canned pumpkin to get things moving, but no poos yet. :(
I had a senior husky cross who\'d been run over by a car who eventually lost the ability to defecate. He had to be put down a week later. I DO NOT want to see this happen to Jenna.
Honestly if she had an accident on the carpet right now I\'d be thrilled just that she went!

She moves okay when we go outside and seems more comfy in her normal sleeping positions so I\'m holding my breath.
Thank you all for your advice and support. It\'s just so hard to see my baby without her joyful wiggles and spring in her step. Breaks my heart. :\'(

Well she was doing really good this morning but this afternoon is hurting again. She got past me and jumped a foot or so into a chair. I am livid with myself for not catching her before she did.
Gurgling stomach so took her out for toilet. No poo. Tried again about an hour later...nothing. She won\'t eat and I can barely syringe water. She was squealing again so I\'ve kept her propped on blankets and warmed her. But if she can\'t eat I can\'t put oral metacam in at nine tonight.
Called vet twice but still waiting for him to return my call. Am unbelievably frustrated.

Any suggestions besides pumpkin to get the gut going or make her comfy enough to poop? I\'m worried sick.