3 year old american staffy constantly yelping and crying and it hurts him to move

by Sam Laharnar
(QLD, Australia)

My dog was fine until yesterday afternoon when we got back from the dog park, he was really puffed out like crazy (sounded like an asthma attack), after about half an hour he calmed down but then started sooking and limping, I thought it was his leg or muscle or joint so I gave him a hot bath and he couldn't stand up in the bath and dropped down to his stomach but enjoyed it (normally he hates baths and avoids it all together).

After that I laid him down and he kept sooking more but it was really bad like he was in intense pain so I took him to the emergency room as it was after hours and they couldn't figure it out in the consultation so I left him in over night for tests. They gave him strong pain killers but didn't really help just made him dopey. And said they couldn't figure it out she was stumped, she said all she can think of is something to do with his head or brain and I remember only a day or 2 before he had small lumps on his head like they were ticks but I pulled on off to check and it was a scab. But his head is a bit swollen on the top.

She said I might have to see a nuero specialist and would cost a few grand but I can't afford that but will not give up on him. Have u heard of any similar cases that could help find out what is wrong and what i need for him? Thank you






Hi Sam
I'm not a veterinarian so your absolutely best bet here is to go with a veterinarian's advice, but you could always try getting a second opinion from another vet before going the specialist route. It never hurts to get another viewpoint.

Each breed has it's own specific health concerns, and there can be a problem with Labrador Retrievers collapsing after exercise, it's a heart related issue, although I've never heard of it happening with Staffy's, it's still possible that he has some sort of heart or circulatory problem.

Also, occasionally a tick bite can cause a temporary paralysis, usually of the back legs, but will recover from this once the tick is found and removed.

The swelling on his head seems odd, I guess it could be an allergic reaction to bites/stings, but it could also be something much more serious and only a veterinarian could make that diagnosis.

If none of these options seem a possibility then a second opinion, then a specialist visit is probably your very best option. Sorry I can't help more, but I wish you tons of luck and hope your dog is doing much better soon.