What could be causing my dog to yelp?? =(

[orv]

My dog is about 6-7 years old. She is a mixed breed, pit/boxer/rotti(stating this because they are breeds known for having bad back ends when they get old). Since yesterday afternoon, she has been yelping in pain when she tries to get up, or lick or scratch her back end. But when she is up standing, she isn't limping?
DH thinks she just pulled a muscle the other night while he was playing with her outside, but it doesn't make sense to me that she wasn't yelping until yesterday? She is still going outside to pee, but it's breaking my heart to hear her yelp in pain. I feel so helpless.
I have googled the symptoms and other than the fact that she isnt really limping, most signs are pointing to a pulled muscle, which the vet won't do anything for. So unless she stops eating/peeing/drinking I won't be rushing her there.
I know some of you know a lot about animals, so I was wondering if any of you know a way I could make her comfortable, or perhaps it could be something else? Any help/advise would be greatly appreciated. A trip to the vet is an absolute last resort, because i'll be borrowing money to do so. Please don't judge me for having an animal but not having an emergency fund to take her to the doctor. She is well fed and loved and If she HAS to go, I will find a way to get her there. Thank in advance for help

[Hollywood1818]

You can lightly put a heating pad on it make sure it is not too hot (they also do the heat cold that we do for ourselves). And obviously don't let it run or jump as even though it may not be limping it can still do damage

[Brandy Hunter]

Give her a baby asprin. (check with your vet first - but we give them to Sparky) Maybe she lays wrong?

[KK7]

Could just be a pulled muscle orv, or just old age I know I creak and moan alot. Also with larger breeds as they get older arthetis could set in. If the dog is eating/drinking I wouldn't get to concerened yet. Could your little one bulldozed him over or something by mistake? And yes by mistake we all know how quick little ones are lol.

[screamy]

Oh, poor puppy...and poor mama!! It's awful when you don't know what to do to fix them - and I hear you on the vet thing - they order hundreds of dollars of tests and then tell you they can't fix the problem.

I'm sorry I can't offer you anything but my sympathy...maybe sit her down and palpate the area gently to see if it's near a bone, or too warm, or if there's a knot / bump / something?

[orv]

Thanks for the advice guys. I was thinking maybe arthritis too. It's common in her breed that thier back ends give out. DD's is not big enough to bulldoze her over. I don't even think I could If I wanted to. Shes huge lol. She's still asking to go outside for a pee, but I noticed last time I let her in she kind of hopped up the steps instead of running like an overgrown bow-hunk. So hopefully thats reassuring that it is just a muscle pulled. My over active brain is worrying that it's something internally wrong. She would be more sick if that was the case... wouldn't she?

[Natalka]

Have you checked under her fur to see if there is a cut, scrape, or something stuck in somewhere?

You probably did that first, but thought I might mention it...

[nadiabreckon]

Our pooch had that happen at around that age, and she would even yelp when she squatted down to peee....broke my heart cause I didn't know what to do and DH was at work. When he got home we took her to the vet who had to sedate her to run xrays because she's a big suck and wouldn't let anybody touch her. Ended up she had nothing wrong with her, but the start of arthritis which we already knew... Just let her rest when she can, and give her lots of hugs and kisses!!!

[albertagirl1]

start giving her Shark cartilage tables buried in a treat. You will be AMAZED how fast and how well this helps large breed dogs to keep their knees and back ends in good shape

[miztia]

Sounds like a muscle strain to me.
Mine is almost 8, and showing signs of back end problems more so in the last few months. The vet recommended glucosomine pills.
Right now if she is running around during the day, she cant get her butt off the floor at night, its a struggle and you can hear her bones creaking. When she does get up, she is hunched over until she can straighten up. (LOL just like her mamma) She doesnt yelp or anything, but I noticed she hasnt gone up the stairs in about a month and sometimes keeps one leg straight when she runs.

When she is standing, or eating, I massage her back all the way to her hips, and down her back legs. She stops whatever she is doing and just enjoys it, so it must make her feel better, or atleast I hope it does.
You would of noticed little things leading up to it if it were arthritis or hip instead of all of a sudden yelping, so sounds more like a pulled muscle with your pooch, but I would cut back on running around for a few days. Maybe squeeze her paws and legs to see if pain is coming from there, and check her toenails too.
Im sure she will be back to her old self in a few days or so, so I wouldnt worry about calling the vet yet.

[orv]

Thank you all so much for putting my mind at ease. She has been sleeping the better part of the day, still yelping from time to time when shes rolling over or licking herself. She has gone outside several times. And still managed to mooch at supper time. The yelp is such a high pitch heart breaking cry of pain though. I hope shes feeling a bit better tomorrow.

[Jessica_25]

I have a six year old boxer and a little over a year ago we noticed when he was sitting he was leaning to one side. Almost like it was too painful for him to sit properly. He also was having a harder time getting up after laying down for long periods of time. We took him to vet because it started getting pretty bad and it turned out to be arthritis. Like someone else had posted above, our vet also recommended glucosamine pills. He is doing better now but after a long walk, you can tell that is starts to flare up again. Good luck and I hope your dog feels better very soon!

[pattidrexel]

could be a hip or knee thing. Anyway you look at it it should be checked by a vet if it continues to be a problem.

[mle]

Maybe laying a warm towel on the area can help the pain. Perhaps wrap it in epsom salts to help soften it up (those are safe to use on dogs). I agree it just sounds like some muscle pain, & you're definitely right, if she becomes lethargic or this continues for a while just get the vet to check her out to be sure. If it is something like arthritis it's nothing to be too worried about are there are some treatments, like the glucosamine pills mentioned above, that your vet can talk to you about.

You could give her a baby aspirin/half an aspirin to help the pain in the mean time (see if there's an improvement)- just not too much or too often. Here's an article on the dosing of aspirin for dogs, and I suppose you could google it to be sure of dosing: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5724104_ba...itis-dogs.html

Hope she feels better

[Lynn49]

Oh, Orv, I know what you mean about that high-pitched yelp just breaking your heart. It's so pitiful. I wish I could help but you've received such good advice from others here...Isn't there an arthritis medication for dogs similar to the one for humans? Glucosamine and condroitin? I thought I had seen it advertised...The warm towel out of the microwave would feel so good.
I hope he gets better...have you noticed that it's any better or worse with the weather changes? Spring is one of my worst times for arthritis, as is fall...hopefully when summer rolls around he'll be much better....