Could this be a trapped nerve?

As some of you know, we adopted Hoki, an overweight BC, from the SSPCA in November.
Since then we have had an ongoing problem with her growling/snarling at her legs. Through process of elimination she has:
had her annual glands cleared out (twice)
been wormed (several times)
had x-rays to her hips/rear legs
had a cruciate ligament operation.

Each time we think we have identified the cause, but the snarling/growling continues.

It seems that the cruciate ligament was ruptured long before we got her & that her leg muscles had tightened to support the knee so that the problem wasn't immediately obvious.

I am now wondering whether because of all this time of favouring her left rear leg, she has put her back out a bit & maybe has a trapped nerve. The symptons are:-

*snarls/growls at either rear leg (which ever is nearest!) - sometimes only a couple of times a day, sometimes a dozen or so
*is sometimes (but not always) sensitive about being touched on her lower back/tail/rear legs

I don't think she is in pain as such; she never wimpers or cries. I get the impression it is more discomfort - possibly something like pins & needles - i.e. her legs don't always fee liker her own.

It is just getting so frustrating, thinking we have solved her problems & then finding we haven't (to say nothing of the lack of sleep with her growling on & off during the night!)

Evidently I will raise this with the vet at her appointment next week, but just wondered whether anyone had experienced similar symptons or had any other comments?

Thanks

Hi Hali poor Hoki , there could be a number of causes for the behaviour to do with the spine and legs , it could even be neurological so it is unwise to speculate.

I hope the vet can help with some medication.

If your vet fails to come up with any answers I would consider consulting an animal chiropractic or consider Bowen treatment.

Like doctors, vets don't have all the answers and if you suspect a trapped nerve or muscular skeletal disorder consult a specialist.

Bowen works brilliantly on our aging BC, even seems to work on the missus, lol.

ive just caught up with this thread , hope you dnt mind me replying ,i had a boxer cross who had a trapped nerve in his spine which was a constant problem and cudn be operated on so had to be treated with anti inflamatory drugs , he would lose the power in his hind quarters and be in extreme pain but it he never bit at his legs . ur vet should be able to pick up on whats goin on my vet scanned my dog and did various xrays before he found the problem good luck and i hope ur dog is well soon

Thanks guys, will see what the vet says.
Fluffybunny -if the vet thinks that it is a possibility, I will certainly look into an animal chiropractic.

Be guided by the vet.

The symptoms with the BC are that he lifts the rear leg when he has been laying down and cannot put weight on it properly.

He is old and a large dog, he has problems with cartlidge in the legs but the main discomfort is the spine, you can feel the tension about two thirds of the way down his back and like humans is like sciatica on some occasions he will flinch and turn as the pain is sharp.

Having had a 'slipped disc' as commonly termed, I know what the pain is like. We are lucky enough to have a friend that does Bowen and she has done some limited training on animals. It works fantastically with him despite her inexperience with animals.