Yelping occasionally at a very gentle touch
 

So, Jackson has always done this occasionally, for as long as I can remember. But it doesn't happen terribly often so I had kind of forgotten about it.

Sometimes when I touch him on his sides, even extremely gently, he will yelp. It seems to be kind of where the "tuck" is in his stomach, if you know what I mean.

Occasionally when I pick him up, he will do a little yelp, but I'm always very cautious when picking him up since he has yelped in the past so it hasn't happened recently.

Well today I was putting his lifejacket on him and you have to velcro it underneath his belly... well he yelped really loud once, then I did it again VERY soft and gentle, he yelped again, and then yet again. I was doing it super gentle too, it wasn't like I was squeezing it shut on his stomach or anything. Do you think it's his ribs? It definitely concerns me but it is not something that happens every day. I just wonder if he's just sensitive in that area or what?

I'm pretty sure it's not like a recent injury or anything because, like I said, he's done this occasionally for over 2 years now (he's 2 1/2).

It could be some kind of injury that gets aggravated occasionally. Like, Chloe has a LP and it only bothers her (that I can tell) very occasionally. So maybe he has some kind of hip/ lower back problem that bothers him every so often and that is when he is more sensitive to touch.

Might be worth having an orthopedic specialist give him a once over.

Hot Rod has a spot also. Sometimes when I pick him up from the side under and around his rib cage he will let a sharp yelp. I thought that it might be from my small hands but it has happened when my hubby has picked him up also.

Ellie did that when her back went out (on her side close to her mammary glands), but that wouldn't really fit for him. It can happen with intestinal and pancreas issues also, but that doesn't fit either.

You shouldn't have to be that careful. If it continues, I'd definitely see what the vet has to say after thorough exam palpating everywhere. I would start being less careful when picking him up to make sure it isn't going to continue.

Just looked at your post again. Hmm. A few times in one day can't be written off as just sticking your finger in the wrong spot on his ribs. I'd get it checked. Not normal.

Tucker does it too on occasion and its usually right behind his front legs by his rib cage. He only yelps once as if I grabbed him too hard, even though I feel that I didnt. I think of it as his soft spot and I try to pick him up there.

I am definitely going to get it checked out.

I'll just schedule a vet appointment for next week and see what they have to say. He had x-rays of his legs and hips last year and nothing was wrong there so I'll just see if maybe they can check around. They know more than me when it comes to canine bodies, lol.

So odd, isn't it?! My dads dog does this too sometimes but not as often as Jackson.

Yes, today was the most it's happened in one time. It was while trying to put the lifejacket on, like I said, and I've been putting it on him every weekend for weeks now with no problem... so it kind of concerned me that today EACH time I tried to buckle the strap he yelped. Very odd. But like I said, it will happen on occasion when I pick him up. I'd say once every 2 weeks or so. I thought it was just me grabbing him in a wrong place, but today was a little weird.

What do you suggest I ask the vet? Do you think I should first have her to feel around and palpate things, or should some bloodwork be in order also?

I'd say if it was just once in awhile around the ribs, that'd be different. Touching lightly should not hurt anywhere. Touching the abdomen itself firmly should not hurt like that.

I wouldn't ask for anything in particular. I'd just make the appointment for pain of unknown origin and tell the vet exactly what you typed here. They'll know what to do. Xrays may be in his future (and potentially bloodwork).

I hope you get this figured out Brit. It is horrible when they are not themselves especially in a case like this where it is touch and go, not sure what or where the exact problem lies. :(

He seems so active and on-the-go. I am glad he is going next week. I will be thinking of him. Of course, you will let us know what you find out :)

I hope you find out what's bothering him. Poor Jackson. :(

Thanks!

Thanks! He's fine otherwise- still active as ever, running like a maniac, swimming, etc.

Thank you! :)

That is good to hear. I was wondering about pulled muscle:confused: one can drive themselves crazy "diagnosing" problems.:rolleyes:

Poor baby....definitely a vet visit is in order. Keep us posted.

I hope Jackson is ok.

Poor Jackson! I'm glad you are going to have him checked out and I pray it isn't anything serious.

Thanks for all the well wishes.

I am sure it is nothing but still want to be safe.

The only reason I don't think it's a pulled muscle is because he's done it since he was a pup... ever since I can remember there have been times where I've grabbed him in the wrong spot and he yelps like that. It just doesn't happen EVERY time. So I dunno.

I wonder if the Thundershirt aggravated something, or made him a little sore?

^ I was kind of thinking that myself... because I did wrap him really tightly. But like I said, he's yelped in the past a lot when I've grabbed him in a touchy spot, so I know the Thundershirt could not have CAUSED it, ya know? Ah well, I guess I will see what the vet has to say....

WOW! I cannot believe someone else has had this problem! I have SEARCHED online for a year about this. Millie has the same spot, and does it the same amount. She will go months without doing it.

So let me tell you, calm down. If it's like Millie's case, it's not her health. I have taken her to 3 vets and they have all said she is fine. I was so frustrated and convinced she had something terribly wrong with her. We figured out what happened about 3 months ago. The second harness she ever had, we bought her a retractable leash to go with it. When we walked her and we locked it, I guess it would pull on her slightly and scare her- never hard enough to actually hurt her. But she is only 3 lbs and a sensitive dog, so that was enough to make her scared of certain movements down there. Got her a new leash and it stopped (this is when she was doing it everyday). Now she still does it but only if I forget and pick her up a little quicker. There were times when she did it when there was NO WAY I had hurt her. Just brushed over her skin...but it's enough to make a dog scared if they are sensitive! Now I feel awful because I feel like I have scarred her for life and she will always have fear sometimes and not be as trusting. Sometimes I can be more forceful and poke all over her body and it doesn't bother her- but if I "sneak" up on the movement, that's when she yelps and takes off running.

I would still get your babe checked out as I did, but I will say- for right now breathe because I went/am still going through the same thing! Dogs are funny little animals! :) Millie loves me with all her heart and trusts me with everything, but sometimes her sensitivity gets the best of her!

Let me know how everything goes! I would love to see what the vet says because my vet didn't have a clue! He almost made it out to be that it was my imagination because they couldn't find anything wrong with her.

Wow - I am so glad someone else had the same problem!

I can recall a long while ago (he was maybe 6-7 months old?) when I was putting a harness on him and accidentally snapped him a bit with it and he did yelp like that. Gosh thinking back, I can't remember if that was the first time he did it or not.

I'm also afraid that I'm going to go to the vet and they're going to be like "there's nothing wrong!" because I can feel him all over his stomach, even pushing semi-hard and he doesn't even respond or do anything. So I am not sure what else the vet is going to be able to do, ya know?

When I was putting the lifejacket on him the other day, I was literally BARELY touching him. I probably slightly grazed over him, especially the 2nd and 3rd time while trying to buckle it because he had already yelped once, so I was being super careful.

I don't think he's doing it just... to do it though. He lets me put his lifejacket on him no problem, it's not like something he dislikes doing so for him to yelp was a bit strange. But my stepmom picked him up multiple times this weekend as did I and no yelping whatsoever. Very strange.

I am going to get him into the vet anyways.

What did the vet think?

Thanks for thinking of us, Crystal :)
We have not yet gone. We are away on vacation right now for Fathers Day until Wednesday so it probably won't be until later this week.
He has not been yelping at all and I've picked him up multiple times.