Yelping when I barely touch his sides

JacksonsMom

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#1
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?
 

JessLough

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#2
It seems like he has just always been sensitive there, but if it has been happening more often lately, I would think a vet trip would be in order. May not be his ribs, but what his ribs are there to protect.
 

Maxy24

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#3
I would be concerned...Max did this when he was sick. My dad went to pet him on the top of the head and he yelped like I'd never heard a dog yelp before. Dad tried again very gently and he did it again. It was odd because there was nothing wrong with his head, he had cancer in his spleen and kidneys.

Does it ever coincide with when you've put on flea/tick medications? I know they can sometimes cause odd things like that.
 

JacksonsMom

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#4
Thanks guys. Yes I am going to schedule a vet visit next week ... I think it's worth getting checked out. 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?
 

JessLough

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#5
I would definitely get her to palpate, and then see what she says :) If she cannot feel anything, definitely ask for blood work. If blood work comes back normal, you may even want to think of getting an x-ray eventually to make sure everything is where it should be and the normal size.
 

Southpaw

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#6
You shouldn't have to ask the vet anything--just tell her what's been going on and she'll figure out what plan of action makes sense. I would think an xray would show more than bloodwork. But she might tell you she doesn't think he needs anything, who knows.

But yeah, that is something I would want checked out... maybe he just doesn't like being touched there but better to make sure nothing is wrong medically.
 

Babyblue5290

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#7
Artimis will do this sometimes. He has an area on his sides, near or under his armpit, that has a nerve running through (at least that's what we believe) that if you pick him up he will squeal out. I was concerned at first, but it is always when you pick him up and "pinch" that area. So we don't think it's anything major, we do know he has a rib missing at the end and one that didn't form all the way so that could be it.

With your pup, if he's doing it suddenly and a lot more than usual probably a vet check to be on the safe side.
 

JessLough

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#8
Artimis will do this sometimes. He has an area on his sides, near or under his armpit, that has a nerve running through (at least that's what we believe) that if you pick him up he will squeal out. I was concerned at first, but it is always when you pick him up and "pinch" that area. So we don't think it's anything major, we do know he has a rib missing at the end and one that didn't form all the way so that could be it.

With your pup, if he's doing it suddenly and a lot more than usual probably a vet check to be on the safe side.
Rosey has a ticklish spot kind of where you were saying on Jackson, but under as opposed to on the sides. She does not yelp though, she just kind of kicks and barks and lets you know she does not appreciate it :rofl1:
 

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